Radio Twitter

Listening to Capital Radio the other day whilst having a shower, I was pleasantly surprised to hear that they were now accepting requests, shout-outs and comments via Twitter. In the past SMS text and web comments, competition entries and requests were available but I never did get to the stage where I wanted to bother to pay that premium rate text rate or have to sign up to yet another website to use them, however using Twitter to enable listeners to do so is inspired; fast, easy and free (sounds like second houses and taxi rides for MPs no...? Look at the uptake on that one!).

Now it is no secret that I have been sceptical about Twitter. From its place in between Facebook, Windows LIVE Messenger, YouTube and mobile phone text messaging to the amount of “targeted” spam I receive from twitter-ers that have bot randomly adding anyone they spot using key terms. I have been eagerly observing Twitter to see how it evolves past becoming the ultimate opt-in spam channel, and I think it’s getting there...

I think finally actual Twitter exclusive benefits of use are emerging. Here are three I would make use of:

• Tweeting communications, competition entries and requests for entertainment, radio and web shows.
• Information update tickers – Wouldn’t mind opting into a rail service update for a route I use for delays and cancellations to be tweeted to my phone (good one Voda!).
• Twitter competitions – why not have a purely Twitter based competition where competitions are tweeted, and entries are also... tweeted.

Twitter needs to also make an app for mobile phones – thought the SMS text Twitter service is great, I think for the Twitter brand, the potential permanent virtual real estate a Twitter app could occupy would further bolster its mobile digital lifestyle integration with users. Make one for the Nokia 5800 first though please, I’ll even beta test it for you.

Brands – Virtual is Reality

‘Virtual space’ has proven itself to me more real than tangible space. What I mean by this is that, with a magazine or a broadcast advert, the life of the message is as long as the broadcast or however long the tangible is kept; once a magazine is thrown away or once an ad has aired, so too is the message. ‘Virtual space’ is the sanctum for messaging to become immortal.

The Cadbury’s Gorilla ad was aired back in August 2007, yet it still received regular views and discussion related to it. Have a look at the video I have immortalised below, the last comment post at the time of my writing was but a few hours prior). Not only does it retain its buzz but also thanks to its permanent and replicated presence on the internet, occupies potentially infinite ‘virtual’ real estate. Short of framing an advert from a magazine and using industrial grade ink retainer this wouldn’t be possible with magazines – and before the smart alecs start with the microfilm angle, it still wouldn’t be able to reach or more importantly, BE reached by so many from so many places with a click.



Be it on work emails at lunch, on Facebook or through Twitter tweets, the internet has provided us with a central place for sharing and discussion. YouTube links and tiny URL links fly about more frequently than Jack Bauer has bad days. We no longer appear to need tangible media to show and tell intellectual content with our friends; CTRL + C > CTRL + P and broadband does it for us. Social web 2.0.5.81389138612 is brilliant for extending social networks and sharing isn’t it...



I firmly believe that we will soon reach a point whereby brand equity and trust will stem heavier from their online presence and messaging than from the actual products they offer. At present, online offerings from brands help to raise, augment or sway brand presence, offerings, and opinions. With television adverts now showing signs of being designed with digital in mind (yes I am indeed STILL referring to the musical ape – it’s been a draining few weeks so let’s stick to him).

If I were a betting man (or had the money to), I predict mobile applications will become the next focus digital medium for branding to concentrate on. What better than virtual immortality online than, virtual immortality offline! With mobile applications on the iPhone proving to be a hit with the cool kids, even HDTVs are following the PC/Mac suit with them. Gadgets, Widgets, Apps, whatever you wish to refer to them as are occupying many a desktop, home screen and home page all over the globe. I think the first app I installed was the Honda Red H application that was effectively a ticker and media stream for whenever new information and tidbits related to the new Civic Type-R were announced, and occupied my desktop up until my OS gave out – The Power of Apps. The beauty of them is that they are voluntarily downloaded, installed and kept; what better way of knowing if a brand or campaign has flirted with the right tone? I will follow this subject up more soon depending upon certain developments in my life...

Twitterfone UK

Since its launch in the US in 2006, Twitter quickly gained media attention and Twitter-ers in and around America. Twitter is a quasi micro-blogging social networking tool for those that have been watching dancing bananas. It allows Twitter-ers to Twit (update) their feed as and when they wanted - sound like a status update on a recently face lifted book anyone?

At first I was sceptical; I thought ‘why would I Twitter when I was updating my Facebook status with titbits of my life and thoughts already?’ In the US Twitter allowed users to Twitter via mobiles, allowing for short and punchy updates to be made conveniently without having to go online and login anywhere, however this functionality was not yet enabled in the UK. Last night Twitter launched a partnership service with Vodafone UK allowing Vodafone users to send free SMS updates to their Twitter feeds. Mobile Twitter had arrived in the Kingdom of the United.

At the moment I think Twitter is at risk of becoming (if not already) the ultimate mass opt-in spam marketing service. On my Twitter, I seldom receive the personalised updates that I was expecting. The ratio of personal Twits compared to marketing Twits on my feed is about 1:100 – not an exaggeration nor inspirational as a user. I am sure many a marketer is in the mind frame that if they harness Twitter for their brand, they are instantly riding the peak of an innovation wave in marketing communication, however I beg to suggest otherwise. Direct emails are largely looked at as Spam, and I believe that unless marketers tailor their Twitter marketing to become effective and likeable updates, they will drown in a riptide of hostility. Perhaps the introduction of media features to Twitter will help them out? I shall observe will much interest as always. Tools such as Twilert are very interesting; a progressive Twitter marketing tool that I believe will help everyone toward a balance between the social and marketing aspects of Twitter for marketers and end-users alike.

On a personal note, I updated my Twitter for the first time via mobile yesterday evening as soon as I heard about the new service. Let’s see if I become a regular mobile Twitter-er. Are you going to twitter via mobile SMS?