Finding a gift for a chocolate loving diabetic mother is seriously tough, but while looking for the usual sugar free diabetic chocolate (it does exist), I came across a bit of gem. I can honestly say that if a website deserves to win an award for ‘low-fi web design vs high quality product’ efforts, it’s Grenada Chocolate. Lovely packaging though.

Every now and then on the web, you find a hidden gem of a site which, for whatever reason, has a modest level of visibility in the whole ‘free games’ market.

Naturally, anyone searching for ‘free games’ will be well aware of massive gaming websites likes of miniclip, so I thought I’d give a special mention to a free gaming website on www.cimex.com.

Originally launched as marketing tool or portfolio of work, Cimex’s games website is well worth a visit (and a bookmark).

Behold, dear user: Free games by www.cimex.com

When you’re defended by schleb gossip bible Popbitch.

Many kilowatts of power where wasted this week when a Times article asserted that a Google search produced as much carbon as boiling a kettle. The story went all over the world and the blogosphere positively buzzed – before the carbon expert quoted in the Times piece asserted that he’d been misquoted and never said such a thing – so there. Then Google went and set the record straight by publishing the real carbon footprint of a search.

Then I see this in today’s Popbitch email:

The carbon footprint of two google searches is the same as boiling a kettle? Not true say Google. It’s more like 0.02g. Not 7g.

So there. Is this a comment on the Times newspaper’s quality of research – despite there being no mention of the hack or the newspaper. Or does Popbitch just like Google and won’t have anything said about it? We think the latter given yet another search engine themed comment in the very same email:

The only internet two search terms more popular than sex? “Google” and “Yahoo”. Yes people go to Google and then type in “Yahoo”. And vice versa.

Why the search theme Popbitch? Is this some nifty bit of email based SEO trickery I’ve yet to learn of?

Aside from adding yet another layer of complexity for already stacked web editorial staff, I’ve not been hugely excited by textile. Apparently I should be, I’m told, because it’s one of the most search engine friendly CMS editing formats going. Well.

Web design agency Cimex is looking for a Senior Producer for their offices in London.

Digital agency Cimex is on the lookout for an SEO executive. Get in touch.

Is it me or could the new Doctor Who choice of actor have been influenced by the current trend for square jawed, boufanted EMO actors in major grossing films like Twlight?

Spot the difference.

The new Doctor Who

EMO British actor from Twilight

Another year, another one of my annual posts. Well, not quite, but over the last few months I’ve barely had any time to update. All thanks to some interesting developments on content and search engine optimisation (SEO). More on this soon.

In the meantime, check out some thoughts on Google’s Search Wiki by digital agency Cimex.com.

The ambassador of http://www.darthwaster.com

Behold – the new web address of my charity fundraising page: www.darthwaster.com. Purty huh?

Why not do me a favour and send my fundraising page to everyone you know. If I get enough of a following, hell, I may even set up a blog and post everyone’s web address. It’ll help eveyone’s SEO and may even increase the number of donations. Heh. Do it.

Donate to DarthWaster.com and raise cash for Cancer Research UK.

Forrester’s social media analyst Jeremiah Owyang provides a nice overview of brands which have attempted social media marketing using fan pages, widgets etc.

In a nutshell, activities – like fan pages – need to encourage communication and community building within the social network, not direct them offsite (because, presumably, it interrupts users’ conversations and communication).

One nice example is an Alicia Keys fan page, which revealed exclusive news, events etc. Fans are driven to join, debate, sign up to events, share and so on. I’m assuming this has a lot to do with why and how fans think – such as playing one-upmanship and showing other fans how much of a bigger fan you are.

Read Jermiah’s blog post on Web Strategist