Distributing Government content on other channels
My friend Sherrilynne has an interesting analogy when looking at Social Media channels. She compares social websites to a dinner party where people may or may not be talking about you and always poses the question as to whether you want to participate in this conversation. To drive the analogy further, I compare someone publishing content to announcing that you’re going to be engaged. Sure you can do this in the comfort and privacy of your own home; but no one is going to find out about it. If instead you announce it at a dinner party, then you’re generating immediate buzz around the announcement and generating a wave of conversation that can spread around your community.

Embracing other people’s content
The secondary reason for looking to these channels is an awareness of other people creating content about the Isle of Man and wanting to enforce and even encourage that sort of content creation. As with all brands/topics people are going to create both positive and negative content in any space they have; but taking an active part in those conversations gives us the choice as to what we want to discourage or discourage, what we want to lend credence to and what perception we would like to reinforce.

It’s quite an interesting challenge but really only the first steps in a journey. Where I would like to see this heading is adoption of digital engagement channels that isn’t “owned” by the technology department, but by the different parts of Government. At the end of the day, the future of the country should be shaped by the individuals who live here; and improving communication between different parties around the country will lead to better place for everyone.

As with any change, there are going to be challenges along the way. I came across an interesting quote on Seth Godin’s Tribes this morning:

Fear of change is built into most organisms, because change is the first sign of risk

I thought this was quite poignant and explains why so many people are averse to change. But as long as we’re aware of the impact of the change on what we’re doing and believe it’s for the greater good, then we need to be brave and take the necessary steps.

In the meantime, check out the Isle of Man Government’s YouTube channel, the Isle of Man Government’s Twitter channel and the Isle of Man Government’s Flickr channel. The YouTube channels is the most interesting at this stage because it’s the one I’ve spent most time on; and it’s indicative of where these conversations could be heading.

Here are the screenshots:

Unfortunately I didn’t manage to persuade our project sponsor that we need a Wii for “testing purposes”. Better luck next time …

It’s great to find so much support and help for things like this online. This plugin has had a paricularly interesting genesis. It was spawned by @corvida wishing somthing similar was available. I poked around a bit, figured how the XML worked (actually, I used the MySearchFunds (a FireFox custom search that provides a Paid Search) custom search to figure out how FireFox’s additional search engines work, hand-crafted a new search and Twittered about it, and now Hyder has contributed an icon for it. The Web really brings a sense of community to those to work and play in it. I wonder if I write a blog post about wanted to do a Cisco certification if someone will send me some used Cisco equipment. *grin*

On a side note, while writing this post, someone (Norbert) popped onto my Google Chatback widget, offering to help translate my Sponsorship plugin to German. Pretty friendly place this Internet, huh?

My favourite picture has to be the slide that lets you get from one floor to another
in Red Bull’s London office. How cool is that?

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Feature Articles

A turning point for eGovernment

Liam Kelly, Public Sector Practice Manager, Solidsoft explains why he believes these
are exciting times for local authorities.
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Government Connect – Making the business case

Steve Lawrence, Take-up Manager, Government Connect, answers questions about what
Government Connect is, how it will help deliver citizen-centric services and how Local
Authorities can make a business case for using it.
>> more

Government Connect – beyond local authorities

Government Connect may have been developed primarily for local authorities, but there
are compelling arguments as to why other agencies should look to adopt the services
it provides.
>> more

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Hot Topics

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New platform helps local councils deliver transformation in a managed, controlled
and cost-effective way.
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New templates in forthcoming Visual Studio Foundation Server

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the impact of two new methodology templates – MSF for Agile Software Development and
MSF for CMMI Process Improvement
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Check out the whole issue: Solidsoft
- Value from IT

Read here: 10 rules to manage your boss

Solidsoft, the company I work for, is looking
for BizTalk specialists in Chicago.
We’ve opened a US office and are looking for people passionate about tehcnology and
integration to join our team. We have some of the best guys in the business working
for us here in the UK, so if you’re eager to join the winning BizTalk team; check
out the ad here

Just in case if you didn’t pick it up from the Slashdot yet, here I’ve added link to a great article by Steve Friedl: http://mvp.unixwiz.net/techtips/be-consultant.html

[Valery's blog]

Excellent advice .. here’s a distilled version

• You must give the customer “The Warm Fuzzy Feeling”
• “Trust” is your best job security
• You have no job security, even if you think you do
• A financially-struggling consultant does not give a customer “The Warm Fuzzy Feeling”
• You are primarily in the customer service business, not the technical business
• For a good consultant, your voice is comforting: Be very easy to find
• Hourly arrangements of any substantial magnitude require that you have earned your customer’s trust
• The best way to appreciate the value of a good spec is to do a project without one
• Customers hate “unhappy surprises” much more than “timely bad news”
• Churning by dishonest consultants is the single worst thing that has ever happened to honest consultants
• Ongoing business is much more important than maximizing every billable hour
• It’s better to give away some time than to throw away your reputation
• Detail is comforting to a customer
• If the customer doesn’t know you did work off the clock, you don’t get credit for it
• If you routinely take ownership for your own mistakes, you’re much more likely to be believed when you claim something is NOT your doing
• Your best advertisement is publishing of original, technical content
• It’s a huge asset to communicate well — cultivate this skill vigorously
• Your references are your reputation in the consulting world
• Your customers cannot wonder where your interests are
• Customers are comforted by consultants who don’t act entitled to their engagements
• The customer is NOT always right
• The internet never forgets: don’t provide dirt for your future
• If you’re booked up solid, your rates are too low
• Your long-term customers are your best customers
• The best way to make a lot of money is to make your customers a lot of money
• As long as you’re sleeping, you still have inventory
• The fear of an empty pipeline is with most consultants constantly, even if they’re very busy
• You must know how to read your customer
• Your customers are buying your judgement, not just your time
• Being known for your integrity is the Holy Grail of consulting
• An open customer relationship cultivates “The Warm Fuzzy Feeling”
• If you have a reputation for stealing customers, you’ll never be trusted by other professionals
• Your references and your experience are far more important than your certifications
• Do not BS your customers
• “Education” is one of the best investments a consultant can make
• Don’t quit your day job solely based on what you read here

Read the article though .. tons of advice in there.

We also heard news that the company it looking into the option of expanding to Chicago in
the next few months. I’m sure this will bring some new opportunities and challenges
for all of us, and it sure is exciting to be in the middle of all this action.

It’s nice when you can look back at a decision you took a few months ago and feel
confident that it was a good one. There’s always a sense of apprehension when you
leave somewhere you are familiar with and venture into something unknown. Joining Solidsoft has
been a good move; I’m more enthusiastic about my career, I’m working with a great
bunch of people and the company seems to be going places.