Thursday, March 20, 2008

from facebook to linkedin

Just as fluctuating shares in one company affect the entire industry sector, so it is with the internet. The success of Facebook now looks like a shooting star compared to the slow steady burn of linkedin. Whilst Facebook was for fun ,and advertising driven; linkedin is for business and charges for heavy use.

The main benefit of Facebook's success for linkedin is the proof of attractiveness of social networks, and the increase of users who have broken through the fear of trust barrier. I can see a future where email's blocked unless it comes from a trusted source (just like phonecalls are now) and linkedin provides a viable form of spam police. Where you are available to people because someone you trust introduces you.

Apparently Bill Gates has deleted his Facebook entry and joined Linkedin, what else do you need to know...

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Top 10 ways to make a licensing deal go with a zing

1) Get everyone behind the licensing strategy - from the top to the bottom
2) Give the product an enormous PR and marketing launch
3) Support the product all the way into retail
4) Feature the product on all branded marketing
5) make the product look the same as the branded product
6) make sure the legals don't get in the way of renewals
7) incentivize success, don't punish it
8) celebrate success
9) be generous, not mean spirited
10) deliver on the brand promise