Archive | April, 2010

iPhone Cases

Ok, I gave in and went for an Iphone, just wanted, I think to see what all the fuss was about.
The phone is nice, easy to use but I am increasingly annoyed at the proprietary way in which Apple has closed down access to the phone.

My last few phones ( Android, Symbian and Windows Mobile 6.1 ) have allowed me to drag music onto the hard drive, beam files via bluetooth and install apps/ games from many sources ( all without any issues). The iPhone’s locking in to iTunes gets on my nerves, but still it is very easy to use.

The camera is a but pony but I will just have to make do with it. The email program synched up nicely to my Google Apps account via Exchange ( iPhone > Microsoft > Google ???) and some of the apps ( like Magic Seaweed Surf reports ) are just dandy.

All in all the phone is not up to the quality of the HTC Hero Android phone and not as robust and usable as the Nokia N95 but it is kind of cute and relatively easy to use.

The unlimited data which comes with the Orange contract helps in a big way to enjoy a mobile life as well.

The icing on the cake was the purchase ( as I want to keep this phone a grade as I suspect I will try to swap it for an Android phone one day) of a beautiful iphone case from Maikai. It did, however take me several days to remove the thick plastic from the thin screen protector but that was ‘my bad’.

Art Restorations

Just been working on a website for some friends who specialise in fine art restorations. They are a mixed bunch of skilled individuals with a wealth of experience in the many doctrines of restoration.

The site is made to be simple : http://www.artrestorations.co.uk/ and act as a showcase for their work and services.

It has been fully optimised for search engines with a friendly URL structure and easy navigability.

It is just, now, for them, to add the content…..

Surfing Tips and Tricks

The UK has a varied coastline and, as a result, many excellent surfing locations. Although Newquay is world famous for its surfing beaches its popularity can mean that it gets crowded, particularly during the summer months. There are many great locations for beginners such as Watergate Bay in Cornwall where the surfer will find 2 miles of beach at low tide. Pease Bay is an upcoming surfing location in the Borders region in the south east of Scotland and offers the more experienced surfer a good beach break and challenging reef.

Llangennith in Gower, south Wales has beach breaks along its 3 mile stretch of beach and is one of the most popular Welsh surfing locations. When there is a good swell here it can get crowded but it is possible to find patches that are less heavily populated. Rips are quite common along this part of the coast. Saltburn in Cleveland in the north east of England is one of the first surfing beaches in the area. There are excellent beginner waves to be found close to the pier here.

Great beaches for intermediate level surfing include Bantham in south east Devon which boasts more swell and variety of peaks than anywhere else in the area. There are long rides to be had with a long board and rips are common. Sennen Cove in Cornwall has an exposed coastline, giving it good waves when other locations have none. Bournemouth is enjoying its new artificial reef break which has improved the quality of the waves immensely. Other beaches nearby include Branksome, Sandbanks and Canford Cliffs which are guaranteed to be less crowded.

Port Neigwl in Gwynedd is more commonly known as Hell`s Mouth and is the best location for surfing in north Wales. It has a 4 mile long bay with peaks along the whole stretch on a good swell. At the south eastern end of the bay, intermediate surfers can enjoy the best waves beneath the cliffs but it can get crowded during good swells.

Expert level surfing is available at Freshwater West in Pembrokeshire, a large beach with peaks along its entirety. There are powerful and large peaks as well as good breaks in the smaller bays to the south. There is also a heavy reef break within reach of the location. Another location for expert surfing is at Thurso East in Scotland. This is reputed to be one of the best surfing areas in Europe, with a right hand reef break on top of a flat rock shelf. With a big north swell it offers up waves that are larger than triple overhead.

Lessons and gear hire are available at most surfing locations and are essential for beginners. Safety is an important element of learning to surf and beginners are instructed in various techniques in order to stay safe. Surfing in the UK requires that the surfer wears a wetsuit for warmth. Surf boards are available in a variety of sizes including short and long boards, starter and beginner boards and boards for children. Fashion-wise, Volcom UK offers a good selection of gear for boarders.

Marketing to a Niche with Social Media

Thing is with marketing a niche product to a willing market is that you really don’t have to try too hard.
You are not pushing some unnecessary consumerist dream down their throats, nor suggesting a lifestyle change; just putting a willing customer in touch with a suitable supplier.

This is where social media comes into its own, if you create the right sort of Facebook/ Twitter/ YouTube etc page which carries a true source of information about a shared sphere of interest you can be sure that the majority of people who follow, share, befriend, fan your social media pages will be almost willing customers.

Hence, create your social media pages, lovingly add/ drip as unique and interesting content as you can on a regular basis and you will soon find that you have followers and, better still, conversions.