"What's the beef?"

“Data!”

As for trends/areas that interest me right now: “Data makes the world go round!” Nothing new, but with the value placed on linkedin (recent IPO), more conversations surrounding the valuation of Facebook (an inevitable and imminent IPO) and Microsoft’s recent purchase of Skype (huge value placed on such a little revenue generator), just another bubble waiting to burst, or will data deliver huge returns? If so, when? How?

From a creative industry perspective, I’ve started to look at the impact the desire for “data” is having on innovation, new and creative approaches to attracting the right attention, engaging the audience, establishing loyalty (to keep data fresh) and ultimately converting sales and generating real financial value. Just a few ideas but “data”, as a theme, is pretty interesting.

In the meantime, read: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/markets/article-23962289-data-makes-the-world-go-round-for-marketers.do (link via @thebrandbuilder)

“Things are changing. Great ideas are not only coming top-down; they’re coming from interns, they’re coming from customers sharing their best ideas out of love for your brand (like Dell Idea Storm), from ethnography in third world countries. Innovation is about inspiration coming from continuously listening for the unexpected which can come at anytime from anywhere; nothing linear about that!”

Innovating Innovation: The Best Ideas Can Come From Anywhere