Monthly Archives: February 2009

How to Market in a Web 2.0 World

marketing2For marketers, Web 2.0 offers a remarkable new opportunity to engage consumers. If only they knew how to do it.

That’s where this article aims to help. We interviewed more than 30 executives and managers in both large and small organizations that are at the forefront of experimenting with Web 2.0 tools. From those conversations and further research, we identified a set of emerging principles for marketing.

But first, a more basic question: What is Web 2.0, anyway? Essentially, it encompasses the set of tools that allow people to build social and business connections, share information and collaborate on projects online. That includes blogs, wikis, social-networking sites and other online communities, and virtual worlds.

Millions of people have become familiar with these tools through sites like Facebook, Wikipedia and Second Life, or by writing their own blogs. And a growing number of marketers are using Web 2.0 tools to collaborate with consumers on product development, service enhancement and promotion. But most companies still don’t appear to be well versed in this area.

So here’s a look at the principles we arrived at—and how marketers can use them to get the best results.

To read the rest, CLICK HERE.  Courtesy of MIT SLOAN & THE WALL STREET JOURNAL.

Dirty SEO Secrets You Should Avoid

Everyone wants to get the top search results, but some quick fixes only amount to shooting yourself in the foot. iMedia rounded up industry experts to shed some light on the gray areas of SEO.

There’s no shortage of ways to optimize your website for search engine visibility and work your way to the top of the search results. Some practices are good, some are bad, and there are countless myths thrown in.

Luckily, Google has pretty much drawn the line as to what is a good SEO practice and what isn’t. By now, webmasters and SEOs alike know to stay away from Google-be-damned Black Hat techniques like keyword stuffing and hidden text.

To read more, CLICK HERE. Courtesy of IMEDIA CONNECTION.