Internet Communications - How to Use in Your Business

E-Communication in the 21 st Century COSE Small Business Conference October 2006

Your Presenters

Anita Campbell

Steve Rucinski

Find us at: Small Business Trends www.smallbiztrends.com Small Business CEO www.smbceo.com

Choose Your Communication “One-to-Many” Low Medium New Low Social networking SEO Value PR Value Customers: existing vs. new Tech difficulty Type None Low New Low Listservs None unless posted online Low Existing Low to Medium Email newsletters Low to Medium Medium Both Low to Medium Podcasts Low Low New Low Forums High High Both Low to Medium Blogs

Blogs

Chronologically arranged websites (short for web + log)

Use to communicate with public and customers

Advantages over traditional websites:

Draw visitors back (fresh content + conversational features)

Lots of linking to other sites (great for search engines)

Easy and fast to update

Inexpensive

Business Blog Example “ Me to You”

Blog Interactivity Comments by readers

Blogs Links Multiple links to other sites

Blog Software Tools

Start fast with free, hosted options:

Blogger - www.blogger.com

WordPress hosted version - www.wordpress.com

Upgraded versions offer more flexibility:

WordPress non-hosted version is free except for setup and hosting charges - www.wordpress.org

TypePad starts at $5 per month: www.typepad.com

Movable Type also popular - www.movabletype.com

For more resources,visit: www. smallbiztrends.com /blogging

Internet Forums

An Internet forum is a Web site for holding discussions

There are forums for a large number of different topics

Also commonly referred to as web forums, message boards, discussion boards, discussion forums, discussion groups, bulletin boards

Forum Example

Forums - Get Started

Use your favorite search engine with the topic of your choice followed by ‘forum’

Pick a forum with many users and recent activity

Also check out www.boardtracker.com

Podcasting

Podcasting, a combination of Apple's "iPod“ and "broadcasting“

A method of publishing audio (MP3) files to the Internet

Allows users to subscribe to a “feed” using special podcatcher or feedreader sites/software, and be notified of new recordings automatically

Podcasting - Recording

How Does it Work? (Recording)

Publishers record audio content and then post it on a website for listeners.

Create or edit an existing RSS feed including a link to the audio file in the "enclosure" field of an RSS 2.0 feed, uploading it to a website.

Tell the world that a podcast is available.

Podcasting - Listening

How Does it Work? (Listening)

Set up a podcatcher or feedreader that supports podcasting or sync a wireless device like an iPod with your computer.

Enter the URL of the podcast feed into the feedreader or podcatcher of your choice.

As new items appear, review the podcast's description and listen to those of interest.

iTunes – THE Place for Podcasts

Odeo - Easy Way to Record Podcasts

Gcast – Another Easy Way to Record

How to Get Started – Advanced

Secure audio recording equipment

Secure audio recording software

Record the audio

Find resource to host the audio files

Identify website to distribute audio through

Create RSS Feed for subscribers

Market podcast to directories (like iTunes)

Podcasting Resources

http:// studio.odeo.com

http:// www.gcast.com

http:// www.podshowcreator.com

http://www.podblaze.com

http://www.gabcast.com

http://www.hipcast.com

Podcasting Whitepaper ( http://tinyurl.com/zlmx2 )

Podcasting for Dummies Ebook ( http://tinyurl.com/mca3g )

Email Newsletters

Email is not dead

A house list is worth its weight in gold

Newsletters keep your business front and center with customers

Can-Spam law makes it trickier:

Penalties for sending unsolicited emails

Email should be opt-in (preferably “double opt-in”)

Email Newsletters

Don’t DIY! Email marketing services:

Improve delivery rates (whitelisting)

Comply with Can-Spam law

Offer advanced personalization and HTML templates

Recommendations:

Vertical Response: www.verticalresponse.com

Constant Contact: www.constantcontact.com

Lyris: www.lyris.com

Bronto: www.bronto.com

Email Marketing Example

Design

List admin

Mailing

Discussion Lists & Listservs

A listserv is a communication tool that lets members post suggestions or questions to a distribution list (like cc’ing on email).

You submit a question or comment, which is then distributed to all of the other people on that list.

Can be public or private lists

Listserv Example

Listservs - How to Get Started

Use your favorite search engine with the topic of your choice followed by ‘listserv’

Pick a listserv with many users and recent activity

Complete an application if required, dive in and make a comment or ask a question

Social Networking Sites

Places on the Internet where people meet in cyberspace to chat, socialize, debate, and network. Some examples include MySpace.com, Friendster.com, and Facebook.com.

Business-oriented social networking or community sites include:

Linkedin.com

Fastpitch.com

Jumpup.com

Work.com

LinkedIn Example

JumpUp – A New Breed

MySpace Example

FastPitch Example

Social Networking - Get Started

Start with one of the sites; enter a profile of you and your business.

Search for and invite others you know to connect with you through the service.

Update your profile regularly, and communicate with your network frequently.

Choose Your Communication “One to One” Free Low Web-based Email Expense Tech difficulty Type Free to Medium Low to Medium PDFs Medium Low to Medium Email Program (Outlook, etc.)

Web-Based Email