catching up with web 2.0...

there are signs that savvy small business owners are continually becoming more comfortable with the web 2.0 environment of today's internet. however, we're still very much at the early-adopters stage of this evolution. referring to geoffrey a. moore's book crossing the chasm. those paying attention are well on their way to impacting the world at large with their brands as they leverage some very cool web 2.0 apps, i give you the infamous blogger hugh mcleod - gapingvoid.com. this man on a mission to look like he's not on any particular mission at all other than to blog from a house in the english country-side and get paid for it by leveraging his blog to build interest, recognition and ultimately sales for his micro-brand clients. he accomplishes this by holding our fleeting attention by drawing crazy cartoons as the hook. i liked the idea that it inspired me to go on my own crazy moment of amatuer cartoonist emulation some time back, to which i give hugh all the credit for the content style and inspiration. I still may grace these pages in the future with more drawings of my own but hugh is the business card cartoonist in this world and there's really only room for one...

i describe web 2.0 as an online empowering revolution for the individual. bits of software talking to each other to improve your online experience. improved search responses, mobile computing, social networking...the increased ability to share, comment, influence such as i'm doing here on my blog (minor and insignificant as that may be -i'm most certainly part of the long-tail). there's even a way to become a virtual version of yourself if you like. all are ways to interact with the world in a more efficient, if not often times geeky and far reaching way.

those business owners who can access a team (like fusedlogic for example) with the express purpose of putting together an online tactical marketing plan that would include web.2.0 options are going to be far more successful in diversifying the reach of their brand globally, (hey it's my blog, i never suggested i would stop being a capitalist) the next step is to then leverage that new brand recognition. how? learn to direct traffic, interest and opportunity generated by your hard working web 2.0 tactical plan towards a waiting efficient process that involves the sale of your products or services online... that's right, shopping carts, pay-pal or at least a way to book services online should be the next step in your plan...

the idea and promise of the internet providing online revenue for brick and mortar companies is a concept that has existed for over a decade now...however, until web 2.0, it's never been so easy to implement with so few resources and so few hands on deck. in fact, you are able to do almost if not all of this yourself and all you need is a paypal account or credit card. scary thought huh?

explore new web 2.0 concepts today... here are a few to consider:
blogger
secondlife - this is something i'm going to have to try once just to have some fun...

and for a more extensive list (because i'm busy and a bit lazy today) try sacred cow dung

be brave!