Facebook f8 Keynote Summary

Facebook's F8 Conference keynote is another indication of things to come on the Social Web. 


In summary:

• Facebook has your present, and wants your past.
• The social web is moving from nouns (Like) to verbs (Read, Listened, Watched). And extends this from Communications & Games to Media & Lifestyle interests & activities via Apps. Adjectives next?

The fresh batch of new features can be lumped into three major categories:

• Profile changes: Users will have a "Timeline" page that reconfigures profiles into a scrapbook.
• Sharing changes: The network's sharing features will be deeper than ever, especially across ones media and lifestyle activities
• API changes: Applications won't have to constantly ask for permission to post content.

More details on Facebook's F8 at: https://www.facebook.com/f8

CRM - Fishing analogies & theories

When it comes to CRM there’s no dearth of theories but what’s with the analogies? And lots of fishing ones at that.

“Fish where the fish are.” OK.

"Let’s go ONLY after the big fish with LTV.” Yes, makes absolute sense on an XL.

A wise old CRM fisherman quips: “Son, everyone is after the big fish. Focus on the small ones with potential and farm them well.” Sage advice that.

And just when conflicting advice was hurting my gills, today, a CRM strategist compared CRM to, hold that guffaw, an aquarium. My interpretation of the analogies (in brackets):

• Running a CRM program is like maintaining an aquarium (Yes it’s delicate, agree)
• Introduce new fish to keep the energy going (read focused acquisitions) 
• Keep the fish moving (read planned activation, X sell, tier management etc…) 
• Create an environment for the fish to survive – moss, algae all included (read create deep bonds with the brand & program – emotional, structural & financial) 
• Make sure focus on the big fish, doesn’t kill the smaller ones or makes the big fish indifferent (read stop over promoting. Move them to a new pond (tier) if possible) 

Jokes aside, I think the CRM strategist was on to something, even if probably on something.

Combine that with the sage advice of the CRM fisherman and we have a recipe for success. Seafood allergy not guaranteed.

End of bad fish puns.

Google Buys Zagat

Google+ hasn't really taken off, yet, but is news of Google Buying Zagat an indication Google is taking the Expert route along with Peer recommendations?