Busy

I decided a while back that the best way for us at Urban Media to tackle the current market place was to attack. So I took on two new sales-oriented guys - and boy have we been busy as a result! 

Only problem right now is persuading clients to commit to a project. Too many still seem scared to spend on marketing, when all the research shows that those who do so in a downturn, are in the best place coming out. 

Helping friends through Facebook

I'm just getting into Facebook, and the interesting thing has been getting in touch with old friends from army days. The recession is taking hold around the place, and two of them had recently lost driving jobs. 

So I was delighted when I put them in touch with a driver training company who sponsor our truck racing team, and they have both been offered new jobs as a result. The power of networks - much stronger than hanging around at the Job Centre. 

Blogs and podcasts

Our regular training session on Thursday evening played to another full house, and Luke, Urban Media's SEO expert outlined what blogs and podcasts are, and how they can and should form part of any business's online marketing presence. 

The session prompted lots of questions from the audience at the end - it was great to see that they were really keen to know more about this developing area. 

We also had our video colleagues in, recording clips for us to upload to our own site - I posted some comments about the session on our team blog.

Want a ride in my truck?

The racing truck is coming along. We've just fitted a new dashboard for the upcoming season, with upgraded switches controlling important items such as brake bias and the brake water cooling system. Before the season starts, I've booked a turn up and ride session at Bruntingthorpe on April 7, and will be inviting customers along for a turn round the track. Interested? Get in touch. 

Blogging creates business links

My thanks to Chris Ball, the blogging student at the National Enterprise Academy whose efforts I mentioned previously. As a result of his critique of my presentation, we received a call from someone keen to find out more about us - they're coming along to our latest training session to see what Urban Media can offer them. 

Internet generation

I was asked to present to students the National Enterprise Academy, set up by the Peter Jones Foundation at Amersham and Wycombe college. I am really passionate about the academy, so it was great to be there. I started by asking how many of the budding entrepreneurs were using the internet in 1997, the year Urban Media launched - the only hands that rose were those of the lecturers!

Back then, blogging didn't exist, and it was cool to have an "under construction" sign on your webpage, in two colours and animated!! 

While the session wasn't specifically about the web, I was swamped with questions relating to the internet. It's clear the next generation see the web as their first place of opportunity, and it is entirely natural to them. They don't need educating about the "psychology of the user" - they were born that way. 

These guys are the cream of the crop in terms of young entrepreneurs. If they are thinking this way, how will the world of commerce look in 12 years from now? Just 12 years back, we had animated graphics and 14k modems, how will we use the web a decade from now? If we are to survive, we need to really get under the skin of this medium; in a few years, the serious players will be coming! As you would expect, Urban Media will be there to help them achieve their goals, but the challenge is definitely with each of us to consider how we could be more effective online.  

How did I do? Check out the comments from one of the academy students, on his blog

Bucking the trend

We've just taken on two new staff. The reason is, we decided last year that 2009 would be an opportunity for us. At Urban Media, we could already detect that internet marketing would be a positive area for business growth, while other more traditional promotional media would be under fire. 

The great thing is, they're good people who have previously worked for big companies, and it's only thanks to the credit crunch that they are available. There will be more good people made redundant over the coming months, and more of them will open their minds to the possibility of working for smaller companies, rather than hanging on for a job with another downsizing blue chip company. 

Not sure if the local media can handle this good news - we'll see.