There is so much noise, is anyone listening? Welcome to the 2.0 generation.

Posted on March 9th, 2010 by John Sostak

It's crowded and noisy out here.

It is really noise in here.  In my little box, that is connected to 2 billion other people.

Communication has never had so many different forms.  Web 2.0 is social media and social networking.  Everyone has a voice, and an audience.  Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and hundreds of other social networks have taken the Internet, and mobile web to another level, and it has happened quickly.

I am constantly responding to emails, text messages, blog comments, an occasional phone call.  Forget about mail, I will not answer it, email me the wedding invitation.  With all this communication, why do I feel like I’m disconnected from my friends, family and clients?

The 2.0 Generation.

Time has always been a non renewable commodity, and therefore, of the highest value.  Now when we get someone’s time, we do not necessarily get there attention.  I believe the 2.0 Generation is only going to become harder to reach, because we have to many ways to communicate.  As an Internet marketer, I need to get a hold this.  Now.

I won’t pretend to have an answer to an obvious question.  How can we communicate effectively?  To me, effectively means we get our message across, and we receive feedback or something that we can act on or think about.  How are you communicating?

Is your communication and channels effective?  Put some thought into that.  Effective today may have a lower bar then 20 years ago.  20 years ago we were using fax machines, beepers, we always had change in our pocket for the payphone at the airport or gas station.  We did talk more, and I feel like we had a longer attention span.  I’m not pining for the old days before the world wide web, just trying to get my arms around what is next.

There is so much noise, it is getting harder to actually reach the person.  That is the true marketers challenge.  Aggregating a million page views a day is only impressive if the viewer actually responds to the page.  So, favorite way to communicate leads to the second, and maybe more important question.  What have you found to be the most effective way to communicate?

How do you slice through the noise, like a samurai, and reach Generation 2.0?  I see people on Facebook, and I can tell they are on it for hours, that respond to a Farmville coin, but do not answer their phone.  The smart Internet marketing companies and businesses are creating an incentive in exchange for the members time.

Engagement and incentives may get them in, and make your site and product sticky.  This leads to many more questions.  It isn’t uncommon to go into production on a movie without knowing how it ends.  If you write, you also realize that every answer isn’t needed before the 1st chapter is completed, so we can save the questions related to how we use the people we collect.

The question that matters is what channels can we use to effectively reach Generation 2.0?

Tags: Facebook, Generation 2.0, Internet Marketing, LinkedIn, social media, Twitter, web 2.0

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

What Makes a Great Elevator Pitch? Great Question.

Posted on January 25th, 2010 by John Sostak

Reid Hoffman,creator of LinkedIn

Kevin Liebl is in a Digital Marketing group that I belong to, and he asked this question today.

Kevin’s exact question is “what are some of your favorite examples of elevator speeches?”

An elevator pitch is not easy. It is considered a success if it creates an interest in investing in the business, or creates a new client for the business. This is the first thing to remember, the pitch should be tailored to the audience.

It should also be fresh, and as a small business owner, I know my business and it is important for me to be able to concisely describe it, in it’s current form. All of our companies, clients and projects change. My pitch and what I promote is modified because of these changes.

If your pitch works, you will be asked a few questions. A rehearsed speech means nothing if the first question asked by the audience is met by a blank stare and “uhhhh, I don’t know.” Consider your elevator pitch a dialogue. You should understand what you are pitching or promoting and be eager to expand on the pitch.

The elevator pitch for my company, Arcade Digital is:

Arcade Digital is a web development company that improves businesses through Internet marketing. We develop custom web sites, mobile apps and Internet marketing campaigns that are tailored to our clients business and it’s specific needs.

That by itself is pretty bland, and unimpressive. I welcome a question from the person I am speaking with to elaborate, and if I do not get one, I need to engage one from them. I consider this a launching pad for a dialogue about their business, which will then allow me a chance to brainstorm a way we could help their company improve. Although Arcade is an Internet company, we need to be able to help non Internet companies realize that we can help their business grow.

I admit, I am envious of the simple pitch that describes a eureka product that everyone thinks they thought of. A pitch like:

You may have heard of my company, LinkedIn? LinkedIn is a community website made up of people in business. Members commonly have contacts which are colleagues, clients and entrepreneurs that they may know well, or only know through LinkedIn. The individuals create profiles, and engage each other in groups. It is free to join, and we charge for advertising and premium memberships.

Great elevator pitch Reid Hoffman. This brings me to a closing point. A great idea, makes a great pitch, and ultimately, a potentially great company.

Do you have an example of an elevator pitch or speech you like or use?

Tags: LinkedIn

What is your Favorite PHP Framework, and Why?

Posted on December 22nd, 2009 by John Sostak

Open Source is good for me and I will fully embrace it

Open Source developers are creating great frameworks.  Web development and software engineering has come a long way, and we love some of the exciting frameworks that have been developed and are constantly being improved.

Twitter is Ruby on Rails, and now is being improved with Scala.

Here is a really great discussion in a LinkedIn group that I belong to.  What is your favorite PHP framework of Choice?

Some very interesting ones we have been evaluating, with RoR and Scala are:

Drupal

NOLOH

Symfony

CodeIgniter

Zend

Let’s not forget,  WP 2.9

Do you have a favorite PHP Framework?  I would love a tweet to our company ARCADEDIG Twitter account, with your favorite, or even better a response on my blog with your favorite, and why.

Tags: LinkedIn, PHP, Ruby on Rails, Twitter