The Key to Web 2.0 - Building Relationships
Since the arrival of the term Web 2.
0 marketers (Internet or not) have been trying to capitalize on all the traffic going through web sites like MySpace and Facebook.
This scratching of the head just grows as the news reports things like people spend an average of thirty minutes a session on Facebook.
Serious stickiness in a fickle and flighty Internet.
Both MySpace and Facebook have recently opened their advertising to the masses but initial reports are less than stellar.
The same disappointment can be found with businesses that developed a social media profile in the hopes of massive traffic.
Sorry, but the final analysis is that with social media there are no shortcuts.
Web 2.
0 is about relationships and relationship building.
If a business desires to use Web 2.
0 for its marketing it must have a relationships already or be will to put the time into building them.
Continuing Relationships Online Web 2.
0 can be a very useful tool to continue relationships already developed offline.
If your business is personality driven like consulting or public speaking, then social media is probably already an extension of your marketing.
If a business is seriously dependent upon repeat business like insurance or dentistry, having a social media presence can give you a channel to stay connected with clients and customers.
Use blog sections to write articles pertinent to your industry.
Make it a point to write a personal comment for every friend at least monthly.
You can also gather friends from your current client base by making it campaign.
Next time someone is in the office see if they have a Facebook page or MySpace profile.
Connect with them if they do.
Acquiring Relationships Gathering new friends (AKA customers) via Web 2.
0 can be done but remember it will take time.
Finding them and letting them know you have something of value to offer, is more than getting their attention and them giving them the hard sell.
However, if you build a relationship first and slowly allow them to discover your offering, they can become some of your strongest advocates.
These are the people that can make your product or service go viral! First step is actually finding friends and each site has its own method.
MySpace you can simply request friends by looking another's profile.
To some extent this could be done with Facebook, but a stronger method with Facebook is to get active in groups.
Group activity allows you to show that your common interest in a topic with others of a like mind.
Once you acquire a few friends the next step is to start communicating.
Unlike email, leaving a comment or writing on a wall allows you to leave a one-way communication.
The receiver does not feel obligated to respond but they do know you were thinking of them.
Therefore, it is important to leave a personal, individual message often.
Also, realize that personal means something you share in common and not your offering.
Say you and a new friend have a common interest in Sci-Fi films.
You just saw the latest Sci-Fi flick, leave note of a thumbs up or down.
This will in the long run help you sell more widgets than every comment you make be about your offering.
Not Using Web 2.
0 Not every business needs to use Web 2.
0 to build their business and that is OK.
The time involved may not pay off as much as other marketing endeavors.
No one form of marketing suits every business, and neither does social media.
That is why an honest evaluation Web 2.
0 needs to happen before wasting time and energy with something that may not ultimately payoff.
Indeed, there is a lot of hype with Web 2.
0 and whatever is the latest social networking hype (recently a lot of Twitter buzz).
But regardless of the amount or intensity of hype it does not necessarily mean you are missing out.
0 marketers (Internet or not) have been trying to capitalize on all the traffic going through web sites like MySpace and Facebook.
This scratching of the head just grows as the news reports things like people spend an average of thirty minutes a session on Facebook.
Serious stickiness in a fickle and flighty Internet.
Both MySpace and Facebook have recently opened their advertising to the masses but initial reports are less than stellar.
The same disappointment can be found with businesses that developed a social media profile in the hopes of massive traffic.
Sorry, but the final analysis is that with social media there are no shortcuts.
Web 2.
0 is about relationships and relationship building.
If a business desires to use Web 2.
0 for its marketing it must have a relationships already or be will to put the time into building them.
Continuing Relationships Online Web 2.
0 can be a very useful tool to continue relationships already developed offline.
If your business is personality driven like consulting or public speaking, then social media is probably already an extension of your marketing.
If a business is seriously dependent upon repeat business like insurance or dentistry, having a social media presence can give you a channel to stay connected with clients and customers.
Use blog sections to write articles pertinent to your industry.
Make it a point to write a personal comment for every friend at least monthly.
You can also gather friends from your current client base by making it campaign.
Next time someone is in the office see if they have a Facebook page or MySpace profile.
Connect with them if they do.
Acquiring Relationships Gathering new friends (AKA customers) via Web 2.
0 can be done but remember it will take time.
Finding them and letting them know you have something of value to offer, is more than getting their attention and them giving them the hard sell.
However, if you build a relationship first and slowly allow them to discover your offering, they can become some of your strongest advocates.
These are the people that can make your product or service go viral! First step is actually finding friends and each site has its own method.
MySpace you can simply request friends by looking another's profile.
To some extent this could be done with Facebook, but a stronger method with Facebook is to get active in groups.
Group activity allows you to show that your common interest in a topic with others of a like mind.
Once you acquire a few friends the next step is to start communicating.
Unlike email, leaving a comment or writing on a wall allows you to leave a one-way communication.
The receiver does not feel obligated to respond but they do know you were thinking of them.
Therefore, it is important to leave a personal, individual message often.
Also, realize that personal means something you share in common and not your offering.
Say you and a new friend have a common interest in Sci-Fi films.
You just saw the latest Sci-Fi flick, leave note of a thumbs up or down.
This will in the long run help you sell more widgets than every comment you make be about your offering.
Not Using Web 2.
0 Not every business needs to use Web 2.
0 to build their business and that is OK.
The time involved may not pay off as much as other marketing endeavors.
No one form of marketing suits every business, and neither does social media.
That is why an honest evaluation Web 2.
0 needs to happen before wasting time and energy with something that may not ultimately payoff.
Indeed, there is a lot of hype with Web 2.
0 and whatever is the latest social networking hype (recently a lot of Twitter buzz).
But regardless of the amount or intensity of hype it does not necessarily mean you are missing out.
