Whooah.biz

I am aware that it has been around for awhile, but like new developments it can take some time for it to catch on. I have just been spending time on Zopa. What struck me first as slightly hippy-ish, appears to have real community support and backing. In what is now approaching its second full year online. Zopa is a bank that is regulated by the Financial Services. It is a bank with a very different structure offering unique services in the market. Members of Zopa can borrow money from other members. You create an online profile which is checked with your real world credit history. Each person that lends or borrows money can choose from a number of options such as insurance in case the person falls sick, or loses his job.

As with most internet companies they run a blog, slightly unsual for a bank but this is no normal bank. On the blog they post job adverts and other related company and office information. The forums seem to be very well attended with people asking a whole range of questions related to the website and product. As one magazine report describe it.

“A new web-based phenomenon could end up giving the big banks a bloody nose as people look for better ways to borrow. The trend is known as social lending and nearly three-quarters of borrowers who responded to a survey by the Social Futures Observatory said they would consider borrowing or lending this way rather than with their high street bank.”

I confess I think this is quite innovative http://uk.zopa.com

I have a whole list of topics that I could write about today, corporate blogs, gloss, writing about what you already know, etc but I have decided to do something else. I am going to write about Istockphoto, which in some respects will cover all of the above. We have been using IStockphoto for over a year. Why? it is a cheap and easy way to do business. IStockphoto is an online photo community a bit like Work Connexions except it only focuses on photos. There are millions of images uploaded by amateurs, professionals, advertising agencies etc. You browse the categories until you find an image you like. Then you have the option to download from four categories each increasing in price as the quality increases. It is truly an example of brilliant e-commerce. The photographer gets payment for his work, IStock take a small percentage for providing the service and the customers get his\hers required artwork. If you are looking to do business in the digital online image world, then visit Istockphoto.