Mapping Consumer Data

If you’re intrigued with the thought of mapping out the networks that exist in consumer data, then we need to talk. I’m really into it, these days. I had the chance to speak with Valdis Krebs last week and was pretty fired up afterward.

One thing that he’s done that doesn’t seem to get much attention, according to him, is apply his social and organizational analysis tool, InFlow, to the mounds of consumer data that Amazon let’s people pull from them for free.

Nobody cares about this?

Seriously?

Sales Data vs. Any Other Kind of Data

I’m of the opinion that being able to mine search / status update data or find out what people are watching is pretty cool, and can provide some nice insights into the conversation. However, you won’t be able to convince me that there is any richer data source out there than the data associated with what people actually spend their money on…

Purchases are the ultimate behavior metric

So, number of, time, and location of individual purchases is all interesting. But really interesting about consumer sales data is what people also buy, when they buy something. Amazon gives this information away for free, mind you, and Valdis has done some great visualizations… yet according to him, his phone is not ringing off the hook from huge brands about this capability.

I’m baffled by that.

What Do You Think?

I would like this to be an open thread so fire away in the comments, please. I’m seriously curious as to why network analysis of consumer goods isn’t already a part of the business buzzword bingo lexicon. Do you just not understand it? Do you not think that it’s as big of a deal as I’m making it out to be? Do you just not care? Please let me know what you’re thinking on this, because I’m ready to convince people at work that we need to dive in head first.