hackbash

So, if we accept that clumsy attempts at engagement are not welcome, is there a right way for a brand to involve itself in discussions online? Here, in the interests of being constructive, are my suggestions: 1 Choose the right blog – find somebody who blogs with a degree of authority and influence, and who [...]

Read Full Post »

Hi. I’d like everyone who works in marketing to sit down and take a deep breath. You can make a cup of tea if it will help. I’m not an online influencer. It’s true. Really; I’m a nobody. Oh, I’m not a brand advocate, either. I’m not sure I even know any. Are you sure [...]

Read Full Post »

Or: Why newspapers should wake up and smell the link etiquette. Been meaning to post on this for a while… now Mark Higginson has gawn done it, with this incisive observation on how annoying it is when websites insist on treating themselves as a final destination rather than one point on a journey. He takes [...]

Read Full Post »

Hmmm. I’ve just updated our software to WordPress 2.5. Despite my recent form and the terrifying detailed upgrade instructions, it appears to have worked. At least, I’d written that before trying to upload this screenshot which, predictably, broke. There’s a fix, but I seem to be channelling Alannis Morisette at the moment. Yesterday, someone sent [...]

Read Full Post »

I’ve come to a mini-realisation. There is no getting away from IT. Let me fill you in – I used to work in tech support, which was OK, but there’s only so many progress meters a man can take. If you laid mine end to end they’d probably reach Belgium. My plan was to begin [...]

Read Full Post »

Right, I’ve sussed out this internet thing. We’re all turning into Smash Hits. Bear with me. A colleague sent me this a while back: a survey of US journalists’ attitude to and engagement with blogs. I’ve been meaning to write about it for a while now, but hey, I’ve got time on my hands this [...]

Read Full Post »

Kind of a note-to-self: editorial process is a Good Thing. And although blogging is all conversational and flexible and 2.0, it’s sometimes handy to ask a friend (or, what the hell, journalistic colleague) to cast their eagle eye over your draft. Especially when you’re planning to post at the end of the day. So, Handolio: [...]

Read Full Post »

Right. Regular visitors will notice that Hackbash has been in varying states of disrepair since Monday. It’s my fault – sorry and all – but don’t say I didn’t warn you. Anyway, we’re now situated at new web hosts, who have answered and solved all my emails for help. They’re dirt-cheap and I’m very grateful, [...]

Read Full Post »

Recent experience suggests that I’ve lost my IT mojo: that silicon and I are no longer on speaking terms. And yet, I persist in fooling around with forces more powerful than I can imagine. First it was the broadband upgrade, then a tedious episode over Christmas that started out as an attempt to breathe new [...]

Read Full Post »

We weren’t quite sure how to take mrsnakeface’s comment on my terms and conditions post (precious content?), but it made me ask myself a couple of questions: 1) Is this an angry website? That’s not the intention. Perhaps Charlie and I just have a lot of pent-up rage? “Hackbash” was coined with a gathering of [...]

Read Full Post »