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Think Tank

Thinktank

Yonks ago Russell used to do a thing called Post of the Month – people nominating  what they thought were the best posts of the past month and then opening it up for a vote. He stopped doing it sometime ago and I kind of miss it not being around. It would always throw up blogs I hadn't seen and posts I hadn't read, and it was always interesting to see what people voted for. And it was a great way to give a wider audience and a degree of recognition for some good writing (and thinking). So I thought I might resurrect a Dead Fish version of it.

Some logistics…
The concept is simple. At the beginning of each month (probably a few days into the new month to give me a few days to assimilate my thoughts) I'll post my own selection of the few posts I think deserve wider recognition and invite people to nominate their own, with a view to ending up with a maximum list of around 10 or so. Once I have the full list I'll open the voting for a week or so, the aim being that by the middle of the month we have a winner, which I'll announce via a post on this blog. I'll also twitter the odd reminder/announcement (you can follow me here).

I've created a category (category cloud, top left) called 'thinktank' and will categorise all the posts relating to this into it so they are retrievable. Over time who knows, it might become a useful repository.

A few rules…
You can't nominate your own posts – you can only nominate someone else's. You can nominate more than one post if you'd like, but please be realistic about the number I can short-list. If there are too many nominations or any other issues that arise I will use my own discretion (sorry, but it is my blog)

Criteria…
I really don't want to be restrictive about what to define as worth nominating – as long as it's broadly concerning the subjects that are discussed every day in the 'plannersphere' (advertising, communications, digital, planning, design, culture, media et al) – if you think it is one of the best things you have read in the past month put it forward.

The prize…
Sorry folks, no monthly cash prize I'm afraid but winners can bask in the reflected glory and respect of their peers. And I've also created a visual below that the winners can 'wear' on their blog for the duration of their reign (I'll post a resized version).

I'm thinking of starting this off in early Oct for posts that ran this month but before I actually undertake this, I'd like to ask whether you all think it's a good idea (or not). Feedback please. Any suggestions for improvements happily received – my aim here is to do something which is worthwhile for everyone. So what do you think?

ThinktankPOTM

44 responses to “Think Tank”

  1. Simon Avatar
    Simon

    I think it is a great idea. The major challenge is of course distinguishing the signal from the noise and I wish you my best.

  2. Simon Avatar
    Simon

    I think it is a great idea. The major challenge is of course distinguishing the signal from the noise and I wish you my best.

  3. Dave Knox Avatar
    Dave Knox

    Brilliant idea.
    Unfortunately you are going to cause me discover a whole bunch of writers that I will have to start following, resulting in yet another case of RSS overload.

  4. Dave Knox Avatar
    Dave Knox

    Brilliant idea.
    Unfortunately you are going to cause me discover a whole bunch of writers that I will have to start following, resulting in yet another case of RSS overload.

  5. David Cushman Avatar
    David Cushman

    effectively a crowd-sourced carnival? To broaden it, think about the host also moving around each month (like carnival of the mobilists, which I believe is weekly). Whatever the case, you know you’ll have my support. dc

  6. David Cushman Avatar
    David Cushman

    effectively a crowd-sourced carnival? To broaden it, think about the host also moving around each month (like carnival of the mobilists, which I believe is weekly). Whatever the case, you know you’ll have my support. dc

  7. Tom of the Rovers Avatar
    Tom of the Rovers

    Go for it Neil.
    Can the winner get a framed advert of a posh woman, like the ones they have in Country Life ?

  8. Tom of the Rovers Avatar
    Tom of the Rovers

    Go for it Neil.
    Can the winner get a framed advert of a posh woman, like the ones they have in Country Life ?

  9. neilperkin Avatar
    neilperkin

    Simon, Dave, David, Tom – thanks for the feedback.
    Not a bad idea to rotate it David, perhaps once it’s up and running.
    Tom – only when you win it

  10. neilperkin Avatar
    neilperkin

    Simon, Dave, David, Tom – thanks for the feedback.
    Not a bad idea to rotate it David, perhaps once it’s up and running.
    Tom – only when you win it

  11. Laurence Avatar
    Laurence

    Great idea Neil – and I think your think tank logo can be used as a banner for the winner!One question though – are we nominating American blogs too? I just thought it might be nice to stick to UK only… your call 😉

  12. Laurence Avatar
    Laurence

    Great idea Neil – and I think your think tank logo can be used as a banner for the winner!One question though – are we nominating American blogs too? I just thought it might be nice to stick to UK only… your call 😉

  13. neilperkin Avatar
    neilperkin

    Good question Laurence – my hunch is that it should be global – there’s so many good blogs out there that it would be good to recognise. Thanks for the feedback

  14. neilperkin Avatar
    neilperkin

    Good question Laurence – my hunch is that it should be global – there’s so many good blogs out there that it would be good to recognise. Thanks for the feedback

  15. eaon Avatar
    eaon

    i’m down with it, nice idea.

  16. eaon Avatar
    eaon

    i’m down with it, nice idea.

  17. Will Avatar
    Will

    Good shout chap. Definitely global.

  18. Will Avatar
    Will

    Good shout chap. Definitely global.

  19. Jeremy Jacobs Avatar
    Jeremy Jacobs

    Great logo Neil

  20. Jeremy Jacobs Avatar
    Jeremy Jacobs

    Great logo Neil

  21. Gavin Heaton Avatar
    Gavin Heaton

    Nice idea, Neil. Looking forward to it.

  22. Gavin Heaton Avatar
    Gavin Heaton

    Nice idea, Neil. Looking forward to it.

  23. threebillion Avatar
    threebillion

    clever.

  24. threebillion Avatar
    threebillion

    clever.

  25. neilperkin Avatar
    neilperkin

    Thanks for the feedback all

  26. neilperkin Avatar
    neilperkin

    Thanks for the feedback all

  27. dino Avatar
    dino

    nice! let’s do it neil!

  28. dino Avatar
    dino

    nice! let’s do it neil!

  29. The Kaiser Avatar
    The Kaiser

    I think Russell tried to rotate. It didn’t really work (if my I recall correctly). Good idea this. Great logo.

  30. The Kaiser Avatar
    The Kaiser

    I think Russell tried to rotate. It didn’t really work (if my I recall correctly). Good idea this. Great logo.

  31. Karl Turley Avatar
    Karl Turley

    Great idea, with the shear volume of content produced each month it would be great to have a refined list of worthwhile posts to read.

  32. Karl Turley Avatar
    Karl Turley

    Great idea, with the shear volume of content produced each month it would be great to have a refined list of worthwhile posts to read.

  33. Mark Avatar
    Mark

    Great idea
    Happy to host in turn

  34. Mark Avatar
    Mark

    Great idea
    Happy to host in turn

  35. Le'Nise Brothers Avatar
    Le’Nise Brothers

    Fantastic idea – looking forward to reading some great non-UK/North American posts!

  36. Le'Nise Brothers Avatar
    Le’Nise Brothers

    Fantastic idea – looking forward to reading some great non-UK/North American posts!

  37. neilperkin Avatar
    neilperkin

    Dino, Kaiser, Karl, Mark, Le’Nise – thanks. Happy that it seems to be a popular idea 🙂

  38. neilperkin Avatar
    neilperkin

    Dino, Kaiser, Karl, Mark, Le’Nise – thanks. Happy that it seems to be a popular idea 🙂

  39. Ciaran McCabe Avatar
    Ciaran McCabe

    Thank you.
    I miss Russell’s so this will be a welcome replacement.
    Ciaran

  40. Ciaran McCabe Avatar
    Ciaran McCabe

    Thank you.
    I miss Russell’s so this will be a welcome replacement.
    Ciaran

  41. Faris Avatar
    Faris

    i miss russell – he doesn’t love us anymore
    😉
    but this is lovely. rock on.

  42. Faris Avatar
    Faris

    i miss russell – he doesn’t love us anymore
    😉
    but this is lovely. rock on.

  43. neilperkin Avatar
    neilperkin

    Thanks again all. And cheers Faris. Means a lot to have your support.

  44. neilperkin Avatar
    neilperkin

    Thanks again all. And cheers Faris. Means a lot to have your support.

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