I was at an Edward de Bono course last week, which coincided with the 65th anniversary of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.

One of the things we discussed is how to think “outside the proverbial box” and how you can get truly outstanding results.

I thought this story is truly uplifting and is one where a small but radical bit of thinking really made a difference and one where it is not just about sadness, but hope, from a dark and tragic chapter:

An extract from the diary of Lieutenant Colonel Mervin Willett Gonin DSO, who was among the first British soldiers to liberate Bergen-Belsen in 1945. The start describing the horrific scenes the liberators saw can be found in depth with a few clicks of a mouse & I will not repeat here:

“It was shortly after the British Red Cross arrived, though it may have no connection, that a very large quantity of lipstick arrived. This was not at all what we men wanted, we were screaming for hundreds and thousands of other things and I don’t know who asked for lipstick.

I wish so much that I could discover who did it, it was the action of genius, sheer unadulterated brilliance. I believe nothing did more for these internees than the lipstick. Women lay in bed with no sheets and no nightie but with scarlet red lips, you saw them wandering about with nothing but a blanket over their shoulders, but with scarlet red lips. I saw a woman dead on the post mortem table and clutched in her hand was a piece of lipstick. At last someone had done something to make them individuals again, they were someone, no longer merely the number tattooed on the arm. At last they could take an interest in their appearance. That lipstick started to give them back their humanity.”

Thanks to John Baker (no relation) for talking about this episode and Banksy for alerting me to it.

Mark Simpson is tax savings director at Simpson Burgess Nash.

Mark’s practice advises many, many creative agencies and organisations on how to keep more money, completely legally, from HMRC – a worthy vocation I am sure you will concur.

So if you are a creative professional or you run a PR / marketing / digital agency, or perhaps a gaming business, take a few minutes to listen to Mark’s words of wisdom.

Part One – listen to interview with Mark on tax savings tips

Part Two – rounding-up with savings that can be made on VAT

ARTISAN Marketing Communications has won the account to re-brand Manchester’s clampers as lovable but productive rogues.

The Manchester based PR agency will also be working hard to improve the reputation of traffic wardens within the city.

Every year the thoughtless parking acts of Manchester car users result in millions of pounds rightly being siphoned from them.  This money promptly goes back to the people of Manchester.

However, those going about doing the clamping and ticket giving are not seen in a positive light despite contributing to the people of Manchester’s finances. The newly appointed agency has been tasked with changing this image.

Parking fines now account for 10% of Manchester’s finances.

Rob Baker of Artisan comments: “I think our road traffic laws, as laid down in the Road Traffic Acts 2001 and 2001 are commendable and often abused.  It is not the fault of the Council that it has to impose the fines it does – and we have to get this message out.”

Baker continues: “You have to realise they have a job to do and if it means being fined £140, not having a car for a day and waiting an hour in the night rain with flu for a lift from your mates sister because there were inadequate warnings, so be it.  I am sure glad it taught me a valuable lesson and now I can contribute to teaching others.”

Artisan Marketing Communications is also improving the image of estate agents, politicians and drivers of white vans.

April Fool!!

A bit sardonic this year – I am a bitter man.

Last year’s Manchester PR agencies using illegal slave labour sweatshops in Cheetham Hill might be more light-hearted – you cannot say “this blog is not current.”  It was the time of the Primark controversy.

A bit of frivolity on this beautiful morning: funny newspaper headlines.

My favourite is “Waterford boy,8, saves sister’s life.”

His view on the next line: “I wouldn’t do it again. She’s been a pain this week.”

Back to serious stuff with the next entries on LinkedIn with networking guru Will Kintish, a look at location social media “phenomenon” – perhaps – Foursquare and a look at some favourite Twitter article links.

Have you seen the McDonald’s rebrand?

It has not been promoted as you would expect, but the McDonald’s around Manchester have been going “green.” Shops have lost that “lustrous” yellow and red, and have gone more earthy in hue.

The impression is that McDonald’s is now part of the healthier greener revolution.

It is quite clever not to shout about it on McDonald’s part (unless I have not been watching television enough to pick up  on it) – a gradual shift is much more subtle and will be more effective than a big advertising campaign.

Is this greener image based in reality?  I don’t know and really don’t care.  What is of interest is whether it will have the desired results.

Will McDonald’s now be seen as more ethical and in touch with “saving the world and our bodies” or will users still think of it as a quick bite, and not possibly care about nutrition or the corporate social responsibility elements of dining there?

Can anybody enlighten me as I go ethnic and read my Saturday Guardian with a shisha?

Wow!: a cross between techie, photo-journalist and Sgt Bilko (in the nicest possible way of course – he is one of my TV heroes) Christian Payne, AKA Documentally, gave us an insight into how to get the most out of Twitter.

I thought it might be a run through and at a level for beginners (although Phil Birchenall had of The White Room had tried to describe how amazing Christian is in conveying the power of social media).  It did turn out to be a tremendously interesting hour.

Alright onto business: What did I learn?  Where do I begin?  Let’s see.

Christian is a one man media kit: he carries around a range of items to record photos / video / audio and this content is transmitted with almost immediate unhindered effect to Twitter.  From there an interview, for example, will be re-tweeted from his lists and followers.  The viral effect sounded tremendous, if not a little frightening in its potential.

Christian said that 75% of his activity was through Twitter, which he said was the most powerful and cherished tool he has because:

• Of the feedback loop as alluded to above
• Easy to access (no barriers like Facebook)
• The potential for conversation

If you add the fact that Twitter is growing at 1382% a year (and these figures he quoted are 3 months old) then the potential gets more exciting; Facebook by comparison, if I have remembered properly has 182% growth.

Christian gave the following advice on using Twitter:

• Lists are most important than followers because they help identify your interests and put like minds in contact – so check out your followers’ lists
• Nurture your followers
• Christian was very enthusiastic about using the iPhone, particularly Audioboo, to further how you harness Twitter.  His interviews are conducted through the phone although he puts a prop on it to make it look like a microphone.

And communication technologies to look out for in the future?

• Augmented reality
• Changes in search – but he didn’t expand on this point
• Google deep-tagging for video and audio tagging – if you produce content you will be able to see who has infringed on copyright.

If my piece seems a bit confused, perhaps piecemeal, well the hour was a whirlwind. I think you can only get an insight into how Christian uses social media – it takes a little longer to take it all in.

If I could spend a day with Christian I think I would grow in my understanding of social media techniques at the rate comparable to what I could learn in a month of being self-taught.

Thanks to DMEX and North West Vision and Media for organising.

If the branding and page tool bar has gone on this page please let me know, it could just be my browser.

It is 4 years already.

I know it is cliched, but I really cannot believe it at all.

When you start to work for yourself you have a steep learning curve and boy it was. You also have to establish a reputation, one distinct from anywhere you have worked for in the past – it takes time.

I still have a steep learning curve ahead of me.  When I started PR was more firmly rooted in traditional media.  The armoury was the press release and the article.  Now things have changed.   Yes those things are important, but the emergence of social media as a form of communications has really revolutionized my role and offering – and is doing so all the time.

When I started I had nought, not even business cards.  But I established a reputation where today I get approached by businesses needing PR as well as being proactive myself.

At first I was disappointed not to be called “Artisan PR” as it was taken by an Edinburgh based agency.  Now I am glad to be called “Artisan Marketing Communications” as the brief has changed: it is about a rounder , broader approach where not only traditional PR has to be implemented well, but also social media and this includes an understanding of techniques such as video and in the near future, mobile.

The PR role is more exciting than at any time since it first emerged to any degree (that I know of) in the 60s.

Not only do I have to execute PR campaigns, but I also have to learn about how the media world is changing as well as promote Artisan.  It is more than a full-time job, and one that might require some help- I am hoping to take on an apprentice one day soon.

Any regrets?

Another cliche: I wish I had started much earlier.  But perhaps the timing wasn’t right.  Do things happen for a reason?  Maybe my timing was right this time.

Many thanks to everyone that has supported me: friends, family, networkers, clients.  I have been lucky that I have had many, many people on my side.  I hope that I have returned that warming approach to a good degree.

A little note: Is agency the right word in the title?  I wasn’t sure.  But if I do recruit then perhaps I will meet it on the technicality.

I just wanted to give a mention to Matthew Goldsbrough in his efforts to raise £1000 for Ashgate Hospice in memory of his wife Philippa Kyle.

You might know Matthew from the Manchester business scene or perhaps from his social media communications.

You might not know that Matthew suffered the sad loss of his wife Philippa last year to a terminal illness.

Philippa was cared for by Ashgate Hospice in her last hours and Matthew says that they were a great comfort in this difficult time to his wife and himself.

Ashgate Hospice is an independent registered charity covering North Derbyshire, providing specialist palliative care to terminally ill adults and their families.  Care is provided on the ward, day centre, out patient suite and at home and all services are provided free of charge.  £1.8 million must be raised annually from voluntary giving.

So if you can help Matthew and Ashgate Hospice please go to this Just Giving page.

I have been designing my new business cards with James Dickinson from Chilli Cactus, and James has done a sterling job with four new designs.

(Funnily James sent through an incredible business card offer and I bumped into him next day networking and so briefed and agreed there and then).

I have a preference (I like the retro 70s feel on reverse three based on a 1974 shirt I have), but opinions welcome.  Reverse two would work if using only the two blocks of colours, but hard to get the logo on the other side – slighlty inspired by Orange, the mobile company.

The Spot UV means that the logo will be Matt and so will be highlighted.

The discount offer on business cards is open until the end of the month, James can give you details on james@chillicactus.co.uk

There is a slight distortion on the images’ proportions to fit them into the space on the blog.

I start to write this from a chilly Internet cafe in Chang Mai, northern Thailand.

If the aircon permits – I will seize up with cold if it isn’t turned down – I will give a small review of 2009, so far.

I came back to work at the start of 2009 with a less than positive view of the PR industry’s prospects, and business in general.  I remember The Times assaulting readers with front page stories that included emotive words such as “doom,” “meltdown” and “gloom.”  And this state of affairs, as I recall lasted from October well into Febraury, with a daily stream of economic misery.

I called my friend Mark Greenwood, who runs Simply Networking, about it and he said, “Get on with you daft idiot,” or words to that effect – and I did.

The recession did not hit me until April or May when I lost a few clients whose clients were downsizing work, stopped work, sometimes for good.

Summer, and I am sure this goes for many Manchester PR agencies, was not brimming.  But October onwards has seen a couple of inquiries a week – good inquiries. Indeed I was writing proposals and handling inquiries until the day before I went away.

So the start of 2010 looks encouraging.  I am not sure how much interest will materialise, but it is a much better state of affairs than summer.

I have been involved in social media, especially blogging, since I started four years ago.  But this year was the year that I think marked a bigger push towards greater emphasis of it in my work.  Of course Twitter has been a main highlight although when I signed on near its launch I was initially dismissive, but now I am a devotee – I might have a new client from it for January.

I feel next year will be the year I kick on much more with social media, going from, perhaps, someone who has a good appreciation who can train clients to a high standard, to a professional of a much greater standing.

A special mention to the marvellous Craig McGinty.  Craig has freely given me his insight into social media for a couple of years or more now.

Craig’s help has been invaluable and his emigration to France has been disappointing from a selfish point of view.  I am hoping to interview him for this blog over the course of 2010.  You can follow Craig’s work popular online magazine on all things French: This French Life

Traditional media still figures strongly and the record of achieving good coverage in trade press continues.

Writing for awards and the Internet continues and there is a big case study workload for January already.

So, all in all it hasn’t been a bad year.  You always feel you can do better – I think this is innate guilt – but I would like 2010 not to echo that thought at all.

A note of thanks: These are a few of the people that have really helped me and I wanted to say thanks. 

Besides my clients and key suppliers they are Simon Wharton (for his help with my blog and tips on social media as well as giving me the encouragement to get started for myself), Jim Symcox (again social media and general advice), Birgit Wilde (arch networker), my friend Pauline Rawstherne, the members of Manchester Business Breakfast Club.  A special to thank you to all those you have recommended me, given me referrals or spoken on my behalf.

Also thanks to all the journalists that helped or worked with me over the year, a non-exhaustive list for NW: Michael Taylor and Insider staff, Kevin Feddy and team, Tony McDonough, Simon Cronin, Helen Brown, Corinne Hill and the team at BBC GMR, Shawn Selby, the How-Do team and Brian Everall and team. 

I am bound to have missed people out, so I hope no-one is offended.

My family of course.

There are still four days to go before new year, so I will have more of a think.

Finished, with amends and corrections (sorry find it hard sometimes to use other peoples’ PCs), on Thai – Lao border