Posts with the tag 'Web 2.0'
Human beings need to connect, to communicate, and to collaborate to survive and thrive.
I’m a member of many communities, some geographically based, some virtual. One community, Web 2.0 Community and Business, is a community about community, aren’t we?! We’re a virtual community of like-minded people who are committed to developing and learning how to create and thrive in a virtual community. And to collaborate, co-create, and thrive we need accountability and commitment.
Today I got an email from one of my local colleagues, David Brown. He’s a coach and an alumni of IBI / CEO Space. That means he’s part of our tribe…
He sees “community as being the structure that creates a sense of belonging. A space that taps into peopleʼs longing, imagination and possibility. A space that calls people to organize around something larger than who they are or what they can envision individually. A space from which completely new futures can emerge.
In a workshop he attended, the host, Peter Block, spoke of a statue of a man, blindfolded, hammering himself into shape, forming himself from the inside out. That image was shared in the context of what is the purpose of a community: to rediscover its capacity and its gifts, and create from there.
David goes on to say “I also have a vision. I see an organizational culture that is a community of peers where communication flows freely and there is a natural sense of ownership, pride, cooperation and support, like in a well run healthy family business. We care, we listen and we help each other out, because our primary concern is for the well-being of the whole. Complaints become requests and promises are our word.”
If you like what you’ve read so far, click on this link and read Summary of the Six Conversations that Build Accountability and Commitment.
This is a core conversation I’d like to have with YOU!
What’s your vision of community and how do you see us moving toward healthy, happy, whole communities of healthy, happy, whole members who come together to collaborate and co-create a world, our world, in which we can be all we can be and do it together in the spirit of honoring and connecting with the spirit in each of us.
Thanks for reading, I’d really love to hear from you!
The Energizer Bonnie
- Please, Come Back. More Articles Every Week
- Join the Community and Business Online Community and post your comments and questions. Membership is free and and you’ll find rich and valuable content and conversations.
Bonnie Dubrow
Web 2.0 Expert : Blog ~ Expert’s Page ~ Expert’s Resource
Website : Marketing to YOUR World
Tags: Effective Communicating, Web 2.0
January 22nd, 2010
My buddy Jim is a member of the First Collaborative Credibility Cluster, the very same CCC I’m in, the very same one that’s one of many brainchildren of Russell Cox, who’s… you guest it, another member of CCC#1!
Jim wrote a post at Community and Business on the CCC’s shared community website. Jim’s got a great sense of humor and he loves puns. In this post he’s asked, “What is the Web 2.0 Refrigerator Magnet?”
Great question, Jim. And I’ve got an answer for you…
Ah, Jim, there will always be a place in the world for ‘old fashion’ marketing! The answer to becoming known as an expert in your field or an authority in your niche is not an either/or, yes/no answer. It’s “Yes, and…” You want what I call a “HI-5 Marketing Message.” Imagine you could ‘Hi-5″ all your ideal prospects and clients in all your communications with them. Imagine you could deliver a message that’s Heart-Inspired, Integrated, interactive, Internet and Information-based.
How does HI-5 messaging relate to Web 2.0? For Jim’s post, the key word in the explanation of what a HI-5 message is Integrated. An integrated message platform weaves together traditional media channels with ‘old’ Web 1.0 tools, techniquest, technologies, and winning strategies with the new Web 2.0 and the coming Web 3.0 ones.
I want to get back to answering the question Jim asked in his post: “What is the Web 2.0 equivilant of the refergerator magnet?”
Hey, I think this is a great question to ask the LinkedIn community. We’ll get great ideas. And we’ll be building the web of links we’re weaving in Web 2.0.
By the way, in the spirit of taking a HI-5 message to the next level, I’d trade my refrigerator magnet in for:
- a bumper sticker with a URL that’s easy to read from the car behind
- a series of Tweets and re-tweets
- a conversation in Facebook or in your vibrant online community
- a continued asynchronous dialog among members of our CCC and anyone else who wants to participate
- a banner ad on your site and those of your strategic alliance partners and raving fans
- a real time conversation…
- on the phone, of course, as we live thousands of miles apart.
- We’ll record our conversation so we can turn it into
- a podcast which we’ll submit to podcast directories so anyone can find it and listen to at their convenience.
- an audio on each of our websites and our community groupsites.
- We’ll also transcribe the audio track and turn it into an article, a blog post, an e-book or e-course.
- a YouTube video of two or more someones who looks like a present day average Joe or Jane. In fact, they’re wearing T-shirts with the refrig magnet’s message on the front and back, with logos, of course.
- First this person goes to their mailbox to get and open the envelope with a refrigerator magnet inside, then
- Then he walks to their refrig where they place the magnet.
- Then she walks to their computer and looks at the banner ad, the blog post, and clicks on the audio play button to listen to the conversation.
- Then they walk to their car, T-shirts clearly visible and read-able, they get into the car, and as the car drives away with them waving, the camera zooms in to focus on the bumper sticker.
- What’s the bumper sticker say? You guessed it. The same message that’s on the magnet!
So, all of the above are my suggestions for the Web 2.0 equivalent of refrigerator magnets.
What are your ideas?
And what about your suggestions for what would appear on those magnets, bumper stickers, T-shirts, titles, and such?
Here are a few of mine:
“Want to make more money? HI-5 your audience.” www.MarketingToYOURworld.com
“Want to grow your business? Trade your refrigerator magnet in for a bumper sticker.” www.MarketingToYOURworld.com
What’s your HI-5 marketing message? Share it here and you’re building your audience. in Web 2.0. In fact, you’ve made your Web 2.0 refrigerator magnet. Now pass it on wherever you’re communicating with YOUR ideal clients and prospects.
“Whether you’re doing business around the corner or around the globe, take YOUR message to YOUR World!” www.MarketingToYOURworld.com
Tags: Develop Your Audience, Hi 5 Marketing message, Information Marketing, Internet Marketing, Web 2.0
December 21st, 2009
You want to serve more people, more businesses and organizations, right? You want to be more profitable, too, don’t you? You’re paying attention to what’s going on in the world around you to know one way to become more visible and credible to more people is to become a Social Media Marketer.
My business partner and I identified significant differences between Social Media Marketing (SMM,) a relatively new method of becoming well seen and well known that’s evolved because of Web 2.0, and traditional marketing, specifically advertising.
We also realized many people believe in a difference that’s really a myth: while traditional advertising is expensive, SMM is free or nearly so.
The first statement is still true. I hope as you read this article, you come to agree with the growing number of people who are discovering the second statement is a myth.
Why is advertising through traditional media channels expensive? You’re paying for everything that goes into creating and delivering your message.
Let’s say you want a print ad in a newspaper, magazine, or the Yellow Pages. You pay for the ad. Then, especially in the “the good old days” before technology empowered so many the ability to create print-ready ads, the media organization’s experts do what needs to be done to create and modify copy, graphics and layout until your ad is ready for printing. They help you decide where and when to place the ad. Then they take care of printing and distributing the media in which your ad appears.
All the people who contributed their area of expertise are paid by the media organization. That’s why advertising through traditional media channels is so expensive.
Guess who really pays all these experts? You!
That’s why while the experts are doing their thing, you’re doing whatever you do to make the money to pay for your ad.
Now let’s take a quick look at what’s involved in social media marketing. I’ll bet you’ve heard that many channels for SMM, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, a blog, ezine, and such, are free or almost. From one perspective, that’s true.
You can do the research to choose which platform to use and why. You can take a free class, listen to a free recording, or watch a free video to learn how to do what you need to do. You can get a free page in most social networks, create your own profile, upload your own picture, invite and accept invitations. You can get a free blog, and start your own ezine.
Now who’s got to have the expertise in all the above mentioned areas? Now who’s got to have the time, skill, and know-how to research and develop all that expertise? You!
You could do it all, if you had the time, tools, technology, talent, expertise and inclination… And if you truly believe you could do it all for free.
I’ve tried to do it all. So have many others. Have you?
Here’s what I’ve discovered. I don’t have the time, the inclination, nor the expertise to do it while I make a living and have a life.
So what have I decided to do?
I get experts to handle technology and graphics, especially because these often need to get done only once. And I get experts to train me.
Who pays for that? I do!
What happened to free? There is no such thing as a free lunch. And no matter what some want you to believe, Social Media Marketing isn’t instant pudding.
Is Social Media Marketing worth it? I think so. So do millions of others. Why?
Social Media Marketing is still one of the best deals in town, especially compared to the cost of traditional advertising. In fact, now that I’m up and running, SMM is free, or almost.
I do have to continue to invest my time and energy if I want results.
I’ve still got to learn how to use the social media I’ve selected, identify my target marketing, niche, and ideal client; create and distribute my message, and share my expertise with those who want and need it.
You’re ready to become the right person sharing the right message with the right people in the right time in the right way. That’s how you become known as an expert in your field. And that’s the quickest way to become more visible and credible so you can serve more people and become more profitable.
And that’s what you said you wanted in the first place, isn’t it?
So roll up your sleeves, gather your resources, and do what you must to get started. Craft and implement your Social Media Marketing (SMM) strategy and plan. Identify your ideal clients. Design your Irresistible Offer and Call-to-Action messages. Choose the best media channels to reach them. Decide what to outsource and what you’ll do yourself.
Then “just do it.” Be willing to learn by doing and learn in public. Repeat what works; modify or stop what doesn’t, and try something else.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, if you’re suffering from Marketing Resistance Syndrome, if you don’t know where to start or what to do next, there are people all around you who are ready to help as you learn how to swim. And as a trained lifeguard, I’m here for you.
So come on in. The water’s fine.
Tags: Social Media Marketing, Web 2.0
November 4th, 2009
Are you feeling disappointing, frustrating, and confusing
more often than you’d like in those relationships most
important in your professional and personal life?
Are you tired of repeating patterns that end up causing you
pain, breaking your heart, leaving you alone to lick your
wounds, to pick up the pieces, and rebuild your life?
Do you want to make sense of what you’re going through?.
Are you wondering “Why is this happening to me again?”.
If you’re ready to make changes in yourself, if you’re
think, feel, say, and do things differently in the future
so you spend more time in relationship living in joy and
love, then join Dr. Lynn Lawrence and me as we explore old
and new paradigm of relationships.
I’m going to be a guest on Lynn’s e-radio show, Ask Dr.
Lynn, tonight, Tues. June 2nd @ 9-10 PM Eastern.
We are all in relationships of various kinds. Many of us
are in or want to be in an intimate primary one. It’s time
to make them all the best they can be!
Listen in on http://askdrlynnnow.com/livecall.
You can also add to the conversation with comments from
your life experience or ask a personal question regarding
your relationship by calling by dialing: 724-444-7444 then
entering Caller ID 29240#.
If you can’t be on the call and would like to hear the recording,
please send me an email ~ bonnie@MarketingToYOURworld.com ~
and tell me so I can get you a copy.
And if you live in Brevard County and want to see me in
person doing an interactive presentation on how to overcome
Marketing Resistance Syndrome so you can competently and
confidently take your message to YOUR world, I’ll be at the
Community Credit Union in Rockledge this Thursday, June 4,
8-9 am at their free networking breakfast. Reservations are
required, so contact Julie Clover at 690-2328.
Looking forward to co-creating dynamic conversations that
benefit us all.
To your ever-expanding Joy and Success in all you want to
be, do, and have.
Tags: Information Marketing, Internet Marketing, Marketing for Professionals, Marketing Resistance Syndrome, Web 2.0, word of mouth marketing
June 1st, 2009
You know the importance of social networking and you’re actively engaged in the world of Web 2.0. Congratulations! You’re playing in the big league. Social networking is becoming more and more a critical part of your media mix for taking your message to YOUR world.
There are lots of social networks where you could already be a member. The top ones I’m in are LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.
You may be a member of one of the many more niched ones, like these for professoinals, business owners and entrepreurs: Think Big Revolution, Biznik, StartUpBiz, to name a few.
And there are thousands of others to choose from. For example, CollectiveX and Ning are the popular platforms for creating your own network. Each has their place in your media mix.
Your presence on any and all of these sites is only as powerful as your profile. Here’s why:
1. Your profile is where someone gets to know you and discover what you have in common.
- Maybe you are interested in the same subject, you have friends in common, you live in the same town, city or state.
- You could have gone to the same school, be a member of the same organization, or be in the same or complimentary businesses.
The richer your profile, the more likely someone will discover what you have in common. This is a great starting point for building relationship.
2. Your profile includes your picture, right?
You’ve heard the saying your eyes are the windows to your soul.
You’ve had the experience where at first glance you know you like someone ~ this could be from seeing someone in person or looking at their picture. This works both ways.
So choose a picture that captures and shares your special energy.
3. Once someone knows about you, they can choose to reach out and engage in dialog with you. At first, this may only be via emails on the social network. That’s okay. This conversation builds trust.
4. Trust is the prerequisite for taking the conversation to the next level. The next level might be sharing private email addresses and writing without having to go to the network’s site.
5. Many online asynchronous dialogs on social networking sites and email will lead to phone conversations.
6. And guess where some of these phone conversations lead? To face to face meetings, of course!
“But we live thousands of miles apart.”
Who knows! You may travel to each other’s location on business or to attend a conference. And if the connection is strong enough, you may plan a trip just because you have to meet!
7. Once you know, like, and trust someone, you’re ready to explore how you might help each other.
- You could become a client of theirs or visa versa.
- You might have a referral for them and they for you.
- You could cross-promote each other’s products, programs, or services to each other’s lists and communities.
- You could comment on their blog posts or retweet their tweets.
- You might even create a joint venture project together.
These are real possibilities. How do I know? I’m doing all of the above with people I’ve met in the strangest of ways… on these new and unusual social networking sites.
So here’s my recommendation, my ‘Call-To-Action” for you:
If you’ve joined a social networking site and have yet to create a profile and upload your picture, do it ASAP!
Even if you created profiles when you joined your groups, I recommend you revisit and update them on a regular basis.
I’m always amazed when I read what I posted earlier. I’ve gotten clearer, more concise and compelling in the way I tell my story. I’ve got a new picture, or I’m just ready to see a different one, so probably are others. Each picture tells a different story all by itself, doesn’t it?
And be sure to be active in the communities where you’re a member. That doesn’t mean every day. Show up and partipate on a regular basis. Maybe rotate among them and spend 15-30 minutes becoming part of the buzz.
- Answer a question or ask one.
- Comment on someone else’s good news or information they’ve shared.
- Share a link to a resource you found helpful.
- Lend support and encouragement to someone in need.
And of course, mix in an update about what you’re working on and what you’re offering that might be of interest to them. Just don’t get pushy or self-centered. People will unfollow, un-friend, unsubscribe, and delete faster than you can say just about anything you could say 
People want to spend time with and do business with people they know, like, and trust. In the world of social networking, this starts with your profile. So make sure yours is powerful. It’s the key to the city. It’s the invitation to your party. It’s your song from the mountain top.
Tags: Information Marketing, Marketing for Professionals, Social networking, Web 2.0
May 30th, 2009
I love following relevant discussions on my favorite social networking and group collaboration sites.
I know it’s easy on LinkedIn and sites built with Ning and CollectiveX. With discussions on these sites, I see all comments regarding one discussion below the initial post. It doesn’t matter how long it’s been since my last visit. It’s all in one place. I don’t have to go anywhere else to follow what’s been said or to post my own comment.
So far from what I’ve been able to figure out, the discussion threads on these Facebook and Twitter are spread out on different people’s profiles/sites. Things don’t seem to be archived for a long time either.
Is there any way ~ especially an easy one ~ to follow the threads of a discussion on Facebook and Twitter? I’m hoping I just need a few tips here and there to do this, right?
Thanks in advance to any of you who can help me (and I’m guessing many others) follow and participate in the great conversations happening out here in cyberspace.
P.S. Learning things like this one step at a time is one winning strategy for overcoming Marketing Resistance Syndrome. It helps so much to have specific know-how to take the fear out of jumping into the deep end. Having someone teach us how to swim or throw us a life preserver ~ either way we all win!
Tags: Information Marketing, Marketing for Professionals, Marketing Resistance Syndrome, Social networking, Strategies for Success, Web 2.0
May 25th, 2009
I just read a post on Patricia Weber’s blog. Patricia is a Sales Coach for the Introverts, Shy and Reluctant. Her most recent post, Social Networking Tip – Top 4 Energy Vampires for an Introvert, contain gems of wisdom whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert. Click on the above link and see what you think.
I agree with what Pat said and I’m an extrovert. Pat and Jim are wise to recognize that we can get sucked in, only to come up hours later to ask ourselves, how have I benefitted from the time I’ve spent. I am reconnecting with old friends from school, work, and life. I’m meeting great new people whom I’m getting to know, like, and trust. I want deep, meaningful conversation online just like I do offline. We all need to find balance which is dynamic making it a bit tricky to plan.
That’s where Pat’s second tip comes in. Listen to your inner guidance… follow your heart. That goes for who to connect with and follow. I’m imagining myself an introvert and thinking it also depends upon my energy level and mood. I may want to connect… after I recharge from within. Listening to that inner voice is key here. Oh, that applies to me as an extrovert, too, now that I’m thinking about it.
Another tip is to put social networking into perspective with everything else on your plate, personal and professional. How often I start my day with email and social networking, only to find the business mission critical tasks and projects have been untouched. Social networking is, as one of my mentors Bonnie Dillabough, The Web Woman, says The Internet isn’t instand pudding. That includes social networking. Make sure you’re putting important, though maybe not so urgent tasks and projects on your plate and spend some time every day working on these, too.
Bottom line, whatever you’re doing, if it’s aligned with your vision, mission and purpose, if you’re enjoying the work when you’re doing it, if you’re showing up and doing your best, that’s what really matters. All roads lead to Oz as long as you’re looking toward Oz and moving in that direction.
What do you think? What’s your experience been? Do you have any other tips that have helped you manage your social networking? Please share them with us. We’re all learning in public and can use all the support, encouragement, and guidance as we co-create this new world of Web 2.0.
Tags: Social networking, Web 2.0
May 10th, 2009
I got an email this morning telling me that someone posted a comment on my wall at Think Big Revolution, a Ning site created by Michael Port. I decided to click and read. After writing back to my new friend, I decided to see what Revolutions were brewing on the site.
I found three that I joined on the spot ~ Think Big Revolution for Business Coaches and Advisors, Think Big Revolution for Small Business Owners, and Stand 4 Your Brand.
At Stand 4 Your Brand I discovered my friend and colleague, Russell Cox had been there before me and posted a valuable article. The rest of this blog is my reply to his thoughts, so you might want to read his first.
You can read my reply here or right below Russell’s post…
Russell, thanks for your words of wisdom and your encouragement. I’d like to add that in addition to increasing visibility and credibility, you also increase profitability.
How? Faster growth for your audience and your business means more people get to discover you and explore what you have to say. If they find you interesting, they’ll be back. And they’re the people you want to come back. Learning more about you and what you have to offer is how they’ll come to know, like and trust you. And those are the prerequisites for them finding you and what you offer valuable to them. That’s when they’re more likely to buy from you!
One of the best ways to give people what they want and need is to ask them. What better platform to find out what people in your target market want than to use the power of social networking ~ blogs, Ning rings, Twitter, Facebook, and the like.
Ask questions ~ juicy, thought-provoking questions. Ask for people’s opinions and experiences. Some will answer. Even if you only hear from 20% of those who follow you, you’ll know more about what your people are looking for. Then all you need to do is create ‘it’, find others who have already created ‘it’ and offer their offerings to your audience, and invite those very people who we would once have called our competition to become contributors to your Ning Ring, promoters of each other’s offerings, and possible once you’ve gotten to know, like and trust them, strategic alliance partners.
What to explore how to make these ideas a reality? Get active. Get involved. Visit this Revolution, read what’s written here, and comment. Isn’t this our own Ning Ring already? Help us all rise to the surface of a crowded marketplace so we can shine and serve those who are looking for us!
The Energizer Bonnie
Bonnie@MarketingToYOURworld.com
Tags: Ning Ring, Web 2.0
March 28th, 2009
