In the past 2 years, the Internet has seen some HUGE names appear out of nowhere, which now dominate much of our language about the web, and on other forms of media. Names like MySpace, Flickr, YouTube, Squidoo, and so on. But, what is this new phenomenon, and how does it affect you?

This new wave of websites is commonly referred to as Web 2.0, Social websites or Social Networking. You may have heard this, but do you know what it really means? If you were asked to define what social networking was, would you be able to give an accurate definition. Unfortunately, most of us cannot, even though it is likely that they participate in some form of social networking, especially online.

Social networking is defined as the grouping of individuals together into to specific groups, often like a small community or a neighbourhood. Although social networking is possible in person, especially in schools or in the workplace, it is most popular online. This is because unlike most high schools, colleges, or workplaces, the internet is filled with millions, if not more, of individuals who are looking to meet other internet users and develop friendships.

But what has this got to do with business, you ask?

Well, the goal of most business owners is to make money. This often results with the selling of a particular product or service. However, to sell that product or service business owners need to alert the general public. A customer cannot buy a product or a service if they do not know that it exists. That is why, as a business owner, you need to advertise your business.

When it comes to advertising there are many business owners who literally cringe. Are you doing this now? There is a good chance that you are because many advertising methods cost money. As a business owner you want to make money not spend it, right?

Unfortunately, if you believe that all forms of advertising take money, you are sadly mistaken. Although you may have to spend money to make your business what you want it to be, there are ways to promote your business and the products or services that you sell without having to spend any money at all.

Introducing an online social networking website.

When it comes to social networking, there are many individuals who think of online friendships or online relationships. While these types of relationships are the most common, did you know that social networking is also used for businesses? In fact, that was originally how social networking got started. If you are a small business owner, especially one that operates an online business, there is a way that you can use social networking sites to your advantage.

There are networking sites that are designed for business owners where you can not only share your business information with other business owners, but can also develop close relationships with those that share an interest that is similar to yours.

Essentially, this means that you could not only learn valuable business information, but you could also walk away with a new business partner or a new friend.

If you are looking to join an online community, you will need to create your own profile or profile page. If you are planning on joining a traditional social networking website, to gain access to millions of potential new customers, you are urged to be careful when making your online webpage or profile. One thing that internet users hate is being solicited for business. This does not mean that you cannot use social networking to your advantage; it just means that you need to be careful with how you do it. Instead of creating a MySpace page or a Yahoo! 360 page for your business, you are advised to make one for yourself, but, of course, you will want to include information on your business.

By joining a social networking website, especially one that is popular and has a large number of members, you should be able to generate interest in your business, including the products or services that you sell.

Who knows, that interest generated could turn into sales; thus making your social networking experience more than worth it!

“Hey, how did you go with the eps I sent to your Blackberry? Or did you need it wi-fi’d across asap?”

Who talks like this? I mean, really – it’s just a mess, right? What makes it even sadder than using such abbreviated language is that this representative of a typical phrase used amongst businesses and their customers now-a-days. And this is a dangerous thing, because it makes a broad-sweeping judgment:

That Your Customer Understands What You Say

We have all experienced dealing with someone who is communicating to us in a language that is totally foreign. It could be talking numbers, technology, or acronyms that make sense to an elite few within a business or industry. And it can be very frustrating when this happens.

Feelings of inferiority, condescendence and a lack of distrust develop within your customer or fellow staff member when language is used that is not commonly understood. And, your job when dealing with anyone is to help them feel comfortable with you and open to what you have to say.

Take stock of the types of words, acronyms or general language you use when dealing with your customers. Are you using expressions that they have no way of knowing? If so, stop using them. You are only causing your customer grief, and creating more of an obstacle for you when discussing a project, product or an idea with them.

If you need to use particular words or phrases that are unique and not in the common language, then take the time to explain them to your customer. For example, CMYK is an acronym used in the printing industry. But, many people do not know what this means. So, when discussing this with a client, we would let them know that it stands for Cyan-Magenta-Yellow-Black, as a process for printing an image.

By explaining your language to your customer, you accomplish a number of things:
1.You build rapport with them
2. You increase their education
3. You increase the level of trust and confidence they have in you
4. You reduce the feelings of inferiority that a customer may experience when being spoken to with foreign words and phrases.

Oh, and it is almost guaranteed that a mutual understanding of the topic will be achieved, which could mean more sales, more referrals, and a greater enjoyment with your work and customer.

This post’s idea is actually one that I have borrowed from Marty Edelston, and his use of I-Power in his business. When I first heard of this practice and how it can improve the success that a business has, I loved it, and had to share it with you.

How often do you find yourself wondering how the business can become more profitable and less costly? Is there any system you could introduce that could save you time and money on producing the service or product you provide your customer?

The I-Power approach takes this question and answers it by using the entire business. That is, the people in the business. It is too big a task to try and think on your own all the areas that you could cost-cut or maximize your efforts – you are not in every aspect of the business. So, I-Power actually gets the input from those staff that are doing those jobs.

In set meetings, the CEO/Managing Director asks the staff to contribute two ideas (at a minimum) to how they could improve their current work practices, cut costs, and help the business be more successful. Marty introduced this concept at Boardroom Inc, and was able to save hundreds of thousands of dollars, as well as build a positive team spirit amongst his staff.

I strongly encourage you to introduce an element of I-Power into your business. Even if you only operate a staff of one, then get input from your friends and family. Make it a MUST that others give input into how the business can grow and be more successful. Make it fun as well, by offering rewards and incentives for the best ideas, and then go about putting those ideas into practice.

You may have read about it in the paper, or heard it on the radio, but more and more companies are turning to blogs as a way of promoting their business online.

Corporate or business blogging is a relatively new idea, and the jury is still out on whether it will succeed. This controversial marketing tool may be the beginning of a new kind of advertising strategy, or it may fizzle out in a matter of months. Many companies are looking for ways to capitalise on the blogging trend, and many of these corporations have determined that a great way to ride the blogging wave is to keep a blog on their corporate website. These blogs are often created to appeal to the demographic that the company needs to attract, and the content may have quite a lot to do with the activities of the corporation, or it may have very little to do with the company itself.

Often, a corporate blog will focus on the kinds of content likely to attract the desired surfers, even if that content is not related to the product or service that the company provides.

There are mixed feelings about the advent of corporate blogs, as many bloggers feel that these corporations are not providing real value for the online community. If it just a case of “blowing your own trumpet”, then keep it away from blogs. In fact, don’t do much of it because most online users don’t care too much about how your trumpet helps them.

The successful blogs are those that provide real value to a reader. So, if a corporate blog has been established with the intent of delivering quality content to the desired target market, then there is a good chance that this blog will be accepted and appreciated. And that will mean long-term success using this method for that corporation.

So, if you are seriously considering adding this element into your bag of marketing tools, then think about why you plan on doing it. Then, make sure you stick to it

“You can have everything in life that you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.”- Zig Ziglar

A fundamental element of business today is knowing how to market yourself and your product. What this means is that you must understand what it is your customers and clients are looking for in a product, and help them find it.

We have all had an experience as a consumer where we have searched for a product in a store, and had no luck in finding it. It wasn’t until a friendly assistant helped us to locate what we were looking for that we had our need satisfied.

When you are in business, or even when working for somebody else, YOU are that assistant. It is up to you to help each and every customer find what it is they are looking for. When you do, you will be rewarded through increased sales and customer loyalty.

Ttake the time to listen to every request for information, help, or advice from your customer. Build up the talent to truly understand what it is they are searching for – what problem do they need solved – and then provide a solution in the most efficient way possible.

A useful approach is to make sure that you have asked at least 5 investigative questions about the current situation. This helps you to understand the position of the customer, and prevents you from jumping to conclusions.

As you practice this concerted approach to dealing with your customers, make notes in your journal or diary. This will help you to analyze how you feel about your level of performance at work, and about how many successful interactions you have had in your business. These notes will help you to re-focus on your customers when your business has quiet periods.

As an added bonus, this approach will also help you in any interaction with another human being. So, a win-win all round.

Blogs, weblogs, or web journals are terms that have sprung up in the past 4-5 years. In more recent months, the act of blogging has grown in favour with many businesses, as companies are realising the potential that this new online tool provides them.

But, what exactly is a blog?

The definition of blogging is something that is very much in flux, as the new technologies that appear every day redefine what a blog is, what a blog can be, and what a blog should do. For many years, blogs were defined as text-based websites that kept records of days, similar to a captain’s log on a sailing ship. However, this started to change as the group of people who kept blogs became more diverse. The more bloggers began to explore the limits of the medium and of the technology that made it possible, the more the boundaries of what could be called a “blog” expanded.

Since blogging has become more and more popular, various blog categories have developed. For example, many video blogs have appeared, with the advent of online video and the ease at which many people can create their own video and post it online. Picture blogs are another category that has grown in popularity, with many people sharing their photos with the World, and building a growing fan-base on various picture topics.

People often have confused blogs with forums. There is a distinct difference between the two.

Blogs are sites that allow you, or another blogger, to write content and post it under a given category, where it will be automatically archived. Readers of your blog can leave a comment on your article or post, and you can decide if the comment should be published for other readers to see.

A Forum is a site where you, and others with the necessary access rights, can post a comment or article, and others have the opportunity to interact and share their thoughts on that issue.

The difference is that the Blog is your platform for sharing, and provides minimal interaction. A Forum is your platform, PLUS a platform for others, so the control and focus of the forum is not a tight as a blog.

Now you know what a blog is, it is time to see how it can benefit your business.