Think eBiz; thoughts on Online Marketing

Twitter for eCommerce

We will admit it, we have become addicting to the micro-blog technology known as Twitter. And I am not alone, with over 7 million unique twitters last month. That begs the question - how do you leverage Twitter for your business?

Twitter, in our view, is not unlike blogging, so the rules may be the same. Rule number one - twitter should not be used for self-promotion and advertising. It should be used to enhance the conversation and expound on your thought leadership. Twitter, with its 140 character limitation - makes conversations challenging - but that is the point. Communicate your message succinctly and with impact.

We will explore this further - however we recommend for your business, begin to have conversations about your market specialty - using rich keywords within this brief content. Start talking about your subject area expertise - even citing white papers or new blog entries within the Twitter content... to lead interesting "followers" to visit your website.

Suggestion: create a special welcome page for twitter's who click over and include tracking code - so you can measure the results of your twitter campaign. More on this subject, stay tuned.

Facebook for business?

Is your business on Facebook? If not -why not?

Facebook can enhance most brands - in both the creation of "fan" pages or groups - and with targeted banner advertising. The idea of social networking is allowing a forum where your consumers can talk to you and each other. Facebook facilitates this - relatively easily - and at a far less cost than if you created your own social network site.

Of course, you have to take the good with the bad - as your consumers can tell others about a bad experience they had with your product. Yet this is a golden opportunity to turn a negative into a positive by addressing the concerns in the open - transparently. facebook facilitates this openness - and how you respond could add legions of new "fans" to your brand.

Before you begin, look at how Starbucks and Heineken and others create their page and hold court....   and see how they push promotions out via their page and through inexpensive (and targeting) banner ads. Facebook is good for business, we believe.

Monetizing Twitter - 9.3 Million Users in March

The internet has always amazed me. That a business model for an internet service could include no apparent monetization model. Twitter is a great example of a highly visible, well used service - and well funded  and yet no visible earnings strategy.

I can sign up for Twitter (no cost) and use Twitter (again no cost)...  and there are no advertisements. However, the potential exists - big time. When you have 9.3 million users on Twitter in March - per Comscore - you have huge potential. BUT how...    stay tune, I have some ideas.

Mobile is hot as I witnessed at the recent CTIA conference in Vegas. If you are not thinking eBusiness mobile for your business,  your competition well may be...

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Is the term Web 2.0 Relevant?

At one time, saying the term Web 2.0 would bring in the crowds, whether for a meeting, conference or visitors to your web site. The actual term (or phrase) described the next generation of web sites, which included social Networking and highly intuitive eCommerce and Business Application.

Is Web 2.0 relevant? I do not think so - as it suffered from description fatigue. Ask ten people what Web 2.0 represents, and you will get ten answers. And now, some folks are floating Web 3.0 - for which I have not heard any relevant description.

I wonder if just saying Social Networking and Mobile Technology, along with RIA - suffices. I have not heard Twitter referred to as a Web 2.0 platform...     is it?

Let me know  is Web 2.0 as a term ...  past it's prime?

Rich Internet Applications (RIA): Addressing the need.

Web sites have come a long way from the days of basic HTML; remeber when counting eye-balls was the metric of success. Broadband changed the game - and continues to do so. The demands by consumers for more engaging, intuitive and effective web sites has raised the bar. Adobe Flex - and Rich Internet Applications (RIA) has answered the call. Other technologies include Ajax, Sun's JavaFX and Microsoft's Silverlight.

RIA is a High Definition User Interface - which is best demonstrated. A recently launched cigar selector (built by my company - Web Spiders) demonstrates the powerful and compelling aspects of RIA and Internet eCommerce. Visit Famous Smoke's Cigar Selector.

Isn't this a cool web site? A great example of Rich Internet Applications and eCommerce.