I continue to develop the collaborative working relationship with GrowMyCharity.com even appearing on Exeter FM and we have a had a great year supporting numerous charities across the South West with some great reviews of seminars we’ve run, you can read a few on LinkedIN or Speakermix. 2012 promises to have more seminars and more develop in the sector and I hope to be collaborating with new companies as the year develops (if you could add anything please get in touch).

This year we have seen the launch of Google +, is it any good, still I’m not sure to be honest, for me the engagement levels are no where near what they are on Facebook or Twitter BUT it has the might of Google behind it – so what, Buzz and Wave have both fallen by the wayside and is Google + currently any different, we shall wait and see??

So turning to this blog I run, what have been my top posts of this year, well lets begin.

Number 3 – Super Yacht Aviva

Why is this number 3?Well mainly as the Super Yacht Aviva was a very impressive sight at Tower Bridge over the summer, and a nice owner and crew.

Number 2 - Sainsburys in Dawlish opens

This issue of who opens a supermarket in Dawlish has raged for quite a few years and when Sainsburys won the battle I was keen to see what a new eco store looked like, this post has been highly commented on!!!

Number 1 – starting GleaveMedia

Having worked in the Internet industry since 1999 and helped two small Exeter web companies to grow it was no small feat to start on my own in the spring, I have to say the response and great comments i have received have truly vindicated this decision of wanting to put the customer at the heart of all I do, thank you once again.

So there you go, short and sweet 2011 a year on this blog in review, thank you to my friends and colleagues who continue to support and engage I look forward to working with you all in 2012.

GleaveMedia – http://www.gleavemedia.co.uk

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/gleavemedia

Tell you more, sure here goes…

Office – easy office – owned by Stelios, the serial entrepreneur and operated by the easyGroup, is offering over 4.000 serviced Office locations worldwide. This great service is aimed at start-up entrepreneurial businesses. Click here to go to the site.

Business Cards – Moo  - every business needs cards, and MOO combine the values of professional design with the accessibility and reach of the web. You can basically make your own cards online and get them delivered to your door, so short runs or maybe even cards for a show or event.  Moo  print millions of cards a month and have hundreds of thousands of customers in over 180 countries. MOO has also become a much-loved brand, with a 75% NetPromoter rating.

The company has won 3 Webby awards (the web’s Oscars), has been profiled in the Financial Times, and was ranked in the top 10 UK start-up companies by the Guardian Newspaper.  Click here to go to the site.

Website for your new business – Gleave Media – well I am biased here of course, Gleave Media is my consulting business and we work with create targeted online campaigns that work.  Our business is your business development and the generation of new revenue through digital marketing and communication channels.

We are a results driven new media agency based in the Cathedral City of Exeter, we have worked in the Internet industry since 1999 and we are focussed on one thing: how we can help your business grow. Click here to go to the site

So that’s it my top  three checklist that you may need to get your business on the road to success.

Indeed Geoffrey Read of the Company Secretary of the The Devon & Cornwall Food Association said of this recent seminar;

“I recently attended a seminar at Dame Hannah’s near Newton Abbot on the subject of Online Marketing which was presented by Alistair. I never really thought such things would affect our Charitable Company but this seminar certainly opened my eyes! I very much appreciate his advice and have no reservation in recommending him to others.”

So for your next business event, be it presenting to your sales team of just getting your workforce to think more about engagement in the online world why not give me a shout.

Some more quotes from satisfied attendees;

“I can sum this up in very few words: “Alistair REALLY knows his stuff.” You want a few more? OK – He’s a focused and realistic marketing professional. If you want a no-nonsense, down-to-earth and plain English approach, you really should be speaking with Alistair”
Sue Haswell, Director, Big Results PR & Marketing Ltd

“Alistair’s concise approach to social media awareness & exposure within the third sector, coupled with his underlying knowledge of the strategies required by charities to succeed make him an interesting and informative speaker on the subject.”
Ashley Wyeth, Corporate, St Loye’s Foundation

To get in touch and enquire further about having me come and speak at your next event why not use my contact form here.

Well you can now find my consulting company on facebook here www.facebook.com/gleavemedia

Please come and join us, click the LIKE at the top of the page on facebook and come and participate in conversation and feedback, i’d love to hear from you.

You may well have seen the adverts on TV for the Range with Ricky Tomlinson promoting their value and ‘range’.  Well pop into your local Range and you could be part of campaign.  This works as the image shows, you can stick your head through a gnome cutout take a photo and upload to the Facebook page…

All a bit of fun sure, but how many people did i see taking photos of wifes, kids, well loads with much hilarity.

You can see some of them here Range Facebook , and in case you wonder, no i didnt have my photo taken!

In an increasingly busy and competitive world, hiring an independent web professional for your company’s website build and development surely is just good common sense.

The key difference between an Independent Internet Project Manager (myself) and a web company’s own account manager is how they prioritise your business needs. I work exclusively for the YOU the customer, whereas a web company’s own account manager works for that Internet Development Company.

I am delighted to offer a service where i can work for your business using all my experience to ensure you get a website built that is delivered on time, within budget and exceeding your expectation, removing all the pain and hassle from dealing with technology company’s covering stuff you may not understand or being sold stuff you just dont need or even simply have time to deal with – I remove the hassle, manage the trouble and deliver what you want.

As for experience well I have been in the web industry since 1999 and I pretty much know all the tricks of the trade, having worked in my time for two leading Exeter Web Design Companies, KMS Internet and Optix Solutions.

You can find my LinkedIn Profile here http://www.linkedin.com/in/alistairg and a couple of quote from satisfied customers are taken from this profile.

“I can sum this up in very few words: “Alistair REALLY knows his stuff.” You want a few more? OK – He’s a focused and realistic marketing professional. If you want a no-nonsense, down-to-earth and plain English approach, you really should be speaking with Alistair.”

Sue Haswell – Big Results Marketing

“Al is a very detail processed individual which has managed the business link between our two companies for the last 3 years. He has at all times provided excellent support and direction in difficult times. His ability to see through the issues and resolve the route has always been an inspiration to me.”

Aboo Cattran – Sportsman Gun Centre.

You can find our more on my blog here http://www.alistairgleave.co.uk/website-project-management/ or contact me here .

This afternoon I spoke at the excellent Social Networking for Fundraisers at the Exeter Royal Academy for Deaf Education on Topsham Road in Exeter.  The topic was Inbound Marketing for Charities and was a full on session with discussion, interaction and input from the Charity Fundraiser’s from the Devon area who attended.

Regular readers of this blog will know I do a lot of public speaking (read more about it on my blog here) on web related topics and in particular web communication and social media for Charities.  Indeed during the number of seminars I’ve run it never ceases to amaze me the diversity of charities, from Hens to the RNLI (yes I said Hens) we really do have a diverse charity sector in the South West and I am pleased to do my little bit…

Also the Flip Camera that i refer to and heartily recommend for YouTube – i have one and this can be found on Amazon here.  I find the Flip Camera ideal for its simplicity, ease of use superb high quality.  There are other great HD camera’s available and some good examples again can be seen on Amazon here.

Recent Testimonials from our Charity Seminars

‘Really interesting seminar that gave lots of food for thought‘ – Donna, now with RNLI

‘James and Alistair are very entertaining and make the seminar fun!‘ – Anon

‘Really useful, good to think about integration‘ – Chris Penberthy

‘I’ve learning how to use my Twitter account more effectively‘ – Philip King, Devon Air Ambulance

By using the power of SlideShare that presentation is below, i have had to remove a few images and links – you have the key parts below.

Alistair Gleave & Danny Frayne, originally uploaded by alistair gleave.

Today i was kindly invited into the Corporate box of Exeter printers Quickprint South West. I am pictured here with owner Danny Frayne prior to the start of the game.

The match was between Exeter and MK Dons and finished 1-1 with a goal in either half, it was a good game and Exeter had a number of great chances to take all three points, they will just have to make do with the draw and 1 point.

Thank you Danny for the invite…. @quickprintSW a great local printer.