New Venture Marketing

10 Best Intranets and the Importance of Metrics

I see that web site usability guru, Jakob Neilsen, just published his list of the "Ten Best Intranets of 2005" .  Among them, is Cisco which he says:  " is particularly remarkable because its sales-support intranet application was among the 2001 winners. This year, Cisco won for its overall intranet design.

Towards a New Communications Model (3)

The following post also appears on the IAOC blog site where it is part of a week long discussion lead by Elizabeth Albrycht, entitled "Towards a New Communications Model."  Let me know if you agree -- or have some other ideas.

When I first started to explore how the Internet and new communications technologies had impacted our own profession, I was really doing so with the idea of catching up with the industry. I had been too busy with clients to spend much time researching technology for my own business needs.  But the economic downturn in
Silicon Valley, gave me both the time and the opportunity to invest in my own knowledge base.  As I began to understand the true scope of the technological changes that came out of the dotcom boom (and bust), I was amazed.  I felt like the legendary Rip Van Winkle who after going to sleep one night, awoke 20 years later to find that his world had changed.  

Toward a New Communications Model (2)

This week under the leadership of blogging thought leader Elizabeth Albrycht, we will be discussing a new model for communications.   Elizabeth kicked off the week with a reflective exploration of "social practices within the framework of 'cooperation.'"  From her first piece:

... I open our discussion today with this statement, because I believe that "social practices" is what has historically been given short shrift in the world of technology -- and technology-based communications. We professional communicators adopt the latest-greatest tech tools (often rather slowly!) but we don't generally give much deep thought to what these tools mean to those we apply

New Free Series on Online Marketing

Duct Tape Marketing and John Jantsch, author of the one of the best small business marketing blogs, is sponsoring a series of what look to be great teleseminars on "Local Online Marketing - How to promote your local business on the Internet". He has lined up some first class speakers, and best of all of the teleseminars are free.  Sign up while there are still spaces available.

The seminars are as follows:
"The Basics of Business blogging and why every business should have a blog." February 9, 2005. (done)

"How to deliver your marketing message directly to your customer's computer desktop -- The basics of marketing with RSS." February 23

"How to use an online newsletter to generate leads and key your customers coming back for more."  March 10

Towards a New Communications Model (1)

There will be a blog next week, hosted by the International Association of Online Communicators (IAOC) and lead by Elizabeth Albrycht on New Models for Communications.  Several of us will be writing about new models and new possibilities in communications. I hope you will join us.

from Elizabeth's blog:

Towards a New Communications Model:

Over the past few years, many changes have confronted communications professionals due to the Internet, the web, mobility etc (basically all of the new networked communications tools).  Because of these new tools, a fundamental shift in the entire model of communications (including

Two Social Networking Events

There are two new social networking events taking place this week and next.  The first is Online Social Networking 2005 which is going on now and will run from February 9 - 23.  The online event is "for all those interested in working with social networking processes, tools, and media. In addition to attending many workshops, panels, and presentations by leading experts and practitioners, attendees will have the opportunity to be part of a community with a significant role in defining the future direction of online social networking."

I have been reviewing an excellent book, The Virtual Handshake: Opening Doors and Closing Deals Using Online Social Networks  written by two of the conference's guest speakers, by David Teten and Scott Allen.  The book will be