a cloud rising

business clouds an idea for 2012

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Introduction Some time ago I ran across a notion put about by Behance, the portfolio site. The idea they put forward was the creative collective. The basics of the idea was to group together a whole series of creatives and so gain work which previously would not be available, to draw upon other areas of expertise where a particular piece of work needed such but unavailable to the particular creative, to be able to tender for wider areas of work, to collaborate and to aid each other in gaining work overall.

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The idea seemed particularly good. It gradually developed within me until the idea of the business cloud came to me. We have all run across such things as cloud hosting, video clouds and so on. The business cloud is a little different but the name cloud seemed appropriate.

A cloud rising a cloud is rising and the sun is out Business clouds

These are hard times for many businesses, particularly small businesses and new businesses. It may be useful for such businesses to find other means to get the message out and to gain new leads and new clients or customers. So, why not do some things in common and support each other where it is appropriate. Indeed, the business world is changing somewhat again, particularly with the rise of the mobile web and a whole raft of apps being used for business purposes.

The cloud idea All too often a piece of business comes across your desk, or just the chance of a new client, but what is required by the business, the possible new client or customer is beyond the capabilities, the capacity or the skill set available. Similarly, every business could benefit from increased promotion, marketing and advertising. And so, perhaps it would benefit a number of businesses to band together, particularly where their skill sets and areas of interest are complimentary. There could be a separate identity for the newly formed business cloud or it simply be an informal arrangement. The cloud could have a number of different core principles. It could be a cloud centred around a particular segment of the market. It could be somewhat general but based around a geographical area. Perhaps the core principle could be a different area of social segmentation. But then it could simply be centred around a core principle of friendship between the participating businesses.

Marketing The cloud could engage in mutually supportive marketing, promotion and advertising. Once again, the possibilities are numerous. The obvious options are: back links on each others sites mentions in each others paper advertising having each others traditional advertising available in business premises or carrying them with you Further options could include: collective e-books with suitable mentions and promotion of the services and products of each member, such e-books would be directed at particular areas of the market or could be quite general collective e-mail marketing campaigns collective or supportive social media campaigns using various channels a video channel dedicated to the cloud and its constituents presenting videos particular to each business, combined promotional pieces and more podcasts are another possibility as well as automated flash drive, cd or dvd promotional tools

The organisation of the cloud There are a number of possibilities for organising the cloud itself. It could be arranged around an informal network using phone and email. It could use networking meetings purely for its members or close allies and prospective members. Further, it could organise itself online through a form of forum, where information about possible contracts could be discussed, tenders made and changes within each member could be announced or discussed, similarly mutual support could be offered via discussion. Another possibility could be the use of a collaborative wiki embedded into a particular website. The possibilities go beyond all of these notions. The cloud could be internally organized in a number of ways. It could be as a whole, by a small group dedicated to such, by the key business, it could attract others via advertising, by invite only. Again there are many ways to do such. Costs and organization In the clouds I envisage creating there would be no cost implication except where there is a cost of upkeep of any tools employed in running the development of the cloud. For some it could become something like Bartercard where there is a cost implication. In the terms of a simple business cloud as I have imagined it cost would not be to the fore because it is rather more a support and marketing operation. It will very much depend upon the level of formality wanted. Some clouds could be quite rigid in organization in that there might be duties incumbent upon member businesses or traders: a cost implication for upkeep of any hub website or forum a cost implication for common advertising rules governing necessary common advertising, promotion and marketing, attachments to communications such as e-mails, or uploaded e-books and presentations necessary backlinks on websites required attendance of meetings required support of events, launches and the like.

Advantages to the cloud approach This sort of combined approach could be useful for many small businesses. It offers support, possible further marketing and promotion, potential new avenues for lead and client acquisition. Support is something not to be sniffed at in business circles. An old adage runs good ideas dont care who have them. Personally, I am looking at creating two particular business clouds: one would be a basic B2B service and support cloud dealing with marketing, business support, design, branding, web design, online matters and the like, this may be called Cumul _Us. the other would deal with the entertainment world, supporting artists, labels, venues, events, promoters and such areas of the market, this is to be called the entertaining toolbox. As a consequence I am currently looking around for other businesses or sole traders who might have an interest in such. Part of what I would bring to the above 2 business clouds would be: a regular video blog, a vlog, giving news and updates about the whole cloud and its constituent businesses and traders blog articles on anything significant within each and all general social media updates via my channels