Power to the people

Nice post from Seth Godin about how the concept of brand management is fundamentally changing in favour of tapping into, and facilitating, existing communities. It goes without saying that online has helped shape products and services around the needs of customers (search engines, auctions, fares aggregators etc), but this post touches upon how companies / brands needs to assess how they function within this environment and re-organise if they want to survive.

As a companion post, take a look at this beauty from Hyperhappen, discussing the growth in word of mouth marketing, and the importance of not just talking to people about your product, but getting them to talk to each other (and anyone who'll listen) about it. Apple have used it as the heart of their marketing strategy for years and it seems to be working.

Flowers and fruit....

More changes afoot in the music business, with the announcement of two new sources of free music from artists you've heard of. Firstly, Last FM have launched full tracks from their service, with music available for all the majors along with a fair chunk of the last few independents. You're limited to three plays of their streamed content before you're urged to cough up.

Secondly, a bit of up and down from QTrax, who announced this morning that they were launching a free peer to peer service offering free downloads of tracks, with revenue coming from advertising via their bespoke player. However, no sooner had they announced it, the site was immediately taken down as it transpired they hadnt actually agreed anything with anyone at this stage.

The dramatic shifts in the music industry are interesting, but ultimately nothing new. We've been watching (and listening) to paid for content for years now via TV and radio. I'll add some groundbreaking insight once I've made a cup of coffee and got some proper work done.

Calling all the heroes....

EA Games are launching a free online multiplayer game called Battlefield Heroes, a version of their popular Battlefield series, with revenues coming from in-game advertising and player micro payments.

Their free version of "FIFA" franchise is pulling $1m using a similar business model in Korea.

Bang, and the dirt is gone...

Need to read this later on.

Chattering classes

Great programme from the new series of "In Business", looking at how business is trying to come to terms with, and utilise, social networks. I'll write more in my lunch break.

Program and download here

Will take a look at this article from todays FT later on as well. Nothing startling new, as we've already seen moves afoot to bring standards and integration to social networks of all flavours.

You've got mail

This has been around for a while now but came up in conversation the other day. Want your mail but not around to physically receive it? Have it redirected to Earth Mail, who will take it into their secure area, scan the envelope for you and forward it onto you via the internet. If it's something you want, they'll open it up and scan the contents for you so you can view it online, wherever you are. If it's something you don't want they'll shred it and you need never have to think about it again.

Nice way to merge the physical and the digital, and has been used with serving troops in Iraq and Afghanistan so they dont have to wait for two weeks before they get letters from loved ones (or their mobile phone bill).

I had that Quantas in the back the other day...

Paid for banter from our favourite ambassadors of London, the venerable Hackney Cab driver. Heard about this on the radio this morning and then found an article about it here. Got something to sell? Get a cabbie to recommend it to their hapless passenger and sit back and wait for the phones to start ringing off the hook.

The Thai tourist board are trialling it, having sent Mr Torlini, a cabbie of 9 years standing, on an all expenses paid trip to experience the delights of Thailand. “It’s not all ping-pong shows you know” he quipped. I'm booking my flights as we speak.

If you fancy a bit of an insight to life behind the wheel, have a look at "All in a days work", the brilliant blog of a london cabby.

All your Face are belong to us...

Thanks Ben for posting up this....

Ace Face

Interesting stats for social networks being compiled by Jeremiah Owyang (he of Web Strategist). There are few centralised stats on usage, so he's offered to keep a monthly tally. Interesting post, though, from likeminded strategist Jay Moonah, who has a breakdown of Facebook across the worlds cities. Strangely enough, despite having a stronghold overall in the US, it's London that leads the field for the most number of Facebook users in a city. His post here.

On the subject of social networks, there's a myspace for Magicians. Irrelevant on a wet Thursday afternoon, but nice to know everyone has a place online.

"...well i used to love her, but it's all over now..."

A few articles I've picked up about the declining fortunes of the music business, and the changes they need to make to re-engineer their business model for future sustainability.

Here, here and here

I'll write a proper entry later.