Both these factors are self evident throughout history – in fact most of the world’s most spectacular buildings have one or both of these motivators behind their creation. Cathedrals that were ostensibly built for the glory of god, were perhaps more often initiated by church leaders with an eye to their own immortality through architectural magnificence.

Towering office buildings are almost without exception commercially driven, while also often aspiring to be the tallest, most innovative, most spectacular – and of course, with the name of an individual like Trump or Murdoch attached, or the opportunity to sell those treasured naming rights to a corporation that wants to be seen as being “on top of the world”.

In a city that needs to be rebuilt by visionaries who have far more in mind than simply empire building or profiteering, I can only hope that we have the right people in position to lead us, and enough people who care able to continue to have their voices heard.

The last thing we need are more towers when we have a population who don’t wish to work more than one or two levels above ground. Where will the workers come from to fill such towers? Perhaps they will be the new citizens of Christchurch in ten years time, people who have not lived through thousands of after shocks, seen others killed by collapsing buildings, or had their homes literally heaving and cracking under their feet.

The drive to build tall buildings serves only the architects wanting to make their name for spectacular, grandiose structures … the property developers attempting to maximise their return from a small piece of central city real estate, and the landlords who invest in such properties in the hope they will continue to profit for many years to come.

We have been told already that to financially justify the additional cost of making a building truly earthquake proof, commercial properties will need to be more than six storeys high. For a workforce, and potential employees whose first question of a potential employer is “where is your office and what floor are you on?” being tempted above ground level will not be easy, no matter what the engineers have to say.

Reality is that we trusted engineers who told us buildings were safe to go back into, and then people died on February 22nd. We are not so ready to trust those who tell us buildings are safe anymore.

I have a friend who was told her house was safe by the insurance company’s engineer. Despite the fact her home is on Mt Pleasant, which was badly impacted by the November and February quakes, this engineer disagreed with the original report which recommended all the summerhill stone on her home be replaced, and said only those bricks which fell off in November needed to be replaced. A few days later, on Feb 22, the rest of the bricks fell off, and could have seriously injured my friend or her 4 year old daughter who liked to sit in front of the bricks in the sun.

Trust is a hard thing to regain when so many of us have been so close to losing so much, and so many have already lost everything.

I only hope those who might consider allowing their egos or their greed to have anything to do with this rebuild, to think again and approach with humility instead.

Can I just say – along with many others – bad, bad, bad idea EQC.

Telling the public that it is not appropriate for your marketing team to respond to questions because they don’t have access to specific case files is simply not good enough.

From what my friends and colleagues are telling me, even your processing staff don’t have access to the files they should have.

How many paper files flew out the broken windows on February 22nd? I have heard many completed files were lost that day.

Social media is one of the few avenues where the people of Christchurch feel at least they can be heard and seen, and they may have a chance of not disappearing completely into the liquefied swamp that appears to be EQC’s processes.

So guys, we have been paying our dues to you since Napier, surely it is time to be treated with respect.

Get your case file people hooked up with your Facebook account – if you need advice on how to manage it, there are plenty of social media consultants happy to help. It’s called a social media contact centre – google it.

Whatever you do, treat the people trying to talk to you with respect – they are at their wit’s end and they could do with a break or two.

Thanks.

Familiar prompts from our friendly social media big brothers. Do people really want to know? And when they ask “what are you thinking” or “what are you doing?” does that really mean we should literally share it all?

It’s kinda like that after sex moment when you are lying there staring at the ceiling and your significant (or not so significant) other asks the age old question “what are you thinking about?”. “Well tbh I was noticing there are more cracks in the ceiling than before the earthquake, and there’s a cobweb in that corner that really needs seeing to” (if I remember once I am out of bed). Or Jake Gyllenhaal’s honest response in Love and Other Drugs – “money”.

My theory is that when we ask that question there are a couple of options … a) you want your partner to tell you that they are thinking about you, how you are a fabulous lover and that was the best sex they ever had and they will love and adore you for ever, or b) you know that you are lying there thinking about obscurities and you want to be reassured that they are doing the same, so you don’t miss some deep and meaningful moment by being on a completely different page.

I don’t know about you, but when I am asked that question, I tend to be honest. Which is often kinda boring, or sometimes extremely random – just the way my brain works I guess.

When twitter or facebook ask me that question, I am not inclined to be so open, and I really don’t think I need to share the minutiae of my life, my meals, my wardrobe, my kids etc etc with the whole world – or at least that portion who follow me on T and FB. Unfortunately many are less reticent about sharing, but each to their own.

But I do think the beginning of a new year is an appropriate time to ask … What are you thinking?

What plans do you have for the year ahead?

What impact does the current state of the world – environmental, economic, political etc have on your plans – if any?

Do you think 2012 is bringing the end of the world – and if you do, what are you going to do with the possibly last year of your life?

Or are you just trying not to think and taking life one day at a time?

Would love to hear your thoughts for the new year, and where you see things heading …

K

So you may be aware that Christchurch, New Zealand (my hometown) recently experienced an earthquake – 7.1 on the Richter scale. To be more accurate, more than 700 earthquakes in the last two weeks if you count all the aftershocks, many of which were over 4.0 on the Richter scale and therefore definitely noteworthy.

It’s been an interesting time. The communication networks: traditional media – tv, print, radio, have been flat out reporting damage assessments, the response from government, impact on local businesses, property owners, families and more. And for possibly the first time on this scale in New Zealand, drawing massively on social media networks including twitter, youtube, flickr and facebook, as well as personal blog sites, and sites set up specifically around the quake, to draw out images, video and first hand experiences of what went on, and what is continuing to unfold for those who are involved.

This is truly citizen media. Not only does it provide a much much wider picture than the media networks themselves could ever hope to tap into, it also provides a level of immediacy not possible through mainstream channels.

Recalling my Psych 101 lectures, the observation was that disaster brings people together, helps strangers to bond in ways they never would normally do under our everyday circumstances. I think that has been powerfully illustrated in this instance.

A further insight comes from a friend of mine, who was talking with a native of El Salvador, a nation troubled not only by decades, centuries even of violence and oppression, but also by earthquakes. Situated also on the ring of fire that surrounds the Pacific, the wisdom of El Salvadorians is that earthquakes bring communities together, give them a chance to re-evaluate priorities and make new decisions on our way forward.

It has also been said that this is an “earthquake of consciousness” which suggests the same thing.

Personally, I feel that the incredible fact no-one was killed in this quake serves as a warning. It is unlikely to be the largest quake we experience in this country, and now we have a chance to prepare. To make structures sound, or replace them with buildings that will withstand a bigger shake. I actually feel safer, knowing that my own house has come through this without damage, and that the work done by engineers, builders and our council staff over the last several decades has been well informed, well researched and has undoubtedly saved many lives.

If you have been a part of this earthquake experience, how has it changed your outlook on the world, on your community and on the people closest to you and how you interact with them. Do you see things differently? With local body elections upon us, are you more inclined to care, to participate? Or do you have more than enough on your plate sorting out the effects of this quake on your family home, property, business or job?

I would love to hear how this earthquake, and the many shakes that followed, has impacted your life, and your vision for  the future.

Are you standing on shaky ground? Or has your vision become crystal clear?

Love this YouTube video, a perfect perfect satire of the whole BP in the Gulf of Mexico debacle. Obviously plenty of others agree, given that it now has over 5 million views.

As a former PR professional, this whole crisis makes me shudder for two reasons – first and foremost, I would hate to be in BP’s shoes and secondly, I have no idea in the world how they can possibly spend $60 million on PR for crisis management.

What concerns me even more are the long term ramifications of this situation, especially given the disastrous potential effects of the banned chemicals they are using to disperse the oil, which will in fact make everything worse by spreading oil-dispersed particles right throughout the water column (instead of floating on top as oil does). But of course, from BP’s perspective, it will be all good because the TV cameras will no longer be able to see the oil slick floating on top of the sea.

Sigh.

What do you think?

Or do you take things (and yourself) a whole lot more seriously than that?

For me, it’s a bit of both. I think that anyone who can’t step back and laugh at themselves and life in general, is really in danger of losing perspective.

But I also think there are some things we need to take pretty seriously – and act on when and if we can.

Like the enormous pollutants pouring in the Gulf of Mexico right now. Was this just about a very bad mistake by BP that lead to one of the world’s largest environmental disasters?

Or was it our need to push harder and harder to extract fossil fuels from more and more challenging locations – like 5,000 feet underwater? Here in New Zealand we are at risk from a government who are looking at the short term money to be made from selling off our natural resources – including offshore oil, to the highest bidder, without fully taking into account the potential consequences.

A disaster like the BP one would be cataclysmic for an island nation the size of New Zealand. I can only hope that our politicians pay attention to the voices who are telling them to beware.

But really my post is about living life with integrity. Being true to ourselves, and knowing that we can go to sleep at night without fear or guilt, without the worry that we have taken steps that might unnecessarily endanger others.

And that goes for our online presence too. Do you share information that might benefit others? Do you shoot down or laugh at those less fortunate, or those who are trying to make a difference? Do you actively support causes that have the power to create a shift in the world?

What we do, what we say and how we think does make a difference.

Check out this blog post by my friend James, based on the research of Dr Masaru Emoto. It is a clear indication of the impact our thoughts and the written word can have on our environment – and our food. Try the experiment yourself – see if it makes a difference.

Namaste

Karen

Most of the time, when we do SEO work for clients, it is all about attracting as many visitors to a site as possible, and then converting them into customers or prospects or followers or subscribers.

But the powers of search optimisation can also be put to work for worthwhile causes.

Causes that might even change the world.

Tonight I have been doing some reading, about subjects that are close to my heart and I thought I would share some links with you – on subjects that really do have the potential to change lives for the better.

1) Autism – Mercury in vaccines and so much more

2) Mercury Poisoning from Environmental Toxins, Dolphin Meat and You

3) Your Diet Could be Killing You – Make a Change and Prevent Diabetes, Heart Disease and Cancer

4) Lifechanging Movie Soon to be Released – Forks Over Knives

and

5) Reversing Diabetes in 30 Days – Its Real and it Works!

Please take the time to click through on these links and share the information with people you love. We have the power to change the world for good – and sometimes it can be a lot simpler than we think.

It’s time to take action!

Seems to be a frequently Googled question, so I thought I would have a go at addressing it.

It’s an interesting one for anyone who is already online, since they would appear to be benefiting from all the websites that are currently online, but perhaps they are looking at the issue from a business perspective – for example, if I am someone who gets most of my customers from word of mouth, I spend no time at all in an office in front of a computer and I am already flat out busy … why have a website?

From that perspective, it is a good question.

Maybe right now you don’t need one – but it is likely that at some point in the not so distant future that you might find it beneficial.

1) Google is the new “yellow pages”. For a huge percentage of the population, the first point of call when they are looking for a product or service, is to turn to the internet and start searching.

2) Your competition have websites. So when someone is hunting for a particular business or service, in their area or city, frequently they will see at the top of the page the “local listings”, which sit next to a Google Map. If your business is not in the local listings, chances are people will think you don’t exist and go to your competition.

3) Having a website can be cheaper than printing and distributing brochures. Most websites that first went online were pretty much digital versions of marketing brochures or company profiles. They have evolved into something a lot more dynamic and interesting now, but putting up a simple website with just a few pages is faster and cheaper than printing 1,000 brochures and deciding what to do with them. Your website can be updated quickly and easily (by you if you have a good content management system) and you can change the look and feel of your business image whenever you want (without having to throw all those brochures out).  If you are at a trade show or an event where you would normally hand out brochures – have some great signage on your stand and simply give out business cards with your website address for more information.

4) Your website can give you clues about your customers. Including something like “site search” on your site, can give you valuable information as to what your potential customers are looking for when they come to your site. It might be specific products or services, or it might be information. You can also install Google Analytics (free)to get a clear idea of where people are going in your site and how much time they spend on each page.

5) Your website can be making your money, even when you are busy doing other things. You may have heard of affiliate marketing – or if not, you have probably seen websites with advertisements for products and links to sites like Amazon.com. Every time someone clicks through from your site on one of those advertisements, then buys the product, you make a commission. Check out sites like Affilorama.com for more information about how to be successful at affiliate marketing.

6) Your website is a great place to experiment with new products and services. Before you commit to spending a whole heap of overhead on developing a new product or service, test it out on your website first and ask for feedback. You may get ideas that take your concept into a whole new – better, direction.

7) Having a website maximises the benefits you can get from social media. If you have set up a Twitter account and/or a Facebook account for your business, or even for yourself, having a website means you can promote different aspects of your business – new releases, events, services etc, just by linking to your site.

8 ) A website can increase the resale value of your business. If you are considering selling your business at some point in the future, having a website – and a great URL (domain name) that is relevant to the business, will add to the value of your company. If you are thinking of selling in the near future, now is the time to really get your site up and humming.

9) If you don’t have a business but you want people to know who you are – creating a site like a blog is a great place to start building your profile and online persona. It can support your job applications, serve as the base for that book you have always wanted to write, and give you a creative outlet. You can set up as many different blogs as you like, to focus on different topics – the software is free, templates are easy to use and you can choose from the hosted sites like wordpress.com or buy your own domain name and get it hosted cheaply by one of the many hosting providers around the world.

10) If you don’t a website, because you don’t know where to start, it’s time to Get With the Programme! Again, there are loads of free sites you can start out with, and millions of companies who can set up a site for you. Don’t be afraid to ask the things you don’t know … you can start out by Googling if you want. You’ll get up to speed pretty damn fast, and then there is a whole world of additional information just waiting to help you transform your site into something powerful.

Any questions? Feel free to comment below and I will answer.

The rumbles are out there in the interwebs (as per usual) about more changes in the Google algorithm and what impact it will have on companies wanting to optimise their websites.

Well the good news is that if you are focusing on building awesome content into your website – you will still come out on top of the heap!

Never stop thinking about what you can add to your site that might be of interest and value to any readers, anywhere. Especially good if it relates to your core business of course … but the occasional article or blog post that is off track can be good too … it’s a little like when your local supermarket decides to move things around. You find it harder to see the things you normally buy, but you sometimes end up discovering completely new products you’ve never bought before.

And you eventually rediscover where they have hidden your usual shopping staples.

So where do you put fresh content on your site?

You might build a blog or add a blog to your site, skin it to match the rest of your site design.

Or add a section themed around the main content of your site; a press section perhaps; news; or expand existing pages to include more relevant information and detail that might be of interest to visitors.

Any questions? Post them below – I would love to hear from you.

Karen

Yep, that’s it … I have officially designated 2010 as the year of moving beyond the comfort zone.

What does that mean for you?

What challenges can you create for yourself that will take your life, your job, your business – and your website, to a new level.

What are the things that technology has enabled in the last 12 months that might entice you to look differently at what you are doing – and make some changes as a result?

Check out this interview with Mashable’s Pete Cashmore on CNN, and his post about the 10 top trends he forecasts for 2010.

Are you going to be riding Google Wave – or at least one of the first to actually get your head around it and start using it the way its developers conceptualised?

Are you going to take Twitter to the next level for your business?

Will you be ready to take new technologies by the horns and really make them work for you?

Or will you be sitting back waiting for everyone else to take the lead before you make a move.

Stretching ourselves, taking some risks, moving outside the comfort zone of business as usual is key to innovation, growth and progress, particularly when so many have battened down the hatches to weather the recession.

As we have seen in the past, the best companies have emerged out of tough economic times leaner and more creative, more productive than before, to really take the world by storm.

Are you going to be one of those? Or will you be one of those who fall by the wayside because you were too scared to put your toe in the water.

I wish you courage, creativity, commercial nous and great success in 2010 – roll on the new decade!

Happy New Year everyone.

Karen