Information Architecture, User Experience, Leadership, and interesting light reads

Want to Take your IA skills to the next level.Visit the MET

Have spent 2 hours online at the MET.What better example of the scent of information, exploratory information architecture and emotional stimuli. A must see for the masters and the students.

Am overjoyed: Yahoo is Free

Finally. Am not anti- anti-anything but it is absolutely imperative that the google, yahoo, and Microsoft's of the world co-exist. It is a must for our future that diverse thoughts, diverse models, different philosophies exit. cause there is no greater evil than the absolute Power. To quote one of my favorite. Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Now Mr Yang, celebrate, and go focus more on china. Please.

A must read interview for the Students of " The History of IA"

http://since1968.com/article/16/louis-rosenfeld--peter-morville-interview
If you are even remotely interested in the History, the Future, and the third wave of information Architecture, please read this again, and again and again.

Why Now? 6 years late? It is relvant. history is not about time. it is about what you can do in the future.

Brand "you", the mask always slips off.

"Eye of the Tiger"

My Favorite song. Was a time when I heard it 100 times a day. And ran, and did pushups with my cousin, did imaginary boxing moves in 42 degrees heat. Wow. Have started hearing it again.
In my opinion, there has never been a more inspiring piece of music than this in the history of music, Yup more than O Fortuna for Carmina Burrana, and Bethoven's symphonies. Why did I miss the philly steps and not do the run up there, when I was in US? I do not know. But what I know is that there is no regret, only a fierce determination to do it and soon. In the meantime, 350 steps in a nearby locale will do. Sushmita, you have lost the bet and will have to send me the nike' soon:-)
Live. Don't exist

cheers
masood

Increasing Online Advertising share in the Indian market

India is languishing behind in the Internet advertising space. There is enough money to be made but people are not able to convince the decision makers. We limit ourselves to hits which is a useless number or segmentation which is a bad word, or has been made by our marketing jockeys. Well, " Dr" Masood has the magic Potion:-)

Well here is the deal. Over the next one week, I will write one post in 2 days about this topic. If you have any requests let me know

( These posts are based on the research for my upcoming book " The synergy between online Marketing, User Experience, and Web Analytics... or in plain speak..make money on the web. Which BTW has stuff from the some of the most exciting professionals in the world. With a geographic spread one would kill to achieve)

Updated my Art Blog

Please have a look at my latest paintings at www.artinthemake.blogspot.com

The ShakeChilly team of Kazim, Venkat, and Ranga organised a six-a-side cricket tournament at the MCHground in Hyderabad on 13 April 2008 as part of the nation-wide launch plan of the portal. It was an unusual scene for the regular onlookers of proceedings at the MCH ground as there was a lot of colour and intensity this time. A total of 8 teams participated in the tournament and all 8 teams were given ShakeChilly T-shirts of different colours to wear. The winner of the tournament was awarded a cash prize and there were consolation prizes for the runner up
The response to the tournament was so good that Masood Nasser, the ShakeChilly founder, promised to make it a monthly feature. No sooner did he say that, enthusiasts began coming up with suggestions for improvement.

One of the more important suggestions was to increase the number of players per team as that would make the matches more interesting. Masood showed appreciation for the suggestions but he must have surely considered that more players per team mean longer matches and a tournament that could stretch over a couple of days. However, ShakeChilly being what it is, a portal for the man on the street, as well as the suits in Manhattan, a longer event will be a winner.
The fitness-crazy Masood himself took part in the game in between shuttling to and fro from his painting exhibition, causing some spectacular saves and horrible misses as a keeper. The occasion was also made special by the participation of Mr hari, a very well respected name in Hyderabad cricket. A man who guided V.V.S laxman in his formative years. Venkat’s knock was the highlight of the tournament, a spectacular 42 in a failing cause that was a treat to watch.

If the idea of taking ShakeChilly to the grassroots was the intention then there is no doubt that this cricket tournament delivered the goods. It is also a trendsetter in the sense that a decision has already been taken about making the ShakeChilly cricket tournament a monthly feature. In fact Kazim, Masood, Venkat, and Abdul are so impressed with the outcome of the tournament that they are considering organising other backyard game tournaments as well. Update: A Gilli danda tournament in Charminar and a Mixed team cricket tournament at the Gymkhana have already been initiated.
The primary objective of arousing curiosity about ShakeChilly has been achieved quite satisfactorily. Already there are questions like "what is ShakeChilly all about?" and "what is the meaning of ShakeChilly?" Masood’s answer to the first query is that ShakeChilly is a site that the man on the street can earn from, and the suit in Manhattan can identify with. To the second query his answer was, anybody who knew the meaning of Google and Yahoo would invariably know the meaning of ShakeChilly. There were approving smiles of understanding from the knowledgeable participants comprising a wide age spectrum. From the 50+ sportsman to the 14 plus enthusiast

Google has been good to me. Very very good. Two donuts for you:-)

Was checking google analytics. Type in "user experience leadership" in google. See what you get.:-)
Well, know at least 378 people who should be here before me in the "user experience leadership" results. Know do you know why google is good to me:-)
cheers
Masood

Ten Commandments for the brand "manager"

started at 6.01 am

Thou shall not scream. Screaming is for the needy
Thou shall proliferate and evangelize
Thou shall be a fanatical user of your product. If not, please leave and seek greener pastures
Thou shall be as truthful as they get
Thou shall let your kids know what they do. Whaaat. they do..? you are good buddy
...........

Well, this is enough for now

cheers
Masood

complete at 6.03 am

Ten Commandments

Customer Experience: A loyal customer snaps all ties

Customer experience is the deciding factor in a customer's decision to continue with a product or a service. Sadly, I have decided to discontinue my relationship with the bank that has served me over the last decade. Customer service is non existent, the user epxerience is archaic. What could I have done?

CEO's please spend time out of the office and in the hot-seats. You are losing too many customers.

I do not believe in taking names, the wise know:-)

The future of web businesses

The future of web businesses
Warning: nothing new for the wise

Marketing is dead. Long live marketing
Enough has been done and said about marketing campaigns and TV spots et al. Money, and tons of it is being spent in the wrong direction. We do not need to entice or woo users, or attract. That is so 2002. We need to go where they are. They are on Google, face book, my space,
and tons of other sites. Why are we creating barriers to entry? Why not go where they already are? Why spend money on advertising when we can do something for the community. plant trees, save the girl child?

Products are dead. Long live Products
It is very simple actually. The focus should be on your products. They should be designed by your customers. CEO's ,Designers, marketeers, get out of office. Play, live, and let the thoughts flow. And do not design products, read Adaptive path, please

Social networking is dead. long live social networking
Why compete. Competition is for the needy. Collaboration is for the wise. Think about it. The who's who of the social networking world collaborate.

Watch this space for a detailed paper on the The future of web businesses

The angel and the Prince. Have just got back from a highly satisfying game of cricket. Immensly enjoyable. Play, run, enjoy, live:-)

cheers

Why does one blog

The reasons that I blog are unlike the reason many do it for ( there..:-my english professor is already angry:-))

Clarity
overcoming inertia
get going
letting a 100 flowers bloom (read art of the start by guy Kawasiki)

So, when are you starting?

Cheers

How Linkedin is changing the world

How Linkedin is changing the world

Once upon a time in the not too distant past when monsters were rampant, dices rolled, jobs were ahead and naukris were scarce, the world was a very different place.
this was a world were the seeker hid his work from the wise ones. The seekers were so afraid that it actually became difficult to get the right wisdom.
paranoia ruled and secrecy made tons of gold.
Then came the knight in shining armor, sir linked; upon the steed he came and then a Kawasaki. All hell broke lose. The council gathered, discussed, and then it was decided that
sir transparency is the order of the day. Well, they are working on it:-)
The person to give the best comment will get a painting from me, which is something that will give you immense joy and add to your networth (albeit in a small wayfor now)
cheers
Masood