Nick Baggott's CRM and Digital Marketing Blog

Bing is here...Microsoft's new search engine

Microsoft has launched a beta version of Bing. It is their new search engine - designed to take on Google.

It is early days, I did a quick search, looking up Nick Baggott and found the results to be much more out of date than Google. Whereas all of the Google page are recent sites or articles about me - my blog, my web site, twitter feed, facebook page, IT Toolbox, Microsoft Partner network etc (all current and live), Bing was headed up by by Chemistry blog and chemistry's web site - I left Chemistry 2 years ago now. So, on that small test, it is not as accurate as google.

However, I do like the "related searches" column, which helps you find what you need quicker. When searching for "Reading" it had a related search for "Reading FC", then when you click on that, the related searches were "Reading FC tickets", "Hob Nob - the RFC fan site" etc. This could be useful.

What Bing needs is users and it is chicken and egg. Until you get users, you don't get a good consumer experience and vice versa... 

By the way, Bing is the sound your mind makes when it solves a problem i.e. aha, bing! I have found it - apparently!

Microsoft's brand new answer to Google's Insights for Search

Microsoft has just launched a new tool that plugs into Excel that allows you, not only to count how many people are searching for your brand (or your competitors') on Windows Live Search, but also to learn more about them.

It uses your Microsoft Live ID (used to be called a Microsoft passport) to add demographic variables. Everyone that has a hotmail, or MSN Messenger or Windows Live Spaces account, will have a Live ID, so the sample is pretty representative.

As the number of users is lower than Google, then i would recommend using Google to define absolute numbers, but if you are a big enough brand to show up on the stats in the Microsoft tool, then this a very useful free tool.

The neat thing is that as it is an Excel plug in (and is free) then you can take the data and manipulate it, graph it, rank it, combine it etc.

Why not check it out for yourself (proving you have Office 2007 as it doesn't work on previous editions - but you can download a free trial copy of 2007 on the site).

It has a vanity URL and is called "let search make you smarter" at the moment.

iTunes Festival & Facebook activity

Great idea from iTunes - free concerts at the Roundhouse in London with some great bands over a month, tickets can be won by iTunes subscribers. Also a Facebook group to keep up to date. If you sign up as a fan of iTunes you get the updates. Everyone that signs up effectively virally promotes the avtivity to all of their friends. Neat! oh and the concerts are free to download on iTunes throughout the month...iTunes Live

My 13 year old son has a new blog

My son, James has just started his own blog. He set it up last night, so it is early days. He wants to write about topical newsy stuff for kids. A bit like, the excellent, First News newspaper, but online with his own brand of humour. Here is the link (James Baggott's news blog)

Launch of Nick Barley's new consultancy

My great friend and long time client, Nick Barley has set up his new marketing consultancy Twofingers. We'll be working together moving forward, I am sure. Nick is a brilliant operator with wonderful experience heading up marketing at Microsoft, Oracle and CA. He knows what's what and how to make things happen in Marketing. He is a visionary, no nonsense marketer, who gives it to you straight.

Men follow men on Twitter

Harvard Business Review has just published the results of a huge research project on Twitter and in particular, who is tweeting and following who? This is not an insignificant piece of work, HBR looked into 300,000 Twitter accounts. The results can be found here, in their article "men follow men and nobody tweets".

Here are some highlights:

- There are more women then men on Twitter (55/45) 

- But, men are much more likely to follow other men

- Women are also more likely to follow men than other women

- 10% of users account for 90% of tweets.

There is loads of good content in the HBR artice. Check out the link above to find out more....

Navigate News update

I've been making big plans for the future of Navigate. Don't worry, I'll still be small and independant! No plans to sell out to an agency or group. But I have a couple of irons in the fire, this could mean exciting times and new opportunitioes for my clients moving forward. More news here as soon as I am able to say more.

Typepad's 10 tips for fresh blogging content

Here are Typepad's 10 tips for keeping your blog up todate.

My advice is use a social bookmarking tool, like Delicious, to save anything interesting that you read that you may want to blog about. Then when you have time, review your Delicious bookmarks and one of them should provide inspiration for a new post.

Also, if you lift something, as I have done here - Make sure you reference who it is from and provide a link to them. So here goes (Typepad)

1.  Check your comment section.

Some of the best ideas come from readers. Read through your comments and check for interesting questions, provoking thoughts, or anything that could become a good post topic. Focus particularly on any comment threads that contain a spirited discussion among readers. If it's hot, run with it.

2.  Create a list.

Whatever you blog about, there is likely an exciting list that you can uncover. Write the “5 Secrets to...” or the “Top 10 Ways...” or “8 Reasons Why...” or “3 Ways to Find Out...” They're quick and painless, and even better: they're fun to read.

3.  Review your greatest hits.

Read back through your old posts, particularly the ones that generated a good amount of feedback, and consider writing a fresh angle on the topic. If a subject was compelling once, it might be worthwhile to explore another variation on it.

4.  Spend some time on social networking sites like Digg and StumbleUpon to find out what other people are blogging about.

Sometimes just browsing through headlines of buzz-worthy blog topics will be enough to jumpstart your creativity. Good ideas are contagious, so take time to read popular blogs and blogs that are generating lots of conversations, and you'll soon have a bunch of new ideas.

5.  Explore blogs in an entirely different category than yours.

Stepping outside your own content area is a wonderful way to be inspired. Have a marketing blog? Read a few food blogs. Have a craft blog? Check out a few political blogs. Inspiration is just a few clicks away.

6.  Do something different.

Create a post using only pictures. Hold a contest. Give something away to the “nth” person who comments. Invite your readers to ask you a question. Participate in a blog meme. Write a pros and cons list on a topic that is relevant for your audience. Write a post in your “alter ego” voice, contradicting a stance you would usually take. Create a poll. Write about a blog post that you had a strong reaction to.

7.  Invite a guest author to write a blog post.

If you need a break on the writing front, why not ask another blogger to write a guest post? Another up-and-coming blogger will likely seize the chance to write for a new audience, and your regular readers will get a fresh perspective.

8.  Step away from the computer.

Some of the best ideas come when you stop trying so hard. Spend an hour or two at the museum; catch the afternoon matinee; browse the magazine rack; or crack open a novel. Chances are good that you'll find yourself inspired when you do return to your desk.

9.  Turn on the news.

We know: since you started blogging, you don't watch nearly as much television, but local and national news are a goldmine of topic ideas. Tune in and be inspired.

10.  Keep an idea log.

Buy a cheap notebook and jot down ideas whenever they come to you. Carry it with you when you're riding the bus or sitting at the airport. Next time you can't think of anything to post about, all you'll have to do is turn to your own treasure trove of brilliance.

Vertu CRM Database Pitch

I have just completed my role as project manager for the Vertu global CRM database pitch. A partner has been found and we are now ready to start moving ahead. I cannot give away the result as all parties have not been informed, but it has been a fascinating process. The variety of responses to both the RFI and pitch has surprised me, both in terms of solutions offered and quality of pitch.

It has been a pleasure to work with the Vertu team. It is great to work with people who know what they want, but not necessarily how to gte there and who trust your judgement and advice. It has been fun, illuminating and stimulating. May I wish all concerned every success.

If you want a stylish top end phone, then click on the link to find out more. www.vertu.com

Playtex Moon Walk

My wife, Sue is doing The Moon Walk on May 16th (26 miles through the streets of London overnight). Please give generously... www.justgiving.com/fionasfabulousfriends