resources - it’s just brent

Oct 14, 2008comments (3)

Three links to make sense of the financial crisis

Not being a money guy whatsoever, I’ve had no idea what really is going on with the market lately. I just knew…it’s bad news. Here are some links that helped me demystify our current situation (originally posted on Open Source CU):

The Money Meltdown – A simple, clean site that breaks down “Everything you need to know about the global money crisis of 2007-?” Check the right side-bar for daily links.
This American Life: Another Frightening Show About the Economy – A superb explanation of “what happened…including what regulators could’ve done to prevent this financial crisis from happening in the first place.” (Thanks to Brandon Ferguson for the recommendation.)
Planet Money – Daily blog and/or podcast updates on from the hosts of the above episode of This American Life.

Do you have any to add?

Jan 30, 2008comments (0)

Four Free eBooks on Viral Marketing and Social Media

The Valley PR Blog posted a list yesterday of good free reading on new marketing. Enjoy:

The New Rules of Viral Marketing - David Meerman Scott (WebInk Now)
PR for Startups - Brian Solis (PR 2.0)
The Art & Science of Social Media and Community Relations - Brian Solis
Money for Nothing (And Your Clicks for Free) - Seth Godin

(See the original post at the Valley PR Blog’s “4 Useful PR & Marketing eBooks”)

Jan 29, 2008comments (2)

Hey Whipple, Squeeze This Again

I just learned that Luke Sullivan’s sassy and invaluable book on advertising, “Hey Whipple, Squeeze This,” has been re-released with added content.

This third addition covers all of the original material, but Sullivan has also added chapters for online, guerilla, and direct marketing.

I own a copy of the last edition, but I’m probably going to have to pick up this latest version.

Click here to order it on Amazon.

Sep 7, 2006comments (0)

Stats: People are skeptical, businesses should blog

Next week Trey and I are going to be traveling to Seattle, Washington to speak at the 2006 Washington Credit Union League Annual Convention. We’re going to be speaking on social media, credit unions, and how they need to hang out and hold hands.

While working on the talk, I came across some stats that are really indicative of the consumer culture we’re dealing with today, and why more companies need to be blogging.

Check them out after the jump.

From the WOMMA Research Blog:

76% of consumers don’t believe companies tell the truth in advertisements. (Yankelovich)
68% do trust information from “people like themselves.” (Edelmann Trust Barometer)
A brand is 1.5 times more likely to grow in equity when talked about. (BRANDZ)

From MediaPost:

39% of U.S. internet users, around 57 million Americans, actively read blogs. (PEW Internet and American Life Project)

From eMarketer:

Around two-thirds of all economic activity in the US is influenced by shared opinions about a product, brand or service. (McKinsey)

From Yahoo Finance

76% of companies surveyed have noticed an increase in media attention and/or website traffic as a result of their blog(s. (Cymfony)
75% reported that the initial goals of their blogs have been met. (Cymfony)

Apr 24, 2006comments (0)

The Design Encyclopedia

Well there was a wiki for just about everything else, and now thanks to design contemplators UnderConsideration, the design community can have one of its own. The Design Encyclopedia is an ever-growing collection of all things design, with topics ranging from the revolutionary icon Saul Bass to The visual evolution of the letter R.They say:

“The purpose of the design encyclopedia is to build a resource where anything and everything is explained through its design implications and background.”

I say this rocks and I’m probably going to spend way too much time at this site.

Registered users can join in on the collaboration by creating their own entries or adding to already-existing content.

The site has been around since September of 05, and in the past few months has made considerable leaps in content depth and variety. At present day it is quite the beast.

Also worth mentioning is Speak Up, an incredible design blog also created and maintained by UnderConsideration. Check it.