I’ve moved. I wanted a bit more control so I have finally moved over to my own domain.

I’ve moved. I wanted a bit more control so I have finally moved over to my own domain.

This time last year I was in Sydney. I found these when I was out and about.

Along with postcrossing I have just got involved with Matthew Knights brilliant disposable memory project. I carried the same disposable camera in my bag, throughout my final year at uni and still remember the excitement when I finally had it developed.

So when I heard about the disposable memory project I applied for a camera straight away. And here it is.

M favourite part of the project

We think that digital isn’t always best. sometimes taking longer to do something gives us a warm and fuzzy feeling. taking part in this project, which may take years to complete, will hopefully give you that feeling too.

Love it. I just need to decide where to leave my camera now. Will update once I have dropped it off

Just saw these over at It’s Nice that Blog. They are amazing! The Shobo Shobo limited selection go on sale tommorow in H&M. Yes.

I normally hate printers. This by Mistabishi sums it up. Awesome.

I only started watching The Sopranos recently. It’s good (although it has been neglected since the new series of Lost and BSG started). This is amazing. It must of taken aaaages

I got my first postcard from postcrossing this weekend. Very exciting. I can’t believe I didn’t know about this project sooner. Rubbish. Sending a card/letter once a week is on my list of (I think its 53 things at the moment) to do this year, so hopefully this will help me stick to it. There really is something amazing about personal post. Its all bank statements and phone bills normally.

Also, check out the ‘HELLO’

Got a tip off there would be some friendly folk hanging around Soho Square today giving out free books. All I had to do was ask them who Mr Toppit was and Ta da. I got a new book

I like free things. So I like this idea. More about Mr Toppit here

So at the end of last year Marrisa Mayer talked about the future of search at Le Web conference in Paris. Mayer commented that “We think that when you look at the winning search engine in 2020 and what traits it’s likely to have…is that it will understand more about you the user.” She goes on to explain that “search will understand more about your preferences and be able to deliver more relevant results”

Search Wiki is one example of this personalisation, and its this idea of personalisation that I think could and should be being explored not only in organic search but paid search too.

Working in paid search the past 7 months, when certain campaigns don’t convert, analysing the data and optimising based on the findings is standard. However, sometimes some campaigns just don’t convert and the question is, why? We can sometimes get lost in the numbers and forget that the consumer’s opinion is ultimately the driving force to why they do or do not click.

And that is where I think personalisation, opinion or ’social media’ comes into paid search. I hate using the term ’social media’ like its a boxed process, people can magically implement to get others talking about a brand/product in a (natural) cool, fun way. Social media, at least to begin with was a term used to describe the conversations people have online. Not a process that makes people have a conversation.

Just like people have conversations in the pub or on the phone its these conversations that help form and sway opinions and its these we should be listening to online. Of course the conversation is a lot easier to manipulate online, hence the current buzz surrounding it. However (this isn’t a post ranting at social media) my point is that because of the Web, we have the ability to listen more closely (to conversations) than ever before and therefore react to the outcomes, especially in paid search campaigns, where editing creative messaging is a lot quicker and cheaper than in print and TV ads.

Just as I mentioned in my post about Confused.com, the market is constantly changing, responding to this quickly and effectively demonstrates a brand listening, reacting and highlights the creative potential paid search can offer.

In this current economic climate listening to your consumer seems like a sensible thing to do. What the consumer wants is more important than ever. And responding to this in every way possible would surely only improve your campaign.

As social platforms grow, especially with advertising in mind there is greater opportunity for public opinion to effect products and brands. Not listening to this in other areas of your digital strategy could seriously affect your campaign. Just because another part of the budget may be tied up in a ’social media’ strategy does not mean we should ignore the conversations in other areas of campaigns. At least that’s what I reckon. But what do I know, eh?