Ian@work

That giant sigh you hear...

...is me wrapping up a major commitment for '06.

Tuesday I was in front of a group that's been awaiting the product of nine months of interviews, research and (in the client's words) blue sky thinking. The strategy that we (a colleague and me) delivered was, by all appearances, well received.

How much breathing room does this create? Uh, not much. One major project is accelerating, another is about to go from planning into implementation, and several others are simmering.

As for this semi-neglected blog, it's about to go offline - for me, not you - for a few days. I've been thinking about revamping it, folding in elements of my other blog, and adding a few other ingredients.

I won't be gone long. Promise.

A more efficient me

My big concern right now is finding enough time in the day. Maybe that's why I'm drawn back to 43Folders, a site that reminds me of how to GTD.


Technorati Tags: gtd, 43folders, david+allen

ConvergeSouth

Looking ahead, I'm attending ConvergeSouth later next week. Aside from the mental stimulation, it will be a needed change of pace, if only for a couple of days.

I noticed that I've ignored this blog since 9/21, mainly because I'm in the middle of two time consuming but interesting projects -- one, an e-business strategy engagement for a large financial services company, and the second, IA consulting for a major university. Sorry I can't mention the clients by name but I'm performing the work for two Web services agencies, and I need to honor their request for confidentiality.

On top of this, there's work on several long term marketing campaigns and the upcoming kickoff of an intriguing Web development gig that will run about six months (one I do hope to blog about). That doesn't leave much time for thoughtful blogging.

Back from the Beach (+ Podcast Basics)

I'm back from a week at Chincoteague, VA. If you go to Chincoteague, and I recommend it, here's what you need to know:

• Skip the seafood restaurants on the island, buy crab cakes from His & Hers ( a small stand on Maddox Blvd.), and cook them yourself.
  
• If you have to eat out: Saigon Vietnamese on Main St.
• When you tire of using your cell phone as a 14.4k modem, go to The Creamery for free Wi-Fi. While you're at it, have a scoop of rum raisin.
• The beaches at Assateague are just about perfect beginning an hour or so before dusk.
  

Anyway. My first day back at work was spent in a client (a mid-size publisher) workshop, where we talked about the Web and complementary online marketing. Podcasts came up -- including a concern that podcasting is complicated and time consuming. Courtesy of ChiefMarketer.com, here's a seven step guide to podcasting.


Technorati Tags: podcast, how-to, chincoteague

Work in Progress

Friend Murray, noticing that this blog is creeping toward a state of neglect, called to ask what's up.

The brief answer is that I'm in the midst of two major projects, in addition to the usual flow of work. One, an e-business strategy engagement, is carrying me back and forth across North Carolina as I conduct stakeholder interviews. The other keeps me pinned to a chair while I sort out the redevelopment of a large (currently 5,000+ pages) institutional Web site.

The clock's ticking on both projects, and with start dates for others on the horizon I've not been paying close attention to my newsreader, trade pubs, or much else for that matter. A couple of commentworthy items dropped into my mailbox earlier today, but they'll have to wait.

There's been one brief respite, a trip to Asheville to see Tom Waits in concert. While I was there I dropped in on Tim and Tara at eGlobaldesign. A mutual friend had previously introduced us, and I was curious to learn more. In a nutshell, they do solid, thoughtful work. Travel and hospitality companies are their focus, though they aren't strictly limited to that arena.


Technorati Tags: design, asheville, consulting

Quiet Around Here....

Work takes time away from blogging, and at the moment I'm buried in several projects:

• Launching a new corporate Web site for a client
• Laying the groundwork for a series of stakeholder interviews that are part of a strategic planning gig
• Wrapping up interviews that are a phase of an IA project for another client
  
• Finishing a Business Journal op-ed, on time for once
• Putting the last touches on presentation templates for a corporate client
  

It's shaping up to be a busy, interesting (in the best way) summer.

More Seminar Action

Yesterday it was the PRSA. Tonight, I'm leading a seminar for a local non-profit that wants to learn about online social networks. It's another step in the mass migration to the live Web.


Technorati Tags: prsa, prsa-tarheel, social, nonprofit, seminar

Talking to Entrepreneurs

I'm giving a brief talk on May 28 at the Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock.

The audience: Members of the Blue Ridge Entrepreneurial Council and the High Country Business Network.

And what am I talking about? Good question. It's billed as a speech on high impact, low cost marketing, although I probably won't stick too close to this script.


Technorati Tags: brec, blowing rock, entrepreneurship

Upcoming PRSA Seminar

May 9 I'm leading the afternoon session of the 2006 PRSA Tarheel Chapter professional development seminar. The agenda: technology, social media, and measurement. I'm looking forward to a lively discussion.


Technorati Tags: prsa, seminar

Email Problems

My apologies to those who are trying to send email to either the ianjoyce.com or augustcommunication.com domains. I'm having some problems which I hope to sort out shortly.

In the meantime you can reach me at ian_writes@yahoo.com.

[Update: I suspect that my email provider was blocking messages from specific domains. A switch to a new provider should take care of the problem, although you may experience isolated issues with sending email to ianjoyce.com or augustcommunication.com addresses over the next day or so. Sorry for the inconvenience.]