New Media, there has been some discussion about this on the internet and it is clear that Newspapers, music, film, magazine are all changing. The changes that begun in the nineties are now coming to fruition. Media will never be the same again. Read Seth’s blog post here about what he predicted. http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2007/12/how-long-has-it.html . If you tie this in with mobile phones it is going to be a very different world. Maybe even more exciting than the Roman Empire.
Category Archives: development
Lending Money from the Internet Bank
I am aware that it has been around for awhile, but like new developments it can take some time for it to catch on. I have just been spending time on Zopa. What struck me first as slightly hippy-ish, appears to have real community support and backing. In what is now approaching its second full year online. Zopa is a bank that is regulated by the Financial Services. It is a bank with a very different structure offering unique services in the market. Members of Zopa can borrow money from other members. You create an online profile which is checked with your real world credit history. Each person that lends or borrows money can choose from a number of options such as insurance in case the person falls sick, or loses his job.
As with most internet companies they run a blog, slightly unsual for a bank but this is no normal bank. On the blog they post job adverts and other related company and office information. The forums seem to be very well attended with people asking a whole range of questions related to the website and product. As one magazine report describe it.
“A new web-based phenomenon could end up giving the big banks a bloody nose as people look for better ways to borrow. The trend is known as social lending and nearly three-quarters of borrowers who responded to a survey by the Social Futures Observatory said they would consider borrowing or lending this way rather than with their high street bank.”
I confess I think this is quite innovative http://uk.zopa.com
Number Crunching for the Business Plan
For example the recruitment market in the Isle of Man breaks down like this:
80,000 People living in the Isle of Man
41,000 Actively working
13 Recruitment companies
70 People employed in recruitment
– 10,000 Employed in local government – no recruitment allowed for Goverment.
310 People per each consultant working in recruitment
1820 + Jobs advertised locally in the press per year
26 Jobs per each consultant
Estimated success rate of placing candidates 10 %
What do these figures mean? Number crunching is always handy in order to calculate a market.
Doing Business, Who Has The Advantage
I have never been a great armchair sports fan, as I always enjoyed sport more being a player in the game. I can understand why so many people like watching sport, two teams, or players battling it out on the same course. What makes it exciting is that it is a fair match, as teams usually battle teams of similar level. For the spectator it must be thrilling as only one team can win, a fact of the game is that the playing field is level. A truly buoyant economy is an exciting economy where everyone can benefit. But it is important that monopolies official or unofficial are kept in check or are introduced to sufficient competition. This same philosophy is the basis of democratic society. Every person who is born into society by law has the same chance in life. When the playing field is sloping towards one side we have a problem.
If You Want A Different Result Then Try Something Different
“If you want a different result then do something different”
I am sure this is an age old motto. Unfortunately, I cannot recall where I first heard it. For example, if you are trying to launch a new product, recruit or increase sales, there are several ways to do this. They can be divided into two categories. Processes that you have tried, and those that you have not. Fundamentally doing what you have done before is not a guarantee for the same results the next time. It would appear that a new idea often has a certain sparkle. Quite often people ask me; why would I advertise in the Work Connexions magazine? What would be the result? If magazine publishers could answer this question, maybe our lives would be perfect. The best one can do, in my opinion, is due diligence and make sure that it does what its says on the packet. One tip, people read something because it is interesting.
If you find it interesting than you are halfway there.
What the kids are doing?
It is no secret that younger generations lead the way with new trends. But the question is, how much? I was amazed this week, when my son came home asking to install software for school which would enable him to do his homework,stay in touch with classmates and swap ideas( sounds a bit web 2.0). They use a software called First Class. As the website explains:
FirstClass Learning Platform http://www.intl.firstclass.com/
FirstClass is a learning platform for online learning communities, that enables personalised learning activities. It provides ‘Anytime, Anywhere’ access to the learning environment from the classroom, library and home, while it enables parents to become more involved in the educational development of their child.
I have no doubt that the current generation of school children are running rings around the a large part of the current workforce. Already my son has produced his own cartoon DVD, something that would have been impossible for anyone 10 years ago. How bright is the future? Well it depends on how we are able to integrate with this generation.
E-mail Signatures and stamps
Quite often I get asked where do I come from. It is one of those conversation starters. Especially nowadays, as we can do business with everyone in the world, or least have the potential to.
All too often I wonder where does this person live? We might know that they are based in America, but where? There over 50 states, each one at least 3 times bigger than the UK….. The outcome of such thoughts is that I have taken to adding a signature to the bottom of my email. Stating that we are a Manx company. A bit like James Brown really “say it loud I am black and I am proud”. Seriously I do have a slight nostalgia for post marks. I could always tell from the postmark if it was a letter from a loved one and more importantly where they were. On the other hand I am glad that we do not have to pay postage for each email that we send. I am averaging over 20 emails a day at current rates that would be £5.60 and quite a few trips to the post office.
Put a Post Mark on your email and say where you are sending it from……