Web Strategy Blog

Social Media Club, Discussion on Social Networks

Join me at the Social Media Club at CNet in San Francisco on Thursday, April 26th, 6pm for a discussion on networks in social media:

1. How do we create networks?
2. How do we create value in our networks?
3. How do we define value in networks?
4. How do you talk/ connect with others in your network?
5. How do you find existing networks and make a decision to get involved?
6. If you have a community how do you balance the "engineered" network vs. the "organic"?

They are expecting a big turn out - so register in advance!

Live Stream from Web 2.0 Expo

I've been watching Jeremiah Owyang's live streaming from the Web 2.0 Expo this morning while catching up on some work. Its great to stay connected to the event even though I can't get there myself again until this afternoon - thanks Jeremiah!

Web 2.0 Expo - Buzzing with Energy!

I'm attending the Web 2.0 Expo in San Francisco this week. Overall there are some inspiring speakers and some very practical sessions. I am soaking up lots of ideas, learning about new technologies and meeting some very interesting people. Jeremiah Owyang is streaming the conference live using Ustream.tv so if you can't make it, log into his site and you can catch some of the action live. The sessions are so well attended that people are literally sitting on the floor.

At the Expo I met with Forrester analysts Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff. They are writing what is sure to be a must-read book on social media called Groundswell. The exhibition hall was hopping and "best in Show" booth must go to the Canadian guys from Cambrian House whose Tiki bar themed booth (where they served what my Grandma would call smart cocktails) was fun and bustling with action. I had lunch with the COO of another Canadian company Lavalife an online dating and singles lifestyle brand. The Topix guys were out in force to get on the street local news commentary. There was blogging, twittering/ tweets and networking galore. I am looking forward to attending some of the Web2Open sessions tomorrow where the attendees become presenters.

Starting a Dialog with Your Market: 8 Steps to Establishing a Successful Corporate Blog

The blogosphere is enormous; as of January 2007, the blog search engine Technorati was indexing more than 63 million blogs. And it’s growing all the time; every day, new blogs launch, hoping to find an audience among web users.

A significant number are being created by corporations who see blogs as a means of interacting with the market in a dynamic new way. According to the Fortune 500 Blog Project, which studies public-facing blogs by Fortune 500 companies, 9 percent of the Fortune 500 (46 companies) are already blogging for public consumption. A full 35 percent of large corporations planned to launch blogs during 2006, according to JupiterResearch. GM, CSC, Cisco, Dell, EDS, Google, HP, Intel, Oracle, Sun Microsystems , Texas Instruments, Yahoo!, Southwest Airlines : Corporations are launching blogs to help in their marketing and PR efforts. And as the interest in corporate blogs (which is already sizable, especially among technology buyers) continues to grow, more companies (perhaps your included) are sure to follow.

Corporate blogs offer companies many benefits. They allow the dissemination of up-to-the-minute information to the marketplace, meaning companies can respond in real time to market developments, rather than having to wait a day, a week, or a month to reach the market with a relevant new press release or advertisement. And they allow companies to learn more about their customers—and to get the market’s input, right now, this very minute, on their products, messaging performance, and overall public perception, rather than having to wait for the results of the next focus group.

To maximize return on investment, it’s essential that companies take the following steps as they launch their blogs:

1. Do Your Research

2. Re-Think the Basics

3. Establish Clear Goals

4. Understand the Commitment

5. Decide on the Right Type of Blog

6. Start Blogging

7. Promote Your Blog

8. Measure Your Results

Taking these eight steps may not guarantee the success of your blog—but by taking them, you’ll be making sure your company is putting its best foot forward as it begins its foray into blogosphere.

Download starting_a_dialog_with_your_market.doc