Public perception (and prediction) can be that little extra that helps you get a competitive edge in the market. However, few forums exist where you can hang your theories out there and let the people weigh in.

Consider using Hubdub as a tool for marketing insights. Hubdub is a mashup between a news aggregator and fantasy sports league- users discover or suggest news stories, post a question, then let the community predict the outcome by wagering a bet (Hubdub dollars, that is). Questions can be about any news topic you choose, provided the question is objective and likely to be settled through the natural course of events (e.g Who will win the next U.S. Presidential Election?).

Hubdub categories include Sports, Politics, Entertainment, Business, Technology, and so on. A casual glance at the Technology category displays questions regarding the launch of Google TV, Facebook’s IPO, and best blogger on Playboy’s website. You can browse the most discussed topics in the Hot Tags section or post your own question to the community and let the bets begin. HubDub is a prediction market - basically, the current “price” of an outcome is determined by the number of people selecting the outcome and the amount the have wagered on it. Although Hubdub administrators call the end of the bet, a question is often settled by public knowledge or the actual course of events.

Hubdub is not an absolute, but it is a great tool for measuring public sway. So whether you’re sourcing competitive intel, monitoring market trends, or just want to make a wager, this site is worth a look.