Hi everybody!
Just a small reminder that you've only a few hours left to order a personalised photo gift with a picture of your pet on it to be entered into our little competition to win a stunning deluxe photo panel.
Orders placed up to midnight (well about 9am Tuesday 1st July 2008 actually) will be eligible.
Remember - we offered one lucky customer from all our orders received during June 2008 a free personalised deluxe photo panel, featuring their order photograph with the prize going to the best pet or animal picture (in our opinion) from all the pet & animal photo's submitted.
Well I can reveal it's not going to be an easy task. We've had an incredible response - thank you.
We'll be announcing the winner and showing the winning photograph in the next few days so remember to come back soon if you'd like to find out who won. Better still, why not subscribe to our RSS feed (see the link at the top) and you'll be automatically notified.
Well must get on - pet photo's to review. Good luck to you all.
A little flavour of what's in store...
Gifts & Giveaways
Fine chocolate offers and vouchers....latest offer
Blogging tutorials
Easy tips to make your blog, twitter or tumblr accounts look good....see example
Social networking tips
Published articles by me on networking and social tools....see example
Art & Photography
Licenced images by Mandy Collins....read more
Monday, June 30, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
We sponsor our local community magazine's new blog
We've very pleased to announce our sponsorship of Community Magazine - All Things Local - new blog.The blog replaces their old RSS feed and will carry regular news of magazine articles that have been added to their website as well as other news and information as it becomes available.
There will also be links to the popular regular features which are all repeated on the website in full.
So if any of you used to live in the Kilburn - Belper area of Derbyshire, you can now keep up to date with what's happening in your old home village online.
You might also be interested to know that the All Things Local Blog was recommended for a Flower Smellers award from a founder at Go Smell The Flowers - a community website with founders from all over the world sustaining a daily digest of topics from the latest world news to the lighter side.
Fabulous Photo Gifts are proud to be one of their founder members and you'll find regular contributions from us.
Coming soon - news of some great new gift ideas at Fabulous Photo Gifts - available soon. Ssshhh! - you heard it here first.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Did you notice our Side Bar has had a spring clean?
Hi and hello and warm welcome back to our regulars (and we know there's many of you - we just don't know who you are - so leave a comment and introduce yourselves sometime won't you?).
We just wanted to draw your attention to a little spring clean we had last week on the Fabulous Photo Gifts blog with a few adjustments to the side panel (the one to the right of this article).
It's a strange business - all this social networking - one minute you've just a blank blog with a few sparse articles and then Whoosh! Things start to take off and before you know it you've got a higgledy piggledy mess of a side bar with seemingly random links and features dotted everywhere.
Well that's just exactly what had happened to us here.
So we took a quiet weekend last week to give our side bar some structure. Hopefully the only differences you'll notice are that its easier to find the things you're looking for.
Looking for our RSS feed to subscribe to this Blog? That's easy as its moved to it's new prime time slot at the top of the posts.
Then we've a topical new photo gift followed by the last 5 comments as left by you right here on this blog. Then comes our RSS feed (direct from the Fabulous Photo Gifts website) and a summary of the last alerts posted.
Following swiftly on, we have avery comprehensive Tag Cloud - find a story fast by scanning through our cloud for a particular keyword or 'tag'.
After that section comes the links to our various other social networking activities and partners including Go! Smell the Flowers, BlogCatalog and Twitter.
You can grab our 'Swicki' or our very own Widget which you can install on your own desktop or website/blog and get the latest blog news fed into your site - marvellous!
So please enjoy your time wandering around our little Photo Gift-zine and feel free to link to any of the articles you find here.
Enjoy.
We just wanted to draw your attention to a little spring clean we had last week on the Fabulous Photo Gifts blog with a few adjustments to the side panel (the one to the right of this article).
It's a strange business - all this social networking - one minute you've just a blank blog with a few sparse articles and then Whoosh! Things start to take off and before you know it you've got a higgledy piggledy mess of a side bar with seemingly random links and features dotted everywhere.
Well that's just exactly what had happened to us here.
So we took a quiet weekend last week to give our side bar some structure. Hopefully the only differences you'll notice are that its easier to find the things you're looking for.
Looking for our RSS feed to subscribe to this Blog? That's easy as its moved to it's new prime time slot at the top of the posts.
Then we've a topical new photo gift followed by the last 5 comments as left by you right here on this blog. Then comes our RSS feed (direct from the Fabulous Photo Gifts website) and a summary of the last alerts posted.
Following swiftly on, we have avery comprehensive Tag Cloud - find a story fast by scanning through our cloud for a particular keyword or 'tag'.
After that section comes the links to our various other social networking activities and partners including Go! Smell the Flowers, BlogCatalog and Twitter.
You can grab our 'Swicki' or our very own Widget which you can install on your own desktop or website/blog and get the latest blog news fed into your site - marvellous!
So please enjoy your time wandering around our little Photo Gift-zine and feel free to link to any of the articles you find here.
Enjoy.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
GOGO's Crazy Bones - shopping experience
The latest collecting craze for kids seems to be these GOGO's Crazy Bones characters - little lumps of shaped plastic that come in a variety of colours, shapes and expressions (or characters).There's even an accompanying sticker book (each pack comes with stickers) so you can collect and trade the figures as well as the stickers. Of course some are rarer than others.
If you haven't a clue what I'm on about, then you either don't have kids or you're lucky enough to live on Mars.
Actually as kids collectable crazes go these aren't so bad. Prices range from £0.99p a pack (of 3) to 2.00+ depending it seems on where you shop.
I had my children for the weekend and of course they're collecting Crazy Bones so a trip to the local town of Ripley was in order - there's a great 'Wargames' style shop called Chimera that sells all these collectables as well Pokemon etc and loads of DC Comics and figures etc.
Whilst the kids were picking over the box of sachets, choosing which one to get, I had chance to chat with the owner.
He's outraged by the high prices some places were selling them for and went on to explain that he also keeps a collection of swaps - kids come in with a duplicate from their collection and they can swap it for another of their choice.
What a wonderful system! He also keeps swaps of the stickers too, and judging by the large stack of boxes behind the counter, he doesn't plan on running out either.
He went on to explain they also held various game evenings after the shop shuts. These also include model painting evenings (bring your own paints and brushes). He also runs Yu-Gi-Oh!, World of Warcraft and Magic the Gathering Hobby League games - you can find out more at his website - www.chimeraccg.co.uk.
As we left the shop, the kids clutching their latest acquisitions, I reflected that the service had been excellent - the kids had been treated like adults, nothing had been too much trouble including having to get all 4 bag colours down to show us, and the added bonuses of low price and the 'live swap' which my son instantly availed himself of, reminded me very much of the same attention to detail and customer service which makes ordering a photo gift from us such a fabulous experience.
We've not had picture of someone's collection sent in to be personalised onto a jigsaw or other gift yet - perhaps you're still waiting on a few to complete your collection? but i'm sure we'll see one or two before the years out.
Click here to order a personalised photo gift from Fabulous Photo Gifts .co.uk today.
It looks like another trip to Ripley, Derbyshire next time to add to their collections!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Go Go Widget Boy
We just wanted to share a little snippet of news with you all - Our Fabulous Photo Gifts Widget has been downloaded a whole 9 times!
For those not familiar with Widgets, here's the low-down "Web widgets are portable chunks of the Web that can be easily embedded into a webpage. Use them to get news, information, entertainment, decoration, or whatever else you can think of for your blog, profile page, personal home page, or web site".
Basically, you can take our Widget and add it to your blog or website. Neat eh?
Our Widget features the 5 latest Blog updates in a pleasing visual manner, it updates itself so you never have to worry about having out of date content on your site. What's more, you can even personalise our Widget to suit your sites colours and layout.
click here to visit WidgetBox and go and collect our Widget and add it to your Blog or Website today.
Happy Widget-ing.
For those not familiar with Widgets, here's the low-down "Web widgets are portable chunks of the Web that can be easily embedded into a webpage. Use them to get news, information, entertainment, decoration, or whatever else you can think of for your blog, profile page, personal home page, or web site".
Basically, you can take our Widget and add it to your blog or website. Neat eh?
Our Widget features the 5 latest Blog updates in a pleasing visual manner, it updates itself so you never have to worry about having out of date content on your site. What's more, you can even personalise our Widget to suit your sites colours and layout.
click here to visit WidgetBox and go and collect our Widget and add it to your Blog or Website today.
Happy Widget-ing.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Google's Biggest Secret? SEO article
As our regular readers will know, sometimes I get an idea of an SEO article and write about it here. My theme for today is Google's big secret?
Let me start by telling you a little tale (abreviated version) - man designs new website offering car turntable quotes - registers new domain for website - submits website url to Google by hand - writes two blog articles on established blog pointing to website - submits Google Site Map - One day later is surprised to see website at position 1 and 4 on Google when searching for Car Turntables.
What's wrong with this 'picture'? Well in theory, it shouldn't have come anywhere near the top of the Google listings. New site so no age, no text/copy on website - very much a visit and click affair, so why the high ranking?
Everything you read about SEO is based on theories and assumptions - of that I am now convinced. You'll read about good inbound links (nothing wrong with those but have you tried to get another site to link to you without a backwards link?) It isn't easy and consumes vast amounts of time for little reward.
Tried to get listed on DMOZ? I've had several goes and am now convinced that this dinosaur is past its sell by date. Great if you can get on it apparently but have you tried? I think the only way may be to sign up as a moderator of submissions!
Content is King and always will be? Well that theory went out the window with my car turntable site didn't it?
Complicated sums of 'x' amount of keywords to 'x' amount of text within a page or the first paragraph? Again my little Turntable site blows that out of the water.
Sure all the above will help (won't they?) but the truth is even more disturbing....
If you search for something (everythings popular these days) you'll get 1 result of 120,000,000 etc returned. That's an awful lot of matches. Put it another way - if we're all doing the right things (or not) and many of us are, then how can we all be on first page positions? Think of the top position as being shared with the first 200 results - literally.
Of course this gives Google a massive problem - who to put at the top. That's why they shake the listings up - just to serve 'fresh' page 1 content. You haven't done anything wrong if you suddenly fall of the first page - Google's simply moving things around for a bit - they'll move back eventually. Best not to change too much in case you really damage your 'ranking'.
Remember the story about the guy who thought his router settings had changed because he couldn't get an Internet connection? He spent days altering his settings etc before finally giving up and spending large amounts on a help line.
The problem had been a short time-out at the exchange - it had been working but his altering his settings had made him be off line for days! If only he'd left his settings well alone.
An example of this phasing in and out of the Google 'time continuem' is a friends hawk logging website - he gets months of activity and new members and then it goes quiet for a month or two. Seems he's not on first page during those quiet periods. He doesn't change anything but guess where he 're-appears' when he starts getting traffic again? Yep!
I have another little theory - want to hear it? Well I think that when you suddenly introduce a new inward link - perhaps a directory or social site (we'll talk more about that in a minute)it wakes Google up so to speak. Google spiders this new link that wasn't there before and thinks "hmmm - a new link to an established site - are they shifting focus of their content? I'll watch them for a bit but better take them down a few pages - I notice they've been there a few months now".
It's not really that far-fetched - of that I'm convinced or some such scenario plays out along those lines.
I promised a word on social bookmarking and social sites. These I think can affect your ranking - If your site gets a lot of traffic - regular (and from the same people, the better) then this does lend weight to your site being an authority.
Why else would all those people keep coming back to your site? leaving comments and spending time on your site? Must be an important site! We'd better put it higher up on any matching searches.
I'm a big fan of social networking - we're on several sites and a few more specialist ones - they all take time to nurture and expand - its not a quick fix - but I really believe this one factor will start to influence Google's rankings more and more. Why not? After all, we can't all be number one and even the SEO crowd acknowledge there's only so far you can take meta tags, content and inbound links.
I'm off to social bookmark some more - why not try it? If you have a website or a blog, whether you make your living online (where traffic is crucial to success) or you do it for fun/hobby, then you are already half way there.
Here at Fabulous Photo Gifts - we get lots of comments from people congratulating us on how often our blog or social bookmarking shows up on blog search and the regular searches. That's one more visitor than last time and all it's cost you is a little time on a regular basis.
Back to our original example of the car turntable quote website - remember that achieved position 1 and 4 on Google with just a few metatags, a google sitemap and a couple of blog articles.
Google's Big Secret? there isn't one really - just hype. By all means try the alternatives, get mixed results, find out what works best for your content. I'm not saying my realisations are correct or even close, but it's spooky how a site that flies in the face of ALL the thinking of the day, did so well.
I think people have talked up' the Google mysterious algorithms - a modern myth. As I said earlier, if we're all doing it so 'right', how can we all be failing so badly? We're not - it's just there isn't room on the winners podium for 200+ winners.
About the author:
Jonathan Crouch is Technical Partner at Fabulous Photo Gifts - personalised photo gifts company based in Derbyshire, UK. When he's not helping with the day to day aspects of the business or social bookmarking, he writes the odd SEO article. Feel free to agree / disagree / mention your own successes/findings contrary or otherwise.
Let me start by telling you a little tale (abreviated version) - man designs new website offering car turntable quotes - registers new domain for website - submits website url to Google by hand - writes two blog articles on established blog pointing to website - submits Google Site Map - One day later is surprised to see website at position 1 and 4 on Google when searching for Car Turntables.
What's wrong with this 'picture'? Well in theory, it shouldn't have come anywhere near the top of the Google listings. New site so no age, no text/copy on website - very much a visit and click affair, so why the high ranking?
Everything you read about SEO is based on theories and assumptions - of that I am now convinced. You'll read about good inbound links (nothing wrong with those but have you tried to get another site to link to you without a backwards link?) It isn't easy and consumes vast amounts of time for little reward.
Tried to get listed on DMOZ? I've had several goes and am now convinced that this dinosaur is past its sell by date. Great if you can get on it apparently but have you tried? I think the only way may be to sign up as a moderator of submissions!
Content is King and always will be? Well that theory went out the window with my car turntable site didn't it?
Complicated sums of 'x' amount of keywords to 'x' amount of text within a page or the first paragraph? Again my little Turntable site blows that out of the water.
Sure all the above will help (won't they?) but the truth is even more disturbing....
If you search for something (everythings popular these days) you'll get 1 result of 120,000,000 etc returned. That's an awful lot of matches. Put it another way - if we're all doing the right things (or not) and many of us are, then how can we all be on first page positions? Think of the top position as being shared with the first 200 results - literally.
Of course this gives Google a massive problem - who to put at the top. That's why they shake the listings up - just to serve 'fresh' page 1 content. You haven't done anything wrong if you suddenly fall of the first page - Google's simply moving things around for a bit - they'll move back eventually. Best not to change too much in case you really damage your 'ranking'.
Remember the story about the guy who thought his router settings had changed because he couldn't get an Internet connection? He spent days altering his settings etc before finally giving up and spending large amounts on a help line.
The problem had been a short time-out at the exchange - it had been working but his altering his settings had made him be off line for days! If only he'd left his settings well alone.
An example of this phasing in and out of the Google 'time continuem' is a friends hawk logging website - he gets months of activity and new members and then it goes quiet for a month or two. Seems he's not on first page during those quiet periods. He doesn't change anything but guess where he 're-appears' when he starts getting traffic again? Yep!
I have another little theory - want to hear it? Well I think that when you suddenly introduce a new inward link - perhaps a directory or social site (we'll talk more about that in a minute)it wakes Google up so to speak. Google spiders this new link that wasn't there before and thinks "hmmm - a new link to an established site - are they shifting focus of their content? I'll watch them for a bit but better take them down a few pages - I notice they've been there a few months now".
It's not really that far-fetched - of that I'm convinced or some such scenario plays out along those lines.
I promised a word on social bookmarking and social sites. These I think can affect your ranking - If your site gets a lot of traffic - regular (and from the same people, the better) then this does lend weight to your site being an authority.
Why else would all those people keep coming back to your site? leaving comments and spending time on your site? Must be an important site! We'd better put it higher up on any matching searches.
I'm a big fan of social networking - we're on several sites and a few more specialist ones - they all take time to nurture and expand - its not a quick fix - but I really believe this one factor will start to influence Google's rankings more and more. Why not? After all, we can't all be number one and even the SEO crowd acknowledge there's only so far you can take meta tags, content and inbound links.
I'm off to social bookmark some more - why not try it? If you have a website or a blog, whether you make your living online (where traffic is crucial to success) or you do it for fun/hobby, then you are already half way there.
Here at Fabulous Photo Gifts - we get lots of comments from people congratulating us on how often our blog or social bookmarking shows up on blog search and the regular searches. That's one more visitor than last time and all it's cost you is a little time on a regular basis.
Back to our original example of the car turntable quote website - remember that achieved position 1 and 4 on Google with just a few metatags, a google sitemap and a couple of blog articles.
Google's Big Secret? there isn't one really - just hype. By all means try the alternatives, get mixed results, find out what works best for your content. I'm not saying my realisations are correct or even close, but it's spooky how a site that flies in the face of ALL the thinking of the day, did so well.
I think people have talked up' the Google mysterious algorithms - a modern myth. As I said earlier, if we're all doing it so 'right', how can we all be failing so badly? We're not - it's just there isn't room on the winners podium for 200+ winners.
About the author:
Jonathan Crouch is Technical Partner at Fabulous Photo Gifts - personalised photo gifts company based in Derbyshire, UK. When he's not helping with the day to day aspects of the business or social bookmarking, he writes the odd SEO article. Feel free to agree / disagree / mention your own successes/findings contrary or otherwise.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Barking mad dogs and englishmen
Two woofs, one bark and a yip (that's nice photo jigsaw in doggy speak) as we discovered, after being invited to take along our display of personalised photo gifts to the Phoenix Working Trials and Obedience Society - Companion Dog Show last weekend at Hucknall, Nottinghamshire.
The weather was warm and sunny and around 200 owners and dogs took part in various show trials throughout the day.
At one time or another, most of them took shelter in the shade of our gazebo (bought especially for the occasion) and a good chin wag (and tail wag) ensued about the photo gifts on display.
We also took along some new items to gauge public opinion before we unleash them on the photo gift buying public and all received a very enthusiastic response.
Amongst these new items were a personalised cushion, car window sunscreens and a new deluxe photo panel option. We'll be adding them hopefully over the next month.
There were also enthusiastic enquiries from several local motorcycle clubs with regards club t-shirts and mugs!
So we're now looking into other similar venues where we can perhaps display our photo gift line-up.
As well as supporting the event by being there, we were also delighted to support the tombola and the grand raffle with a photo gift voucher for a medium deluxe photo panel. I wonder if they'll order in time to enter our pet picture competition?
A few thank you's (it's a bit like the Oscars isn't it?) - firstly to Gareth Howell - the Show Manager and his team for putting on a superb show as well as tracking us down to invite us after seeing our display at a local car showroom open evening.
Secondly to Mary and her husband from Spangles Grooming Parlour who came to my rescue in helping to put the gazebo and generally providing friendship and banter in the lulls between visitors to our displays.
Remember, you've still got to the end of June 2008 t enter our pet photo gift competition - just order any photo gift personalised with a picture of a pet or other animal and we'll pick the best picture and the winner will receive a free deluxe photo panel personalised with the winning picture.
The weather was warm and sunny and around 200 owners and dogs took part in various show trials throughout the day.
At one time or another, most of them took shelter in the shade of our gazebo (bought especially for the occasion) and a good chin wag (and tail wag) ensued about the photo gifts on display.
We also took along some new items to gauge public opinion before we unleash them on the photo gift buying public and all received a very enthusiastic response.
Amongst these new items were a personalised cushion, car window sunscreens and a new deluxe photo panel option. We'll be adding them hopefully over the next month.
There were also enthusiastic enquiries from several local motorcycle clubs with regards club t-shirts and mugs!
So we're now looking into other similar venues where we can perhaps display our photo gift line-up.
As well as supporting the event by being there, we were also delighted to support the tombola and the grand raffle with a photo gift voucher for a medium deluxe photo panel. I wonder if they'll order in time to enter our pet picture competition?
A few thank you's (it's a bit like the Oscars isn't it?) - firstly to Gareth Howell - the Show Manager and his team for putting on a superb show as well as tracking us down to invite us after seeing our display at a local car showroom open evening.
Secondly to Mary and her husband from Spangles Grooming Parlour who came to my rescue in helping to put the gazebo and generally providing friendship and banter in the lulls between visitors to our displays.
Remember, you've still got to the end of June 2008 t enter our pet photo gift competition - just order any photo gift personalised with a picture of a pet or other animal and we'll pick the best picture and the winner will receive a free deluxe photo panel personalised with the winning picture.
ADSL - UPDATE - We're back!
Technical Update - 18:00 - 12th June 2008
Hi folks! Just a quick update to let you know our ADSL connection was soon repaired (our thanks to those hard working technical people in London) and our phone lines are working again.
Just to remind you that our website, email and online secure payments were unaffected during this short outage.
Thank you for bearing with us if you've been trying to phone us.
Fabulous Photo Gifts - Technical.
Hi folks! Just a quick update to let you know our ADSL connection was soon repaired (our thanks to those hard working technical people in London) and our phone lines are working again.
Just to remind you that our website, email and online secure payments were unaffected during this short outage.
Thank you for bearing with us if you've been trying to phone us.
Fabulous Photo Gifts - Technical.
ADSL Outage - sorry - only incoming telephone calls affected
Technical Upate: 16:20 (GMT) Thursday 12th June 2008
Please be aware that our ADSL service provider is experiencing technical difficulties.
This means we are unable to receive incoming / make outgoing phone calls on our Phone system.
Our apologies for any inconvenience - we've been assured that the problem is a temporary one and we'll soon be back up.
Our e-mail, website and your online orders and payments remain unaffected and continue to function normally.
Thank you for your patience.
Fabulous Photo Gifts - Technical
Please be aware that our ADSL service provider is experiencing technical difficulties.
This means we are unable to receive incoming / make outgoing phone calls on our Phone system.
Our apologies for any inconvenience - we've been assured that the problem is a temporary one and we'll soon be back up.
Our e-mail, website and your online orders and payments remain unaffected and continue to function normally.
Thank you for your patience.
Fabulous Photo Gifts - Technical
Monday, June 09, 2008
Great Customer Competition for June 2008
Call us rash - call us foolhardy but we just couldn't help ourselves here at Fabulous Photo Gifts.
Hot on the heels of our top 12 'chart countdown', we've just launched a fabulous competition for June 2008.
It's very easy to enter - just order any photo gift from Fabulous Photo Gifts personalised with your favourite pet or animal picture - we'll choose the best one and the lucky winner will win a free deluxe photo panel (13x18cm size) personalised with their winning picture.
The clock's ticking and we've already lost 9 days so get ordering today and who knows? Maybe your animal/pet photo will win?
Good luck! Click here to enter the Fabulous Photo Gifts shop.
The Fabulous Photo Gifts team.
*please note - the judges decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. The winner gives their permission to allow use of their winning photo in future promotions by Fabulous Photo Gifts only.
Hot on the heels of our top 12 'chart countdown', we've just launched a fabulous competition for June 2008.
It's very easy to enter - just order any photo gift from Fabulous Photo Gifts personalised with your favourite pet or animal picture - we'll choose the best one and the lucky winner will win a free deluxe photo panel (13x18cm size) personalised with their winning picture.
The clock's ticking and we've already lost 9 days so get ordering today and who knows? Maybe your animal/pet photo will win?
Good luck! Click here to enter the Fabulous Photo Gifts shop.
The Fabulous Photo Gifts team.
*please note - the judges decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. The winner gives their permission to allow use of their winning photo in future promotions by Fabulous Photo Gifts only.
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Fabulous Photo Gifts - Top 40 - the top 3
Hi there pop pickers - well it's Sunday so that means it must be the top 3 revealed in our countdown of the most popular photograph upload genre's for personalising at Fabulous Photo Gifts.
We've already revealed positions 12 to 4 and we were supposed t reveal chart positions 3 and 2 last night (apologies) but we got so busy finishing packing for our appearance at a top local dog show today that, well, time just flew by. More on that later.
So lets get on with it shall we? Have you guessed what will be the most uploaded photo subject? Has your own personal 'tip to win' already been revealed? - Lets see...
Position 3 - Pets:
It was always going to be close between babies and pets but those perfect pooches and mystic moggies just nosed ahead in the final few months. We've had some great photos - from walks in the countryside to the more familiar pets asleep on furniture meant for humans. We've had pets in paddling pools, the ocean, in cages, on shoulders, formal portraits to happy snaps whilst out and about. All proving whatever your taste in pets, you've all got great taste when it came to choosing the perfect picture to add to a photo gift.
Position 2 - Children:
From school photos to club activities, holidays to formal occasions, birthdays, Christmas, christenings and general parties. Fancy dress or swimming costume, home or garden, you've proved that your children make great photo gifts for themselves, for relatives, for Mother's and Father's Day, for Christmas or Birthday gifts.
So before we reveal number 1 - lets take a quick recap through our top 12....
12 - Misc
11 - Country scenes
10 - Grandparents
9 - Homes
8 - Portraits - singles or couples
7 - Gardens
6 - Weddings
5 - Families
4 - Babies
3 - Pets
2 - Children
and the number 1........ Family Holidays!
Yes congratulations to you all that guessed or submitted a holiday photo for personalising.
We've had possibly every destination and city you can imagine, present day and yesteryear, from walks on the beach to exotic shores and it didn't stop there. You've also submitted the most beautiful pictures of yourselves on holiday - from evening meals in the local taverna to picnics on long boats.
So the next time you come home from your holiday and sit down to look at all the pictures you've taken. Put a few aside for personalising some fabulous photo gifts for your relatives and friends, the next time a gift giving occasion comes around.
We've already revealed positions 12 to 4 and we were supposed t reveal chart positions 3 and 2 last night (apologies) but we got so busy finishing packing for our appearance at a top local dog show today that, well, time just flew by. More on that later.
So lets get on with it shall we? Have you guessed what will be the most uploaded photo subject? Has your own personal 'tip to win' already been revealed? - Lets see...
Position 3 - Pets:
It was always going to be close between babies and pets but those perfect pooches and mystic moggies just nosed ahead in the final few months. We've had some great photos - from walks in the countryside to the more familiar pets asleep on furniture meant for humans. We've had pets in paddling pools, the ocean, in cages, on shoulders, formal portraits to happy snaps whilst out and about. All proving whatever your taste in pets, you've all got great taste when it came to choosing the perfect picture to add to a photo gift.
Position 2 - Children:
From school photos to club activities, holidays to formal occasions, birthdays, Christmas, christenings and general parties. Fancy dress or swimming costume, home or garden, you've proved that your children make great photo gifts for themselves, for relatives, for Mother's and Father's Day, for Christmas or Birthday gifts.
So before we reveal number 1 - lets take a quick recap through our top 12....
12 - Misc
11 - Country scenes
10 - Grandparents
9 - Homes
8 - Portraits - singles or couples
7 - Gardens
6 - Weddings
5 - Families
4 - Babies
3 - Pets
2 - Children
and the number 1........ Family Holidays!
Yes congratulations to you all that guessed or submitted a holiday photo for personalising.
We've had possibly every destination and city you can imagine, present day and yesteryear, from walks on the beach to exotic shores and it didn't stop there. You've also submitted the most beautiful pictures of yourselves on holiday - from evening meals in the local taverna to picnics on long boats.
So the next time you come home from your holiday and sit down to look at all the pictures you've taken. Put a few aside for personalising some fabulous photo gifts for your relatives and friends, the next time a gift giving occasion comes around.
Friday, June 06, 2008
Fabulous Photo Gifts - Top 40 - positions 6 to 4
Hello again Pop Pickers - we're back with the continuing 'chart' countdown of the top 12 recurring themes in photographs that have been sent to us for personalising photo gifts with - gifts like jigsaw puzzle, clocks, chopping boards and even teddy bears.
Last post, we covered positions 12 to 7 so without further ado - here's numbers 6 though to 4...
At number 6 - we have: Weddings
We've had white weddings, tartan weddings, exotic holiday weddings to name but a few. We've had brides and grooms, with parents, with grandparents, wedding guests on their own and even hen and stag nights. We've even had a few orders for pageboys etc - jigsaws with their pictures on to occupy them whilst the big speech is in progress. All of them really lovely momento's of a fabulous day. Our congratulations to you all.
At Number 5 - we have: Families
These were more everyday pictures of family groups or members enjoying a variety of activities, mostly at home. We've had some very creative collages sent in, pictures with text overlaid etc. We've had barbecues, garden parties, formal sittings, portraits and family parties - rave on you groovy people.
At Number 4 - we have: Babies
OK I know babies can't do jigsaws or use a mug but that hasn't stopped you sending in your baby photographs by the nappy load. Babies in high chairs, in prams, at birthdays, at Christmas, on grandmums lap, on picnic blankets, wide awake or asleep, happy or grumpy, birthday suits or fancy dress, we've seen them all and we've just loved receiving them.
Tune in tomorrow for numbers 3 and 2 before we reveal the number 1 on Sunday (its a bit like Radio 1 round here!)
We'll see you tomorrow.
Last post, we covered positions 12 to 7 so without further ado - here's numbers 6 though to 4...
At number 6 - we have: Weddings
We've had white weddings, tartan weddings, exotic holiday weddings to name but a few. We've had brides and grooms, with parents, with grandparents, wedding guests on their own and even hen and stag nights. We've even had a few orders for pageboys etc - jigsaws with their pictures on to occupy them whilst the big speech is in progress. All of them really lovely momento's of a fabulous day. Our congratulations to you all.
At Number 5 - we have: Families
These were more everyday pictures of family groups or members enjoying a variety of activities, mostly at home. We've had some very creative collages sent in, pictures with text overlaid etc. We've had barbecues, garden parties, formal sittings, portraits and family parties - rave on you groovy people.
At Number 4 - we have: Babies
OK I know babies can't do jigsaws or use a mug but that hasn't stopped you sending in your baby photographs by the nappy load. Babies in high chairs, in prams, at birthdays, at Christmas, on grandmums lap, on picnic blankets, wide awake or asleep, happy or grumpy, birthday suits or fancy dress, we've seen them all and we've just loved receiving them.
Tune in tomorrow for numbers 3 and 2 before we reveal the number 1 on Sunday (its a bit like Radio 1 round here!)
We'll see you tomorrow.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Fabulous Photo Gifts - Top 40 - positions 12 to 7
Hi Pop Pickers - as promised but slightly later than advertised due to school holidays and a rush on the photo gift front - wouldn't be anything to do with Father's Day would it? Here is our own Top Ten countdown (well 12 in fact but who's counting?).
Anyway, we've looked back over the orders we've received for personalised photo gifts this last 12 months and produced a top 12 recurring themes in the pictures you've been sending us.
As we're running slightly behind, we've decided to jump right in with 'chart positions' 12 through to 7.
At number 12 - we have: Miscellaneous
These were recurring themes that didn't quite make it into the top 11 - photo's of soft toys or childrens toys, roller-coasters, cars, motorcycles and steam engines ( i suppose we could have had travel !). Bouquets of flowers, office parties, office groups and some really intricate montages (you clever lot!) etc - you get the picture (or rather our customers did).
At number 11 - we have: Countryside Scenes
Everything from harbours to mountains, desolate moors to the broads, sunsets, sunrises, snow, rain and sun - from the inspirational to the breathtaking, single animals to whole herds, you sent them all. Most on our own doorstep but there were equal numbers of more far-flung places - city-scapes, oceans, jungles, deserts.
At number 10 - we have: Grandparents
Incorporating our senior citizens, we've had them dressed for weddings, celebrating their birthdays (or someone elses), enjoying the garden or an outing or a favourite hobby. With their families, with their pets.
At number 9 - we have: Homes
Not stately homes, although everybodies home is like a stately home to them (and us), we've had bungalows, semi's, mansions, flats. In all weathers and all seasons, we've had our fair share of holiday homes and villas too.
At number 8 - we have: Portraits
Single people, families or couples, we've had a huge variety of photos submitted from casual shots to the more formal sittings. From fancy dress to formal attire, in all manner of settings. One thing is clear, your comments have proved the gifts were always well received and you've been absolutely delighted with them.
At number 7 - we have: Gardens
Just pipping portraits to the number 7 slot, we have gardens - your gardens, next doors gardens, gardens you've visited. Again all seasons have been captured and we've seen gardens from across the world with many exotic plants and flowers captured by you. We've enjoyed your gardens and it's proved very inspirational for our own modest lawn. Bloomin' marvellous!
Still to come - we'll be running down the last 6 places - 1 every night starting tomorrow so be sure to check back and see if your 'category' made the number 1 slot.
I can reveal that still to come (in no particular order) we have - pets, children, weddings and three more amazing categories which we'll keep to ourselves for now.
See you tomorrow.
Anyway, we've looked back over the orders we've received for personalised photo gifts this last 12 months and produced a top 12 recurring themes in the pictures you've been sending us.
As we're running slightly behind, we've decided to jump right in with 'chart positions' 12 through to 7.
At number 12 - we have: Miscellaneous
These were recurring themes that didn't quite make it into the top 11 - photo's of soft toys or childrens toys, roller-coasters, cars, motorcycles and steam engines ( i suppose we could have had travel !). Bouquets of flowers, office parties, office groups and some really intricate montages (you clever lot!) etc - you get the picture (or rather our customers did).
At number 11 - we have: Countryside Scenes
Everything from harbours to mountains, desolate moors to the broads, sunsets, sunrises, snow, rain and sun - from the inspirational to the breathtaking, single animals to whole herds, you sent them all. Most on our own doorstep but there were equal numbers of more far-flung places - city-scapes, oceans, jungles, deserts.
At number 10 - we have: Grandparents
Incorporating our senior citizens, we've had them dressed for weddings, celebrating their birthdays (or someone elses), enjoying the garden or an outing or a favourite hobby. With their families, with their pets.
At number 9 - we have: Homes
Not stately homes, although everybodies home is like a stately home to them (and us), we've had bungalows, semi's, mansions, flats. In all weathers and all seasons, we've had our fair share of holiday homes and villas too.
At number 8 - we have: Portraits
Single people, families or couples, we've had a huge variety of photos submitted from casual shots to the more formal sittings. From fancy dress to formal attire, in all manner of settings. One thing is clear, your comments have proved the gifts were always well received and you've been absolutely delighted with them.
At number 7 - we have: Gardens
Just pipping portraits to the number 7 slot, we have gardens - your gardens, next doors gardens, gardens you've visited. Again all seasons have been captured and we've seen gardens from across the world with many exotic plants and flowers captured by you. We've enjoyed your gardens and it's proved very inspirational for our own modest lawn. Bloomin' marvellous!
Still to come - we'll be running down the last 6 places - 1 every night starting tomorrow so be sure to check back and see if your 'category' made the number 1 slot.
I can reveal that still to come (in no particular order) we have - pets, children, weddings and three more amazing categories which we'll keep to ourselves for now.
See you tomorrow.
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