Hot on the heels of Gordon Brown answering peoples questions on YouTube comes news that the Number 10 web site is being re-designed around WordPress and will have video podcasts as well as RSS feeds and Twitter integrated. All part of the continued drive to communbicate direct with people. The fact that it will mean Number 10 does not have to rely on traditional media (considered hostile) to get his message across is a bonus I guess.

Lessons for business? A lot!

• Employee cascade communications - survey after survey highlights that employee communications from senior management is not working. If senior management had a communication platform like this would that still be the case?
• Marketing - with ever greater pressures on tight budgets cost effective 'narrowcasting' looks even more enticing
• Community - the interactive nature of the tools themselves builds relationships
• Surveys - used creatively interactive tools give you a real time idea of peoples attitudes to your products or services
• Beta platform/customer feedback -a step on from surveys. Why not follow the lead of others (Dell, Lego etc) and get active active engagement with customers of new products and services before launching them formally.