Uncategorized13 Comments

Forrester’s take on ROI of blogs is flawed

Colin Henderson

 I have been resisting commenting on Charlene’s ROI of blogging because I sense a trend there that I fundamentally see as wrong.  I am becoming increasingly disappointed in the perspective from Forrester as it relates to blogs.  I say this having the greatest admiration for their research for 11 years.  But the drive to treat blogs as a channel, (my take on their view) is fundamentally wrong. Customer World published this extract from that report, and here are some thoughts to follow Forrester has released a research report.  The ROI Of Blogging: The Why and How Of External Blog Accountability. Source: Customer … Continue reading Forrester’s take on ROI of blogs is flawed

Innovation

Lessons from the architects of the web

Colin Henderson

 Fascinating insights captured by Shel in conversations with people associated with Tim Berners-Lee, the architect of the World Wide Web (www). For me, this was the big takeaway. It reinforced two points that keep coming up in everything I’m doing: There is no marketing force as powerful than the natural force of word of mouth. There is no corporate program that can does the shoes of credibility of the natural peer-to-peer enthusiasm that propels word of mouth to be fruitful and multiply. Vision is rarely the builder of great things. I’ve been working with entrepreneurs since 1979. Most fabled success … Continue reading Lessons from the architects of the web

AI2 Comments

Scotiabank tries a different branding approach

Colin Henderson

There has been a fair bit of discussion on Banks, and branding recently amongst a few of us.  Scotiabank in Canada is trying something that I think is quite new in the world, and certainly new in Canada.  First off they were offering a cell phone plan to their customers and that was about 9 months ago.  The plan was branded ScotiaBank. The other day I noticed the local Cineplex on Richmond St is now branded Scotiabank.  Apparently this is part of a larger play.  I saw that on the 23rd, and then on the w4th, out came this press … Continue reading Scotiabank tries a different branding approach

Uncategorized1 Comment

Wasted time

Colin Henderson

 In the Banks’ I worked at, the one thing that stuck out, and we all complained about was inefficiency and ineffectiveness.  Microsoft gave us the best and the worst with Office.  Its capabilities for the individual are beyond belief. But that same capability produces an enormous amount of detailed work.  That detailed work is not simply shareable, so everyone creates their own version.  JP sums it up … People spent incredible amounts of time producing the spreadsheets and presentations. People spent even more incredible amounts of time changing these things, arguing about what was in them, comparing the content with other … Continue reading Wasted time

Profitability

Jack Bauer – Do IRR’s Matter?

Colin Henderson

 What a brilliant quote to make business point amongst those who probably all follow Jack anyway.  The IRR argument vs Multiples accompanies the quote, by the way. I assure you that Jack Bauer does not worry about the IRR of his kills !!He’s only focused on the multiple. Source: Ask The VC – Do IRR’s Matter? Perhaps we are too lazy to try and figure this out, but after decades of effort, the only method that seems to work in the venture world is to target 10x on each early stage deal (3-5x on later stage plays).   Technorati tags: … Continue reading Jack Bauer – Do IRR’s Matter?

Innovation

The next (r)evolution – interactions

Colin Henderson

Differentiation is a tough nut to crack.  It was prior to Internet, and remains, even now that we are neck deep, in sorting out new business models and approaches with Internet.  This from McKinsey in January 2006.  I post it now having been reminded by the word “tacit” in this McKinsey Quarterly.  One of these days, I am sure McK will get around to RSS. The next revolution in interactions,” shows that the shift from transactional to tacit interactions requires companies to think differently about how to improve performance and about their technology investments. Moreover, the rise of tacit occupations opens up … Continue reading The next (r)evolution – interactions

Pinkomarketing9 Comments

The power of alternative marketing – Starbucks

Colin Henderson

 This chart speaks volumes when you look at the relative market share for Starbucks, then look at their ad spend. John Moore points out the reason, which bears out the promise of Tara’s marketing philosophy – pinkomarketing. It’s just one more reminder that Starbucks spends its advertising dollars on making better products and better customer experiences and not on making funnier television commercials.   Technorati tags: Starbucks, pinkomarketing, market+share, media+spend Continue reading The power of alternative marketing – Starbucks

Innovation

TaliyaNews : E-banking to be fully launched in Iran by March 20th

Colin Henderson

 Many things we take for granted online, are taking different routes in the Middle East.  This reasons are often driven by religion, but also by the nature of Government intervention. For me I await this eagerly, because the combination of innovation to ensure compliance with Sharia Law (Islam) and the learning from the West’s earlier efforts, can produce interesting innovation. January 21, 2007 6:43 AM Tehran, Jan 21, Taliya News  Secretary of Supreme IT Council said here Friday that most Iranian banks would offer electronic banking by (Iranian) year-end (March 20, 2007). According to ILNA, Abdol-Majid Riyazi added, “The required infrastructure … Continue reading TaliyaNews : E-banking to be fully launched in Iran by March 20th

Uncategorized

Web 8.0 – Gapingvoid

Colin Henderson

Hugh has a post here, that is quite hilarious and deep at the same time, in so many ways, that you just have to read it.  In a strange way and as an added bonus, it actually explains many of today’s misunderstood concepts, such as Long Tail, and Intention Economy. Believe it or not, back in the bad old days you actually had to make something, and then find a “buyer”, and “sell” it at a “profit”. No longer. Thanks to the “Long Tail”, paying customers now magically spring out of nowhere and give you money, even if you don’t have a … Continue reading Web 8.0 – Gapingvoid

Innovation

A Prize-based Savings account – more Credit Union innovation

Colin Henderson

This is a prize based savings account.  The work to develop it took place in conjunction with researchers at Harvard Business School and Filene Research Institute. While Centra Credit Union takes the prize as the first U.S. financial institution to put the Prize-based Savings idea to work, we believe many more will follow. See program details at http://www.insideindianabusiness.com. In addition, see the entire business plan posted in the i3 section. Source: Home : Filene Research Institute The encouragement to save more is the incentive to win prizes. Centra Credit Union’s program is called “Super Savings,” and is essentially a savings … Continue reading A Prize-based Savings account – more Credit Union innovation