Google, PageFlakes or ...

I love Shel Holtz. In IABC circles, he's the Techno-Communicator Master. He's the knowledge master of all things tech-related, and how that impacts corporate communications, PR and more. My latest posting about Google tools that advance my efforts as a PR company caught his attention. And he replied with really terrific insight. And of course, it's always practical. I love that.

Here's what he shared:

Thanks, Roy. An interesting piece.

For what it's worth...

iGoogle -- I use PageFlakes. It has a community of "flake" builders and the tabs work great. Others I know prefer NetVibes.

Google Reader -- I use FeedDemon in combination with NewsGator. I also use their Windows Mobile client on my cell phone. Synchronization is fantastic, and it has all the features of Google Reader along with the bells and whistles installed software adds. My link blog is derived from the items I share from my feeds.

Google Alerts -- I use 'em, but mainly I subscribe to RSS feeds for the same searches. Alerts get lost in my email overload, but the feeds for those client-based searches hit my reader and wait for me until the next time I check (usually twice a day, minimum). The same process works for Technorati searches that always reveal content Google doesn't.

Google Sites -- Used to be JotSpot, which I used, but now I'm using PBwiki for client content. It does everything Google Sites does. I started using PBwiki when JotSpot was acquired. It took Google a long time to re-release it as Sites.

Google Analytics -- I use it and love it, but also use StatCounter, which provides some functionality I don't get from Google.

All this stuff from Google is terrific, don't get me wrong, but it's all "me-too." There are better utilities out there for just about everything they offer -- except search, of course.

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A GREAT QUOTE FROM PETER DRUCKER: "Because the purpose of business is to create a customer, the business enterprise has two--and only two--basic functions: marketing and innovation.

"Marketing and innovation produce results; all the rest are costs. Marketing is the distinguishing, unique function of the business."