Online Marketing New Ideas (OMNI)

Searching for Radon

I read an article recently about radon and it freightened the bejasus out of me. This silent killer really is of concern and so few Irish people seem to know, or care about it. So I did a search for "radon gas ireland". There is an agency dedicated to providing information about this relatlvely unknown threat, called the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland. There is lots of clear information and it is worth a visit.

They list some companies (but only in a PDF unfortuntuely and not as clickable links) and I tried one of these, the Radon Centre, as they are based in Wexford near where I live. I received an easy to use test and after a couple of months they removed the test (a small matchbox sized vial that sits in two places in your home) and our house passed the test! Easy and painless. Get you house tested today is my advice for what it is worth.

Cyberbullying

Fair City are talking about it. The Afternoon Show are talking about it. My Mum is talking about it. Cyberbullying. It is a real issue but some of the hysteria surrounding it is unwarranted. In my role as CEO of the Irish Internet Association I get to talk about this issue on the media. My main argument is summarised below;

The internet is here to stay. The interent is a pwoerful tool for enriching our lives in an unprecented manner. The internet is a pwoerful communications tool and if misused can be dangerous. You do not let your kid into a car unless they have been instructed on how to use the powerful (and all too often) deadly machine. You should not let your kids on the internet unless they are educated in how to use it and how not to misuse it.

Government and Society has responded and there are excellent resources available to the non-technical parent who may want to know more. Check out webwise and Childnet International and get involved in the debate, beef yourself up on what's involved and imbue a sense of wonder and respect in your kids about the power of the internet.

Coffee, Danish and 8MBytes Please

Apologies for the hiatus. I was travelling across Europe to my second home in Denmark. The wife is a Dane, don't you know. While talking over Xmas dinner my father in law dropped a casual remark that they were getting in fibre the following week and with 8MBytes as the lowest default for about 30 euro. I had to bite my tongue when he asked me what broadband is like in Ireland. I hmm'd and haww'd for a few moments, drank some coffee and asked him to show me his Xmas presents again.

Isn't it great as a travelling embassador of the Celtic Tiger that we we have to bow our heads in shame whenever broadband is mentioned. We are kings of the world on so many fronts, depending on what elements of David McWilliams creed you adhere to, but we are lowly laggards when internet connection speeds are mentioned.

I am publishing this blog at home via my satellite broadband link. I live in rural Wexford and this is the best I can get. Expensive and just tipping into the lowest technically allowable definition of the word broadband. I drink my coffee and hang my head in shame again.

Mergo of Minds

I am in beautiful Cahir giving a seminar to a group of people on the mergo project. I am demonstrating the effectiveness of using blogging as a communication tool and how it is fundamentally different from publishing to a website.

This is an interesting initiative that gives people in the hospitality and tourism sector a chance to network and learn about all facets of their business. Funded by Failte Ireland it is run under the aegis of Waterford Institute of Technology, and managed by Anne-Marie Frampton. For more information check out the mergo website.

Long Road to Broadband

I have a new term - Broodband. I am brooding. I have waited a long time for broadband to come to my rurual idyll in Wexford. I use a satellite service that is slow and expensive - really slow and really expensive. My fault for living in the countryside I guess. How dare I.

Recently, I have had some cause for optimism. I met the Chairman elect of eircom, Pierre Danon and he seems like a man that means business. Will this mean ubiquitous broadband? Chink of light says it might. Then I hear that Sky might be rolling out a broadband service and I have Sky TV - excellent.

And then the brooding. Tony O'Reilly being interviewed on radio saying that people did not understand broadband and that eircom had perfomred more than adequately in provision of broadband. Lord! You can follow the comments over on the Irish Internet Association's blog.

Then more brooding. A letter from Sky saying that due to incompatibilities in the Irish phone system Sky would not be able to roll out there service here, yet. Like they didn't know this before? But they did over a special on HD and Sky Plus as a consolation. I do not want a consolation I want BROADBAND and I WANT IT NOW.

Some schmissem of hope, met with Senator Shane Ross - now, he is a politician I could work with. He seems genuinely concerned with the issues and looks like he might raise the profile of the problem. Let's see.

Now, I am off for a long brood during a walk with my little dog Sputnik. My satellite has just passed overhead anyhow, so I have missed my emailing window for another 28 minutes. Ho Hum.

Hiatus Belatus

It has been a while since my last post. Things have been very busy. In my role as CEO of the Irish Internet Association - we have been running a roadshow of events all over the country. Coupled with that was our Annual Congress. We managed to get Google, Yahoo, MSN, eBay and Bebo all on the one platform - over 500 billion dollar market cap around the same table! If you want to get a feel for what the speakers and delegates thought of the event check this out.

We have also launched our own IIA blog, which has proved quite popular. Check it out and see if it is of interest. Really trying to use it as a forum for debate relating to zietgeist internet issues. Broadband anyone? Speaking of which, I met the new Chairman designate of eircom, Pierre Danon, and I think may just be the man to sort Ireland's broadband out. Smooth operator - now let's see if he can do for Ireland like he did for the BT in the UK.

Can you talk?

The Irish Internet Association are running a series of debates and we want you to talk. If you fancy your chances please give me a call. The first debate motion is The internet is crap and will not survive! Teams have already been chosen for the first one but there are more planned. These debates are starting to capture peoples' imaginations so get involved.

IIA Clonmel Event

The Irish Internet Association ran its first event in Clonmel recently and I was delighted to see so many show up for it. We had organised this in association with the South Tipp County Enterprise Board and those guys really rolled out the red carpet. There was a packed room and the audience heard from a good list of speakers, capped by David Jess, MD of eBay Ireland.

I had a fascinting conversation with Bernie Goldbach at one of the breaks and he revved me up about how the IIA should be using RSS feeds, blogs and podcasting - believe this is all planned and it will happen. It just takes resources - financial and manpower but we will get there. It was also great to see a big cocntingent from the Tipp Institute as well. We have done Wexford and Clonmel. Kilkenny, Carlow and Leitrim are planned. Wanna get involved - give me a shout if you want your County Enterprise Board to run an event with us.

Everything about blogging ...

I know its been a while but my new job as CEO of the Irish Internet Association really is a full time occupation. No excuses but I have been putting all my energies into it and trying to make things happen. I am glad to say that things are moving in the direction I want. As a small sample of this we are hosting a Blogging Seminar on March 8 in Dublin. Michele Neylon is running this 3 hour session and it really will be a fantastic opportunity to learn from someone who is definitely one of Ireland's leading proponents of this unique form of communication. Want to know more - well visit here and maybe we might see you along on the day.

Net Visionary Awards Announced

The IIA & CheetahMail Net Visionary Awards took place on November 17th at a Gala Black Tie Ball in the Clontarf Castle Hotel. Over 350 Industry leaders, entrepreneurs and business owners attended the Awards, now in its seventh year. The Awards is recognized as one of the highlights of the awards calendar. The awards have become the most respected Internet awards, honouring individuals for their contribution to the Irish Internet Industry. Nominated by colleagues, clients, and peers, voted on by industry professionals these awards are truly the most prestigious awards on the Industry calendar. Over 70 nominations were received across 11 categories.

Categories included Innovation, Web Design, Online Trader and Online Marketer. One winner from each category was chosen as the winner. An Overall Net Visionary was chosen by the Board of the Irish Internet Association.

Category Winners:

Social Contribution John Breslin ~ Boards.ie . www.boards.ie

Technology Journalist John Kennedy ~ SiliconRepublic.com . www.siliconrepublic.com

Innovation Eamonn & Brian Fallon ~ Daft.ie . www.daft.ie

eGovernment Alan Kelly ~ FailteIreland - www.failteireland.ie

Internet Marketer Conor Lynch ~ RaboDirect - www.rabodirect.ie

Web Designer Lisa Westermann ~ Red Sky . www.redsky.ie

Web Developer Kevin Gill ~ NewAddress.ie . www.newaddress.ie

Online Trader Des O'Mahony ~ BookAssist.com . www.bookassist.com

Educational Contribution John Hurley and Michael Hallissy ~ Teach Net / Digital Hub . www.teachnet.ie

Internet Enterpreneur Eamonn & Brian Fallon ~ Daft.ie . www.daft.ie

Mobile Internet Application Barry O'Neill ~ Upstart Games . www.upstartgames.com

The Board of the IIA voted Brendan Rice of Aer Lingus as the Overall Net Visionary for 2005. Commenting on his achievement, Colm Lyon Chairman of the IIA said that, "this award was presented to Brendan for his drive and dedication to the transformation process necessary to put the .com in aerlingus.com"