KILTR Profile: Colin Kelly

A Napier University journalism graduate, Colin Kelly began his career in 1996 reading news and sports bulletins for Paisley radio station, 96.3 QFM, before news spells at Scot FM, Real Radio & Clyde one. Colin was one of the first media personalities to harness the power of social media, using Twitter to enhance his radio programme a few weeks after its launch in 2008. We catch up with him about impending fatherhood and those silly social media trends for 2012…

Colin Kelly

K: Hi Colin, tell us what a typical working day consists of at the moment?

CK: No two days are the same and I like that. At the moment, I’m working a lot with digital solutions company NSDesign running social media training workshops. I’m just back from a session we ran in Manchester featuring representatives from some of the UK’s best known brands. I spent Wednesday fine tuning what we were going to present, went out to buy a suit carrier and spent the evening on the train. Then we ran the session the following day and I got home late last night. Today I’ve got emails and phone calls to catch up on but was pleased to be able to give my wife a lift to school. She’s pregnant and I didn’t want her slipping on the ice so I escorted her to the door which was embarrassing because many of the pupils were arriving at the same time.

If I’m broadcasting it’s a completely different day, arriving at the BBC around 7am if I’m filling in on “Call Kaye”, working with the team preparing the programme, hosting it, then taking part in the debrief and suggesting some ideas for the next one.

In amongst it all I try to keep up with social media, I’ll share interesting news, answer questions and do my bit to add some value to the digital space!

K: You were one of the first broadcasters to embrace Social Media as part of your radio shows, what are the big three changes you have witnessed in social media since those early days?

CK: It’s gone entirely mainstream and the majority of radio and television programmes now have people contacting them via Facebook and Twitter. This is good for audience interaction because people used to have to spend money sending in text messages and now they don’t. The downside is some presenters completely overdo it on-air and it becomes a crutch. It’s “Tweet me this” and “Facebook me that”. The trick is not to mention it much but treat them as separate but complementary channels. John Beattie at BBC Radio Scotland is a master at this. He’ll go on Facebook in the morning and start asking his followers for their opinions on a certain topic and then he goes on air armed with good content. He rarely mentions Facebook on his programme – he just gets on with the show.

I’ve noticed increased willingness among businesses to “get” social media. We’re meeting less resistance at the top level and they understand social media shouldn’t just be handled by “the geek in the corner” or even the PR or marketing team. When it works best it’s company wide. Many businesses I work with actual use their entry into social media as an opportunity to improve the entire organization. They become more open, more social and strive to give customers better service.

It’s become a more supportive, positive space. The vast majority of people in the world are good. So as more of them join social networks like Twitter, Facebook, KILTR and Google+ it’s only natural they become better places. We hear about the negative side but in my experience there’s a large vibrant community of people helping each other, working together, giving advice, support, expertise and sharing humour on these social media channels.

K: Professionally speaking, what are your plans for 2012?

I’m about to become a father for the first time so right now that’s my focus. I’m also trying to give something back to the media after spending 16 great years working in the industry. I’ve been lucky enough to benefit from help and support from others and now I want to do my bit. I’ve put together a resource on my website at www.colinkelly.net – if anything people should be able to learn from my mistakes! There’s material on there about demo tapes and show reels, how to get the most from work experience, ideas and discussion topics for teachers and an insight into some of the different jobs people do in newspapers and at radio and television stations. I’ll continue building that up alongside some broadcasting and the social media training workshops I run with NSDesign.

K: You’re a well-known music fan, what other hobbies do you pursue outside your media activities?

I thoroughly enjoy my work and I’m very grateful that what started off as a hobby, and then became a passion, has developed into a career. It often doesn’t feel like work at all! Music isn’t part of the broadcasting I’m currently doing so I spend a lot of my spare time listening to my iPod. I’m going through something of a retro phase at the moment with lots of Roxy Music, Duran Duran and Fleetwood Mac and was reliving my youth with some Adam Ant the other night! I read a lot of business biographies but I’m also very into the Lee Child books following the adventures of Jack Reacher. There’s a whole series and I’m working my way through them. Where possible I force myself to go to the gym!

K: There are countless lists documenting trends for Social Media in 2012 – one being the move towards niche networks from a professional perspective, what would you like to see happen?

I tend to ignore these lists! A lot of people good are good at coming up with catchy headlines and sharing theories about “what’s going to happen next” but in reality who really knows? Do we really want niche networks? Is there any point for example in plumbers having a dedicated network to talk to other plumbers? I would doubt it because they’re already talking to each other. The real point in these networks, for me at least, is being able to connect with people I DON’T already know, who do DIFFERENT jobs from me or jobs I didn’t even know existed. What’s more valuable is a community like KILTR where the fact we all have a connection to Scotland is the common thread and then within that I can connect with all sorts of different people. It’s rich and varied but with a Scottish edge. I like that.

K: And what about the Facebook fatigue, some commentators believe Facebook will continue to decline and users will start deserting the network. Will they really make the same mistakes as myspace through their new advertising strategy?

CK: There’s an element within the media that feels very threatened by Facebook and any blip in numbers is seized on because it makes good headlines. I don’t think we are seeing a significant decline on Facebook, I think a few people probably came off as a New Year resolution. Many of them will be back. My hunch is over time it’ll become the way we watch television, listen to the radio, and read newspapers.

K: Further to this, what would you like to see from KILTR this year?

I’d like to see live events, a mobile app and curated, recommended content of interest to the Scottish business community. If all I want is a network of contacts I can get that other places. I think KILTR has the potential to become a real destination for its users and just like any other player in the digital media, the quality of the content will determine how successful it is.

K: Fantastic chatting to you Colin, all the best for 2012!

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Scottish Universities launch tech R&D portal

by Bill Magee

Bill Magee is a leading Scottish technology journalist.

Anyone in any doubt that Scotland is getting its act together to promote itself as a hotbed of hi-tech activity should check out the new web portal – www.university-technology.com.

There you’ll discover an online database of licensing and tech transfer opportunities originating from each and every one of the country’s universities. “Innovating our way out of recession” is the strap-line and the site has been created as a single convenient location to improve business and industry engagement with Scots research institutions, and hopefully attract fresh investment to Scotland while boosting the country’s reputation as a centre of technological excellence.

It means that prospective investors do not need to trawl endlessly through numerous university websites to find a commercial opportunity, before giving up and moving on to a competitive site possibly outwith Scotland.

University Technology is driven by what’s been billed as a “unique collaboration” of Scots universities. Derek Waddell, the director of research and commercialisation at University of Edinburgh, says it’s all about working together to help companies find what technologies are available for licensing and collaboration opportunities, in essence to solve their problems and help businesses grow.

I repeatedly bang on about how tech can significantly boost an enterprise’s productivity, ROI and bottom line, and so it’s heartening to witness this occurring as a reality. Recent university-based opportunities include a modular reconfigurable robotic system, chemo/anti-cancer therapeutic compounds, and optical microfluidic sorting techniques.

The portal also simplifies the technology transfer process by making it easier through providing a set of standarised documents and agreements covering confidentiality, licensing and collaborative development. There’s a customisable plug-in tool to each university’s website where latest opportunities are highlighted from one, or more, sectors.

Check it out…

www.university-technology.com

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KILTR Profile: James Thomas

James Thomas, CEO, Internet Light Industries

James Thomas is CEO of Internet Light Industries, based in West Lothian.

The company creates web software for consumers and business and has just launched its first product, broch, an innovative online life management hub.  From home and belongings to travel and health, broch helps to keep all important life matters secure and up-to-date in one place, under control and at your fingertips.

K: Typically, how do you spend your working day?

JT: Per William Blake’s advice, I try to think in the morning, act in the noon, eat in the evening, and sleep in the night. The reality, as many entrepreneurs will attest, is more of a complicated jumble of the first three and very much less of the fourth! The Internet helps – there are so many useful, timesaving tools out there for small businesses and individuals, it makes sense to leverage that resource as much as possible. I like to think that broch is one of those tools.

K: Professionally speaking, what are your plans for 2012?

JT: My entire focus for 2012 is building on the success of our January product launch and continuing to develop and improve broch. That means a lot of communications work to introduce broch to a wider audience, to let them know how it can help make things a little easier, and getting out there to meet with the business community so we can develop our partner channel.

At the same time, we have started development of the next version of our product. This will take us into an emerging space around personal data control and monetisation. We are talking to the Scottish investment community to see where we can find support to realise this vision.

K: Outside of work, what are your interests?

JT: Answering this question is like trying to tack interesting things onto the end of your CV in an effort to impress! Fact is, in a start-up business, most personal interests are parked for a while. I do like to travel, and I try to make the most of the rare opportunities I have for a holiday. I visited New Zealand last year during the Rugby World Cup. That was a great experience.

K: What content/functionality would you like to see from KILTR this year?

JT: That’s a good question. I think that the true value of a networking resource like KILTR is in the value everyone derives from using it. KILTR has an opportunity to be different for reasons other than just its “Scottishness.” I think it should promote collaboration between KILTR users rather than, like so many of its predecessors, simply becoming a marketplace where everyone is selling and hence no-one is buying. How you transform that rather broad answer into actual features, I will leave to you.

www.brochonline.com

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KILTR Profile of the Week: Mike McGrail

One of Scotland’s early converts to all things social was digital marketer Mike McGrail. Mike lives & breathes social media and puts his knowledge to good use with PR agency BIG Partnership, ensuring the agency remains ahead of the digital pack. When he’s not preparing digital strategies for BIG, he’s usually found over at his Social Penguin blog. We caught up with Mike to get his thoughts on where he sees social media going in 2012.

K: Describe your typical working day

MM: Well, I live in Edinburgh, but spend a large slice of my working week in Glasgow, so my day starts at 7am with me boarding a Citylink bus (other bus services are available..). I use that journey time to catch up on the latest social media and digital marketing blogs, it’s a great time to focus and catch up on some important reading. The rest of the day is taken up with social and digital strategies for a really diverse client base, from whiskies to transport companies. We’ve got a great team at BIG and it’s always a pleasure to get in to the office.

K: BIG are one of the largest PR agencies outside London, how do you think you stand out from the competition?

MM: The quality and experience of the people at BIG really is second to none. There aren’t many business types or sectors that the teams across our four offices haven’t worked with/on and that knowledge pool is an invaluable asset. We are also fully committed to an innovative and highly measurable approach which ensures a quality and efficient service is always delivered.

K: Professionally speaking, what are your plans for 2012?

MM: I’ll be looking to help our digital marketing division continue to grow and innovate and build on my skills and knowledge. My marketing experience is very varied, but I starting using the social media channel for clients at the beginning of 2009 and no other channel has grabbed my imagination as much as social. I fully intend to keep it at the centre of what I do. I love speaking at events and will be looking to build on my experience over the coming year, I’ve got a few lined up already but room for more!

K: Outside of work, what are your interests?

MM: Well, my side project, The Social Penguin Blog takes up a lot of my time! It’s a blog about all things social media and digital marketing. I just celebrated its second birthday and I can’t believe the pace at which it has grown. It now has a large and truly global audience which amazes me at times, I’ve never put a penny behind it and I’m not scared to say I’m very proud of it. Other than that, I’m a big music fan, always keen to find something a little bit different. I treated my self to a DLSR camera at Christmas and can see a photography addiction on the horizon. I love to travel and have been fortunate enough to see a lot of our planet – that may be on hold as my wife is expecting our first child in May which is truly fantastic!

K: There are countless lists documenting trends for Social Media in 2012 – from a professional perspective, what would you like to see happen this year in Social Media?

MM: I think that the business world needs to start realising that social media is just another channel, it shouldn’t be treated as a stand-alone activity. At BIG we always ensure that our clients consider it as part of their overall marketing mix. I think the big players like Facebook and Twitter will continue to dominate and Google Plus will have its place – its importance to SEO cannot be overlooked. I’ll be watching the growth of Instagram, it’s rate of uptake has been huge (over 14 million users in one year) and it only exists on one platform so far – the iPhone. The photo based network, Pinterest is also an interesting beast.

K: Furthermore, what would you like to see from KILTR this year?

MM: KILTR has made great strides in 2011 and I hope to see the continued growth of an engaged community. There is a massive amount of knowledge within the users and I hope to see that represented in the production of original content.

K: Connect with Mike McGrail on KILTR & follow him on Twitter (@mike_mcgrail)

Thanks Mike!

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Why I believe in KILTR

Michael Feeley, Head of Media Relations, KILTR

Michael Feeley, KILTR’s new Head of Media Relations, explains why he believes in the power of “the Scottish connection”…

Around ten years ago, I was lucky enough to be awarded a travelling scholarship by the Scottish branch of the English Speaking Union (www.esuscotland.org.uk) and, as a result, I visited New York to attend the ESU’s annual global conference. My girlfriend (now wife) Samantha accompanied me on the trip and one day, after an afternoon exploring and shopping in downtown  Manhattan, we decided to stop in at the bar of the Tribeca Grand Hotel for “one drink” before returning to our midtown hotel.

As I stood at the bar and ordered a couple of drinks, I noticed that a man a few years older than me was sitting at the bar, watching my interaction with the barman closely.

“Hey man,” he called to me, in what I would shortly discover was a Californian drawl. “Are you Scottish?”

I nodded and explained that I was from Glasgow and Samantha from Greenock.

The Californian smiled and said: “My old man is from Paisley. My mother is from Renfrewshire.”

Like me, this was the gentleman’s first time in New York. He was in the travel business and had just concluded a big deal for his company. I bought us both tequilas (his drink of choice) to celebrate his success – and he later reciprocated by sending two fishbowl margaritas over to Samantha and me as he was leaving.

Our “one drink” thus turned into two and we then started watching a guy who we ascertained was the maitre d’ of the hotel’s restaurant. He looked busy, harassed and not in the best of moods. Nevertheless, as he scurried past our table we both smiled at him and he smiled and said hello in return.

“Hiya,” said Sam and I in unison.

The man stopped dead in his tracks and his face lit up.

“Oh my God, are you guys Scottish?!” he said breathlessly. Yes, we said, we were from Glasgow.

“Oh my God!” shrieked the increasingly excited maitre d’. “I spent 3 years in Glasgow, studying at the Royal Academy of Music and Drama!!”

His name was Querelle and, at his invitation, we ended up back at the hotel’s restaurant the following night, both with shocking hangovers, queasily trying to swallow a plate of complimentary shell fish!

By this point, the hotel bar was filling up fast with young trendy New Yorkers and we were soon joined at our table by a young couple who revealed that they were actually on their first date. The guy, Bobby, would dissolve into hysterics every time I opened my mouth. “You sound and look exactly like Groundskeeper Willie from The Simpsons!” he told me through the tears of mirth.

To cut a long story short, the evening went so well that neither Sam nor I could remember getting back to our hotel that night, thanks in no small part to our “Scottishness”. The warmth and friendship we were offered by one stranger after another, almost all of whom would claim some link to Scotland, was incredible.

Now, ten years later, as I take up my position as Head of Media Relations for KILTR, I know that the same warmth and goodwill felt towards Scotland by those overseas is a powerful and valuable resource that, if properly harnessed, can lead to the creation of new friendships, relationships and opportunities that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.

I hope to play my part by raising awareness of KILTR globally and helping to make those new relationships happen.

feeley@kiltr.com

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KILTR: A Year in Pictures

Brian Hughes KILTR CEO & Stewart Fraser KILTR CTO. Photo by Michael Jones

Bjorn Sandberg KILTR Communications Manager & Author Alan Bissett at Social Media Week Glasgow. Photo by Andrew McKenna

KILTR Dev Team at KILTR Hub Social Media Week Glasgow. Photo by Andrew McKenna

Brian Hughes KILTR CEO & Stewart Fraser KILTR CTO. Photo by Michael Jones

KILTR Team. Photo by Michael Jones

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KILTR Profile of the Week: Alan Steel

KILTR caught up with Scots award-winning Independent Financial Advisor Alan Steel, Chairman of Alan Steel Asset Management (ASAM) to discuss his plans for 2012.

K: Describe your typical working day

AS: wish there was a typical one. Or then again, probably not . I have many roles: no two days are the same . I can be flying to London or the Midlands to catch up with clients down there, or seeing journalists to keep our National profile up, or, in Marketing meetings with our consultants, strategies, Press, Social Media, KILTR, Website. Writing articles, doing client meetings  here, working with my advisors for their clients, many of whom were mine before. Etc. Then there’s the fund management and economic research – I’m in charge of that to .

K: Professionally speaking, what are your plans for 2012?

AS: 2012 ? I plan to pass over the remaining clients that I’ve looked after for years now, by the end of the year, thanks to new laws passed by academics who think passing new exams makes you a better adviser. I will only be able thereafter to help clients behind the scenes. So selecting the most suitable advisor to work with each client is essential this year

That apart I intend really getting to grips with the marketing opportunities available through Social Media.

K: Outside of work, what are your interests?

AS:  Interests? Boring really. I love music , and closet moothie player, travelling, reading, great red wine, relaxing…. sloth really!

K: To what extent does Social Media play a role in your business interests?

AS:  Social Media I struggle with – but maybe that’s because I’m pulled in too many directions. But I see it as crucial in communicating our message to clients, and potential clients, especially as life for them is increasingly complex ,they seek someone they can trust and with whom they can also have fun . So this is the year we need to grasp this media fully.

K: Where do you think the potential lies for businesses in using a professional social network like KILTR?

AS: I hope there’s a big potential . Scots like dealing with Scots . And others do too , for we have a reputation for honesty and canniness —so KILTR can help build relationships that used to be easier in the old days when small communities worked better .

K: What new content or functionality would you like to see from KILTR in the future?

AS:  Don’t really understand that question —but it would be interesting to get members to embrace more the groups. Maybe it would be an idea to encourage a pile of us to form a focus group and actually meet up to build more relationships – An Up yer KILTR evening for example or an Out of KILTR Experience?

Connect with Alan Steel on KILTR and visit his website. Alan Steel dot com

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KILTR Profile of the Week: Paul Atkinson

Paul Atkinson is one of Scotland’s most prominent entrepreneurs. Originally from Yorkshire, Paul earned his stripes in IT recruitment business, with a series of successful IT recruitment firms including Edinburgh-based Head Resourcing – twice listed in the Sunday Times Fast-Track 100.

In 1995, Paul founded the IT recruitment business, Direct Resources, which he sold in 1999 to NASDAQ listed Mastech Systems Corporation for £3.4 million. During this period he also launched a spinout business, RecruitmentScotland.com, which was sold to TMP Worldwide in 2000 for £9.0 million

Paul has subsequently forged a career as a professional investor with the estimable Par Equity LLP, an investor firm that backs potential high growth businesses with innovation at their core.

We caught up with Paul to find out how KILTR has benefited him and where he sees the future for the network.

K: Describe your typical working day…

PA: My days are spent either talking to current or new investors of Par Equity or in discussions with our various portfolio companies. I also spend some of my time talking to new potential investment opportunities.

K: Professionally speaking, what are your plans for 2012?

PA: To continue building Par Equity’s investment portfolio and also grow our investor base and extend its reach into England and Ireland.

K: Outside of work, what are your interests?

PA: I play squash, socialise with my friends, but mostly spend time with my family.

K: To what extent does Social Media play a role in the success of your business interests?

PA: Social media plays an ever-increasing role: Par Equity has engaged with a number of new investors via KILTR so far. KILTR’s planned recruitment channel will also be important for a number of my/our invest companies. I also use linked-in but generally only as an easy access to new contacts.

K: Where do you think the potential lies for businesses in using a professional social network like KILTR?

PA: There is strong potential in a number of respects:

1. Finding new contacts from a business development standpoint.

2. Finding people for businesses to hire and for job hunting.

3. As a communication mechanism for news/blogs/expert features etc

K: What new content or functionality would you like to see from KILTR in the future?

PA: The job functionality is highly important and I expect this to drive traffic to KILTR. I would like to have access to a dashboard that shows me the views within the groups I am a member or administrator of. I would also like to have a KILTR button that links to my profile to add to my emails and various web sites. Both these items will, I believe further enhanced the interactions and help drive traffic to the site.

K: Thanks for your time Paul.

Connect with Paul Atkinson on KILTR and visit the Par Equity website.

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KILTR Profile of the Week: Colin Gilchrist

Colin Gilchrist

Part two in our KILTR Profiles we caught up with Digital Media Consultant and self professed ‘Social Tailor’, Colin Gilchrist. Colin has been cutting the cloth with social media since 2006 and has been guiding and advising businesses through social media marketing since.

K: Describe your typical working day.

CG: Mornings are typically spent with a client working with them to define a social media strategy plan and identifying the elements that they can turn into quantifiable results.
The afternoon is often spent managing web projects whether analysing and assessing content, understanding a user experience journey or defining those call to actions required to create a sale or at least an enquiry.

K: Where did the idea for the Social Tailor come from?

CG: Social Tailor came from my given job title – staff at the agency were tasked with coming up with Job titles for everyone bar themselves – it stems from my background, I studied fashion design (latterly part of the Buying team at Burberry) then got into Digital in 1999 / 2000 and Social Media 2006…

K: Professionally speaking, what are your plans for 2012?

CG: To continue to seek out businesses that are keen to adopt a social media strategy that creates clear and trackable business opportunities.
To teach business the benefits of social media crisis planning.
Work with businesses to develop their web strategy to better engage their client to cause a sale or very least an enquiry.
To continue to speak and blog publicly about digital marketing, social media, fashion retail marketing and website design.

K: Outside of work, what are your interests?

CG: As a one time exhibited artist and on the Council for the National Galleries I cotinue to have a passion for great art – seminal pieces and equally by unknowns.

Scotland is a glorious country and I feel very lucky to have a family cottage that we rent out and spend a few weeks a year there; it’s up in Wester Ross, private access to the beach, lots of family not too far away… its one saving grace – it lies in a dip with no mobile signal and no access to wifi – the one place we can escape and soak up nature in its truest form. Wild deer often drop by to lick the dew from the grass; depending on the tide you can almost hear the waves lapping against the shore above the constant rush of the river below. The active wildlife from stoats and otters to the huge bird life and wild goats all on the door step – I spend a lot of my time wishing I was there – when I get a moments peace it seems to hold my interest more than most things.

K: To what extent does Social Media play a role in your business interests?

CG: It’s what pays my bills so it’s all consuming. My desk in the office has 4 screens surrounding me to manage my multiple client base. As a strategy planner I provide the plan and the necessary training for the company and their marketing agency to fulfil and then monitor all of that activity… hence the set up.

K: Where do you think the potential lies for businesses in using a professional social network like KILTR?

CG: The genius of KILTR lies in the niche community – as a planner a lot of my work lies in research to identify client groups, understand their motives, likes and dislikes. The opportunity of an invited niche community allows a clearer and and more focussed communication strategy – in these days of inbound marketing we all need passionate ambassadors, truely engaged well connected individuals – KILTR is the perfect breeding ground for this tactic.

K: What new content or functionality would you like to see from KILTR in the future?

CG: Business pages that allow the flexibilty of a clear business message (landing / splash pages) with clear analytical data to ascertain post and campaign success – it’s all about the R.O.I at the end of the day!

Connect with Colin Gilchrist on KILTR and visit his website for more information.

www.socialtailor.com/

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KILTR Stories: How Our Users Are Embracing The Network Part 2

In Part two of KILTR Stories, our users explain how Businesses are seeing the potential in niche networks such as KILTR through an emotional bond, a shared enthusiasm for their culture, Innovation and profesional associations. Joining us in Part two are Pat Kane, Julie Arbuckle, Colin Walker & Fay Young. Connect with them on KILTR

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