After a particularly manic week on all fronts, it’s good to take a few minutes out and reflect on what’s behind some of the bizarre goings-on at work.

Sometimes it can be really great to stumble across a blog and learn something new. I did just that this evening when I ended up reading Ian Delaney’s explanation of non-linear search.

Spannerworks has just published a handy new e-book covering the basics of social media.

London 2012 brand guidelines
Basic information about protected rights for London 2012
(tags: olympics marketing)

Protected marks
Summary of protected marks for London 2012
(tags: olympics marketing)

Full information and examples about permitted marks
A full brief on what is and isn’t permitted around London 2012 marketing
(tags: olympics marketing)

Unofficial London 2012 forum
(tags: olympics marketing)

Mainstream adoption of RSS took a step forward yesterday when Google launched its Reader product. This is the new version of Google’s RSS reader and includes features like feed discovery and sharing.

So David Brain has had an unexpected opportunity to chat face to face with Colin Farrington, CIPR director-general. And the conversation has thrown up a challenge – what does the UK social media community want CIPR to do to promote these new communications channels?

The discussion around the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) and the thoughts of Director-General Colin Farrington on social media continues.

Podcasting – A smart guide to podcasts and podcasting
A good introduction to what podcasting is all about
(tags: simon’s+podcast+project podcasting)

Create podcasts using your PC
A good nuts and bolts guide to producing audio content with PC and free software
(tags: simon’s+podcast+project podcasting)

Today is OneWebDay – “a global day to celebrate online life”. When I heard I did take a few minutes to reflect how the internet has changed the life I lead.

Matthew Stibbe at the Bad Language blog has a great post about seven types of bad writing that many of will see every day.

Stumbled across an interesting post this morning about web 2.0 websites in the UK on the Read/Write Web site. I certainly learnt about some new sites I wasn’t aware of, and saw some that I did know about.

Before You Record A Podcast
(tags: podcasting)

Designing customer processes to trigger desired emotional reactions is a key way of differentiating your product or service from its competitors. This is particularly true online where the differentiator of personal service doesn’t come into play.

At a key organisation I work with I’ve managed to persuade the powers that be to commit to a six month trial of podcasting and video podcasting. This is a real step forward in communications for this type of organisation.

Paul Gillin is writing a book called The New Influencers – a history and commentary on social media, what’s behind its rapid growth, and profiles on some key players in this space.

PodProducer
Free software for podcast production
(tags: podcasting)

Jellycast – the record breaking podcast hosting service – fast podcasting hosts
Low cost podcast and videocast hosting
(tags: podcasting)

How to Podcast
Good guide to podcasting
(tags: podcasting)

Troy White has a good post about the wide range of tools that are now available to marketers.

It’s been interesting to watch how marketing and PR professionals have adopted social media as a tool for communicating. PR professionals seem to have adopted social media much quicker than their marketing counterparts, but that could now be changing.

Recording with external mic [Archive] – Aximsite
(tags: podcasting)

Podcast expert at PortableMediaExpo.com
List of podcasting guides
(tags: podcasting)

Most weeks I see a few things that I’d like to blog, but don’t have the time during the week. So I thought I’d try just saving them until the end of the week when I have a bit more time to do a round-up.

Marketers tend to focus on acquiring new customers, and don’t spend much on looking after existing customers. Kathy Sierra thinks this is a mistake.