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PikePoints Trump Star Ratings

Need An Opinion? ... How would you answer these recent questions sent to PikeNet? ... "Do you have any experience with any of the 'Big Five' real estate/property management consulting practices? Our company is looking to develop a high level strategic business plan and related technology strategy." ... "What do you find is the best source for retail NNN leased investments?" ... "Our company is looking to purchase new software in the next few months, and we're looking for some recommendations from other real estate professionals. We find it best to hear from users about what works." ... Hey, wait. I'll give you a chance to express your opinion directly.

Soon you'll have the ability to post PikePoints -- comments and opinions -- on any product or service with a link in the PikeNet Directory. As David Siegel writes in his new book, "Futurize Your Enterprise," "Although it sounds counterintuitive, your customers often want to interact and help each other." ... That's exactly what I believe about you, dear reader -- that you'd like your collective experience and knowledge to benefit other PikeNet visitors. ... My terrific web designers, Synapta in Palo Alto, are working on this new feature, and we anticipate implementing it in February 2000.

Before the end of this year, I will delete the PikeNet star ratings (which have always been web site ratings, not company ratings!). When I launched PikeNet in March 1996, I rated sites in all categories using a 5-star system (criteria: design, brochure, access, research and portfolio). Given the speed of Internet changes, maintenance of these ratings became difficult. So I gradually reduced the rated categories to just a few. Also, with the rise of intranet and extranet connectivity (private networks), these Internet ratings have become less relevant. What really matters is your ability to work with colleagues and clients interactively via the web.

PIKENET 2000. ... I've posted more details this week, including hotel and airline discounts. It sounds almost too good to be true, but if you fly United Airlines, you can get cheap midweek fares. The conference registration form should be up by December 1 for the early-bird rate. ... PikeNet 2000, Apr 5-7, 2000, in San Francisco. Click the link at the top of the home page or www.pikenet.com/pikenet2000. ... See the future first!

--Peter