Blog Posts:
Categories:
This list will grow as new posts are added.
Category: Business
What Social Networking Needs
03/22/08
I learned a lot at the recent O’Reilly conference, “Graphing Social Patterns.” (You may have seen my coverage of the event at my other blog, and also on my Twitter page.) But the most interesting thing that was confirmed for me personally at this event was that, for social networking to really become successful from a business standpoint, it must somehow start to enable the one big missing element so far: commerce. Advertising is not going to cut it as a sole business model, a fact that’s becoming increasingly evident.
With clickthrough rates continuing to decline, ad spending hardly going up in the current economic environment, and the lack of ad relevancy getting talked about more and more (especially on social networks!), suddenly advertising is not seen as the panacea it once was. It would appear that commerce—selling real stuff—must be the next big thing.
Read More...
2008: The Year of Relationship Capital
12/26/07
It’s time for new year’s predictions, and I’ve decided I’m just going to offer up one big one. Here it is:
In 2008, people will widely acknowledge and accept the notion of “relationship capital.”
One way that will play out specifically, I predict, is that, this time next year, we’ll be talking about how social networking really got traction at work—in the enterprise, as well as continuing to gain adoption in many small businesses. I really believe that the tool of social networking will come to be seen as having its own form of currency—relationship capital—which can enable that tool to achieve real benefits, real ROI, in advancing business objectives.
So, yes, friends—“relationship capital” should definitely be on your buzzword watch list in 2008! And there’s a similar term I like as well: “social capital.” I was at an Ignite event in San Francisco a couple of months ago and heard an impassioned presentation by Tara Hunt that she called “Forget Venture Capital, Raise Social Capital!” I thought it was great—very fitting in its context for Web 2.0 startups, but even more so now, I think, in the broader business world as we move into 2008. The thing I like about Social Capital is this: the more you give it away, the more you get back in return.
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Recommended Reading:
The Art of the Start
The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything
by: Guy Kawasaki
What does it take to turn ideas into action? What are the elements of a perfect pitch? How do you win the war for talent? How do you establish a brand without bucks? Guy tackles these issues and more, for anyone starting or revitalizing any undertaking.
Juicing The Orange
by: Pat Fallon, Fred Seen
Creativity is everything, and these guys have proved it in spades. Fred told me they wrote the book like they were just talking with you at a cocktail party. Cool!
Endorsements:
A random sampling of testimonials from clients and colleagues (refresh page for more)...
"I've had the privilege of working with Graeme in multiple capacities ... Graeme seems to have a knack for winning at everything he endeavors ... great results, personable, high integrity. "
Paul Mayer
Senior Manager, Product Management
Symantec Corp.
"It was good to catch up. You were, as usual, a font of information and insight."
Eric Wieffering
Business Editor
Minneapolis Star-Tribune
Blogroll:
Blogs I read regularly (refresh page for more)...
Tech~Surf~Blog
by Graeme Thickins...Technology innovation -- it comes in waves...Graeme's *other* blog.
blog.pmarca.com
by Marc Andreessen...Thoughts from the Web pioneer and founder of social networking platform Ning.
Pronet Advertising
by Neil Patel et al...Personal experiences in online marketing.
SoftTech VC Blog
by Jeff Clavier...An active seed-stage investor in Web 2.0 ventures, Jeff has unique insight into the world of new media.
Micro Persuasion
by Steve Rubel...How technology is revolutionizing media and marketing....from an Edelman PR firm exec.
Groundswell
by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff...Winning In a World Transformed by Social Technologies -- a blog by two Forrrester Research analysts.
Linkroll:
Some tech / Internet / content sites I find useful in my work (refresh page for more)...

