Tutor2u - e-Business Blog

The End of the major record labels: nearer than we thought?

There were several blogs in 2007 following the problems in the record industry. A look back over the year shows their decline to be deeper and swifter than even the pessimists imagined. Reasons for this and relevant links are posted here.

Got any spare discount e-mail vouchers? Threshers? Gap? Littlewoods?

Christmas comes but once a year, but this story is becoming something of a recent Christmas ‘tradition’. Firms are bracing themselves for the impact of all the discount vouchers swirling round the internet.

Tired of playing Championship Manager? Why not become an owner/manager yourself?

In a surprising twist, a fans' community website, MyFootballClub, has agreed a deal to take over the Blue Square Premier League team Ebbsfleet United.

Beginners guide to eCommerce

A brief history of the development of ecommerce.

Microsoft buys a stake in Facebook

Microsoft has paid $240m for a 1.6% share in Facebook that values the popular social networking site at $15bn. Facebook spurned an offer from Microsoft's rival Google, which was also keen to invest the site, and a $1bn takeover offer from Yahoo last year.

Stop checking your emails and do some real work!

How often have you caught yourself saying that? It’s an irony that computers are enormously powerful tools for boosting productivity … but have such huge potential for time wasting. Firms increasingly recognize this and are hunting for solutions.

How much would you pay for your Radiohead CD?

The last in a recent series of blogs (links included) that has looked at the changes sweeping the music business.

Are free music CDs hurting the record industry?

A strange paradox: why is the record industry dying as the music industry itself thrives?

Facebook Phoney?

Are people 'cheating' by hiring staff to update their entries on social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace?

Changing rules for the disposal of e-waste

Legislation that was supposed to be operational by August 2005 but has been delayed by "major difficulties" now comes into force.

Business is booming in the 'virtual' economies of MMORPGs

Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Games (MMORGs) are spawning new forms of business activity - and possible clues about the economy of tomorrow

Natural energy sources and latest satellite technology are helping Namibia's remote areas get connected.

Much of Namibia's sparse population lives outside the reach of electricity and telephone lines - or mobile signals. Satellite and solar power are providing an answer.

Wi-Fi in schools - should we be bothered?

BBC's Panorama draws attention to the possible risks in Wi-Fi networks in schools

Young women and the internet marketplace

Surprise findings from a survey that reveals the dominant online group in the UK are 18-34 year old women. This has significant marketing implications...

Viral marketing helps Levi to launch reggae reggae sauce

Put some music in your food for me! Levi Roots (his mother calls him Keith!) is enjoying the sweet taste of success as his home-made jerk barbeque sauce “Reggae Reggae Sauce” has been introduced to hundreds of Sainsbury’s stores around the country. Viral marketing will help him fly off the shelves.

Promoting a website for next to nothing

A new eBusiness site can be promoted for next to nothing through use of forums, blogs and directories.

Digital Rights Management controversy

Digital Rights Management (DRM) is intended to protect copyright owners, but systems are flawed, lack consistency and user-friendliness, says BBC's 'Click'

A good night's sleep online

The correct packaging and delivery has helped a Norfolk-based mattress firm spread the benefits of a good night's sleep - over the Internet!

SMEs missing eBusiness opportunities due to lack of technical expertise

SMEs in the East of England are missing out on the Internet revolution due to a lck of technical expertise.

Web businesses a double edged sword in rural Wales

Web businesses may bring prosperity to rural Wales, but big firms are less likely to re-invest locally

Under 30,Online & World-Beating

Case Study of 5 U.K. young entrepreneurs

Using mobile phones to send money home

Mobile phone operators and banks are backing a scheme to allow those who work abroad to use their phones to send money home.

Ecommerce plan to help African honey farmers

US High School students gain entrepreneurship skills whilst helping African farmers to get ecommerce underway.

Nintendo proves the value of the long tail!

The Nintendo share price makes for pretty spectacular viewing in the early weeks of the New Year! This week Nintendo announced record profits on the back of sensational sales of the new Wii games console. But their success is also testimony to the power of the long tail!

Cybersquatters and the Beckham 'brand'

Cybersquatters have already registered speculative domain names based on Beckham's move to the USA

Firms offered help to make greener use of computers

Computacenter offers a new service to help firms with greener use of computer equipment

Digital Music sales double

Global digital music sales have almost doubled to around $2bn (£1bn) in 2006, according to an industry report

Australian Open Tennis in new, parallel universe

IBM collaborates to produce 3D virtual model of Australian Open tennis

Eurostat survey on use of e-Business by European firms

European companies appear to be more and more ready to do e-business, according to latest figures from Eurostat

Downloads to transform UK singles chart

In the UK, music downloads are now appearing in the singles charts, with oldies and album tracks expected to feature alongside recent releases.

Hamleys website hiccup gives shoppers an early christmas bonus

Hamleys website error gave up to 60% discount to on-line sales

Successful retailers are those that integrate on-line sales

In the run up to Christmas, many retailers are reporting sales down, but those that have embraced on-line shopping successfully, are doing well.

Online voucher scheme gives Threshers a hangover

Threshers online voucher scheme has been too popular. Or is it a clever and very successful viral marketing scheme?

EU rules against duty free-for-all

EU Court rules against alcohol and tobacco e-commerce as duty free purchases must be brought home in person

Electronic communications just adding to the 'noise'

Canadian study shows electronic communications is not replacing traditional methods, but adding to them, leading to information overload

EU ruling expected to allow UK consumers to save on duty

The EU is expected to announce that UK consumers will be able to buy online alcohol and tobacco from other member states and not pay any additional duty

New list of countries blocking citizens' Internet access

Press Freedom group, Reporters Without Borders has updated its blacklist of countries that oppose free Internet use.

The real business cost of online shopping

British businesses are paying the price of letting their employees do their shopping online - during work time!

Starter Activity - the Changing Face of Retailing

Use this excellent Sunday Times article as away of introducing key business concepts

Nearly half of UK still not online - and most have no intention of changing

Recent survey shows 44% of UK households still not online and 70% of them have no intention of changing.

Who's in front after 15 years of Internet growth?

There's a lot of hype about internet 2.0, except perhaps this internet boom isn't set to crash like the last one...

iPod - Happy 5th Birthday to You

A really interesting article on the BBC technology page today - might make the basis for a stimulating lesson on product life cycle (as well as other aspects of marketing).

The weird World of Warcraft - playing computer games for cash

A new industry is being born to cater for the needs of the inhabitants of virtual worlds

£21 billion spent on internet shopping

Office for National Statistics saw UK online consumer purchases rise by 30% during 2005

Will Chinese Rover be a roaring lion or will it go the wrong way?

Chinese Rover branding could mean "lion", "power", "honour", "prestige" - or could sound like 'wrong way'.

Google buys YouTube for $1.65 Billion

Google buys YouTube for $1.65 Billion with a view to using it as a platform for advertising and to offer new entertainment and content services.

Carphone Warehouse expands broadband horizons as costs escalate

As an update to an earlier blog story, Carphone Warehouse admits cost over-runs of £20m in TalkTalk venture but meanwhile wins auction for AOL UK

Big name retailers begin to spy on eBay

Theft of stock by employees of retail chains is being tracked using software that monitors online auction sites such as eBay

All I want for Christmas is a £50 note...

10% of Christmas presents are returned, sold or swapped. Is it now time to simply hand the cash over to your family and friends?

Royal Mail sells stamps online

Royal Mail sells on-line ‘stamps’ – with a barcode in place of the Queen’s head

Social networking leads the online growth spurt

Websites that encourage and facilitate social networking are the fastest-growing Internet brands in 2006 according to new research

Value Innovation - the strategic logic of high growth

Professors Renee Mauborgne and W Chan Kim of INSEAD show how firms can gain competitive advantage through an analysis of value

Web 2.0 - it's in your hands

Web 2.0 is all about websites being in the hands of users

Survey shows companies see eBusiness chiefly as a way to improve customer experience

Recent research by Comergent shows that companies see eCommerce not chiefly as a way of improving the scustomer experience, rather than just a way to cut costs.

Videojug shows you 'HOW' online

Videojug launches new website with video clips to show you how to do ... almost anything.

Talktalk Broadband fails to keep up with demand

Talktalk made the headlines with free broadband. Now it is in the news again because it can't meet demand. This shows the importance of managing capacity in a business.

Britain, a nation of hairdressers?

An explosion in the health and beauty sector sees a huge increase in the number of hairdressers and personal trainers. Meanwhile, eBusiness drives the need for warehouse and delivery staff to fulfil orders.

On-line bartering takes off in China

Inspired by the American who started with a paperclip and ended up with a house, Chinese individuals and businesses are using the Internet to barter goods and services.

The Rumpelstiltskin effect - choosing a password

How to choose an on-line password that can't be guessed.

Digital Killed the Radio Star

Online electrical retailer Dixons has announced that it will no longer sell analogue radios.

Online Shop Owners Strike Against eBay

Hundreds of eBay-based shop owners staged a one-day strike in protest at new pricing policies brought in by eBay and at changes which made their auction listings less visible to eBay's 15 million UK customers.

E-Business basics - the value of a network

This looks at Metcalfe's law which shows how the value of an e-business network increases dramatically as new users are added. Marketers reap the rewards if users stay loyal to the network.