As someone who uses Facebook’s data as the basis for targeting advertising campaigns, I’ve found the Cambridge Analytica story quite interesting. However, what I can’t get my head around is the numbers that are being thrown around. Particularly the “up to 50 million” number that keeps appearing. The backstory, in case you’ve been living under […]
Author Archives: Quumf
Faking it
This is a post I originally wrote when working at Latitude back in 2013. They’ve refreshed their website since then, so it’s no longer available. I was reminded of it by Paul Stevens this week, and thought it would be worth revisiting, as it is probably still as valid now as it was 5 years […]
Let’s Talk About Engagement
Ernest Hemingway is not for everyone. It is hard work to read his novels. Not because of the language used, but because of the language not used. The books are deceptively short, and the style is sparse. Because so much is left unsaid in his writing, the reader becomes a participant in the creative process, […]
Generation Expectation
That title’s probably a bit harsh. Over the weekend, there were a bunch of stories about Elle Darby. In case you missed it, she’s , the “social media influencer” who got herself into bother from the White Moose Café in Dublin after trying to use her e-fame to blag a few nights free accommodation. The […]
What I learned from running a million metres in 2017
I’m not usually one for life changing New Year resolutions. There are a few reasons for this, but the overriding one is that I can’t be bothered with them. I’m not immune to self-improvement, but the whole concept of “it’s this year, so I’ll change that” doesn’t really appeal. That said, last year I set […]
Trousers, Lead Generation Forms, and a Lack of Foreplay
I’ve written about good and bad sales experiences in the past. Whether they’re selling a pair of shoes or a complex business consultancy service, a good sales person will take time to understand their customer’s needs and stress the benefits of the product to those needs. As a rule, a good sales person will get […]
Are Remainers Blaming the Wrong People for #brexit
I’m turning into the bus stop of blogs. You wait ages for a new post, and then two come along at once. Following on from the post about the filter bubble of social media that I put up the other day, I thought it might be useful to look at some of the finger pointing. […]
Here’s Why #Brexit Came as a Surprise
Depending on your viewpoint, at the time of writing this, we’re either 3 hours into a brave new world of national self-determination, or on the brink of a disaster, and if I were to base my entire world viewpoint on my Facebook feed, I’d assume it was the latter. I had a quick scan through my newsfeed before […]
My Book About SEO
It’s been a while since I’ve blogged here. Mind you, it’s not the only place I move pixels around. One of the reasons why I haven’t written much about SEO or social media here is because I’ve been working on a book. You can download it here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B016HCRPS4?*Version*=1&*entries*=0 It’s a pretty comprehensive tome. In it I’ve […]
Well Played Virgin Media, Well Played…
I got a letter from Virgin Media this morning telling me that they were putting up my monthly bill by £4.89. Apparently, this increase in charges allows them to continue providing their “amazing service” which has only let me down a handful of times this year. Price rises are a pain in the bum, and there’s plenty of […]