A presentation done for undergraduate business students in MGT 304 at Alabama State University

1. MGT 304: Advanced Business Communications
Alabama State University
March 20, 2013
POWERFUL WEB 2.0 TOOLS FOR
BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS

2. Shawndra T. Bowers
Technologist,
Infinite Learning Solutions, LLC
P.O. Box 20874
Montgomery, Alabama 36120
334.799.3549
info@infinitelearner.com
www.infinitelearner.com

4. Introduction
The Internet is a vital tool for any modern business.
Customers today search online for everything from their
local plumber to a global brand.
New technology and faster connection speeds mean more
customers and businesses are connected than ever
before.
Dynamic, user-generated content or “social media,”
is changing the way that businesses now build
customer relationships online.

5. How the web is
changing
The Internet of the 1990s mainly consisted of
static, information-based content, with a clear
separation between the content provider and
end user.
Now users can easily access the web at
home, in the office or even on their mobile
devices.
Newer websites often encourage their end users
to interact with the content they access and
produce their own web content in response.

6. What is Web 2.0?
Web 2.0 does not refer to a particular technology but to a
general trend. There is no checklist to decide what Web 2.0 is
and whether you can apply it to your business, but there are
several features that tend to distinguish it.
Common to all of these is the ability for users to add and edit
content - contributing online using different types of
technology and interactive media, and creating more
personalized web experiences.
Web 2.0 is far more about creating a community around your
brand and conversing online with your customers - a
'web culture' that means greater interaction between you and
your customer.

7. What is Web 2.0?
It may be helpful to consider integrating some of the
following into your website:
User-generated content - this is the ability for your
customers to interact with your business online by…
• posting information
• comments
• product ratings and reviews
This adds real value for other customers and provides you
with customer insight and content that is unique to your
website.
Business blogs are an example of how you can
communicate directly with your customers, canvass
opinion, and advertise new products or services.
http://blogs.office.com/

8. What is Web 2.0?
It may be helpful to consider integrating some of the following
into your website:
Collaboration - nearly all Web 2.0 applications center around
some community aspect where users can share
experiences and knowledge.
Increasingly the web is being used for ―open innovation‖ or
e-collaboration, where organizations are opening up areas
of their business to the online community. In doing
so, business is using the online resources and expertise
available to solve problems or create innovative products
or services.

9. What is Web 2.0?
It may be helpful to consider integrating some of the
following into your website:
Online networking and social media - the ability for
people to find others with similar interests and
express themselves to a community of like-minded
people - for example, social sites like
• Facebook
• Twitter
Business networking sites such as LinkedIn can also
be used to develop professional networks, to enhance
career or recruitment options or simply to keep in
touch with former colleagues and contacts.
http://www.facebook.com/SMARTClassrooms

10. How Web 2.0 can be
used for business
Think about what your customers are looking for
when they visit your website:
• Could they benefit from product reviews or
advice from previous customers?
• What can you offer beyond simply selling
products or providing information?

11. How Web 2.0 can be
used for business
Build an online community
Think about how you can use Web 2.0 tools to enhance your
relationship with your customers and build a community around
your brand. For example, if your business sells tools and
hardware, you might consider posting video tutorials showing
how to carry out common DIY jobs. You could also have an
online forum to let other users of your site share their own advice
and tips.
This would encourage people to return to your site after making a
purchase and should also attract new visitors. The more visitors
you have, the more likely you are to sell. So, even if you can't see
an immediate benefit, improving your customers' web experience
will help your business in the long term.

12. How Web 2.0 can be
used for business
Improve your brand's image
Is your business or industry relevant only to the local area you operate
in? Perhaps you already have a good local reputation and don't see
the need to build a website. However, there are always potential
new customers in your marketplace and a good website can be an
effective way to minimize your advertising spend and extend
your reach.
User-generated content can put your business on display for a
worldwide audience. For example, if you run a local bakery, you may
not deliver worldwide, but if you add your recipes to your website
and let people from New York to New Delhi post comments on
them, this will improve perception of your brand. With a website that
acts as a permanent online advertisement, you may not need to use
other marketing methods to attract customers.

13. Survey

14. How Web 2.0 can be
used for business
Many Web 2.0 tools can be added to your site
at little or no cost.
But you will need to allocate time and
resources to monitor user content, to reply to
customers and to keep your website up to
date.
Social Media and the Workplace

15. The future of the web
How will the internet change in the future and how will these
changes affect business?
Below are three technologies of the third generation of the
internet - or 'Web 3.0‗ - that may help shape the internet of
the future:
https://www.wellsfargo.com/
• The Mobile Web vs.
https://m.wellsfargo.com/
• Cloud Computing
• Virtual Worlds
• Augmented Reality (AR)
http://secondlife.com/

16. Worth exploring…
POPULAR WEB 2.0 TOOLS

17. Business Profiles
Manta is the world's largest online
community for promoting and
connecting small business.
With more than one million registered
users and 64 million company
profiles, business owners and
professionals use
Manta to promote and differentiate
their offerings and "be found"
online by customers and
prospects. http://www.manta.com/c/mtplmzq/infinite-learning-solutions

18. Business Profiles
Google Places
makes you
business listing
available
through Google
Web
Search, Google
Maps, Mobile
search, 1-800-
GOOG-411
voice directory
search, and
Google Earth.
Places Page

19. Planning and
Collaboration
Google Apps offers simple, powerful communication and
collaboration tools for you small business – all hosted by
Google to streamline setup, minimize maintenance, and
reduce IT costs.
Google Apps suite includes:
Gmail
Google Calendar
Google Docs
Google Cloud Connect
Google Sites
http://www.google.com/apps/intl/en/group/index.html

20. Social Networking
http://www.linkedin.com/company/1337
LinkedIn is a business-oriented
social networking site.
LinkedIn connects you to your
trusted contacts and helps
you exchange
knowledge, ideas, and
opportunities with a broader
network of professionals.
LinkedIn has more than 100
million registered
users, spanning more than
200 countries worldwide.

21. Social Networking
How To Start Marketing
on Facebook
1. Setup your page
2. Invite your friends
3. Customize your page
4. Convert your existing
customers to friends
5. Advertise
www.facebook.com/.../Infinite-Learning-Solutions/126408884065397

22. Communication
Skype is a Voice Over IP (VoIP) service that uses your
Internet connection to make phone calls - both voice and
video – as well as instant message.
Other options:
Google Hangout
Oovoo

23. Communication
Twitter is a social networking and microblogging service that
allows you answer the question, "What are you doing?" by
sending short text messages 140 characters in length, called
"tweets", to your friends, or "followers."
The short format of the
tweet is a defining
characteristic of the
service, allowing informal
collaboration and quick
information sharing.
http://twitter.com/#!/infinitelearner

24. Communication
Did you know that YouTube is the number 2
search engine on the Web in terms of query
volume.
YouTube is free, easy to use, and holds mass
appeal, making it the perfect marketing channel
for small businesses.
http://mashable.com/2010/04/23/youtube-small-business/

25. Communication
http://www.polleverywhere.com
Poll Everywhere replaces expensive proprietary audience
response hardware with standard web technology. It's the
easiest way to gather live responses in any venue:
conferences, presentations, classrooms, radio, tv, print —
anywhere by letting people communicate via text
messaging, web, or Twitter.

27. Communication
Quick Response (QR Codes) are two-dimensional codes
(similar to barcodes) that can hold more information.
When you scan a QR code, it can link you to the
web, activate functions, such as email or instant
message, or provide you with digital content.
http://goqr.me/

28. Additional Resources
Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything
by Don Tapscott and Anthony Williams
The Rise of the Networked Enterprise: Web2.0 Finds Its Payday:
http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/Organization/Strategic_Organizatio
n/The_rise_of_the_networked_enterprise_Web_20_finds_its_payday
_2716
Putting Web 2.0 To Work: http://www.bnet.com/feature/putting-web-20-to-
work/188729?tag=drawer;toc-drawer
The Entrepreneur‘s Guide to Web 2.0: Top 25 Apps to Grow your
Business: http://www.avivadirectory.com/entrepreneur-apps/
Web 2.0 Tools for Getting Noticed:
http://www.entrepreneur.com/technology/managingtechnology/web20
columnistfrankbell/article181082.html
SmallBiz Technology – Social Media:
http://smallbiztechnology.com/category/social-media/
Mashable – Business & Marketing: http://mashable.com/business/
Go2Web20: http://www.go2web20.net/