My Kindle’s on Fire...

With Apple already working on the 3^rd iteration of its iPad, the device that finally made tablet devices cool and mainstream, the rest of the industry finally caught up in 2011. We’ve had the Samsung Galaxy Tablet, the Blackberry Playbook, the Acer Iconia Tab (pronounced “t -ar-b” apparently) and now Amazon has launched its colour ebook reader – the Kindle Fire.

In a keynote address to rival the polish of Apple, Amazon CEO and 37 Signals Advisor Jeff Bezos proudly walked the stage with the new device in hand. Yes it runs on the Android OS, yes it is light and yes, at first glance the price point is very attractive at £130 – for a colour screen ebook reader.

But that’s what it is. It’s still really just an ebook reader in a very competitive tablet market.

With a small 7” IPS display screen the device is small compared to the larger 10” screens favoured by other manufactures. It may have kept the price point low, and at that size the Kindle Fire certainly slips comfortably into a handbag but for me personally, it’s too small and why would I want two devices?

Yes. Two devices. I already have two mobile phones which is a pain to cart around during a working week so why would I want to cart around an ebook reader AND a tablet device? I can get my digital magazines, music and books all on my tablet with the added benefit of my email, my files, the internet and bespoke apps and games.

And if I were to buy a Kindle, why would I buy the new one for £130? In a move that may or may not affect Fire sales, Amazon has announced it will slash the prices of its black and white ebook readers. Picking up one of those for £89 or less is more attractive than the Fire when I already have the added extra functionality of colour screen, music and movies/TV shows AND MORE on my tablet and mobile phone.

Maybe it’s just me and I don’t get the Kindle. I’d like to get up close to one when they ship in the UK to see what the fuss is about but I really feel that there’s anything really new or innovative to set the Fire apart from everything else out there.

Prove me wrong Amazon – please.

Does your company blog position you as knowledgeable in your sector?

There are lots of different types of blog and blogging. There’s personal blogs that read a lot like diaries, blogs that comment on a mix of current affairs, insightful blogs that teach us something... I could go on. But all blogs have something in common – they pretty much stick to a theme or a purpose. This blog is themed around the stuff I stick up on Twitter or read on Twitter which I can’t contain to 140 characters which is why it has a lot of stuff about marketing, digital marketing, employment law and the digital age and cake baking. Why that weird mix? Well, it’s a pretty good snapshot of who I follow on Twitter and what I talk about. However, the company blog I manage for Silver Lining talks about unified communications, cloud computing, business continuity and telephony issues. Why? Because that’s what the company does and wants to position itself as knowledgeable in.

There are some great company blogs out there which mix the company’s personality with informative, insightful, current and industry specific commentary. For example SimplyZesty – their whole agency website is pretty much a blog. It’s not just a small section or page on the website it truly is the website. It’s not overtly salesy – it’s “info rich” and that makes me trust them. They don’t go off piste – they keep all the zaney personality, office banter and games stuff to their Facebook page instead.

Another company blog I like is the one from Propellernet. Now this is a really funky, fun, young agency in Brighton and it really shines through in their blog. Literally as it’s dominated by sunshine yellow. All the posts are geared to news and advice, industry insights, latest shows and exhibitions etc much like SimplyZesty but there is perhaps a little more of a sales pitch in there and a pinch more zing with those wacky/fun profile pictures! It’s a great blog and one I regularly refer to.

Finally, my other top industry blog that I read regularly is that off Koozai’s. Again its remit is well defined, informative and doesn’t stray from its path (often). They mix in a few news stories about awards the company has won but mostly they promote what they believe in – great SEO and PPC marketing. Funnily enough this is what the company also wins awards for. Posts about free tools, black and white hat techniques, local marketing shows and exhibitions... Can you see a running theme here?

SimplyZesty, Propellernet and Koozai are all businesses – marketing agencies looking for new clients and positioning themselves as really really knowledgeable. They’re all award winning. And I bet they don’t have any problem finding new clients and business. I’d happily visit the blogs of these companies than say Mashable, TechCrunch and Marketing Donut for all the news and latest industry insights I need because for these guys it’s not media churn – they have to be at the top of their game and the most knowledgeable to get results for their customers.

So, next time you look at your company blog and write a post have a think:

1. Does my blog/post talk about my company’s services/products/industry?
2. Does my blog/post position my company as knowledgeable/expert in my industry sector?
3. Do these posts help my clients or future clients?
4. Can people outside of my organisation engage with my posts? Do they understand the in jokes and colloquialisms?
5. Has my blog/post turned into an internal staff message board?

Who put 2011 on fast forward?

So I’ve been pretty bad at updating my blog recently and it’s not because I don’t have the desire to – I’ve just not had the spare time to do it justice. Having started a new job at Silver Lining 7 months ago I’ve totally changed my work schedule, taken on the running of a second Brownie Unit in my local area and even managed to go on my first proper holiday in 3 years! But before I realised it September had arrived and I know I’m not the only one to feel this way this year.

2011 seems to have whizzed past and just look at all the things that sparked conversation on Twitter and around the world so far:

Widespread protests in Egypt and Libya.

Major earthquake in Japan resulting in deadly tsunami and damage to nuclear power plant.

Major earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand resulting in collapse of cathedral tower, businesses and homes.

Attempted assassination of Congresswoman Giffords.

The deaths of Pete Postlehwaite, Elizabeth Taylor, Randy Savage, Lucian Freud, Amy Winehouse, Bubba Smith.

Royal wedding of Prince William to Catherine (Kate) Middleton.

The world’s first artificial organ transplant.

Traveller Paddy Doherty wins Celebrity Big Brother.

NASA’s space shuttle program concludes as Atlantis completes its final mission.

US President Obama releases his birth certificate confirming his birth in the USA.

Terrorist attacks in Norway resulting in the deaths of 76 people.

The 10 year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Disappointment, shock and elation following 2012 Olympics ticket allocation in the UK.

Possible photographic evidence of liquid water captured by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

Riots spread across major cities in the UK over 5 days resulting in looting, violence and arson attacks.

The start of the Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand.

And we still have 4 months to go till the end of the year! A quick stawpoll of my Twitter followers confirms that many of you out there are less than impressed with this year being on fast forward and that perhaps it’s time to put on the brakes!