I used to love flickr. Like, really, really love it.

It is/was a great social network for sharing and distributing photo's...it is/was also great for sharing stories. Something that is so easily missed on other social sites besides Facebook.

Today or someday before today - my flickr PRO account closed. Which means that any pictures prior to the latest 200 photos in my account, I cannot access.

gulp.

ergh. How super annoying. No email warning, no call even....nothin' nada...

So I quickly went and tried to get my PRO account back...ergh, paypal notice that says it hsa to wait for my payment to be approved. Access, I WANT access.

How hard would it have been to send an automatic email to users whose PRO account were coming to an end? really, how hard could that have been.

In the age of social networking - with an abundance of tools and resources there for free - it is oh so important to keep your current customers/users/members happy, engaged. You lose the chance to do that - and it can go quickly downhill from there.

Caught Vasta's post this evening on web design.

I never really considered myself a web designer...but I guess he is right. I live and breathe marketing on the web. That includes both writing, page layout, functionality, process etc.

Take the survey he is suggesting...they asked some really interesting questions I am interested in seeing the results of.

http://alistapart.com/articles/webdesignsurvey

I am lucky to work with so many seriously talented photobloggers at blogTO. Photographers who understand the power of a picture and the power of social media...

If you have a chance this month, check out the photo exhibit, part of CONTACT - Toronto's Photography Festival.

I have to say, since the advent of both the digital camera and blogging - photographers have definitely taken a step up with getting their work out there to the general public. Kudos to you all using both mediums.

Last week was a really...really long week. Work was as hectic as ever, most if not all of the organizations I volunteer for had some type of event, and to top it all off, I was planning 2 mini vacations away (one which happened this weekend!)

But a new week is soon here and I am ready...bring it on!

PS. Yup, this was pretty much me this weekend (pic below)...except that I was in 1st life, was wearing sweatpants and runners and in the woods, not in a beach.

PSS. Lots of marketing learning on the weekend, will post about them soontime.

Tomorrow, HRW Toronto Network will be hosting the DARFUR CAN'T WAIT event at the Spoke Club.

As one of the only marketers on the committee, I took it upon myself to use free online tools like facebook, upcoming, my blog and registration tool, eventbrite to promote the event.

It was seriously brilliant. Although we were a bit late going live - we are officially sold out. We have 4 great sponsors on board and 103 attendees. whoo-hoo!

Of course, the pre-success of this event was not only due to the social and web tools we used...but I can for sure say, they certainly did help.

PS. Google docs is a dream come true for sharing files when FTP servers are not at our disposal. ;) ...free too!