Chris Morales

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

The Ghost Runner

It happened again last weekend. As I approached a runner, I raised my hand to acknowledge him and ... NO RESPONSE! What, am I a ghost?

I'm pretty sure that this guy was intimidated by my outfit and form. Tights and functional top and nice pitter patter running style. That's the only explanation for why he didn't respond to my wave. Yes I sharpened up my poise and stopped heaving as I approached him to be more impressive but he was younger than me by 30+ years...How could he miss seeing me?

I must be the ghost runner. Yes, that's it. Like the Emperor wearing invisible clothes, I'm invisible. To test that theory I'll trying running naked this weekend. I'll wave and prance around at runners coming toward me and see if they wave back. If I'm not nvisible I bet I'll only get a couple of hundred metres from home before I'm sitting in the back of a Police Squad Car butt naked trying to explain to the arresting Officer that I'm invisible.

Boooo!

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy, AKA TheGhostRunner

Thursday, May 21, 2015

An Optimized Web Site

An optimized web site begins with a plan: What do you want the web site to do? The answer to that question drives the function and form of the web site. At every step it is important to keep in mind that you want to make it easy for your site visitors to find your site (SEO+SEM+Social Media), navigate it (usability) and update it easily. This infographic show the steps involved in planning, designing and optimizing a web site:

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Chris M Morales
MarCommTO

chris.morales@bell.net

647 393 3855

Linkedin: Chris M Morales

The opinions expressed on this blog are my own and are not associated with any other group or organization

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Wave or don't wave

When you are out running do you wave at another runner? That question crossed my mind recently. I was out for my regular early morning run and about half way through as I rounded a corner I noticed another runner heading toward me. He was about my age and seemed to be running at about my pace. I was on the right side of the sidewalk and he was on the left so there was no issue of collision. As we got closer, I raised my hand in acknowledgement expecting a response. He just ran by. No acknowledgement...nothing. I could have been a ghost. And that got me thinking: What's the appropriate way to acknowledge a fellow runner? Wave or don't wave?

This may have been an isolated incident. The vast majority of runners I encounter give some form of acknowledgement: a wave, nod of the head or even a grunted 'Morning'. It feels good to give the acknowledgement and even better to get it. Kindred soles and all that. When I didn't get a response, I felt snubbed. Had I done something to offend him?

Maybe he was totally focused on some aspect of intense training. I know when I'm running hill repeats I am absorbed by form and breathing. While gasping for air toward the top of a hill I don't have the energy to wave.

It could have been that he was zoned out listening to his music. He had headphones on so could have been lost in a favourite running tune.

Maybe I pissed him off with my speed and agility....nah, couldn't have been that.

This was probably that one in a million runner who prefers to stay totally in their zone while running. I understand that and respect him if that's the case. It won't change my habit of waving to other runners though. It makes me feel good.

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Digital Marketing Trends 2015

We're nearly 6 months into 2015 and the predictions in marketing trends keep coming. Three that top my list of trends to plan for:

Mobile. Everything available anytime on my mobile device.
Visual Storytelling. Being able to tell a story well is the new baseline of marketing.
Acting on Data. It's not good enough to be able to measure everything, tell me what it means.