How do you keep up?  Information overload.  How do people deal with the variety of information sources, and more specifically, what are the impacts on future marketing?  Chris asks an interesting question about what happens when the “long tail starts experiencing this problem and revolts by abandoning social networks in droves”.  What interests me in this arena is the change to how people purchase. The Cluetrain premise is that people will ignore broad marketing push, and instead, seek out solutions based on peoples and peer opinion, from inside and outside companies.  It has become broadly accepted, that tools such as … Continue reading How people buy things – valued advice from people with reputations

This story about the CNET editor, comes to a very sad conclusion.  After leaving his wide and two children with the car, where they were subsequently found alive, James Kim has been found dead presumably from the cold. Moral … always stay with the car/ camp/ together ….  but its hard to imagine how hard it was for him after 7 days, lost in the wilderness to leave his family behind.  Do you stay together or leave and try to get help? MERLIN, Oregon (CNN) — The body of a San Francisco man who had walked into the Oregon wilderness to summon help for his stranded family … Continue reading Lost dad found dead in wilderness – CNN.com

In what is turning out to be a remarkable story, the family of James Kim have been located on a back road in Oregon after being stuck in snow for 9 days. James remains missing, having set off on foot Saturday. The wife and two young daughters of missing CNET senior editor James Kim have been found alive and well after surviving more than a week stranded in the wilderness of southwest Oregon, authorities said Monday afternoon. Source: CNET editor’s wife, daughters found; search continues | CNET News.com Peter is a senior editor at CNET. Technorati tags: cnet, james+kim Continue reading CNET editor’s wife, daughters found; search continues

 HSBC have launched an innovative lending program in India to encourage inclusion for those who would previously have been ineligible.  Mumbai: HSBC India has announced the launch of HSBC Pragati Finance, a new loans product aimed at a largely untapped segment of customers, localising its product offering in line with its stated position as “The World’s Local Bank”. Through this new initiative, the bank will be offering finance to a large section of consumers who have hitherto had limited access to organised lending. Source: domain-B : Indian business : finance : HSBC India launches Pragati Finance The new service is … Continue reading HSBC India launches Pragati Finance – microcredit

This is a sad state of affairs tonight, for a CNET editor and his young family, apparently lost in the stormy west coast.  I hope they turn up safely in a snowdrift. At CNET, James Kim is a senior editor covering digital audio who also co-hosts a weekly video podcast for the Crave gadgets blog. He has been writing a book on Microsoft’s Zune MP3 player. Formerly, he was an on-air personality on the now-defunct cable television network TechTV. He and his wife own two stores in San Francisco–Doe, a clothing store in the city’s Lower Haight area, and the Church Street … Continue reading Aerial search under way for missing CNET editor | CNET News.com

 After I made the post on Lloyds yesterday, Martin, President of OneVu commented and a subsequent email conversation filled in the blanks.  This is a classic example of turning a potential issue into a positive experience. OneVu are obviously a company that are tuned into the environment in which they participate.  My criticism of Lloyds in the post stands, but I want to correct that I am highly impressed by OneVu, and their Bark customers would do well to follow their lead. Here is a quote from their site. OneVu provides electronic bill presentment to participating banks and billers from secure … Continue reading OneVu | A good example of how a company should operate

 You may find this article is useful for reference.  I happen to be a Google fan, and my internet experience is defined by Google: gmail Google Calendar Google Reader Google Maps Google Personalised home page Browser, phone or blackberry I might add this is by choice, having tried them all, and going back to make sure once in a while too.  I can get Google things on any device, easily quickly, personalised, and customised to work well in each device. My point is that whether you are a Google fan or not, they do a good job at defining the cross … Continue reading Google takes aim at a mobile future – ZDNet UK

Happy St Andrews day to Scottish / Scottish background, readers. Saint Andrew is the Patron Saint of Scotland, and St. Andrew’s Day is celebrated by Scots around the world on the 30th November. The flag of Scotland is the Cross of St. Andrew, and this is widely displayed as a symbol of national identity. Source: Scotland: St. Andrew   Technorati tags: scotland Continue reading November 30th | St. Andrews Day – Patron Saint of Scotland

These three headlines over the same US Thanksgiving period, have totally different views.  Its either really bad, slightly up, or way up – huh! Web sales down on Black Friday – Yahoo! News QUARTERLY RETAIL E-COMMERCE SALES – 3rd quarter sales are up Cyber Monday E-Commerce Spending Beats Forecast The three sources are respectively, Visa:  negative US Census:  conservative Comscore:  optimistic No point really, except don’t believe everything you read!    Technorati tags: ecommerce, statistics Continue reading Does anyone really know what is happening with eCommerce?