A clearinghouse of information about personalization and the Web
10/2/2000
If you think you know what "personalization" means on the Web, but you're not really sure, you aren't alone. Marketers are still debating and fine-tuning the concept amid a tense intersection of privacy concerns, technological capabilities and e-commerce expectations. Personalization.com has placed itself in the middle of the conversation, "sorting out terminology and definitions, trying to home in on some basic boundaries of the subject as we—and we hope as you—see it." The site, sponsored by Net Perceptions, Inc. and edited by Cluetrain Manifesto coauthor Christopher Locke, provides in-depth exploration and ongoing discussion of the topic, divided into four main sections. "The Basics" includes a useful FAQ and glossary. "Soapbox" offers columns from the editors, guest contributions, and links to personalization articles elsewhere on the Web. "Resources" provides listings of relevant vendors, associations, analysts, events, and books. The "Forum" is an online discussion area. (Anyone can browse the discussions, but you'll have to register to participate.) Overall, it's an excellent source of information about personalization and the Web.