Fake blog, to flogging and wild west hair tonics

I was researching what makes blogs work, and what doesn't, and amazed to (although I don't know why) to see examples of larger corporations getting it wrong: see PSP, Walmart and Babyliss. I found that there is quite a lot said about the importance of being 'transparent' in your blogging. In other words honesty, avoiding deceit. Well this to me seemed obvious. Surely the first premise of doing business well, or being trusted by networks, face-to-face or online is being HONEST.

As soon as you lose someones trust or confidence you can forget it! Perhaps it is the cub scout influence, or my parents? There is one anecdote in particular which springs to mind on this subject from my own experience. Around about when I was 11 or 12, I visited a local department store and took a toy without paying.

It was a bouncy ball, probably worth about a pound. I wasn't caught, but found that the pang of guilt far outweighed the enjoyment of possessing something I hadn't earned. Having never stolen anything, it weighed heavy on me. So to put things right, I tried to secretly return the ball.

As irony would have it, I was caught red handed! The manager asked what I was doing, and in reply being very nervous spilled my guts. The manager happened to be dealing with a problem of internal employee theft. He said 'lad, if you're this honest, when your 16 come back and you can have a job!'.

The sin Walmart, Babybliss and PSP made is not a knew one, like most sins. But the analogy I think is most apt is the medicine men of the wild west, pitching hair loss tonics to unsuspecting victims. Some of the medicine men when caught came to very stick ends.

If you are interested, the following is from a blog on hair loss: an old remedy for hair loss, dating back to the wild west times:
Peach Tree

If the kernels be bruised and boiled in vinegar until they become thick and applied to the head, marvellously, make the hair grow again upon bald places or where it is too thin.
Culpepper 1653

If this works let me know because I am very interested....Mmmm.

If you tout something which is deceptive or dishonest in someway or just plain rubbish, you WILL be found out and ultimately its not good for business! So whether it is a blog, ad, profile, as the great philosopher Ali G would say; keep it real!

Is Facebook, Google Blogger or Myspace constructive or destructive to relationships

I had family over this weekend and we all went out for a delicious juicy steak in a restaurant local to us in Sutton Coldfield. The spot is great, overlooking the park and Powell's pool, named after Baden Powell. It was once called the La Reserve, and by us is now known as 'the place now not called the La Reserve' as none of us can remember what it is called!

There were 8 of us including little Lily. As well as my Grandma, now 94 and Nan and Great Auntie, Uncle Chris and Mom and Dad.

We had a great time and full stomachs! In terms of relationships, we all spent a really nice day together, my elderly relatives of varying health enjoyed themselves too and had a great day out of the house.

Whilst chatting over lunch my Uncle Chris mentioned a concept Professor Putman of Harvard University has developed, called Social Capital. The idea is that not only do communities have a social value in terms of local business, relationships, security, support, safety, social cohesion (cohesion between diverse races, religions and enthnicities),etc, etc, but you can also measure it!

Now in this sense, Social Capital applied to my family and local community, what does it mean? Well, we are happier as a result of being together, in turn as neighbors or members of the community we are probably better neighbors too. We know that bad neighbors can effect house residuals so the converse is probably true. We also visited a local establishment and spent money, and tipped. This money then goes in to the circular flow of income within our local community, further enhancing the general wealth of the local area (assuming that the wealth is spent and consumed locally, which it is safe to assume that at least part of it is). My older relatives spent time with their granddaughter /grand niece (we don't count anymore!) and this is sure to keep them healthier in terms of well-being, and therefore live longer healthier lives requiring less support potentially from the state.

Does online presence of relationships (facebook etc) increase 'social capital' or decrease it? If our family kept in touch through a blog or friendship profiles, we would perhaps meet less face-to-face. We might not spend as much time in each others company and may not dine out together as much. What would happen to local trade, our general level of happiness and this effect on our relationship with our neighbors and wider community, and what would Grandma and Nan be doing?

Buying, Selling and Facebook

Okay, this is my first ever blog. I am sat in my hall, in front of my PC at 1.17am. My 18 month daughter who doesn't switch off is fast asleep. My wife Tracy is just 20 winks behind Lily. And over the last 3-4 weeks have not been able to sleep. Why? Well, I have over the last 18 months been building a business and I can't stop thinking and it is keeping me up. It is really starting to get interesting, if not a little annoying. No standby, or hibernate mode, just a constant buzz in my head...

What is the best way to market my niche business? What should my niche be, and how will I manage cash flow and finances as the business grows? Spreadsheets? No! Sage? Perhaps. Bespoke software, maybe. What should I outsource so I can concentrate on what matters?

And that is precisely the point. What matters! Customers and suppliers as without them you have nothing, but what about all these other questions which still matter and need answering. Not the questions relating to IT or finance. Where to go for these services seems simple (relatively): an accountant for financial advice and services and an ICT outsourcing firm for your technical concerns. No, my questions relate to determining my niche, how to market my company, and how to locate customers and suppliers in the best way. And this is a bit more fuzzy.

So I am going to start by simply asking people. Friends, family, associates, friendly customers, and you reading now, to start to gather some ideas and thoughts. And where will I start? I am going to experiment and dabble here and there: facebook (worked for Lily Allen!), myspace, youtube videos, and of course this blog.

So here are my questions:

1./ Do you use Facebook, Myspace or read or indeed publish a Blog?

2./ If you do (or did) would you or have you identified products, services or simply followed up on recommendations?

3./ If you use these tools yourself to good effect, what was the instrumental factor in making the tool work for you or your business?

Either blog me back or go to this link to answer online:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=pD2oOjE1pHtRMfWp3f9Y6aA&email=true

Thanks for visiting my first post!