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I’d heard good things about the HTC Hero for some time, and interested in the Android platform I decided to switch from Vodafone and avail of the HTC hero with Meteor.
My first impressions were that I loved the phone. I loved the ease of use, I loved the logical layouts, the ability to get into the settings and easily customise. The ability to set different ‘desktops’ was a huge bonus. I could hide away my work-related apps at the weekend. I thought that this phone and myself were going to get along famously.
The day after I bought it, I woke up to find that I had no service and it was operating on emergency only calls. After turning it on and off a couple of times didn’t resolve the issue, I phoned customer service. They informed me that the sale hadn’t being ‘closed properly in the system’ and that I should turn it off and on again, after they had ‘closed’ the sale on their system. This worked, issue resolved.
Or so I thought. A week later, the same thing happened. A few days in a row. So I gathered the bits and pieces and headed into the Meteor store in the Crescent Shopping Centre in Limerick and spoke to the manager, Laura. Laura herself owns a HTC Hero and told me that it had happened to her phone at the start but the issue had been caused by the SIM card being slightly loose in the back of the phone. Once she had reinserted the SIM card she hadn’t had the problem again. So Laura removed my SIM card and reinserted it. She also told me that if that didn’t resolve the issue to come back in and they would exchange the phone. If she wasn’t there at the time, I was to mention that I had spoken to her and that it was a flagged issue and I was to get the phone exchanged.
So far so good in terms of customer service. Unfortunately a couple of weeks later the same issue started happening again. Today I took my HTC Hero back to Meteor in the Crescent. Where I was told I was outside the 28 days and the phone couldn’t be exchanged. I duly explained that it was a flagged issue and that I had spoken to Laura. I was again told that I was outside the 28 days, and I explained that I had initially come back within 28 days of buying it and that the ‘fix’ that time had not resolved the issue. I asked them to phone Laura who was working in another store at the time. Laura agreed that I was outside the 28 days and therefore the only thing they could do was send the phone off to be fixed.
I refused. The phone hasn’t worked properly from the start, I phoned up on day 2, and came back into the store 1 week later. So another Manager called Kate was phoned. Kate couldn’t do anything for me either. So apparently an area manager has to get involved, Ellen. Ellen is on leave at the moment and won’t be back until “Tuesday or Wednesday”. At which point I will have to make my 3rd visit to the Meteor store in the Crescent.
And in the meantime, I find myself falling out with the HTC Hero. With it’s sluggish start up (my PC loads faster) with it’s poor opening times for apps, with it’s loose SIM issue. I am beginning to wonder if I should go back to Vodafone and try the iPhone.
I will suffer no guilt issues cancelling my direct debit with Meteor, and letting them loose time and money chasing me for a change.
I’d heard good things about the HTC Hero for some time, and interested in the Android platform I decided to switch from Vodafone and avail of the HTC hero with Meteor.
My first impressions were that I loved the phone. I loved the ease of use, I loved the logical layouts, the ability to get into the settings and easily customise. The ability to set different ‘desktops’ was a huge bonus. I could hide away my work-related apps at the weekend. I thought that this phone and myself were going to get along famously.
The day after I bought it, I woke up to find that I had no service and it was operating on emergency only calls. After turning it on and off a couple of times didn’t resolve the issue, I phoned customer service. They informed me that the sale hadn’t being ‘closed properly in the system’ and that I should turn it off and on again, after they had ‘closed’ the sale on their system. This worked, issue resolved.
Or so I thought. A week later, the same thing happened. A few days in a row. So I gathered the bits and pieces and headed into the Meteor store in the Crescent Shopping Centre in Limerick and spoke to the manager, Laura. Laura herself owns a HTC Hero and told me that it had happened to her phone at the start but the issue had been caused by the SIM card being slightly loose. Once she had reinserted her SIM card she hadn’t had the problem again. So Laura removed my SIM card and reinserted it. She also told me that if that didn’t resolve the issue to come back in and they would exchange the phone. If she wasn’t there at the time, I was to mention that I had spoken to her and that it was a flagged issue and I was to get the phone exchanged.
So far so good in terms of customer service. Unfortunately a couple of weeks later the same issue started happening again. So, today I took my HTC Hero back to Meteor in the Crescent. Where I was told I was outside the 28 days and the phone couldn’t be exchanged. I duly explained that it was a flagged issue and that I had spoken to Laura. I was again told that I was outside the 28 days, and I explained that I had initially come back within 28 days of buying it and that the ‘fix’ that time had not resolved the issue. I asked them to phone Laura who was working in another store at the time. Laura agreed that I was outside the 28 days and therefore the only thing they could do was send the phone off to be fixed.
I refused. The phone hasn’t worked properly from the start. So another Manager called Kate was phoned. Kate couldn’t do anything for me either. So apparently an area manager has to get involved, Ellen. Ellen is on leave at the moment and won’t be back until “Tuesday or Wednesday”. At which point I will have to make my 3rd visit to the Meteor store in the Crescent.
And in the meantime, I find myself falling out of love with the HTC Hero. With it’s sluggish start up (my PC loads faster) with it’s poor opening times for apps, with it’s loose SIM issue. I am beginning to wonder if this was all a mid-life crisis. Perhaps I should abandon my fling and return chastened to Vodafone and the iPhone.
I will suffer no guilt issues cancelling my direct debit with Meteor, and letting them loose time and money chasing me for a change.
*** UPDATE: Apparently this is a known dropped service issue with the HTC Hero on the Meteor network. It is not a handset issue, despite what Meteor tell customers. I suggest you do not touch this phone on Meteor until the issue is fully resolved. See this boards thread http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055851942
Logging into Twitter yesterday evening, Twitter informed me of a new RT functionality:
Hi there, you’re part of a beta group receiving this feature, which means you may start seeing retweets in a new way. People who don’t have this yet will see your retweets prefaced by “RT”.
I also noticed that when following new users I was given the option of either opting in or out of receiving their Retweets. I thought this would be useful functionality where many of the people you follow overlap and know each other. It is not uncommon to see the same RTs on many occassions within certain sets of people.
Logging in this morning and seeing the new RTs in action has been a letdown though:
1. Retweet Display
Image 2: What a RT now looks like
The profile pic of the original poster is shown in your timeline & you only see a small text attributing the RT to the user you follow. I think this is mistake #1.
I trust the people I follow before I trust people I don’t know. It is disconcerting to see unknown profiles show up in my timeline.
I shouldn’t have to search to see who sent the RT - I should see the profile pic of the person I am following.
The above example was Retweeted by @Eirepreneur, a Twitter user whose input I value and whose RTs I am likely to read. However I see the profile pic of someone I have never heard of (no offence to mikebutcher).
This indicates to me that Twitter don’t realise how users read Tweets. I scan quickly for anything of interest, I do not read all of the Tweets or RTs in my timeline.
Logically, I should see @Eirepreneur’s profile pic in my timeline and only the username of the Retweeted user.
2. Retweet Functionality
Image 3: Automated Retweet Link
There is a new “Retweet” link underneath each Tweet as per image 3 above.
However this “Retweet” option is not as handy as it first seems unfortunately.
The Tweet is automatically send to followers without giving users the option of editing or commenting on a RT!
I can’t stress enough that this ability to edit and add to a RT is a fundamental part of the spirit of Retweeting.
Users recommend articles, ideas, users etc to their followers.
Users comment on RTs. Users compliment, ridicule, discuss, debate, encourage.
Ideas propegate and develop via creative use of RTs.
We can still of course use the ‘old-fashioned’ method by copying and prefacing with the letters “RT”. That’s what I’ll be doing until Twitter listen to the feedback and make some changes before they roll out the new functionality across the board.
These are my initial thoughts. Any other comments, compliments or gripes about the new functionality are very welcome!
Activate Client, the Temple Gate Hotel in Ennis Co Clare was until recently appearing in Google in the Local Search results for various permutations of keywords ‘hotels ennis’. For a location based business such as a hotel, getting on that map of 7 listings on the homepage of Google is very important.
However, this week I heard from Temple Gate that they had an issue with a client who booked a room under the impression that the Temple Gate Hotel is close to the 02 in Dublin (some 240km away). In fact they had found the hotel in Google by typing in ‘hotels near 02 dublin’. I tried to replicate the search myself and found that Temple Gate Hotel was showing up on the map in the local search results, and for some strange reason Google maps was now placing them firmly on Ennis Grove in Dublin 4! Not only that, their map listing for Ennis related searches had disappeared.
I have come across cases where it took some time to get an old address updated, but this is the first where I have seen Google change a correct location to one that has absolutely no connection to the business in question. We have now tried to reclaim the listing and update the address. Any of you who have gone through this process will know that the options for doing so are limited. You can either get Google to send an automated text or phone the telephone number they have on file for the business to confirm. I didn’t fancy the chances of an automated Google call to the receptionist so opted for the postcard. It’s rather ironic really that we are waiting for snail mail from the U.S. from one of the the biggest Internet companies in the world.
Congrats to Count Me Out on winning the Best Social Media Campaign at the Irish Web Awards on Saturday night! A worthwhile winner and great to see a smaller budget make such a big impact. See the full list of winners here.
The evening itself was greatly enjoyed by myself and my client Joanne Grehan of LookWest.ie. Compliments to Damien Mulley for organising it and Rick O Shea for presenting with such style. The focus was on fun and informality. The giant bags of all things ‘crispy’ (e.g. Wagon Wheels, Taytos, Chickadees, Onion Rings) and the t-shirts thrown by Rick into the audience caused much swapping and passing along. I didn’t see any fights, but I can’t vouch for what went on behind me.
I can also reveal here that there was almost a Kanyeesque moment. Sitting half way down the room, as the shortlist for the Best Practice website was announced, I spied a screen shot of what I thought was my brother’s website. My brother however had texted me a few hours earlier asking if I fancied joining him for few bevvies. So I thought that we had a situation whereby he was shortlisted and didn’t know about it. I wondered what would happen if his website won. Should I go up on stage and accept the award on his behalf? I texted my brother “What is name of your cars website” (yes I know I am a bad sister for not remembering). Before I got an answer CarsIreland.ie was announced as the winner. I scanned the room and initially didn’t see any takers. I steeled myself for walking right up there and making some excuse for my brother. I looked around one last time for good measure and saw the rightful owner of the award making his way to the podium. Stage invasion narrowly averted! My brother says CarsIreland.ie were worthy winners of the award by the way, but he thinks an invasion of the stage would have been a great guerilla marketing campaign for his site.
I got the opportunity to meet loads of people with whom I’ve communicated via Twitter but never met. Sabrina Dent, the offer of a meal, bed and lift from station was geniune, I will get in touch. Joe Scanlon amazingly remembered that I threatened a sulk if he didn’t make good on his promise to link to my blog. It worked well and I’m wondering if sulking as part of my overall link-building strategy has legs to it. It was lovely to meet Damien Mulley and I was very encouraged by his words about the LookWest campaign. I also met @IDAIreland who very deservedly won the Best Government & Council Website category.
At some silly hour of the night I found myself heading home in a taxi with many packets of tayto stuffed inside my handbag. The taxi driver was very appreciative of a late night snack. I myself placed a packet of Chickadees beside my pillow. You wouldn’t want to be overcome by hunger in the middle of the night.
We’re delighted to be shortlisted in the prestigious Irish Web Awards 2009 in the Social Media Campaign Category for our client LookWest.ie.
LookWest.ie is an iniative of the Western Development Commission, a State body which promotes Ireland’s Western region as a great place to live, work and do business.
2009 saw LookWest.ie take the social media bull by the horns and make a concerted effort to connect with their target demographics in engaging and meaningful ways. Social Media can of course be risky, in that opening up a two way dialogue with users means sometimes you may need to accept the criticism and rough and tumble of two-way dialogue. Something that government bodies are traditionally reluctant to do.
I am delighted that the spirited & dynamic approach of the LookWest team has paid off and that we’ve made the shortlist.
The awards take place on 10th October at the Radisson SAS Royal Hotel, Dublin. We’ll be there, keep your fingers crossed for us!
Walking through Limerick’s Crescent today there was some serious bucket shaking going on. As one collector approached me I slowed my pace down a little. Sensing I was wavering he delivered the deal-clincher “It’s a very good cause, you know, building houses for all the coloureds in Africa”. He was collecting for the very worthy Niall Mellon Trust, and I knew what he meant. Nonetheless I smiled to myself whilst popping in some loose change.
I am shaking my own virtual bucket now as I am going to run the Limerick Women’s Mini Marathon on Sunday 4th October. I did it 3 years ago (my first ever sporting event!) and ran the 7k in 50 mins. This year I am going to put myself under a bit of pressure and aim for 32 mins. I am running in aid of Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin and all donations are greatly appreciated. I have never had cause to use Crumlin Children’s Hospital and I sincerely hope I never do. I can imagine little worse than one of your children being seriously ill and I think Our Lady’s in Crumlin do truly fantastic work.
And to encourage you to dig deep here’s a snippet from the 1969 film Sweet Charity:
I ordered my 5 yr old’s schools books online last Thursday. I had lost her book list and, rather than face the shame of asking other (more organised) Mammies for a copy, I went online in the hopes that the 21st Century had not passed our Irish bookstores by.
I came upon O’Mahoney’s book store via a Google Ad. I found the booklist for my daughter’s school/class in less than a minute, and within less than 5 minutes my back to school book shopping was completed. I also opted for the option of having the books covered at a cost of €1 per book.
I had 3 automated emails from O’ Mahoneys – the 1st confirmed my order. The 2nd confirmed it was ready for dispatch and the 3rd informed me that it had been handed over to the delivery company and gave me the url to track my order status.
If only my mum could have done that x 5 when we were growing up! I remember her going to different bookshops, taking a ticket and queueing, buying some books, ordering others that were out of stock or not yet in and returning a week later to take another ticket and repeat the process. My parcel arrived today and I have to say the whole process was painless. I don’t envisage myself buying school books any other way again.
Nike+ is a fantastic innovation whereby users, using their Apple iPod and a Nike+ sensor, can track and upload their runs to the NikePlus.com website. Runs are compiled into charts and personal bests/goals achieved etc. With over 2 million users worldwide, it’s a great motivational tool. It’s also a fantastic marketing and up-selling tool for Nike and a great example of companies successfully collaborating.
Over the last few weeks Nike has introduced users to the updated NikePlus website. The new version is less Flash heavy and loads faster. The layout is clearer, there is a strong emphasis on community and crucially Nike has made an important step to integrating social media.
Forums are more prominent
Users can link their accounts to Facebook & Twitter to share their running activity
Users can import their contacts (currently from Gmail only) to find current Nike+ users
Users are encouraged to invite friends to join Nike+ and grow the community
Additionally Nike has introduced a new Nike+ running band with a lower price point than an iPod, which opens the Nike+ system up to a much larger potential audience.
Nike captured 48% of the market share for running shoes in 2006 and that rose to 61% in 2008. The Nike+ system is largely credited with that increase. Additionally, lets consider the data that Nike is gathering for free from over 2 million runners worldwide. Nike knows for example that runners in the US run more often in Winter than do runners in Europe, but for shorter distances. Nike has data based on age, location, sex and weight. Nike knows what music runners are buying via the NikePlus linkup to iTunes. Nikes knows the world’s favourite powersongs. All this places Nike in a very favourable position to respond to that data and develop future products and services accordingly.
Running is often a very solitary endeavour, and there is something encouraging as you log-in to see runners from all over the world log their runs. It gives a sense of being part of something bigger – of all us runners, the Nike+ Community, clocking up our kilometers on the Nike counter. For Nike the opportunity to harness this community spirit is golden.
LookWest.ie is an iniative of the Western Development Commission, with responsibility for promoting economic and social development in the Western Region. LookWest.ie promotes Ireland’s Western region as a great place to live, work and do business and maintains a database of subscribed individuals and enterprises. The new look e-zine was tasked with informing and appealing to both individuals and business.
We introduced LookWest.ie in an introductory paragraph.
Each e-zine presents quite a bit of information and therefore we ‘themed’ each monthly ezine to provide focus and context.
Many of the articles contain statistical information so we presented users with a summary paragraph and the option to ‘read more’ for more in-depth information.
The stats of the first e-zine send were very encouraging. Despite a long period of inactivity with their database:
Only 8 people unsubscribed.
The open rate was 33%
The click rate was 45%
This is an indication of a finely tuned message sent to a relevant and well maintained database.
Stats vary widely on average open and click rates in e-mails. Generally accepted averages are 25% for both. That will obviously depend hugely on, amongst other things, your message, frequency of emails, quality of your database and your sector (whether it is e-commerce, B2B, charity etc).
Tips for planning an e-zine:
Plan ahead – schedule in advance and gather relevant information
Consider “theming” emails where appropriate
Have a clear focus on what you are trying to say, by basing it on what is likely to be of interest to your readers
Ask yourself why users have signed up to your e-zine. What are they expecting you to provide them with?
Break information up into bite sized chunks
Present key information in the top. Many users will see only the top in a preview pane, and will use this to assess whether to open or delete.
I’m delighted to collaborate with Sabrina Dent to bring you this two-part training day entitled Putting the Internet to Work. This full day seminar is designed to help SMEs build a comprehensive and integrated online strategy for their business. The course will cover Blogging, Social Media, SEO, PPC and Google Analytics, full course outline is available here.
Building Business Through Social Media
The Social Media seminar runs from 10 AM to 1 PM and covers:
The Whys and How-Tos of blogging for small and medium businesses
Understanding and leveraging social networks including Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook
Tools and metrics for quantifying results from blog and social network campaigns
Putting Google to Work for Your Business
The Google Tools seminar runs from 2 PM to 5 PM and covers:
Safe and effective SEO strategies to improve natural search engine results and rankings in Google
Using Google AdWords to run cost-effective PPC (Pay-Per-Click) campaigns
Utilizing Google Analytics to pull it all together, monitor results, and calculate ROI.
Designed to be hands-on and personal, we have limited each seminar to 8 participants.
As mentioned by Sabrina, we’d like to make this day available to everyone who’d like to attend, so if you need a bursary, drop us a line and we’ll do our very best to accommodate you.
here’s a snippet from the 1969 film Sweet Charity:
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