Marketing in a Web 2.0 World — Using Social Media, Webinars, Blogs, and more to Boost Your Small Business on a Budget

by Peter VanRysdam

Small businesses have been fighting an uphill battle for decades when it comes to marketing. Big corporations have more resources, more brand recognition, and most importantly, more money. This has allowed them to control the conversation. Web 2.0 technologies have leveled the playing field by giving small business an equal voice. Tools like blogs, interactive Web sites, and social networks have become some of the most powerful marketing tools for many small business owners. As of late 2009, more than 55.6 million adults, about 1/3 of the population, access social networks at least once a month -- an 18 percent increase from 2008, according to Forrester Research. Social networks like Facebook, LinkedIn, Myspace, and Twitter provide marketers direct access to their customers in a way never before possible. Businesses of all sizes can reach their target audience quickly and effectively through these tools but only when used correctly.Marketing in a Web 2.0 World shows you how to take advantage of the latest technologies to market your business. The best part is that many of the tools require little or no money to implement. You will learn how the social Web, and the various social networks that make it up, has fundamentally altered how the Internet is used as a marketing tool, allowing businesses to reach out and touch their target demographics like never before. You will be able to recognize and start optimizing your site to reach those demographics, and you will understand how your customers use the social web. You will learn how to establish your Web site as your marketing hub, drawing in visitors through the best search engine optimization (SEO) practices, Webinars, and blogs. You will find that Web 2.0 and social media marketing is not a fad but a fundamental shift in how business is being done today.Dozens of individuals have been interviewed for this book, from small business owners to marketing directors at national brands, providing their expert opinions and insights in to how the Web has evolved and what it will mean for the future of business marketing and promotion. You will learn how the perspective of marketing firms in major companies across the world has changed and how a small business's message can reach a global audience. You will learn how to use videos and podcasts alongside topnotch Web copywriting to reach your target while establishing yourself as a leader in your industry. If you are a small business owner, or just someone itching to make a big impact in Web 2.0, and has lost sleep worrying about your marketing budget, Marketing in a Web 2.0 World shows you how to take advantage of the most important resources available to any businesses willing to invest their time.

Genres: Business

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Luminescence Goh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peter VanRysdam’s Marketing in a Web 2.0 World offers a practical guide for small businesses looking to harness the power of digital marketing on a budget. This paperback is an invaluable resource for studying contemporary marketing strategies, particularly in the realm of social media, webinars, and blogging. VanRysdam provides clear, actionable advice for leveraging these tools to enhance visibility, engage customers, and drive sales.

Good for Studying:
The book is well-suited for students and entrepreneurs alike. VanRysdam breaks down complex digital marketing concepts into manageable sections, using real-world examples and step-by-step instructions. This approach makes it accessible and applicable, helping readers understand how to effectively utilize modern marketing techniques to grow their business.

Inspiration for Writing a Fantasy Novel:
Interestingly, the principles from this book can also inspire fantasy novelists. The strategies for creating engaging content and building an audience can be mirrored in fictional worlds, where characters might use similar methods to influence kingdoms or gain followers. The concepts of branding and communication can help writers develop intricate plots and characters with unique methods of persuasion and outreach in their fantastical settings.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

must turn in today, boo. I read these non fiction books so slowly, because I often have to reread to grasp concepts (firmly believe the keebler elves moonlight inside computers) so all this tech-y stuff is difficult to grasp. That being said I'm checking this book out again because glimmers of rudiments of seo & other 2.0 concepts are glimpsed at the end of the tunnel.