BusinessWeek has published a special report on “an executive guide to social media” Its gives a concise overview on the latest social media trends and how they can be used in a corporate setting. Next to the overview it also gives a projection on how these social media tools will develop, how they will impact your business and what will be next on the horizon in the social sphere.
A popular tool amongst Googlers themselves is Google Insights. It’s a little-publicised tool Google launched last summer to analyse search terms over time and location. It lets you plot search terms against each other, figuring out who is searching what, when, and where. The tool is a must-see if you’re interested in marketing or advertising.
Southeast Asia is home to more than half a billion people, but the region’s economy is dominated by some 40 families, most of Chinese descent.
In New Asian Emperors, authors George Haley, Usha Haley, and Chin Tiong Tan highlight the business models and management practices of these family-run conglomerates, drawing lessons for Western multinationals.
To read a sample chapter from the book click here.
Despite continuing concerns about corruption, red tape, and political instability, it’s suffering far less from the financial crisis than other parts of the world. Some companies operating in the region continue to do well, as demand for everything from computers to discount airline tickets remains strong.
Southeast Asia’s strength is an encouraging sign that the region is still a player. Though it may have been half-forgotten by many investors since the crisis, its educated workers, natural resources, and—in some countries, at least—first-class infrastructure make it worth paying attention to. ASEAN has a total population of 560 million, and its combined gross domestic product of $1.3 trillion is greater than India’s.
Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Singapore—which account for about 95% of the region’s economy—attracted nearly $50 billion in foreign direct investment last year, vs. China’s $92 billion [source].
A snapshot of initiatives by European companies on how they capture and employ social media into their marketing and online activities can be found here.
Its positive to notice that companies adopt new technologies and web-service as an integral part of business to reach consumers in a more targeted way.
Whether you like it or not its interesting for sure. John Lennon used music. Martin Luther King, Jr. used moving oratory. German artist Jan Vormann, uses Lego blocks. As part of his Dispatchwork project to restore distressed architecture, Vormann imaginatively utilizes colorful Lego blocks to fill in cracks and fissures. Read more here.
Last year I already blogged here about the sneaker vending machine. Two companies in England have taken the concept of the shoes vending machine and found a niche market targeting female clubgoers with after part-shoes. After you have danced the night away on your heals you can get a pair of portable flats before you’re heading home. Read more here.
The World Bank has raised its forecast for growth in China this year from 6.5% to 7.2% amid signs that the economy is doing better than expected. Bank analysts say the government’s four trillion yuan ($585bn, £358bn) stimulus package has helped the economy. But it says the country’s exports are still down, as the rest of the world struggles with the global recession [Source BBC].
Leaders of Brazil, Russia, India and China, known collectively as the BRIC countries, will gather for their first official summit in Yekaterinburg, Russia, on Tuesday June 16th.
China and India have continued to grow reasonably quickly despite the global downturn, and although Brazil is in recession many expect it to recover soon. Of the four economies Russia, which is heavily dependent on oil exports, has been the worst affected.
The leaders may discuss long-term plans to find an alternative to the dollar as a global currency. Another possible topic for consideration is trade in commodities: China and India are heavy importers of many commodities such as oil; Russia and Brazil are big exporters of raw materials. [Source FT] [Source BBC]
Fast Company has made a list of the top ten creative people in architecture. Two Dutch architects made it in the top ten including two architects from the Asian continent respectively South-Korea and China. You can find the top 10 list here.
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