I’d say I’m reading Wikinomics, but the reality is I started it this morning on the train and decided it required way too much brain power for a Tuesday masquerading as Monday. Nevertheless, I like the idea behind the book and it’s dovetailing well with some of the work I’ve been doing lately:
- tracking social media/alternative exposure for CultureFest 2007. That’s been an interesting project because, unlike traditional media, there isn’t a standard list of places to check. Each time I do even a preliminary Google search I come up with venues I’ve never heard of – let alone having thought to check there.
- I can say some of the same for this semester’s consulting project with Hershey. While I can’t go into details, it too involves social media. At the outset of this project I realised how little I knew about social media. With regard to tourism and hospitality, TripAdvisor, Going.Com, WeJustGotBack, Facebook, MySpace, etc. are only the tip of the iceberg – to say nothing of the numerous blogs!
I’ve got my work cut out for me, but I’m really enjoying it. It’s also inspired me to get back into Wikipedia. While I’m not sure about the accuracy of Wikipedia in general, although the Nature article reproduced on Wikipedia sheds some light on the research that went into the study, I think it is a good starting point. I often turn to it when I have no idea where else to start on a topic and its citations can point me in the right direction – much like encyclopedias of my elementary and middle school days. A quick look at the YHA and backpacking articles showed me another fun project and reminded me of another project with good intentions. Memo to self: I don’t need another idea for a financial techniques/advanced projects idea. More on both of those later.
I do look forward to following the authors’ blog. More on the book itself when I have free time and a few non-fried brain cells.
