The Digital Blonde

Highs and Lows of Boxhill to Leatherhead

2010-03-08T04:54:00.000-08:00

Oh how pleased I was to wake up and find it was a sunny day. Michelle and I have had the date in our diary for some weeks and decided come rain or shine I had to get out and start walking. Michelle is one of the lovely people who has offered to join me on some training walks and will tackle the 3 Peaks challenge with me in June.

I reckon this is the first time I have been out walking since I did Duke of Edinburgh Bronze at secondary school . . . now that was a very long time ago! I turned up with no map or compass but plenty of enthusiasm and the hope that I didn’t get anywhere near as lost as the old D of E days!

I had such a lovely day wearing in my walking boots, having a girly natter and just getting out in the fresh air. It wasn’t a particularly challenging route but we had a couple of steep inclines which gave me some idea of where I need to focus my training in the coming months. If all training is as fun as this, I am in for a lovely summer.

So what were the highs and lows?
On the plus side it would have to be making it across the stepping stones, partly submerged in water without a typical Karen clumsy moment. Then just being out in the sun and bumping into friendly people on route. And finally the Cadbury’s Creme Egg that I took along for lunch.

Not so good was having to pay to use filthy toilets at Clapham Junction on the way home. But it’s bedding me in, little by little, for the lack of toilets on Kili!

All in all a lovely day. Michelle even spotted a future Mr Karen and pointed out what she referred to as a ‘silver fox’. So there I was all excited about a George Clooney stunner until I saw who she meant – sadly he was a white haired (not silver) old rambler.

Advice From 3 Wise Sponsors

2010-03-06T11:03:00.000-08:00

What a fantastic week I have had with fundraising. After a call on Tuesday with Bernie Hollywood I have been totally inspired. Bernie is an amazing guy who has completed tons of challenges to raise loads of cash for worthy charities. Check out what he plans to do over the next six months: http://www.berniehollywood.com/Bernie_Hollywood/BernieHollywood.com_-_Challenge_Diary.html

He gave me so much advice on how to approach fundraising and told me ‘get on with it right away’. So for once I did what I was told! That evening I set to and came up with some corporate packages, started planning all the fundraising and wrote many lists! Then on Thursday I set to by telling people about what I was doing and by the end of the day I had 3 corporate partners/sponsors.

My sponsors have all been very generous with their donations to the British Heart Foundation. But that’s not where it stops they have also offered their time, knowledge and advice to help me achieve the mental, physical and fundraising goal I have set myself.

Trojan Training www.trojantraining.co.uk
Trojan will be making sure I get in shape for the climb. This means a varied and active training regime that unfortunately involves many before work gym sessions. I will also be joining Trojan Training on boot camps and other outdoor activity such as the 3 peaks challenge in June. You won’t miss me in the local gym as Trojan has also provided branded gym kit to get sweaty in!

After listening to me moan about feeling slugglish and my aching legs that don’t seem to recover after each session, Chris Lee, Managing Director of Trojan insisted on “more water, more protein, more stretching”. Let’s see if I do what I am told this time!

AVF Marketing www.avfmarketing.co.uk
AVF Marketing is my family’s marketing consultancy based in Yorkshire. My Dad, Arnold Fewell (Managing Director) knows all about setting sporting goals and how positive mental attitude is essential in achieving anything. Unfortunately he has just had to retire from International Wheelchair Archery and sadly bid farewell to his London 2012 Paralympic dream – sometimes our bodies are not as strong as our minds. During the time he was working towards this goal he spent many hours with a sports psychologist and so will be sharing his determination skills with me.

AVF Marketing will also be undertaking all my PR, so if you see me in the local rag or hear me blaring out of your radio it will be down to them. Nicola Proud, Marketing Manager at AVF Marketing worked as a fundraiser for a local hospice and is well equipped to support me in any way she can.

When offering their fundraising support Arnold Fewell said, “remember – whilst the final achievement is amazing, what’s more inspiring is the person you become whilst getting there”.

ParentPay www.parentpay.com
It was third time lucky when I saw Clint Wilson, CEO of Parent Pay on Thursday. As soon as the meeting started he wanted to know how things were going with My Kili Climb and offered Parent Pay’s support. Clint was the person who put me in touch with the inspirational Bernie Hollywood and has accompanied Bernie on some of his many charity challenges.

Clint’s advice to me was “Don’t underestimate what you are doing, the most precious thing we all have is time and you are giving plenty of it to My Kili Climb”. Then before I knew it, he was offering his own time to accompany me on some training walks.

Tens of thousands of parents use ParentPay to pay online for school meals, trips, uniforms and more. ParentPay was shortlisted for the BETT Awards 2010 and won the e-Government National Award in 2009 with Croydon Council. Parent Pay offer a total income management solution for schools and authorities to drive efficiency, cut administration, engage parents online and create safer schools.

Thank You
So a big THANK YOU to my three corporate sponsors - not only for their financial support but also for their time, advice and encouragement. There are still some corporate sponsor/partner opportunities available so please get in touch if you are interested.

Test Driving the New Boots

2010-03-06T11:00:00.000-08:00

After spending a rather large sum on the boots I really hoped I had chosen the right ones. But only time in the boots will tell!

Friday - Treadmill Test
As odd as it seems I went down the gym to spend an hour on the treadmill in the boots. The idea being that if the boots have not been worn outside they will let you take them back. My hands still have blisters from the ‘trying on’ session last week so my biggest challenge was doing up the laces! Once I had mastered the special army boy knots I was ready to see how the boots performed.

Although I found it incredibly boring just walking on an incline with a countdown clock in front of me, I finished the session with no blisters and no real pain. I also didn’t know you can put treadmills on a decline setting – might use that as an easy option when next running!

Saturday - Muddy Test
It was pretty grim outside but the weather man said it would be worse today - so I wrapped myself up, waterproofs on and set out to see how the boots felt after several hours wear. I was enjoying stamping in puddles like a big kid when I remembered I had forgotten to treat the boots – whoops!

I thought I would be pretty bored walking on my own but actually ‘time out’ was just what I needed. Listening to my trusty iPod, the lovely views along the Thames path (heading away from London) and crisp fresh air was actually rather pleasant.

I returned home several hours later with not so shiny new boots and still no blisters. So far, so good - looks like I made a good choice with the boots.

Future Walks
I do think I will get rather bored of walking on my own so if anyone fancies getting out in the country for some weekend walking please let me know!

My favourite bit of preparing – shopping!

2010-02-26T08:05:00.000-08:00

Pretty much missed another full week of training due to germs! So I cheered myself up at the weekend and went shopping for the all important walking boots. I took my mate Chris along with me as he knows all about this kind of thing and let’s face it –if it was down to me I would pick by my favourite colour.

I was expecting to walk in one shop, try a few on and that would be it – I could go shopping for more fun things. But with Chris keeping an eye that was never going to happen – we went to EVERY outdoor shop in Covent Garden. I was amused by the fact that by the end of the afternoon I had blisters on my hands. Yes that’s not a typo I really mean my hands – from tightening laces up so many times.

Whilst we were out and about I started checking out other kit to buy. Bit scared how pricey it’s all going to be! My rucksack is the next purchase so I tried a few for size. Amused me slightly when I picked up a boys one and wondered why the chest strap wouldn’t even go round me! The ladies versions are made for ladies for a reason and soooo much more comfortable.

So after 4 hours of trying on boots, walking up and down ramps in the shops, deliberating over the different advice from every sales person - I finally made up my mind. They aren’t pretty like most of my shoes but fingers crossed they will do the job and get me up that mountain!

Injury = NO TRAINING

2010-02-13T01:34:00.001-08:00

I would like to say I was doing something spectacular to result in a swollen and bruised left ankle. But no, I literally fell on the flat gym floor whilst doing lateral bench jumps. Believe me I was annoyed with myself – a week of missed training and no high heels! But there is my lesson learnt – burning the candle at both ends makes you tired and clumsy.

Good news on the sponsorship I am close to £700 so almost 20% of the way to target. If you would like to support me please go to www.justgiving.co.uk/my-kili-climb

So easing myself back into training and looking forward to the big shopping trip next weekend to get the all important walking boots!

The fundraising began

2010-01-30T09:24:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday, which was the first anniversary of my uncle’s death, I launched my sponsorship campaign. I hope to raise £5,000 for the British Heart Foundation in his memory by climbing Kilimanjaro in September.

On the 26th January 2009, my uncle, Barry Meek went to work just like he always has. Everything about this day was normal. That is until early afternoon lessons at Huntcliff Comprehensive School where Barry was a talented maths teacher. Barry suffered a fatal heart attack at 52 years old and passed away on the 27th January.

This was a very hard time for my family, especially my auntie and cousin. At times like this it feels like there isn’t anything you can do to help them, but I wanted to do something that could help prevent others going through similar. In memory of my uncle, I want to raise awareness of heart health and help the British Heart Foundation achieve their vision, which is, “a world in which people do not die prematurely of heart disease.”

Although this week has been very sad for my family, it’s lovely to see the support already for the climb. My sponsorship is currently at £545 and it is a brilliant start – thank you to all those who have donated.

If you want to know a little more about what is in store for me, have a read of this:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/activityandadventure/7050801/Mount-Kilimanjaro-Climb-and-punishment.html

And then please, please sponsor me, it’s not going to be a pleasant experience:
http://www.justgiving.com/my-kili-climb

Don’t forget, February is National Heart Month so please support the great work of the British Heart Foundation.

Karen x

Less wine, more training

2010-01-17T11:42:00.000-08:00

So my moto for the week was ‘less wine, more training’ and I have to say I did pretty well. Oh ok I failed a little on Wednesday, but you know I am a party girl at heart. I did however stick to my 5 planned training sessions and now two weeks into the training regime I am feeling a difference.

As I am taking this training thing seriously, on Tuesday I took advice from Chris at Trojan Training. Over the summer months I trained for Tough Guy and I am very keen to be back to that fitness, minus the Crimbo weight gain of course! Chris took down all my vital statistics and measured my % body fat. Now you know a girl never tells you the outcome of such tests but I am pleased to report I am all healthy and fit to train. I am sure I will report how the figures have come down in future blogs.

Chris has designed a training schedule that is pretty varied . . . . I do get bored very easily. It includes some Personal Training sessions with him, group classes such as circuits and a plan for down the gym. I can’t start out with the full training regime as I am still recovering from a whiplash injury and so the majority of my training at this stage is leg work. But once the physiotherapist has sorted my neck and back I will most certainly be in the full swing of it.

So let’s see how I do over the next week . . . . .

9 months minus 1 week

2010-01-10T10:45:00.000-08:00

Officially this was week 1 of training for my big climb. Whoops, it did not go too well! I was all set for 5 training sessions. But 2 were cancelled in favour of wine and good company and then I missed two because I picked up the germs and went home sick. As small an effort as it is, I managed to finally get 2 gym sessions in – even on a lazy Sunday, that’s my token dedication.

As I was putting myself thru the pain of the Stairmaster (boy do I need to find some love for that machine), I was wondering just how many metres I will have to climb. I honestly thought I had a reasonable level of fitness till I started using the Stairmaster. I would rather run over 6 miles than walk on that thing for 20 minutes and even after that I have not climbed very far. So I double checked the vital statistics of that mountain and they are as follows:

It’s higher than I guessed: 5895m (19,335ft)
Lovely starting temperature on the plains: 30◦C
Colder than cold at the top: MINUS 25-30◦C

Hmmm seeing as I am moaning it’s rather chilly in London right now . . . . and lets be honest London is probably one of the warmest cities on this January weekend, me thinks the blonde well and truly needs to toughen up!!

We are in the Gallery

2009-10-16T12:39:00.000-07:00

Our Jeans for Genes Day efforts got us on their website, all dressed up in our super hero costumes. http://www.jeansforgenes.com/newsroom/supportergallery?page=2

InDzine Takes on the World for Jeans 4 Genes Day!

2009-10-03T12:22:00.000-07:00

On Friday 2nd October, the people of Marlow weren't seeing things. The InDzine office really was being run by superheroes!

For Jeans for Genes day, InDzine took on the world (well.. took on Avery Dennison) in a head to head quiz. A team from InDzine using all their super powers came out on top winning the first ever "Avery & Jeans 4 Genes" cup.

Working with Colin Jackson for National School Meals Week

2009-09-10T13:27:00.000-07:00

As you were all preparing for going back to school the NSMW girls were busy filming the Get Active day video with Colin Jackson. Getting ready in the morning we talked about how nervous we were. It is such a big part of the week we wanted to be sure it would all run smoothly. But there was no need to be nervous. Colin was a true professional! He was great fun, really kind (he even got his driver to take Nicola to the station) and made the whole event run smoothly. We think he will be a real inspiration to young people. He certainly inspired us!

We were lucky to have the help and support of Chris Lee from Trojan Training. Chris is a very experienced personal trainer and he put together all the exercises for the Get Active Day. Karen and Chris also went through all the coaching points beforehand so we could make sure that young people knew how to do the exercises correctly. Some of the exercises Colin hadn't done before so a lot of time was spent on Chris showing him the exercise first and then talking through the points that had to be put across. When we were filming Karen watched it on a screen, Chris checked the exercises were being done properly and Nicola checked all the points were being made whilst Nigel from Lancashire One TV filmed. It was a real team effort!

During the day we realised how much benefit there was to selecting an athlete who was used to being on camera. Colin came across brilliantly and his experience meant we got through it without there being too many takes. Of course, there were some outtakes and very amusing moments, some of which I am sure will stick with us for a long time. This included Colin getting his glutes and quads muddled up several times which caused much laughter.We had a fantastic buffet lunch, which we made sure was very healthy seeing as we had a former World Champion to cater for. This gave us opportunity to get to know Colin better. He's speaking at the School Food Trust Conference at the end of the month and Karen is running a workshop there. We will also meet with him again at the launch of NSMW on 9th November.

In the afternoon it was straight back to filming as we were under a great time pressure as we only had this one day to get it all right. We all worked hard to have all the filming finished by 4.30pm and then we had to do photographs of all the exercises and stretches.

We learnt a lot about Colin during the afternoon. He can juggle grapes, is an expert with a skipping rope and struggled with the dance steps in the early days of Strictly Come Dancing (obviously he improved as he was 2nd in his series and won the Christmas Day special). We also learnt that Karen likes to pose in front of the camera and would make an excellent ring girl. Oh and that Nicola can't control her giggles at really inappropriate moments i.e. mid filming. Joking aside, it is thanks to Colin, Chris and Nigel we now have a fantastic resource that you can all use to promote your school meals during NSMW. We just can't wait to see the final version!

Those of you that have met us will know we don't let a good opportunity go to waste!! We didn't let Colin leave until he had posed for photographs with the NSMW Girls and signed some autographs for us. We also asked him to sign the exercise mat that was used for the filming which will be awarded as a prize during the week.

Karen Fewell - The girly girl becomes a Tough Guy

2009-08-10T18:00:00.000-07:00

I think it is fair to say that most people would describe me as a ‘girly girl' rather than a ‘Tough Guy'. Needless to say friends, family and colleagues were a little surprised when I said I had entered Tough Guy Nettle Warrior.

To be honest I am not really sure I knew what I had agreed to when I said ‘go on then count me in'. Knowing too much about the challenge would just make me freak out - so I paid my money unaware of the obstacles I would face! I was fully aware though that I was not fit enough to complete it and really needed to become stronger.

Chris Lee from Trojan Training encouraged me to do some weight training on top of my normal running. So my training week consisted of 2 personal training sessions with Chris Lee, 1 Box Office session and a few trips to the gym. Training was more enjoyable with Tough Guy being my aim.

A week before I decided it was time to start knowing a little more about what I would have to do on the day, I was not impressed with what I saw:

- swimming through underwater tunnels
- running through fire
- walking out on a plank and jumping into mud
- climbing heights with no harness

The fact that the Tough Guy organisers make you sign a death warrant before you can start the course also scared me slightly. But now I can say it was the best race I have ever done.

I went round the course with Amy and Helen, who also train with Chris Lee. The day didn't seem like a race, the team spirit of everyone at Tough Guy was fantastic. I saw people struggling on ropes and strangers climb back to help them. Someone was always willing to give you a ‘leg up' or a hand to climb out of sinking mud.

As I result of doing Tough Guy I have realised I have more mental and physical strength than I give myself credit for. On a day to day basis you don't realise what strength you are building in the gym. For me though the mental challenges I overcame were my biggest achievements. I am petrified of heights, yet at Tough Guy I developed a new inner strength. Whatever the challenge, however difficult, I just got on and did it.

Completing Tough Guy has given me a lot of personal confidence and I would like to thank Chris Lee for pushing me into doing it! Big thanks to everyone in Team Trojan for making it such a fun day.

I helped Jeans for Genes with free SEO training

2009-08-08T19:00:00.000-07:00

As part of my role as, Digital Marketing Consultant at InDzine I visited Jeans for Genes today to talk about Search Engine Optimisation. The National Jeans for Genes Day takes place on Friday 2nd October 2009. Our client Avery Dennison is supporting the week by providing easy to use fundraising templates, free label samples and more. As part of InDzine's Corporate and Social Responsibility I offered free SEO training for the Jeans for Genes team.

The training session included:
natural search / organic search
when and how to use paid search
the difference between on and off page optimisation
keyword selection
SEO obstacle reports
search optimised copy
inbound link strategies
online pr
social networking
the role of digital marketing in your marketing strategy

Excellent feedback was received from Jeans for Genes and everyone was scribbling down notes and their own action points. SEO is not just the responsibility of the website manager and everyone in the marketing team has their own role to play.

Please support Jeans for Genes Day on 2nd October 2009. The team work really hard to raise money for children with genetic disorders. Genetic disorders are individually very rare but together they are the cause of more than half of all childhood deaths in the UK. Jeans for Genes aim to provide funding for the care and support of children and their families. They also help to fund research into the genes responsible and the development of effective treatments and cures.
Find out more at the Genes for Jeans websitehttp://www.jeansforgenes.com/getinvolved

What is Britain's Favourite School Meal?

2009-07-25T12:36:00.000-07:00

As part of National School Meals Week, we are trying to find out what Britain's favourite school meal is. Think back to your school days, was it roast dinner, sausage and mash or fish and potato wedges? And then comes the desserts, my favourite was definitely sponge and custard!
Get Voting now and let us know your favourite at
www.iloveschoolmeals.co.uk/vote

The results will be announced at the launch of the week, on Monday 9th November 2009

Congratulations Tom Daley

2009-07-22T10:58:00.001-07:00

I am proud to be working with such a fantastic role model and determined athlete. I am the project lead on the My School Lunch Tom Daley website and love working with Tom:

www.myschoollunch.co.uk/tomdaley

Since our contract began we have seen Tom go from one success to another. Tom really does deserve to be World Champion, he is so dedicated to his sport and overcomes every challenge that faces him.

Behind Tom is a great family, so fun and supportive. I loved Rob’s question in the press conference, what a proud Dad! Tom’s response ‘how embarrassing’ just brings it home to you, those were the words of a teenager! To be World Champion at any age is fantastic, but for Tom this is an even bigger achievement and he is a credit to British sport.

Leon Taylor, Olympic Silver medallist and commentator at the World Championships said it all in a text to me this morning – ‘Tom is a legend’.

Winning a Catey

2009-07-22T10:48:00.000-07:00

I am so proud to be part of the team involved in winning the Group Marketing Catey, what an achievement!!!!

You can read more about the night
http://www.caterersearch.com/tabletalk/blogs/accessallareas/archive/2009/07/12/oh-what-a-night-to-remember.aspx

and watch the winners video here

http://www.caterersearch.com/tabletalk/media/cateys2009/cateys-2009-winners-video-1764.aspx

National School Meals Week

2009-07-22T10:40:00.000-07:00

Well were are back from the LACA conference and so pleased with the interest in National School Meals Week.

We wondered what Arnold was doing when he ordered us sashes to wear, but I have to admit he was right - they did grab everyone's attention. Whether we were wandering around the exhibition, ordering refreshments from the bar or stood on our NSMW stand we were being asked about National School Meals Week.

The designers did a great job and the stand looked great! I think they thought we were going overboard when we went clothes shopping to ensure we were dressed in the NSMW brand colours - but everything on our stand represented the new National School Meals Week brand and added to the impact.

The feedback we had at the conference, and are still receiving now is brilliant. So many people are excited about taking part in a digital marketing campaign. We have had some fantastic comments as authorities and schools register on the website and we will share these with you in another blog.

The guides to organising National School Meals Week were sought after, people were always coming to us asking for their own copy of the booklet. If you did not manage to collect your own, register for the week and download it from the website.

Thanks for making us both feel so welcome at the conference. We are glad you like the new look NSMW and are really excited about getting ready for the actual week. We have all sorts planned, including:
- spending time with teenagers to plan the NSMW social networking activity
- working with our fitness specialist to get ready for filming Colin Jackson
- researching what children want to learn about cooking, in preparation for the Get Cooking day

Come back soon and read our updates on how preparations for the big week are going.

Karen and Nicola, known as the NSMW girls at the LACA conference

The night we won 2 awards

2008-11-18T12:13:00.001-08:00

Well what a great evening I had last night. I attended the CatererSearch Web Awards in my new green party dress and sparkly shoes. We had been shortlisted in two categories and then all entrants were put forward for the overall winner of Website of the Year.

You can find out more about the awards here: http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/hospitality-web-awards

The first award we were shortlisted in was the Foodservice Award, unfortunately we did not win this – but as I had promised my boss, I did my losers smile and clapped happily just like at the Oscars! Little did I know how much better the evening was about to get.

Then came the Award for Innovation & Interactivity . . . I listened to the description of the winning website and thought to myself this might just be us! And it was, so up on stage we went to collect a nice shiny silver statue, pose for photos and smile a lot.

The final award of the evening was for Website of the Year. Anyone in the room could win this and it was decided by a combination of the voting public and judges recommendations. The competition was fierce with well known brands such as McCain, hotel chains and top restaurants. Again as they started to describe the winning site, I was thinking this all sounds a lot like http://www.myschoollunch.co.uk/. I have to say I grinned from ear to ear when they read our names as the winner and I pretty much skipped onto the stage to collect another shiny statue.

Wow, what a feeling, to be the overall winner, I am so pleased to have the work I and the rest of the team have put into producing a great website recognised across the whole of the Hotel & Catering industry.

Thank you to you all!

Speaking of Tom Daley . . . .

2008-08-22T01:54:00.000-07:00

I have been very impressed with the BBC coverage of the Olympic Games in Beijing. I also chuckled when Chris Moyles was about to break an IOC regulation on his show yesterday regarding use of audio from the games. As many of you will know Chris Moyles loves rule breaking but on this occasion his producer had to stop him in his tracks . . . it's not often she wins!

I am loving the blogs from the commentators, previous athletes and Olympic medal winners on the BBC site. They are giving us a view different to the standard news with personal experience, excitement and access to information the newspaper journalists can't get.

This is my favourite one so far, its from Leon Taylor and all about Tom Daley http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/08/daley_ready_but_dont_count_out.html

The Power of Celebrities like Tom Daley

2008-08-22T01:49:00.000-07:00

I have just read an article on the Sky News site that says sales of the Dib Dab Sherbet Dips have grown. They put this down to recent rumours that Tom Daley eats them and they refer to the sweet treat as his “secret weapon”.

Celebrities play an important role in marketing products and services, and this example shows how a small comment from a well respected sporting star can have a much longer lasting sales impression.

You can see the full article here: http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Business/Tom-Daley-Causes-Dip-Dab-Sherbert-Sales-To-Rocket-After-Dives-In-Beijing-Olympics-China/Article/200808315084028?lpos=Business_9&lid=ARTICLE_15084028_Tom%2BDaley%2BCauses%2BDip%2BDab%2BSherbert%2BSales%2BTo%2BRocket%2BAfter%2BDives%2BIn%2BBeijing%2BOlympics%252C%2BChina%2B

Visit the Party Like Its 2012 You Tube Channel

2008-08-19T13:13:00.000-07:00

http://uk.youtube.com/london2012

Nicely branded youtube channel promoted externally and with paid for advertising on youtube.

Get your customers doing your marketing for you

2008-08-19T12:38:00.000-07:00

Two marketing campaigns have stood out to me in the last week or so:

Walkers “Do us a flavour and win a packet”
http://www.walkers.co.uk/flavours/

London 2012 Celebration Video
http://www.london2012.com/get-involved/handover/celebrate.php

What these two campaigns have in common is the use of digital media. As photography on mobile phones grows together with the YouTube generation brands need to look at their marketing in a different way. Don’t be scared about Digital Marketing, embrace the opportunity to reach your audience in a way you never have before.

Yahoo Answers it for me

2008-08-13T11:43:00.001-07:00

Ouch I have pain in my gums from my wisdom tooth extraction last week. I log into the web and run a search in google for symptoms of infection and up pops Yahoo Answers. It's a handy little (or not so little!) site with a load of questions posed by web visitors. These questions are then answered by other site users.

It's not just useful tho for finding out why my gums hurt! I use it for all sorts of SEO techniques. Discussion on the site can inform topical keywords to be integrated in optimised copy. I also find people discussing my clients products, so I let them know what they should and shouldn't respond to. They can use this to

- change perception
- drive a sale
- drive web traffic
- create awareness

Do as you say

2008-08-12T09:41:00.001-07:00

I keep banging on about blogging, SEO and other digital tools to clients, family and friends . . . . so it's time to actually start my own blog. What will I write about? Well I talk enough everyday so thought I would give the office ears a little rest . . . instead I will keep you all entertained and informed with the blonde girls guide to digital marketing.