Twitter Weekly Updates for 21-05-2010

• YouTube Surpasses Two Billion Video Views Daily: http://bit.ly/a3W6P3 #
• “I do” goes high-tech with Japan robot priest http://link.reuters.com/sun54k #
• Evan Williams is chirpy over Twitter glitter – at http://bit.ly/dgCjHl #
• HOW TO: Get Notified When Someone Hacks Your Facebook: http://bit.ly/dlrGgw #
• Gink: The Next Great Social Network? [PARODY]: http://bit.ly/9r5dV4 #
• The Web Makes the World Happier [STUDY]: http://bit.ly/9Z61LP #
• Google apologises for collecting personal web data – at http://bit.ly/9SrDhz #
• RT @SimplicityTweet: “You wouldn’t drink 9 year old milk, so why use a 9-year-old web browser?” Drop Internet Explorer 6 and move on;) #IE6 #
• 5 Ways Small Businesses Can Use Tech to Save Money: http://bit.ly/9qsHGZ #
• China’s Web “firewall” should be WTO issue: EU’s Kroes http://link.reuters.com/caq54k #
• Beer, betrayal, a lost iPhone in Apple device tale http://link.reuters.com/zyp44k #
• Multi-Touch Musical “LinnStrument” Demoed on YouTube [VIDEO]: http://bit.ly/94UHWl #
• Consumerist: I Order Patio Set, Target Sends Me Umbrella And IOU http://tinyurl.com/34dasht #
• YouTube Surpasses Two Billion Video Views Daily: http://bit.ly/a3W6P3 #
• Google, Intel and Sony to Introduce Smart TV: http://bit.ly/aJ5Wgo #
• Morning all. It’s a beautiful day up here on the Marlborough Downs. Dogs, coffee then another busy day at UM towers #
• Smartphones get cheaper for mass appeal http://link.reuters.com/sep64k #
• Google faces probes over data it collected – report http://link.reuters.com/sab74k #
• ReadWriteWeb: “Google Will Push Real-Time Feeds to Browser (Updated)” http://bit.ly/adKjci #
• ReadWriteWeb: “EFF: Your Browser Has a Fingerprint” http://bit.ly/cjS3Y2 #
• Mobile Keyboard Faceoff: Physical vs. Virtual: http://bit.ly/cSePjA #
• Nachofoto Is Not Your Average Image Search Engine: http://bit.ly/9YdFYy #
• RT @NikkiPilkington: Posted: You’re not blogging for YOU, you’re blogging for THEM! | Internet Marketing Tips & Help #
• RT @prospecthospice: Only 5 spaces left for Parachute for Prospect on 12 Sep. Contact Julie Brogan on 01793 816161 for more info. #
• RT @jimbofin: Gov beats BOFHs to snatch worst-for-service crown http://reg.cx/1HWe #
• Which Department Owns Social Media?: http://bit.ly/9BGUrX #
• Nestle Meets Greenpeace’s Demands Following Social Media Backlash: http://bit.ly/aahZa1 #
• @HCMSanMarcos Thanks for the RT in reply to HCMSanMarcos #
• @WowGirlie27 thank you for the RT in reply to WowGirlie27 #
• Cambridge scientists solve mystery of flammable laptop batteries – at http://bit.ly/cRMmyQ #
• HOW TO: Reclaim Privacy on Facebook: http://bit.ly/bKFS1D #
• Still think you don’t need to be online? http://j.mp/ajiq6C #
• Online Marketing Blog: 10 Essential Social Media Tips for Ecommerce Sites http://tinyurl.com/35p6fm4 #
• RT @HallITTraining: We’re here! – Just as well looking at this: Still think you don’t need to be online? http://j.mp/ajiq6C Thx for the RT #
• @socialmediamind thanks for following. #
• @MarshaCollier thanks for following us #
• @LauraleeGuthrie thanks for following #
• Yep RT @SavvyCitizens: Are you spending a day a month online?http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/10122834.stm #
• HTC EVO: Hands-On With the First 4G Phone [VIDEO]: http://bit.ly/cH1I22 #
• Tweenage angst – Media News – Brand Republic http://ow.ly/1MX5K #
• Yahoo Buys Online Content Factory for $90 Million | Epicenter | Wired.com http://ow.ly/1MYfd #
• Another Microsoft Kin Ad Dubbed Creepy by Consumer Reports [VIDEO]: http://bit.ly/bFboUU #
• Microsoft launches patent suit at Salesforce cloud • The Register http://ow.ly/1MYQq #
• RT @2cre8: The Future of Firefox – http://ow.ly/1N120 #
• BBC News – Britons spend more than ‘one day a month online’ http://ow.ly/1MX1f #
• Speculation rife ahead of Google I/O – at http://bit.ly/9PoCuW #
• Wolfram Alpha Turns 1: An Interview with Stephen Wolfram http://ow.ly/1MYZr #
• Can One Man Communicate Solely Through Social Media for a Month?: http://bit.ly/ctDXK3 #
• Can One Man Communicate Solely Through Social Media for a Month? http://bit.ly/ctDXK3 #
• Create Collaborative Photo Books with Group Story: http://bit.ly/bjhECR #
• Google Buzz Comes to Seesmic and TweetDeck: http://bit.ly/b26V2r #
• Long-Lost Brothers Reunite Via Twitter: http://bit.ly/aW7n2f #
• Sales of Google Android handsets overtake Windows Mobile – at http://bit.ly/am9Xpw #
• Asian mums hooked on Internet for children, selves-study http://link.reuters.com/buw35k #
• HOW TO: Market Your Small Business With No Budget: http://bit.ly/91Wyj2 #
• Thx @artwiz: #FF @Wakooz_RSSfeeds @Twig235 @LJinNW @TheSimpleSketch @born2bbold @JuliaForsythArt @CGmagia @UrsusMedia @jshawback #
• #FF @2cre8 @Twitter_Tips @simoncollison @listercomms @transwilts @keirwhitaker @swichman @ReallySimpleSEO @bostonprjobs @heartwiltsnews #
• Google unveils WebM royalty-free video codec – at http://bit.ly/dhqhWX #
• The free digital lunch is over. Now we pay with our lives
  http://gu.com/p/2h6e2/ip #
• Tech Weekly: Yahoo’s Carol Bartz
  http://gu.com/p/2h4p5/ip #
• RT @douglasi: TWITTER HISTORY: How #FollowFriday started and how to use it grow your brand – http://smedio.com/1153 #
• #FF @TheTweetPower @iA @brown2020 @wearesocial @juntajoe @GuyKawasaki @MagicSauceMedia @CostumeHire @FTmedianews @seandsouza #
• Sensor & RFID Apps of the Future, Part 1 http://ow.ly/1O1FH #
• @clmlawbits thanks for the RT of my RT #
• Facebook and Others Caught Sending User Data to Advertisers http://ow.ly/1O1KW #
• 50 best websites – at http://bit.ly/8Xq5t6 #
• Google premieres Web television gamble http://link.reuters.com/bym55k #
• #FF @Gemstars @LaunchLab @SalisburyDCCI @TiGlos @bizblueprint @keirwhitaker @responsiva @DesignerDepot @couttscoms @stevenrobson #
• Opera browser enjoys EU download boom http://link.reuters.com/syd45k #
• #FF @IndentDesign @mariaminiatures @RealDealChoices @Propono @FreelanceSw @suejsharp @BlueKiteCoach @MediaWeek @usabilitypost @Nigel_Morgan #
• RT @Billy_Cox: Knowing is not doing. Only doing is doing #
• RT @radomin: WARNING: Facebook Clickjacking Attack Spreading Through News Feed http://bit.ly/cdapgJ #mashable #
• BBC News – Facebook challenged by ambitious upstarts http://ow.ly/1O7pG #
• @MediaWeek pleasure in reply to MediaWeek #
• More Money Flowing Into Location Apps: http://bit.ly/bwjdIf #
• RT @metaVirus: RT @joindiaspora: we’re on xkcd! (check out the alt text) http://xkcd.com/743/ thanks for the tip, @Trevelyan_Panda #
• Well done guys. Can’t wait to see something up and running. Good luck. #
• Silver Surfers Day today! : Nomensa, Humanising Technology http://ow.ly/1OaTp #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 14-05-2010

• Morning everyone. #
• Chavez hires hundreds to help him reply on Twitter http://link.reuters.com/seg33k #
• Hitwise Intelligence – Analyst Weblogs: Bigot-gate and the role of social networks in the election http://tinyurl.com/2cz26dr #
• Across the Sound: Jaffe Juice #136 – iAds, Twitter Ads, FB and LinkedIn too – heADache Time http://tinyurl.com/29plto2 #
• Rick Maybury on laptops, desktops, social suicide and the weather – at http://bit.ly/90gX2m #
• International iPad Pre-orders Are Live: http://bit.ly/cKUGlM #
• Record number of domain names sold in 2010 : Nomensa, Humanising Technology http://ow.ly/1IYXw #
• Facebook fixes embarrassing security flaw : Nomensa, Humanising Technology http://ow.ly/1IYYB #
• Slashdot: Microsoft’s Free, Online Version of Office To Premiere This Week http://tinyurl.com/3yedmde #
• How Google got its new look http://j.mp/ceoZgV #
• RT @HallITTraining RT @computerworlduk: Hung parliament leaves IT industry uncertain http://ow.ly/1J0C6 #
• 21 Essential Social Media Resources You May Have Missed: http://bit.ly/ajgH9O #
• Twitter to Launch Twitter Business Center [SCREENSHOTS]: http://bit.ly/bW1wHH #
• Face-to-face time makes us happier than Facebook-study http://link.reuters.com/zep53k #
• ReadWriteWeb: “10 Internet of Things Blogs To Keep An Eye On” http://bit.ly/ciXFbn #
• Still think you don’t need to be online? Ursus Media blog: http://bit.ly/97TugJ #
• @BrettGreene hi Brett thanks for following us. #
• Blimey, lots of new followers today. Thanks everyone. I’ll say hello one by one but feel free to beat me to it http://www.ursusmedia.co.uk #
• IBM Debuts New Social Media Analytics Tool: http://bit.ly/dgPmb7 #
• Q&A: Lovefilm CEO Simon Calver | Econsultancy http://ow.ly/1JAHY #
• Google Android partner HTC is suing Apple – at http://bit.ly/bWO7bf #
• The 20 Most Popular Twitter Users, According to the “Accept” Bug: http://bit.ly/9iHdsD #
• Impromptu web analytics http://j.mp/c8GZgW #
• BBC News | World | UK Edition: Free Office http://tinyurl.com/2uqyffn #
• A List Apart: Habit Fields http://tinyurl.com/38l9o5a #
• Top 10 Free iPhone Word Games: http://bit.ly/ddNEdy #
• Thanks for the RT @johnbcavanaugh RT @UrsusMedia: BBC News | World | UK Edition: Free Office http://tinyurl.com/2uqyffn #
• Faux Yo-Yo Champ Wins Internet’s Heart [Randomly Viral]: http://bit.ly/btUSpd #
• Apple Unveils New iPad Commercial [VIDEO]: http://bit.ly/b1Sz2l #
• The Next Big Platform for Magazines Could be Facebook: http://bit.ly/d8FtCQ #
• RT @JamesBlute RT @dandeyong: @JamesBlute i can multi-task, I read in the bath ! #
• RT @dgupta5150 #HubSpot #SEO The Ultimate List: 300+ Social Media Statistics http://ow.ly/17mtUu #
• RT @ChrisHusong 7 social media aggregation tools to simplify your stream http://ht.ly/1Exvg #
• 3D Video Recording Coming to a Cell Phone Near You: http://bit.ly/9kIFt7 #
• The Semantic Web: What It Is and Why It Matters [VIDEO]: http://bit.ly/bcJrgo #
• Still think you don’t need to be online? | Web Design | Web Development | Online Marketing | Ursus Media Blog http://ow.ly/1KFXD #
• #FF @biz_oh @Innovateip @BusinessTools4U @magia3e @MRPaulSimon @whiteshutters @samjallen @TheHenleyList @BusinessScience @Econsultancy #
• The numbers you didn’t know you needed | Social Media | Ursus Media Blog http://ow.ly/1KG0R #
• HOW TO: Land Your Dream Job Using Google AdWords: http://bit.ly/bWWH2d #
• RT @RichardCharon: RT @Twitter_Tips 10 Newbie Twitter Mistakes Made By Businesses http://j.mp/bNinzo #
• Social Media Parenting: Raising the Digital Generation: http://bit.ly/aclXEb #
• RT @SarahFinds: Facebook Finally Calls Meeting on Privacy Strategy Black Web 2.0 http://bit.ly/a4aXG9 #
• #FF @artwiz @Jankovitch @Cyberpoint @emma_l_davies @weirdchina @Purple_Pepper @nickwallen @timalmond @MarcDeCaria @digitaltechs #
• How Mobile Technology is Affecting Local News Coverage: http://bit.ly/94qDKi #
• @Innovateip I know. It comes around almost every week in reply to Innovateip #
• @Z_Vana thanks for the #ff in reply to Z_Vana #
• @Jankovitch thank you for the #ff in reply to Jankovitch #
• RT @craighepburn: Absolutely! RT @designthinkers: “Everything is social” “designing social requires different thinking” @emalone #iak10 #
• @samjallen pleasure. in reply to samjallen #
• @nickwallen no problem in reply to nickwallen #
• NYU Students Raise More than $100,000 to Build Facebook Alternative: http://bit.ly/ahWylZ #
• #FF @DutchKarin @ruv @CameronTeamPM @BucksNet @Pierre_Paperon @TheHenleyList @iain_gray @CB_Swindon @kamper @DeanHolmes #
• RT @davewiner: Pretty sure Adobe didn’t care about “open markets” until they got locked out of one. http://r2.ly/3pkb #
• BBC News | Technology | UK Edition: Google answers privacy questions http://tinyurl.com/32sabj7 #
• RT @samjallen: It looks like the clown doll has been sent to hell: http://tweetphoto.com/22343907 & rightly so if you ask me! #
• How Mobile Technology is Affecting Local News Coverage: http://bit.ly/94qDKi #
• @iMommyTalk thanks for following us. #
• @linxtraffic thanks for the follow #
• RT @MarkClayson: This Is What a Spider Nanobot Really Looks Like [Imagecache] http://goo.gl/fb/6M5l8 #
• RT @billfishkin: Cellphones Now Used More for Data Than for Calls: http://instapaper.com/zY10icaL #
• 10 Must-Have BlackBerry Apps for Small Business: http://bit.ly/ajO21O #

Google ranks pages by speed

In the last few days Google announced that they have again made changes to their ranking algorithm. That’s the clever mathematical bit of Google that works out how far up (or down), the list your website appears.

Before Christmas we saw a major change which for the first time had Google paying close attention to real time search results. This meant that using platforms such as Twitter and Facebook suddenly had real impact when it came to position on Google’s search pages.

The latest change takes into account the speed with which web pages load and could see slow loading sites falling down in the Google league tables.

Google say that they have made the latest change because their research shows that people prefer to visit websites that load quickly. They also say in their central webmaster blog that the effect of a slow website can be cumulative: that is people remember their experience and are reluctant to repeat it.

I have to say that I agree with Google. If a web experience is poor I have to be pretty keen to persevere. I’m not the only one of course – your customers will be the same. In Google’s own words ‘faster sites create happy users’.

The good news is that Google have said that the most important criteria for search ranking is still the relevance of a page to a particular query.

If you want to test the speed of your website (or ours for that matter), you can do it here at WebPagetest.

Ursus Media produce usable, accessible, beautiful and, let’s be honest, pretty speedy websites and they’re all handcrafted here in sunny Swindon. Feel free to get in touch and if you’re in need of a new website take a look at our latest offer.

News: new offices for Ursus Media

Well here we are in our shiny new office. Just waiting for the phones to be connected and the Wi-Fi router in the corner to burst happily into life.

We’re delighted to have been able to make this move already as it signals the steady growth of Ursus Media in Swindon, a town fast becoming a creative hub for digital media business on the M4 corridor.

You can now find Ursus Media at: -

Ursus Media
The Shaftesbury Centre
Percy Street
Swindon
Wiltshire
SN2 2AZ

Our new phone number is 01793 554900 and will be live from Tuesday 23 March or you can contact us via the website as usual.

Kiddicare – eCommerce Perfection?

Spending our days working on the internet we deal with a lot of businesses online and sometimes we’re left feeling a little cynical and thinking ‘wow… you could really do with our help’.

Every so often though we find a company that operates so well online we’re left speechless and wondering why every online business isn’t that good.

Kiddicare is just such a business. We haven’t been involved in any part of their operation but when we see something done really well we’ll talk about it here. Although the Kiddicare website leaves a little bit to be desired (in my opinion) it does work and the entire process from finding the right product to despatching the items right through to delivery and, in fact, beyond is superb.

The story unfolds below:

1. Monday 25th January 2010 at 10:15pm: Order placed. Email order confirmation recieved immediately.
2. Tuesday 26th January 2010 at 7:15pm: Text confirmation (not email), stating that the goods had been despatched and would be delivered the next day.
3. Tuesday 26th January 2010 at 7:20pm:  Email confirmation as above.
4. Wednesday 27th January at 8:26am: Email received stating that the order was out for delivery. A tracking code was included so that we could keep an eye on it ourselves.
5. Wednesday 27th January 2010 at 8:26am: Text confirmation that the order was on the couriers van. This included an option for changing the delivery day simply by replying to the text message.
6. Wednesday 27th January 2010 at 9:05am: Online tracking stated that delivery would be with us in a one hour slot between 12:22pm and 1:22pm.
7. Wednesday 27th January 2010 at 12:42pm: Order arrives at home in Swindon, complete and in perfect condition.

So can you see why this was such a great experience? It’s not because the order was delivered the next day. It’s not because they were the cheapest supplier. Dealing with Kiddicare was a great experience simply because their communication to us, the customer, was superb. They’ve joined the whole process up from order to delivery and they keep the customer informed at every stage.

So if you’d like to be as good as Kiddicare and would like some help with eCommerce or online marketing; feel free to get in touch with us.