Digital innovation in local government around the world

(This is a full version of an article I wrote for The Guardian’s Local Leaders Network on digital innovation in local government. You can read the edited version on the Guardian’s site.) When working in digital innovation and local government, it’s helpful to stick your head above the parapet and see what others are up to. There is … Read more

How do you nurture your freelance network? 11 effective ways to grow your freelancer contacts

Ah, networking. Otherwise known as "talking to other people about what they do" or "collecting as many business cards / twitter / LinkedIn connections as physically possible". Have you ever read an article about networking that wasn’t full of common sense points and cliché? They mostly describe networking experiences as working something like this: In … Read more

Where do you work best? How to find the perfect freelance work space for you

Where you do your freelance work might be one of the most important decisions you make as a freelance consultant. Get your work space right and you’ll be more productive than you ever thought possible and even open yourself up to new opportunities. Get it wrong and you’ll find your environment either stifling or distracting, … Read more

How Charities Are Using Instagram to Engage Their Communities

Instagram, the mobile photo sharing community, are doing a great job of showcasing how different charities are using the platform to engage with a new community of users, all through sharing photos. They list 3 examples in their post on Nonprofit organizations using Instagram: Robin Hood NYC, Oceana and Charity: Water. Here’s the tactics being used … Read more

How social media has changed and how you can benefit

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Social media has changed a lot over the past few years and continues to changes at a rapid pace.

As a freelance social media consultant, it’s my job to keep up to date with those developments – from a trend and strategic view, right down to a macro and tactical level.

So when an old friend who I worked with at a digital agency got in touch to find out what has changed in social media over the past few years, as he was looking to get back into social media consulting, I was happy to help him and answer his questions.

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Havana, Cuba in one week: budget travellers’ guide

"Havana,

Havana, Cuba’s capital city, was amazing, We spent the whole week in Havana in the end, with a few day trips here and there. We went in March 2015, just before the first direct flights from the US started flying to Cuba.

Cuba is very tourist friendly, but there is also plenty to do to get off the beaten track, but it can be hard to plan too much before you get there, as things change quickly, so thought I’d quickly jot down my thoughts in case I can help out and give tips if anyone you know is planning on going.

Here are some Havana tips and some more from our friend Laurie too. Leave any questions in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer, while the unbelievable experience of Cuba is still fresh in my mind!

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London Coworking Spaces

London coworking spaces are popping up everywhere, as shown by this map from coworkinglondon.com. But the nature of coworking itself is changing, as shown by rising prices, the "niche-ing" of spaces, the increase in established companies opting for coworking spaces, and the bigger office retail companies opening up coworking spaces – either under a sub-brand or … Read more

How Small Businesses Are Becoming Competitive Using CMMS

If there’s anything more difficult than starting up a viable, successful small business, it’s maintaining and growing a small business. According to the Small Business Administration, while some 78% of small businesses survive their first year of business, less than half make it through their first five years of business and only about a third survive a … Read more

Macau City Guide: The Vegas of the Orient

This is a guest post from. Alex Sidebottom. Alex is a keen travel writer and explorer of Asian cultures. He has lived in Macau for the last 12 months and is fast becoming a go-to online expert on life in the ‘Vegas of the East’. Alex is looking to broaden his horizons with a stay … Read more

Voice Search For Social Media – Challenge And Changes  

Voice search is growing at a pace that no one expected. Digital marketing is already gearing up to embrace the change brought in by the growth of voice search, but what about social media? People are already showing a change in search behavior when using voice enables services, soon they will move onto social. We … Read more