If your competitors do their homework better than you, your customers will go to them, which means you gave your customers away.  Web 2.0 is much more than just putting up web sites -- it's interacting with your visitors and giving them a chance to tell you what they want to buy from you.

What is all the fuss about Web 2.0

The phrase Web 2.0 refers to a perceived second-generation of web-based communities and hosted services — such as social-networking sites, wikis and folksonomies — which aim to facilitate collaboration and sharing between users.

The term became popular following the first O'Reilly Media Web 2.0 conference in 2004,[1] and has since become widely adopted.

Although the term suggests a new version of the World Wide Web, it does not refer to an update to Web technical specifications, but to changes in the ways software developers and end-users use the web as a platform.

According to Tim O'Reilly, "Web 2.0 is the business revolution in the computer industry caused by the move to the internet as platform, and an attempt to understand the rules for success on that new platform."[2]

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2#Defining_Web_2.0

I missed the .com craze, so what? Why are YOU so excited?

As you may recall, we spent over $10,000 to launch our first web site in July 1998. We followed the herd with mini-malls, classified ad sites, internet properties, banner ads, lots of emails, major malls loaded with categories and classified ads, etc. We made some money, but the ROI was pitiful. We devoted years to observing what successful folks did.

In early 2003, we got very excited after being introduced to video and audio solutions, which allowed us to provide our "talking head" to our associates, clients and prospects. Yet, the solutions weren't robust nor widely acceptable to the mainstream, especially in the business sector. Most of the issues were centered on bandwidth and ease of use.

Then ... along came Google, You Tube, My Space (all of these names are copyrighted by their owners) ... the sense of true communities, networks ... all using streaming audio and video. More web sites started using video and audio in marketing. Chat rooms and forums replaced bulletin boards and news rooms. Webinars and TeleWebcasts reduced traveling. 

The mass had spoken even party nominations and elections were influenced by audio and video tools.  Going forward, use of these tools in the marketplace will make or break you.

We are excited because we expected it. We are prepared because we remained in that digital marketing space and observed who the leaders were and what levels of success they had, plus what solutions are available and would be improved on for future use.

How can We Help You and Your Business?

We spend $100s monthly on various products and services in the digital marketing space. We read various magazines, try different tools on our web sites, and remain motivated to capitalize on these toolsets so our clients, prospects, friends and associates can benefit from our experience and spanning network.

We have spent the last six months feverishly researching and "trying" tools to share with our network, provided they perceive similar value.

You don't want to let the beginning of this wave pass you and your business.

• Company and Personal Blogs
• Forums to share your expertise
• Joint Ventures in and outside your industry specialty
• Membership portals
• Niche Sites in and outside your industry sector
• More ...

Web 2.0 Solutions  

As with any marketing tool, there are several options.  You must determine how much time and money you will spend for the desired results.

Let's look at six common sources

Additional Web 2.0 Marketing Resources

Click here to request additional info on Web 2.0 marketing tools.

Note:  Digital Marketing Center Club members have access to FREE or discounted Web 2.0 Tools (eg., e-courses, software, videos, etc.) each month.  Click here for details.