Paul Walsh, the Irish Opportunist

I sent a tweet this morning to say I was going to do a ‘#followfriday’ for the very first time. A number of people asked me what that meant, so I’ve decided to write a short post to explain.

#followfriday is a way of recommending people you follow, to other users on Twitter. The idea is that those being recommended will gain new followers.

I feel so strongly about my recommendations that I’ve decided to write why I’m recommending them as potential people for you to follow.

People I recommend and why

@Sheetalmmehta (London)

Helping companies to go global, Innovation, Social entrepreneurship, Technology, Investment…

Sheetal is one of the most inspiring people I have ever met. Sheetal is the UK Dealmaker for the UK Trade & Investment. She sits on several advisory panels including Shelter, UNIFEM (United Nations Development Fund for Women), Digital Diaspora Network for Africa, and the LSE Alumni Mentoring Committee. Her volunteer work is extensive and she is currently writing a book on Social Venture Capital. One of her most notable accomplishments is her new foundation that enables developing communities to access cutting-edge technology based on a social enterprise model.

@Mikeyfletch (London)

Technology journalist, Events, Networking

Mike is an established business & lifestyle journalist. He’s launched three magazines on behalf of UK publishing house Haymarket Media Group & specialises in marketing, media & live events. He is Contributing Editor for Visit London and also owns a part-share in digital networking company Net.works. Mike is also one of the best connected, if not the best connected person in the entire UK events industry.

@PatPhelan (Cork)

Technology with a bias towards mobile, Connector, Innovation

Pat is the founder and President of Cubic Telecom, a well known disruptor in telephony circles and one of the leading voices of Voice 2.0. Pat has developed a number of unique products for the USA, UK and Irish markets including MAXroam, and is a board member of Global Roaming, a NASDAQ listed company (OTCBB:GRDB). Pat has a genuine passion for connecting people and has been responsible for connecting me with some truely amazing people.

@JackieDanicki (San Francisco)

Marketing (true expert in the use of new tools, techniques and trends such as social and Web 2.0), Connector, Writer

Jackie is an extremely direct person who always speaks her mind. She’s an incredibly insightful marketer which is difficult to come by. Almost every marketer and PR expert think they know how to make best use of Web 2.0 tools and techniques. Jackie does - which is why she’s the Director of Marketing at Qik; one of the most innovative mobile products companies in the world. Like Pat, Jackie has a genuine passion for connecting people and has been responsible for connecting me with some truely amazing people.

@Jobsworth (London)

Technology, Social Enterprise, Innovation, Writer, OpenSource,

JP has  spent most of his life working in the space where finance meets technology, for a number of very large firms. Since 2006 he has worked for BT, as part of BT Design, where he is Head of Innovation and Strategy. He has a passion for how work is changing: the paradigms created by globalisation, disintermediation and the web; the implications of virtualisation, service orientation and commoditisation.  JP is an inspiring speaker and writer, who I admire most for his passion for how technology can be put to good use for the benefit of society.

If you decide to follow any of these great people, or you do already, please feel free to retweet my message - they all deserve to be heard by as many people as possible.

You can also leave a comment with the people you recommend on Twitter.

I announced the registration page for OpenSoho June this morning and as a result of all the retweets from Computer Weekly, The Telegraph and others, my announcement had a potential reach of approximately 15,000 people. This can only help to demonstrate the power of twitter for marketing events, products and services. With this in mind, I decided to tweet this fun statistic in the hope someone would also retweet that, and they did, Milo from the Telegraph retweeted it. Oh the joy of it all.

In April 2008 I wrote some twitter tips to help new users better understand how to use the social network - my post includes how to make your messages more prone to being retweeted by others as I did above. Why not check them out.

I’ve been suffering from a weird intermittent cough since December and after many months of pestering from friends and family, I decided to get it check by a specialist - not a bad idea given that my GP couldn’t cure it with three lots of antibiotics and the like.

It turns out that I might not have had pleurisy after all. The pain in my side every time I coughed, according to the specialist, was probably down to a cracked rib. It’s no wonder I was in so much pain every time I laughed.

What I’m left with now, is kinda like Asthma, but not long-term. My wind pipe is tight and inflamed, which means I’ll be on an inhaler for a couple of months - so nothing major. At least I know what it is and it can be fixed.

Anyway, I decided to write this post as a result of my weird, but very funny visit to the specialist today. I asked if it was ok for me to take a picture of my chest x-ray. He said “sure, I’m going to give it to you anyway - is it for Facebook?” - to which I replied, “er, kinda. It’s for a service called Twitter, have you ever heard of it?”. “Yes of course, replied the 50-something year old doctor. I don’t use it myself but I know what it is”.

The clincher was his closing “perhaps you can link to my name when you’re all cured?! giggle”.

Social media 1. Twitter specifically, 2. Skeptics, 0.

Love it.

When Google first announced that it had acquired Jaiku, my first question was, ‘why?’. Why buy the second best in the market?! I’m a firm believer in going after the best and only the best. Some would argue that Jaiku is more feature-rich and easier to use than Twitter. However, I was never attracted to it because none of my followers/friends were on there. ‘Better’ doesn’t necessarily equal ‘better features’. In Twitter’s case, it’s main benefit was ‘people’ (i.e. users).

When Google launched Latitude I thanked my contacts at the company for educating the marketing as clearly, their product doesn’t actual solve a problem. I’ll write more about that later. By launching latitude without any Jaiku integration, it proves they were unable to make use of the software. Perhaps they knew they were flogging a dead horse. Anyway, it’s a little late to go after Twitter - they should have put in an offer when (all) of my friends were mocking me for using the service - when it was still very early and mainly used as a one-way broadcast medium.

Unsurprisingly, Twitter turned down Googles offer and according to TechCrunch, it looks like Apple is now making a move.

So, who’s going to buy Twitter? Apple, Google, Microsoft or one of the main operators (carriers)?

I’m hoping Twitter remains independent but there’s only so long they can hold back from a gazillon dollars.

Follow me on Twitter.

So, what’s wrong with it? It’s an entire page dedicated to Twitter in Square Meal magazine, entitled ‘To Tweet or Not to Tweet’, aimed at people who host parties and events and it doesn’t have a single quote from me. Why is that wrong? Let me explain…

1. I have more than 4,000 followers - more than anyone else who’s involved in UK based events
2. I run an events company
3. I have (arguably) been responsible for some of the most successful marketing campaigns on twitter - specifically for events promotion (for example, selling more than 200 tickets in less than 12 hours, during the night)
4. I own some restaurants
5. This is the best bit, the author of the article is none other than my bloody flatmate who knows all of the above.

Brilliant. By the way, this post is in jest so don’t think for a second I’m being serious. I just couldn’t stop laughing when Mike showed me the article this afternoon. One word for him - git! I’ve decided not to read it out of protest.

Am I being harsh on the git? Whatever you do, do not follow him on twitter!

Taken from the Metro:

Using Facebook or Twitter may make you a bad person because it ruins your moral compass, it has been claimed.

Fast-paced modern media, such as Facebook updates and news feeds on Twitter, do not give us time to reflect and could make us indifferent to human suffering, according to a group of researchers.

Children could be particularly vulnerable because their brains are still developing, it was claimed.

‘If things are happening too fast, you may not ever fully experience emotions about other people’s psychological states and that would have implications for your morality,’ said researcher Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, from the University of Southern California.

Yet another dumb ass quote from another dumb ass lecturer. Why do respectable publications such as the Metro (well, I enjoy reading it anyway) continue to quote people who’s job it is to come up with new opposing opinions to that of the general public?

Dear Metro, please try to interview people who know what they’re talking about. Stop interviewing people who sit on the fence commentating on the theory of everything, without actually delving into the real world of practise.

Facebook and Twitter brings out the best in us in my opinion. People have an instinct to help others by sharing opinions, contacts, advice, gossip and the like. What are your thoughts?

The tools that Twitter endorse are few and far between. So, when it’s revealed that it plans to “officially endorse” ExecTweets, and to encourage more brands to create customised Twitter homepages, it deserves to get my full attention.

I haven’t got time to write about this right now, so why not read what Milo has to say at The Telegraph - where I picked up the story.

Follow me on Twitter
Follow Milo on Twitter

I wasn’t going to give The Register the link bait it was looking for when Andrew Orlowski decided to write a horrendous attack on the organisers of a global charity event called The Twestival. I thought so highly of the idea that I flew to the Dublin one rather than hit the London event.

Instead of blogging about it, I blasted them on Twitter - to which, a number of very respected journalists demonstrated their support by blasting The Register itself - they basically told me not to waste my breath on them.

Paul Carr has published an email conversation between him and the gimp behind The Register article - it’s brilliantly put and it really does demonstrate how much of a twat Andrew Orlowski is.

It’s this kind of shite from the minority that gives journalists a bad name.

Read Paul’s blog post for a more insighful piece.

This post won’t mean anything if you don’t already use Twitter. So, either join and follow me, or ignore this post

This is a fantatsic tip given to me by Louise Doherty. First I’ll explain what RT means - it’s short for Retweet and it’s something you do when you wish to promote someone elses twitter message to your own followers. All you do is type RT followed by the message you wish quote and where appropriate, include your own thoughts.

When someone retweets your message, they include your screen name, the letters RT and a space. So, it’s difficult or time consuming for others to RT your message if it’s almost 140 characters long and they’re forced to edit your message. My screen name is @PaulWalsh which means I must keep my messages to 127 characters or less to make it easy for others to retweet without the need to edit. Below is Louise’s formula which I think is pretty cool - it sums up what I’ve just said in less than 140 characters.

RT formula: <140 - (username + 4) x interestingness = probability of RT

If you find this post useful, why not retweet it

I’ve decided to head to the Dublin Twestival on February 12th - hosted by my buddy Aido. A few other London-based folk have decided to do the same since I sent out my note on Twitter. I’ve included my itinerary below should you wish to join us on our wee expedition. Everyone is welcome to join us.

Depart from Heathrow on February 12th at 13:25 with BMI. Return on the 13th at 20:20 - flying with BA - into Gatwick. Book via lastminute.com to get the best deal - hence why we’re flying in and out of different airports.

We’re staying at these apartments for just 95 euro per night.

If you’re wondering what this Twestival thing is all about, check out the Web site - hat-tip to Amanda for putting on this great global event.

Feel free to drop a comment if you’re going to attend this event - as I might arrange a meetup beforehand. And make sure to nudge me if you see me hanging around. I don’t visit Dublin often enough, so I don’t know as many people as I should. See you there!