Top 10 Tips for Using Web 2.0 to Promote Your Business
by Kevin Stirtz
We hear a lot about Web 2.0 these days. It sounds neat and it's trendy to
talk about blogging and social media. But does it really affect our businesses?
Is Web 2.0 just for kids and tech-hipsters or is it something we business owners
should use to help promote our businesses?
I can't tell you if Web 2.0 is right for your business but I can tell you it's
something to be aware of. Ignoring it means ignoring a possible tool that could
be valuable in helping you get more customers.
So, to help you get started in thinking about Web 2.0 for your business, here
are some things for you to consider.
1. Have a plan.
Don't dive in just because it's cool or because you read an article about
it. Be clear about what you're trying to accomplish, how much you're willing to
invest and what time frame you are working on. Like any aspect of your business
- plan ahead.
2. Make sure your target audience is online.
Web 2.0 tools are fun but useless if the people who see your stuff don't
want what you offer. Or if they don't look to the Web for information to help
them buy what you sell, then your efforts will be less effective. Like any
marketing channel, it only works if your prospective customers are there to see
(or hear) your message and they are receptive to it.
3. Create good content.
Web 2.0 is the social web but it's still content-driven. Lousy content leads
to lousy marketing, no matter how flashy it is. Make your content relevant,
interesting and real. Put yourself in your customer's shoes and answer their
questions with your content.
4. Don't sell.
Help, inform, educate but do not sell. Web 2.0 is all about people
connecting by helping each other. No salesman allowed! Think education, not
advertising. Deliver useful, nuts and bolts stuff or honest opinions they can
believe. That's how you build credibility and trust that lead to new customer
relationships.
5. Start with a free hosted blog.
www.Wordpress.com and
www.Blogger.com both have very useful and
simple blogs you can setup for free. Use them to start blogging and get a feel
for how it works and how people use Web 2.0. Dip your toe in the water before
diving in.
6. Talk to kids
Chat with some kids (ages 8 to 18) and find out how they use the web. They
are the trend-setters. What they're doing now, the rest of us will be doing
soon. Learn what they do and why. This helps you understand the web from a
different perspective.
7. Do it yourself.
Web 2.0 is about being real. It's real people connecting with each other.
It's okay to hire a pro to advise you. But to keep it genuine, make sure you or
your employees create the content and do the work. Otherwise people will know
you're faking it.
8. Buy a camcorder and start shooting.
Go to Best Buy or Radio Shack and buy an inexpensive camcorder, tripod and
lapel microphone. Buy 20-30 tapes too. Then take a weekend and shoot film.
Practice, practice, practice. Get comfortable being on camera so you're not
nervous or dorky. Then, write a funny or useful how-to sketch and film it. Use
Microsoft MovieMaker to edit and then upload to YouTube.com.
9. Buy an inexpensive audio recorder.
MusicBarn.com has a package that includes M-Audio's MobilePre USB recording
interface. Add a microphone and you have a high quality setup to record podcasts
and MP3 audio files whenever you want. Then buy NGWave sound editing software to
make it sound professional and you're in business.
10. Surf 'till it Hurts.
Surf blogs, YouTube, Google Videos, Del.icio.us, Digg, Reddit, StumbleUpon,
Technorati and other social media websites. Get a feel for how they work and who
goes there. Become part of some social media communities. Make new friends
online. Immerse yourself in the Web 2.0 culture so you know how it works and if
it might fit your marketing plans.
Kevin Stirtz helps businesses get more customers
without spending a fortune. He is an author, speaker, consultant and
president of
http://www.EasyFastWebSpace.com.
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