Looking Back at 2006

As often happens at this time of year, people reflect on the year past and the year future. It gives us all a reason to look backward and forward to put things into perspective for important, upcoming decisions. That’s why we would like to take this opportunity to point you to some important stories that help make sense of it all. We’ll cover 2006 today, and more on 2007 tomorrow.

Time magazine always does a great job of wrapping up the year and their latest issue doesn’t disappoint. You’ll find 25 top ten lists, that help summarize the news from every viewpoint.

E-commerce saw huge growth this last year. Web visits for holiday e-shopping in 2006 were up 43 percent according to Nielsen Net-Ratings (MarketingVox), and most predict all e-commerce will continue its rapid ascension next year. The E-Commerce Times has a helpful four-part series on business/e-commerce in 2006, and anybody looking to plan for future growth would do well to visit this series. Here are the links:
Part 1: Mapping the New Media Landscape
Part 2: Search Wars Raged, Did Anything Change?
Part 3: Corporate Governance Returns - With a Vengeance
Part 4: E-Commerce Continues to Come of Age

Media saw some profound changes as the Age of (still-powerful) Mass Media gave ground to the Age of Targeted, Interactive Media. It’s summarized well in 2006: The Year Mass Media Got a Clue by Bryan Eisenberg at ClickZ Experts.

As if we didn’t know it, DVDs have won out over VCRs, but now the battle begins anew with Blu-ray and HD-DVD. Free enterprise is wonderful, but it does sometimes create confusion and frustration for consumers.

And from Fast Company magazine here are Ten Creative Minds that helped change the business world in 2006.