Reading List

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Naked Conversations by Robert Scoble and Shel Israel.

This is a fascinating book looking at examples of how blogging has helped to change businesses and the way they communicate with staff, customers and suppliers.

ccraven, posted 11 months ago

The Long Tail by Chris Anderson

A great analysis of how the internet has changed the economics of business and makes different economic models feasible.

ccraven, posted 11 months ago

Wikinomics - How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything by Don Tapscott and Anthony D. Williams. 

This book makes your hair stand up on the back of your neck if you have even the slightest interest in how the web and more specifically how collaboration across the web is changing and will continue to change the dynamics of the commercial environment. [STOP, BREATH - you see how much this book enthuses me] - NO DEBATE BUY IT, READ IT, LEARN FROM IT AND then call us...

ccraven, posted 11 months ago

Permission Based Email Marketing

This book by the master of the web, Seth Godin gives some great insights into how behaviours around email and the web works and how companies can get value from email marketing.

ccraven, posted 11 months ago

The Wisdom of Crowds - James Surowieki

How much do I owe to this book...eeerrr don't know the exact figure yet, how to tell you in my blog some years from now, but this book for me was were it all started.  Wikinomics was the text that galvernised the resolve but this was the book that got me into Trovus and the fact that I started the business with Caspar.

This is the book that you must read if:

1. You think that the internet is something more than a great information repository.
2. You think that the fact that every day more people are becoming connected to the internet is something truly amazing and presents you with an opportunity we have not seen since man invented the wheel.
3. You think that market mechanism are the purest expression of where to find collective value.

Take the book for what it is, an insightful thought piece with stories to support.  I know it is not true but I heard that some academic somewhere critised the book because it was intelliectually robust, but practically flawed due to the fact that there is nothing available to mankind that will facilitate the capturing of collective opinion without the influence of group think....umm except maybe the internet!

It is a great book - especially if you see yourself as a creative internet entrepreneur.

ccraven, posted 11 months ago

The Google Story

Brilliant for back-story on the elephant in the room - wherever you go on the internet, G is there...

Also, Avinash Kaushik's new book

He's brilliant. Suggestions from Will @ Distilled - ask Jon... Good work - I like your blog. Hopefully we'll catch up for a beer or a coffee soon.

 Thanks Will - Beer or a coffee would be great.  And you were right we are excited about Jon joining us...at least it bares out the principle recruit better than yourself.  Jon can sort out the first venue I guess...

chrisa, posted 10 months ago

The Tipping Point by Malcom Gladwell Very interesting analysis of how trends kick off via word of mouth and what makes a trend 'tip' over into a major phenomenon or fail to do so.

Jmell, posted 10 months ago

NEW SCIENTIST The technology section is becoming increasly web aware. If the recent theme on features such as Second Life and Wikipedia continue it will become a fantastic source of knoweledge.

echarvet, posted 9 months ago

Marketing to the Social Web - Larry Weber

This book is a must read for anyone who recognises at least one of the following statements.

1. 1. What is the point of the web to business?

2. 2. The web should be a fantastic marketing tool, but it is not helping me much yet.

3. 3. Secretly, I am curious about what all this fuss about communities is all about. I can still tell everyone they are a waste of time, but I really want to understand why others are so excited about it.

4. 4. I believe in the web as a marketing tool and I really want a community, but how do I go about it?

5.  5. Surely Caspar Craven can't be right all the time about the web.

If the book does not go to answering at least one of these statements, then you really should get your money back. For us, it is a focused summary of all that we believe to be true. And we are not about to argue too hard with Larry about his key observations. Remember he was around at the dawn of time...atleast when Sir Tim was thinking of how to promote the web, and he has focused his marketing effort on it ever since. A must read for any marketer who has a responsibilty that encompasses the web. That much be everyone right?

Edward Charvet (Registered as echarvet), posted 3 months ago

gentlemen, not a suggestion but a massive endorsement for larry Weber's book. i have had it for less than a week and it's compelling reading. i am recommending it to all my business coaching clients who are active on the Web. it's clear and understandable to Luddites like me. thanks for the shout! love ed percival

ed percival (Registered as ed percival), posted 3 months ago