Do most businesses really need “exclusive, custom” websites?

Posted on March 5th, 2010 by John Sostak

ReWork, the new book about business by 37Signals.

Do most businesses still need websites?  Would we be better served to operate our Internet hub from a business appropriate social media site?

Are we being fair to our clients when we sell them expensive websites?  In this day and age, with the big social media outlets, does EVERYONE need a website?

Think about being an online retailer, maybe you sell through Amazon?

Many of us on LinkedIn are consultants.

Facebook is a wonderful outlet for traditional retailers, clubs, celebrities and individuals.  You are able to interact in a place people spend a lot of time in.

You Tube may be one of the single most influential guerilla marketing resources ever made.  I can’t imagine Reuters or AP being able to push traffic online the way a viral video on You Tube does.

Can anyone deny that Blogger, and Wordpress are great?  Matt Mullenweg has taken a blogging platform and turned it into a sophisticated Internet marketing and software development vehicle, through the wordpress.org open source community.

The rules are changing again, and with a renaissance mentality, perhaps, as Internet marketers and consultants, we can do more for our clients.

My professional thoughts are that a website that acknowledges mobile, and has appropriate social media share functionality can be well built, on a very modest budget.  This approach should work for 90% of businesses.  These same businesses still need Internet budget.  It should be invested in social media, email marketing, mobile web strategy, image and branding, search and ppc.  In that order.

I think ALL companies need a thorough Internet business strategy, and it rarely requires a complex personal website.  Resources could be used more efficiently if you commit them to the sites that could yield a return based on carefully targeting your business goals and needs.

I would love feedback on this philosophy.  I have been applying it to two clients, and it is in it’s early stages.  I know there far savvier Internet marketers that could contribute to our new direction.  Guy Kawasaki, Seth Godin, Matt Mullenweg, Jason Fried, any thoughts you care to share?  And yes, I already bought Getting Real, and have ordered Rework (can’t wait to read it), thank you 37Signals.

Tags: 37Signals, email marketing, Internet Consulting, Internet Marketing, Jason Fried, LinkedIn, Matt Mullenweg, Seth Godin, social marketing, social media, website

Arcade Introduces FF911.ORG, Social Media Network for Emergency Responders

Posted on February 21st, 2010 by John Sostak

People who know me, also know I’m a firefighter.  I like to think of myself as a taller version of Guy Kawasaki, an Internet marketing guru.  It sometimes is forgotten that the fire department is an important part of my life.

My wife is also a member of emergency services, she’s a pediatric nurse practitioner, and she works at Children’s.  Between our circles of friends and colleagues, we are emergency responder heavy.  So, we decided to launch a social network for emergency responders, FF911.ORG.

FF911 is in beta, and many more features will be added.  In the meantime, this is a great time to grab a screen name, and set up your account.  Please share your knowledge with our FF911 members.

The need for this network is to try and form a connection between emergency responders that work in the field together, but rarely communicate outside of the accident scene, or the emergency room.  FF911 is for police, fire, military, nurses, doctors, dispatchers, and anyone involved in emergency services.

FF911 is a way for us to share information, as well as influence public opinion.  Socially, we see a lot of people at their most vulnerable, on their worst day.  This comes with a responsibility, which we can expand online.  If we see a way to improve something, collectively, we can make it happen.  I am certain as the community grows, and evolves, forums will help us discover what we can do to improve our professions, and our patients needs.

FF911 is also a social media hub which we can exchange video and pictures, as well as department specific news.  Post events, like retirement parties and fundraisers.  If you have a chance, click here, and create a profile on FF911. Our goal is to become a social network and community that emergency responders can be proud of, as well as a source of information for all of us working in emergency services.

Tags: Emergency Responders, FF911.ORG, Internet Marketing, social media