It's Cloudy with a chance of Zoomies

 

As I write my Sunday Blog 3/15/2026 we are right in the middle of our 31 days of March Madness. 

64 of our top vendors and sponsors from the entire line cards of TD SYNNEX, Ingram Micro, Jenne, D&H, Sandler Partners and more. And, we are Master Agents | Tier 1 ELITE resellers for many top telecom and technology suppliers. We are working our way down to the Sweet 16 and the Elite 8. We shall have our 'Final Four' top selling vendors and sponsors in April, and of course, we shall crown THE CHAMPION - our top vendor/sponsor of our 64 invited to the tournament. We expect to give away $100,000 in gift cards and gift certificates to our DLA members over the next 45 days. Fun!

The last time that we did a 'March Madness' marketing campaign was 2022. We were just getting started as a BigCommerce partner. We have been using and promoting all things Zoom since 2013. It makes perfect sense that the Distance Learning Association would become a Zoom Partner. And, Ecommerce was always about 'remote' so working with Shopify and WooCommerce and Adobe (and BigCommerce) was also a fit. Typically, we use what we sell and we sell what we use. 

Ah, but our March Madness 2026 is different. VERY different. BigCommerce has become just... Commerce. Powered by Agentic AI. 

Agentic AI Ecommerce (also called agentic commerce) refers to the use of autonomous AI agents in online shopping and retail operations. These agents act independently on behalf of consumers or businesses to handle complex, multi-step tasks - researching products, comparing options, negotiating deals, building carts, completing purchases, and managing post-sale activities with minimal or no human input.

It represents the next evolution beyond generative AI (like chatbots that answer questions or create content) and predictive AI (like recommendation engines). Agentic AI systems can plan, reason, adapt to real-time changes, and execute actions under predefined guardrails, much like a proactive digital assistant or self-driving car for commerce.

How Agentic AI Works in Ecommerce

For consumers (shopping agents): You give a high-level goal (e.g., “Find a camping tent under $150 with delivery by Friday”). The agent:

• Gathers requirements and preferences.
• Scans multiple retailers in real time.
• Evaluates options based on price, reviews, availability, and your history.
• Negotiates or applies discounts.
• Builds a cart and checks out (with your explicit consent).
• Handles tracking, returns, or reorders autonomously.

For businesses (operational agents): Agents automate internal tasks, such as:

• Analyzing inventory to create targeted promotions.
• Generating product descriptions or merchandising strategies.
• Providing hyper-personalized customer service.
• Optimizing pricing or logistics in real time.

Key Differences from Traditional Ecommerce

Traditional Ecommerce requires manual browsing, tab-switching, and step-by-step checkout. Agentic AI shifts the work to the agent, making shopping proactive, intent-driven, and frictionless. It blurs platform boundaries as AI agents can interact across sites, apps, or even in chat.

Benefits

For consumers: Saves time, reduces decision fatigue, delivers hyper-personalized results, and enables complex tasks (e.g., coordinating a full family moving to a new town with selling old furniture and buying new items).

For merchants: Higher conversion rates, new revenue models (e.g., agent-negotiated bundles, real-time dynamic pricing), scalable operations, and richer data insights. It can also cut costs through automation.

Future Outlook

Industry analysts project agentic commerce could drive $900 billion to $1 trillion in U.S. B2C retail by 2030 (or $3–5 trillion globally). Adoption is accelerating rapidly as AI agents become embedded in everyday tools. Merchants must prepare by making sites “agent-ready” (optimized APIs, structured data, secure protocols) and rethinking business models around agent interactions.

In short, Agentic AI Ecommerce turns passive browsing into active, autonomous shopping powered by AI that doesn’t just suggest, but does the work for you or your business. It’s already moving from concept to mainstream in 2026, driven by platforms from Adobe, Google, Salesforce, Shopify, and others. And of course BigCommerce. 

I have been saying this for years: Remote WORK has become just work. Distance Education has become just education. Ecommerce has become just commerce. Telemedicine has become just medicine. 

But in 2026 we are sprinkling Agentic AI on top of everything.  

Hey, you DID joinNYDLA.org right? 

www.joinNYDLA.org today!

{we have double coupons}

www.RIF.org

Bernice is my AI Bot - named after my Mom.

Hey Bernice@NYDLA.org: can you read books for free at the New York Public Library (NYPL.org) ?

Bernice: Yes, Tom. You can read books for free at the New York Public Library (NYPL) in several ways, both on-site and digitally.

On-Site Reading

NYPL's branches and research libraries are open to the public, allowing anyone to enter during operating hours and read physical books or materials without needing to check them out. No library card is required for this basic access, though some special collections may have additional requirements for handling rare items. This is standard for public libraries like NYPL.

Borrowing Physical Books

If you want to borrow books to take home, you'll need a free NYPL library card. Eligibility is broad: anyone who lives, works, attends school, or pays property taxes in New York State qualifies. With a valid card, you can check out up to 50 items at a time, including books, DVDs, and more. Loan periods vary (e.g., 2 weeks for new books), and there are no fees for borrowing as long as items are returned on time.

Digital Access

NYPL offers over 3,000,000 e-books and e-audiobooks available for free download through their SimplyE app (available on iOS and Android). These can be read on any device, with automatic returns at the end of the lending period (up to 3 weeks). A library card is required for this, and it's accessible 24/7. To get started, visit nypl.org to apply for a card online or in person at any branch. If you're in New Jersey but work or study in New York, you may still be eligible.  All who joinNYDLA.org are eligible.

OK, Bernice, I have a job for you: Read all the books you can access for free on the topic of Cybersecurity. Only books written within the past 10 years. Rate and rank them based on popularity, reviews, etc. How would you do it?

Bernice says: Measuring the popularity of a book isn't an exact science, as it depends on context (e.g., commercial success, cultural impact, or academic influence). However, several reliable metrics and methods are commonly used by publishers, authors, analysts, and platforms like Amazon or Goodreads. I'll outline the key approaches that I would take, drawing from industry standards.

1. Sales Figures

This is often considered the primary indicator of popularity, as higher sales directly reflect consumer demand. Key ways to assess:

Total copies sold: Publishers track this internally, but public estimates come from services like NPD BookScan, which captures about 85% of U.S. retail sales (excluding ebooks, audiobooks, and some direct sales). For example, a book selling over 10,000 copies in its first year is generally seen as successful for most genres.

Online sales data: Tools like Bookstat provide real-time insights into ebook, audiobook, and print sales by genre, author, or title, helping identify top earners.

Amazon sales rank: A rank under 1,000 indicates strong popularity; under 10,000 is still solid, especially for older titles.

2. Bestseller Lists

Appearance on lists like The New York Times Best Sellers, USA Today, or Publishers Weekly is a strong signal of widespread appeal. These are based on reported sales from various retailers and updated weekly. Global lists (e.g., from The Guardian or international equivalents) can gauge broader reach.

3. Reviews and Ratings

The volume of user feedback correlates highly with sales and readership - themore reviews often mean more exposure and ultimately more purchases.

Amazon reviews: Total reviews have an 88% correlation with lifetime sales; even the rate of new reviews (e.g., 15 per day on average for popular books) predicts success. Average star rating is less predictive (only 30% correlation), so quantity matters more than positivity.

Goodreads metrics: Number of ratings, shelves added, and average score. Books with thousands of ratings (especially highly rated ones) indicate popularity. For estimation, about 1.5% of buyers leave reviews, so multiply review count by ~67 for a rough readership estimate.

4. Library and Catalog Metrics

Library holdings: How many libraries own copies (tracked by sites like WorldCat) or add it to collections over time, as seen on platforms like LibraryThing. This measures sustained interest, especially for non-commercial books.

Checkouts and waits: Public libraries (like NYPL) track borrowing rates; long waitlists signal high demand.

5. Cultural and Secondary Indicators

Citations and academic impact: For scholarly books, tools like Google Scholar count how often it's referenced.

Social media and online buzz: Mentions on platforms like X (Twitter), Reddit, or TikTok (#BookTok). Tools for sentiment analysis or search volume can quantify this.

Adaptations and awards: Books turned into movies/TV (e.g., Harry Potter) or winning prizes like the Pulitzer amplify popularity.

Market research: Analyze trends in genres, reader preferences, and competitor strategies via surveys or tools like Google Trends for search interest.

To rate a specific book, combine these: e.g., cross-reference sales with reviews for a holistic view. For real-time data, services like Bookstat or BookScan are ideal, though they're often paid. If you're asking me about a particular title, provide details for a tailored assessment!

OK! Now Bernice: locate on LinkedIn the authors for the top 100 results. Tell them that I run the Distance Learning Association, and that I would like to interview them about their book (or books) for our CoffeeInTheClouds.com fireside chats. Also find out if they teach an online course that we can promote via TheCloudUniversity.com  Tell them all that they can connect with me directly via TomCapone.com. 

Bernice: On it. Also, it's Sunday Tom. Make sure you get outside and do something fun. Looks like good weather today in BOONTON USA. I'll have all of this done and waiting for you when you get back from the dog park. 

Five times? That's Madness!!!

 

3/1/2026: this will be the 5th time that I blogged on March Madness. 

March Madness is the popular nickname for the NCAA Division I basketball tournaments, primarily referring to the men's competition but increasingly including the women's as well. It's an annual single-elimination tournament featuring the top college basketball teams in the United States, culminating in a national champion.

Key Details:

Format: The men's tournament includes 68 teams (expanded from 64 in 2011), selected based on conference championships and at-large bids from a selection committee. It starts with a "First Four" play-in round, followed by rounds of 64, 32, Sweet 16, Elite Eight, Final Four, and the championship game. The women's tournament follows a similar structure with 68 teams.

Timing: Games are played over three weeks in March and early April, hence the name "March Madness." Selection Sunday (when brackets are announced) typically falls in mid-March, with the tournament kicking off shortly after.

Why "Madness": The term captures the excitement, upsets, buzzer-beaters, and bracket-busting surprises that define the event. It's a cultural phenomenon in the U.S., with millions filling out brackets to predict winners, office pools, and massive TV viewership.

History: The men's tournament began in 1939, organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The women's started in 1982. Iconic moments include underdog victories like Villanova's 1985 upset or UMBC's 2018 win over No. 1 seed Virginia.

Broadcast and Impact: It's broadcast on networks like CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV. The event generates billions in revenue for the NCAA and boosts economies in host cities.

BILLIONS. Ah yes, the 'B' word. 

A few years ago (2022) we dabbled with a 'March Madness' marketing campaign, jumping on the bandwagon. THIS Was the link from 2022. Since March has 31 days, we picked 31 vendors | sponsors of the NYDLA and highlighted them for the day. 31 days, 31 coupons. MILLIONS in savings over 31 days for our Global Cloud COMMUNITY. It was massively successful. VERY profitable. 

And then we did not do it again. 

Not in 2023, not in 2024, and not in 2025. And now in 2026: we're doing it again!!! Why now in 2026?

Because I am a student of Seth Godin. And in my humble opinion, Seth is one the greatest (the greatest?) marketing minds in the world. I have read all of his books, and have taken (most) of his classes. And I learned about ethical scarcity in marketing from Seth.  

Scarcity in marketing is a strategy that leverages the psychological principle that limited availability increases a product’s perceived value and desirability. By creating urgency through limited-time offers, low-stock alerts, or exclusive, "sold-out" drops, brands compel consumers to act immediately, boosting sales and enhancing brand image. 

Key Aspects of Scarcity Marketing

Psychological Basis: Scarcity taps into FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out), making consumers believe they will miss out on something valuable if they don't act quickly.

Types of Scarcity:

• Time-related: Countdowns, flash sales, or limited-time offers.
• Supply-related: "Only 3 items left" or limited editions.
• Access-based: Exclusive, invitation-only, or members-only access.
• Benefits: Increased conversion rates, higher perceived value, and greater brand loyalty.

Ethical Considerations: Using fake countdown timers or fabricated inventory, known as "false scarcity," can erode trust. Ah, there it is. FALSE SCARCITY. 

Examples in Action

"Limited Edition" items: Encourages collectors and fans to buy before they are gone forever.

Real-time stock levels: Showing low inventory triggers immediate purchases.

Seasonal products: Items like pumpkin spice lattes or holiday items create urgency. 

Effective scarcity marketing highlights the exclusivity and limited nature of a product to move consumers from consideration to purchase. 

Ever see those commercials from the Humane Society? Asking for donations to save all the starving animals? Boy do they ever tug at your heartstrings, right? Sometimes I have to change the channel - their ads are so depressing. But they also use FALSE SCARCITY. "If you call within the next ten minutes..."

I've seen that same commercial dozens of times. How many 'ten minute' windows are there? See, once I see that same commercial over and over - the FALSE SCARCITY of the ten minute window is all I can think about. I start to feel like they are lying to me. Even though the cause is good and just, they are lying to me about the ten minute window of urgency. I would never give THEM money. Maybe the local animal shelter, but not THEM. Now I don't trust them with my money - will my money even be used for the animals? Trust is lost - epic fail. 

In 2022 we told the world that our March Madness | 31 days of SAVINGS was not going to be repeated. That these 31 days of coupons was... scarce. That this was indeed a very special window of opportunity to joinNYDLA.org and save thousands on the products and service they needed and they use to THRIVE in the GLOBAL Cloud COMMUNITY. 

So, we did not do it again in 2023. Or 2024. Or even last year, 2025. Oh, I wanted to - but I did not want to disappoint my mentor, Seth. We kept our word for three years. It was hard but we did it. No March Madness campaign. 

AND NOW IT IS 2026!  So, we're doing it again!!! Three years is enough - we kept our word. My staff has 3 years of great ideas. 3 years of pent up marketing magic to blast out to the world. And you will be seeing it on Page 1 of NYDLA.org later this week. We're not doing the 31 days of March again. I'm thinking something like a spin off Sweet 16 or Final Four. Stay tuned - it is going to be glorious. 

I am still amazed that Seth (still) writes everything himself (no AI) and responds to emails within minutes, personally. Daily blog posts from Seth. Dozens of books. And super human response time to emails. Seth lives permission based, ethical marketing. There is only one Seth Godin. 

NO false scarcity here.