On being selected a top10 engaged marketer by LinkedIn

I recently received the following message from LinkedIn.

Hi Mark,
I'm excited to let you know you've been selected as one of LinkedIn's Most Engaged Marketers in the UK for 2015.
Our list of the top ten Most Engaged Marketers was determined based on a number of engagement factors including connections, group membership, companies followed and content sharing on LinkedIn.
We are finalizing a media advisory to share with marketing trades our 2015 list. Would you have any concerns about being mentioned in our media outreach? We may also want to use a quote from you so let me know if you'd be amenable to that.
We'll be in touch soon regarding details on a celebratory gathering at our office where we'd love to welcome you and the other Most Engaged Marketers this year.  Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions at all, and once again congratulations!

This was quite a pleasant surprise. I was not expecting this news. Naturally, I responded by confirming I would be delighted to accept, and happy to meet up.

The meeting was at the LinkedIn offices in London. The offices just off Oxford Street were very swanky. They had just been refurbished, and had all the funky design of a tech company. Including classic red London telephone boxes, free food and drink fridges, chill out zones and mood lighting.

I spent around 40 minutes with them. The meeting was essentially a product workshop. They gave a bit of insight into the roadmap. They also wanted feedback on how we were using the platform. It was good to connect with peers from different industries. The breakfast was also decent. Before departing we were given our gift of an umbrella, moleskin, pen and a year's subscription to LinkedIn Premium.

How do I think I achieved this? Here's the lowdown:

1. Used many LinkedIn tools. This year I was pretty active using all of the tools LinkedIn had to offer. I started using Sales Navigator and also took a trial of Recruiter to hire. This in addition to generally good discipline to keep networking and connecting.

2. Hired through LinkedIn. I think this was a pretty big contributor. I used LinkedIn to get in touch with potential candidates. This put me in direct contact with a lot of people. It was a successful project, although more time consuming than using an agency.

3. Published an article. I only posted one article. It got a few likes, comments and views. It didn't exactly go viral. I assume it did so enough to bump up my ranking.

4. Changed jobs. At the start of 2015 I moved roles. I think a combination of congrats, views and recommendations would have bumped up my rankings.

I don't think there was any more to it than that. I don't spend all that much time on LinkedIn. I think that the activity was across all of the tools on the platform probably met LinkedIn's 'engaged' criteria.

Simple tips for using periscope at events

I've started using Periscope at the last few business events I've attended to broadcast live video. If you are new to live smartphone broadcasting, two of the popular apps are Meerkat and Periscope. I won't go into the details here, but my app of choice is Periscope. Here are few observations and tips from a novice smartphone broadcaster.

Observations using Periscope at events

- There are usually few people periscoping at the business events I attend. Even the organisers are slow to adopt this tech. I'm not suggesting I'm a trail blazer, but by day two of the conference I occasionally see the event organiser starting to stream. Could it be because they clocked me periscoping? Either way, it's a good way to get conversations started.

- Viewers peak at 10- 15 minutes then start to drop off. Even with the most compelling of speakers or topics, viewers are very transient in nature. Short and sweet is good.

- I've made business connections just by Periscoping. Several occasions delegates saying "I was sat behind you - that is cool you were presicoping - hi how are you?"

- I've had a few viewers who couldn't attend the event express thanks for sharing a broadcast.

Here are my 10 tips:

1. Get on the venue wifi or have unlimited data. Periscope chews through around 400mb of data every 30 minutes.

2. Find a decent location. Periscoping from the back of the room isn't great for anyone.

3. Be prepared. Fire up the app before the speaker, get the hashtags and title ready to go.

4. Get the event hash tags in - otherwise how will people find your broadcast?

5. Make sure you have "post to twitter" and "your location" enabled, again to maximise your coverage.

6. Hope that a good friend with lots of follows retweets you. Or tell them beforehand.

7. Make sure you are pointing at something relevant at the start of the broadcast. Otherwise you will have a shoe or the back of a head as a thumbnail for the broadcast.

8. Consider taking a old smartphone phone for periscoping. This leaves your main phone for tweeting or checking comments.

9. Show the face behind the camera. Viewers want to see who's broadcasting too.

10. Don't worry too much about the quality. This is live and raw, it doesn't need to be a polished production.

That's it. It's simple tech, experiment and have fun.

I'd love to hear your tips, or experiences with Periscope or Meerkat . I also have an interest in how "OTT" broadcasting like Pericope is disrupting the traditional models. Particularly for broadcasters and content owners. Happy to chat.

My current photo workflow

Here is my current photo workflow and back-up plan. This is the plan for my better than average pics, not generally rubbish shots of food etc.

TAKING PHOTOS

- Take photos with native iPhone app
- Take photos with Olympus Pen EPL-1 Micro 4/3 DSLR - shoot in RAW format

EDITING PHOTOS

- iPhone photos get edited with Snapseed, right on the iPhone. I'll document the process for this soon enough.

- DSLR photos either get:
    - Edited on the Macbook in Adobe Lightroom. JPEGs out of the camera look ok, but RAW always need edits.
    - JPEGs transferred to Android Tablet and edited in Snapseed.

SHARING PHOTOS

Typical process involves browsing to the Snapseed folder then:

- Instagram: I usually post to Instagram first. Instagram doesn't allow full frame pics, so there is always a cropping decision here. If I'm feeling lazy I'll check the box to post to Facebook. Sometimes I'll add a bit of a filter, but usually all editing is done before the photo gets to Instagram.

- Flickr: I have an IFTTT recipe that auto posts from Instagram to Flickr so I'm good there. The only drawback to this approach is Instagram massively compresses Photos, so my Flickr images are taking a bit of a hit. Going to need to think about this going forwards. I was a bit fan of Flickr for a long time, but gradually found myself using Instagram more, perhaps because none of my real life friends use Flickr.

- Twitter : Simple - copy and paste the description from Instagram, then post pic to Twitter

- Facebook: I Have been forced to download the horrible Facebook app. I used to be able to post through safari, but tagging and location has become difficult. If I haven't posted through instagram, I'll upload through the app.

- Blogger: I have a private personal blog hosted on Blogspot. I post diary type images up here. Typically they are sent in three ways. 1. Through the app 2. Via email to private address. 3. Through the web app.

BACKUP

A pretty important part of the process and something that I need to improve. I typically have photos backed up in the following:

- Macbook - current year's DSLR Pics
- 2 TB HDD - back-up of every digital photo
- Flickr Private Account - A full backup of every digital photo
- Flickr Public Account - A backup of my best public photos
- Google images - A full backup of every digital photo

CLEANUP

Something I need to improve - but I have too many files. I take a lot of photos. There is not a single day that goes by when I don't take a photo. Many of these are trash, so I need to get rid of them. I also need to get better at sticking photos in Albums or tagging them, as I take more photos I want to be able to get back and find the photo I liked two years ago.

That's it for now.

My thoughts on El Capitan after a few days use.

The install process was actually pretty nice. Except a small issue finding the download status bar.

FEATURES

- Split Screen I like the split screen app tab a lot. This really is the killer feature for me. This is great for multi tasking, and making the most out of your screen on the road. It doesn't seem to work so well with mail (bombs out) but on the whole is good.

- Mail app fullscreen About time - why did it take såoooo long. Can now work full screen with mail. No pesky drafts hiding behind the full mail app.

- Wiggly Mouse That's what I'm calling it. Find the lost mouse pointer by by wiggling like crazy. Can't see this being too useful, but it was worth a laugh.

- Graphics performance The performance of metal seems pretty decent. Has certainly improved the window drawing. That said, I'm using a 2014 MacBook Pro with 16GB Ram and an I7 processor. Shouldn't it be decent anyway? No noticeable speed-up generally.

- New improved notes app Got kind of interested for a while. I love note taking apps. But since its all stored in a proprietary format and I can't access from all devices, and probably not that future proof, I'm giving a miss.

STUFF NOT USED

- Photos. I use lightroom for editing proper photos, and some other apps for phone based shots

- Spotlight. I still don't get spotlight. I use it, but I still think the searches aren't the most intelligent in the world.

- Maps. I've not tried yet, didn't use the old maps app, so doubt I will use this one.

- Battery performance. Yet to see any difference.

So in conclusion, hardly a mind blowing update, but I'll take it. Small agile improvements are good.

Mark

A few quick tips for a friend who asked me about taking photos with an iPhone.

I Don't mind you getting in touch at all, hope all is good with you. In fact I'm flattered by the kind words. I take all of my mobile photos with the standard iPhone camera app. Where things then change is in the editing of the pictures to improve the picture or get the feel you want.

I use an app called Snapseed. It's very easy to learn and start getting good results. There are some excellent tutorials here: http://iphonephotographyschool.com/tag/snapseed/ .

Actually that website is a great resource for inspiration. But the two key things I think have improved my photography more than anything:

1. Learning about composition http://iphonephotographyschool.com/composition-tips/ - (tip - you can recompose a photo by cropping afterwards.)

2. Deciding what the subject or story of the photo is, and getting rid of as much distraction from the story as possible.

Other than this, just take loads of photos and play with snapseed. Follow inspiring blogs or instagramers to get inspiration and ideas. You'll soon find styles of photos you really like, and these styles will start making their way into your shots.

Hope this helps, and you are going somewhere nice - enjoy :)

Trying to write 750 words

There are a few websites that talk about the benefits of bashing out 750 words a day. I find it an interesting thought that just typing away and clearing the brain could be a good way to destress and help focus the mind. 750 words is around 2 sides of A4 paper and actually a decent amount of text. This can mean that you are just drivelling on about a load of rubbish.

BENEFITS

That I can see to forcing myself to write 750 words a day

- Helps to get the creative juices going - especially in the morning
- Forces one to pick a topic to start chatting about
- The target of 750 words, means - just keep going and see what happens
- In a world dominated by micro content (twitter for example) it helps maintain skills for longer form writing
- Improves writing generally
- Improve typing speed

NEGATIVES
That I can see from forcing myself to write 750 words a day

- Is this sacrificing decent quality, by drivelling on
- Is the target realistic or will you become despondent when you only get to 250 words
- What if you have nothing to write about
- If you have nothing good to say, don't say it at all!

At this point I have written 219 words. Wow it is actually pretty touch to write 750 words, about 750 words. It goes to show that longform writing does take either a decent amount of research or an in depth knowledge of the the subject. Trying to type out 750 words straight off, without pausing or heading to the internet to "research" is quite a challenge. Perhaps it is just a habit I have got out of. Perhaps I just need to set myself a lower target. Would 500 words or even 250 be a better target and something to actually stick at?

MAKES ME THINK

- What is the average length of a web page?
- How many words does the average web browser read on each page?

For me I generally, skim read articles and web pages. Even news articles I'm just digesting the headlines. This is pretty sad really. My attention span has definitely got shorter as I've now been using the web for over 10 years. But then perhaps I had a pretty short attention span in the first place. I really do think things like twitter haven't helped at all. Scroll, Scroll, Click, Scroll, Scroll. Perhaps it's just the tactile feel of the phone that has perpetuated this? Even in the early days of the internet, just using a PC to browse. The nature of the web, just encourages clicking away. Also I because there is so much dross on the internet, I imagine people now just try sift through a load of the junk (like this piece) to get to the good stuff. I can't imagine I would read 750 words of this "article".

This brings me to think about content on the web and what the purpose of most content is. Most content is there to either generate ad revenue or capture your personal data. I have no problem with either of these. There is other content that is largely self-promotion or advertising. It's no surprise really, when the some of the biggest companies on the planet are based on the internet. There is some great content out there too. Some amazing independent bloggers, and academic research that I barely tap into. I think it may be time to refocus my reading habits, and start consuming quality content, that can actually add to my wisdom, rather than scan reading click bait.

So to summarise, writing 750 words straight out the bat is a bit of a challenge. It's difficult to build out something that flows, makes sense, and has relevant content. That challenge is why I can see the merit of establishing a routine of writing longer content more frequently. Bashing out 750 words a day would be a pretty big challenge for most people. Once a week might be dooable for me, but perhaps it's worth persevering and giving it a go. It also helps give a sense of what a "proper" article may look like in terms of substance over style. Perhaps I could even learn to enjoy it as a daily ritual. That's today's 750 words a wrap. Now it is.

(751 words)

Writing on the iPhone

Now I'm now using the iPhone as my a main way to capture text. I've become so used to to typing away on a small touchscreen keyboard, that it is now the quickest way for me to type. I can bash out 750 words pretty easily on the small keyboard. There are always a few typos, but I'd rather just keep typing and go back and fix these later. There is something compelling about being able to quickly jot down a stream of consciousness in no time. It would be interesting to do a speed test on my typing as I think I'm getting to the point where I can draft faster on the iPhone that a full size keyboard.

This article was entirely composed on an iPhone.

**I love the portability.** I'm currently typing this while lying on a sofa, chilling out. There is something about not sitting at a desk, that helps free up my mind to just type away. I can capture and edit an article anywhere any time. My phone is with me 24/7. It is always charged. Always switched on, within two clicks I can start typing away. Compare this to going and getting my laptop, getting sat somewhere comfortable, firing it up, then finally getting to type text. It takes me around 30 minutes to capture 750 words. Who has time for that? Think of the amount of time you are sat with your phone. On the train, at the airport, waiting for someone or something... It doesn't take many of these occasions in a day to add up.

The iPhone also performs brilliantly outdoors in sunlight. The screen is clear bright and the text is easy to read. This is more than I can say for any laptop I've ever used, including my latest high end MacBook Pro. This means I can create text in places that may give more inspiration to my writing. Just writing in the garden opens up my mind a little bit. Writing can take place in inspiring places. Beaches, mountains, parks, cafes, museums, anywhere. When travelling, obviously it's a great tool to capture thoughts and notes. It's small and doesn't attract attention like whipping out a laptop would. It is so perfect on a flight. I've tried so many times to get the laptop out to get some work done. Elbows get in the way. Drinks get spilt and food gets messy. Then You have the pain of storing it under your feet for the rest of the flight.

**I just can't get on with tablets for text.** I've tried my mini tablet to take text notes. Perhaps I need more practise, but I find the device way too big for any serious note taking. I've tried both landscape and portrait orientation, but I just find it too clunky. The iPhone just feels about the right size for a handheld keyboard. As phones inevitably get bigger (typing this on an iPhone 6) perhaps I will find it easier to type on bigger devices.

**Battery life.** Put an iPhone into airplane mode and just use it for typing text, and it will probably stay awake longer than you will. It's also pretty easy to carry one of those little battery backup devices, which can be a bit of a lifesaver.

**Finally distraction free.** Ever tried writing some long form text on a laptop and found yourself distracted? I know phones can be distracting too. All sorts of buzzing and notifications. But for me personally I find when typing away on an app, I'm less likely to wander off to Facebook. This is because on the small screen of a phone, there is only room for one app open. This gives me focus. Right now I'm typing this on a text editor and I can't see a web browser open anywhere on the screen. Clearly you can make a desktop app full screen, and I use this approach sometimes. However there is something very simple about a singe dedicated app open on a phone. You may have gathered, I like simplicity.

**Covert note taking.** This isn't as sinister as it sounds. But is probably the most compelling thing about writing on the iPhone. I like the fact that I can be typing out articles or notes in all situations. People are so used to people playing with their phones, that using your phone to type up a few text notes at anytime is not seen as unusual. If someone does something amusing, gives a great quote, or you just need to remember their name, whipping out your phone is no problem. Get out a notebook and pen and you are going to get some funny looks.

So there are a raft of reasons to make the iPhone your primary tool for capturing text. I mainly use it for personal note taking and long articles, but based on my thoughts above perhaps I should ditch the MacBook and go with the phone more often!