New Venture Marketing

A Grin without a Cat

Over the next few months I will be speaking on  "How to Create a Web 2.0 Marketing Strategy" at several venues through out the valley, something I enjoy doing. I have found Web 2.0 strategies to be as elusive as the smile on the Cheshire Cat in Lewis Carroll's enduring book, Alice in Wonderland. 

If you remember the book, the Cheshire cat disappears leaving nothing but its grin.  This led Alice to remark that while she had often seen a cat without a grin, she had never seen a grin without a cat.

In my experience it is as rare to find a Web 2.0 strategy as a grin without a cat.  While many companies are looking at how to implement new social media, most are struggling to figure it out.  The issue is not a lack of interest, but rather a lack of understanding and the fact these new tools are so different.  In the absence of understanding, most companies are simply left confused.

Come join us then to discuss how to implement think about and implement your own company's Web 2.0 strategy, what to consider and how to go about it in this first talk at SVASE CXO Forum, on March 12, 2008.  Better yet, sign up for your ticket today.

Blogging for Business -- Big Companies

A few days ago I had the opportunity to speak about Business Blogs for High Tech Companies at the SD Forum, and have a very rich exchange.  I would say that about 40 people attended, all from the high-tech arena, split between consultants, entrepreneurs, and those who worked or were looking for work at both small and large companies.  Not surprising for a high-tech event, most were familiar with blogging and as many as 40% blogged.

What did surprise me, however, was how few of those were using blogs in their business and the concerns that possibility seemed to raise. 

Business Blogging for High Tech Companies

I'll be speaking at the Software Developer's Forum, Monthly Marketing SIG on Monday, May 9th on "Business Blogging for High Tech Companies" and would like to invite anyone who is in the area to come. 

The presentation will include information on what blogs are, how you can use them, what is syndication and RSS is -- and why you should care, what to consider before you start a blog, resources, next steps, and examples of some of the best high tech blogs.

The meeting will be held at 6:30pm and be held at the Mitchell Park Community Center in Palo Alto.

Towards a New Communications Model (3)

The following post also appears on the IAOC blog site where it is part of a week long discussion lead by Elizabeth Albrycht, entitled "Towards a New Communications Model."  Let me know if you agree -- or have some other ideas.

When I first started to explore how the Internet and new communications technologies had impacted our own profession, I was really doing so with the idea of catching up with the industry. I had been too busy with clients to spend much time researching technology for my own business needs.  But the economic downturn in
Silicon Valley, gave me both the time and the opportunity to invest in my own knowledge base.  As I began to understand the true scope of the technological changes that came out of the dotcom boom (and bust), I was amazed.  I felt like the legendary Rip Van Winkle who after going to sleep one night, awoke 20 years later to find that his world had changed.  

Toward a New Communications Model (2)

This week under the leadership of blogging thought leader Elizabeth Albrycht, we will be discussing a new model for communications.   Elizabeth kicked off the week with a reflective exploration of "social practices within the framework of 'cooperation.'"  From her first piece:

... I open our discussion today with this statement, because I believe that "social practices" is what has historically been given short shrift in the world of technology -- and technology-based communications. We professional communicators adopt the latest-greatest tech tools (often rather slowly!) but we don't generally give much deep thought to what these tools mean to those we apply

New Free Series on Online Marketing

Duct Tape Marketing and John Jantsch, author of the one of the best small business marketing blogs, is sponsoring a series of what look to be great teleseminars on "Local Online Marketing - How to promote your local business on the Internet". He has lined up some first class speakers, and best of all of the teleseminars are free.  Sign up while there are still spaces available.

The seminars are as follows:
"The Basics of Business blogging and why every business should have a blog." February 9, 2005. (done)

"How to deliver your marketing message directly to your customer's computer desktop -- The basics of marketing with RSS." February 23

"How to use an online newsletter to generate leads and key your customers coming back for more."  March 10

Towards a New Communications Model (1)

There will be a blog next week, hosted by the International Association of Online Communicators (IAOC) and lead by Elizabeth Albrycht on New Models for Communications.  Several of us will be writing about new models and new possibilities in communications. I hope you will join us.

from Elizabeth's blog:

Towards a New Communications Model:

Over the past few years, many changes have confronted communications professionals due to the Internet, the web, mobility etc (basically all of the new networked communications tools).  Because of these new tools, a fundamental shift in the entire model of communications (including

Two Social Networking Events

There are two new social networking events taking place this week and next.  The first is Online Social Networking 2005 which is going on now and will run from February 9 - 23.  The online event is "for all those interested in working with social networking processes, tools, and media. In addition to attending many workshops, panels, and presentations by leading experts and practitioners, attendees will have the opportunity to be part of a community with a significant role in defining the future direction of online social networking."

I have been reviewing an excellent book, The Virtual Handshake: Opening Doors and Closing Deals Using Online Social Networks  written by two of the conference's guest speakers, by David Teten and Scott Allen.  The book will be

Blog Business Summit, New Communications Forum

Business Blog Summit

There are two very special Blogging Events taking place this week, both on the West Coast.  The first is the Business Blog Summit held in Seattle [see my earlier link for description].  What's especially nice about the conference is that you can go to the Agenda and see both a list of sessions and choose those handouts and presentations that are available.  From "Good Blog Design" to "Corporate Blogging Strategy", there is a wealth of information for those looking either find out more about business blogs or to refine their blogging strategies.

New Communications Forum

The second, the New Communications Forum, will be held in California and  is an "intensive new conference series specifically designed to bring journalists and marketing and PR professionals together to learn how to use new media tools such as blogs, wikis, RSS feeds and podcasting for media communications, corporate branding, marketing communications, public relations and employee communications initiatives."  I haven't found a similar link to handouts, but can direct you to the list of panels.   

I highly recommend both conferences.

Leveraging Search for Greater Impact

I sat in on a seminar yesterday, "Leveraging Search for Greater Impact" , presented by PR Newswire which was first rate and rich with possibility.

The premise of the session was that "the real power of the Internet lies in search engines and their ability to connect customers, stakeholders, influencers and media directly to the content they seek... offering a much untapped, by extremely effective means for delivering information to those most likely to act."

"Journalists," said Michelle Horowitz, VP of Content Development, PR Newswire, "will research the news wires, internal archives, search engines, company sites... but ultimately, it doesn't matter where they go for information.  Journalists [and many others] will heavily rely on the on search engines like Google or professional search services such as Factiva and LexisNexis."

So if you want your company to be noticed, and more importantly, for press and others to get their information from you, you need to get your website listed as the top result when your company or products name are searched.