10 (Essential!) Rules To Pass the "Web 2.0 Go": A 10-Part Marketing Series.

(Please note: all posts in this 10-part series are archived here)

As more of my work extends to and involves social media, one thing I find is too many companies entering this space before they’re truly equipped with the essential know-how they need to succeed in this space--be that know-how a needed change in their mindsets, in properly planning their initiatives or within their marketing practices.

These gaps in understanding make perfect sense given that these media have not only ushered in a new set of tools, but an entirely new set of trends. I frequently tell my clients that they'll learn so much of the Web 2.0 terrain once they're participating in it... but that they have a bunch of learning to do first.

It’s not that I want for brands to stay on the social media sidelines--quite the contrary, it’s that I want them better prepared before they jump in the game. Because results and relationships are what we're after. And, let’s face it, this space already has so much noise (and too little signal) and our markets need marketers who place them first.

As part of my projects, and as part of my social media training, I cover a host of these areas with clients at the outset. But there are a lot of companies who need guidance on the essentials--and that got me thinking... one of the speeches that I give, titled “10 (Essential!) Rules to Pass the Web 2.0 Go,” covers many of the basics. Here's the description:

Social media (aka "Web 2.0") provides marketers with groundbreaking opportunities amid a groundswell of consumer-empowered trends. It's also changing the way business is done, because now we have new voices in the business process. 

There is much opportunity and many rewards...but not without its share of new rules for avoiding marketing misfires and unnecessary risks. In this "monopoly-inspired" presentation, perfect for both B2Bs and B2Cs, I cover 10 (essential!) rules that no B2B or B2C marketer should pass the Web 2.0 Go without.

So here’s what I’m going to do: I’ll devote ten posts to covering the ten rules. Thus, including this post there will be 11 posts in all. While it won't be as dynamic or as high-impact as the one-on-one instruction of social media training, it's the next best thing I can provide through my blog.

Each post will highlight: one essential rule (the "what"), the reasoning behind it (the "why"), and the corresponding action points (the "what now?"), along with links to any related posts I’ve previously penned that can provide further insight on the rule I'm illuminating.

I’ll archive all the posts in their own category located here, so if you miss any, you can always go back and review them, or point others to them. Hey, you can even review them again, perhaps some things are better the second time around!

That said, many of you who are already very involved in this space are familiar with these best practices. But there are many more who haven't yet begun to tackle this space, or are just starting to tinker with it. And I want to do my part in helping companies market smart by putting their market first.

Back at you soon with Rule #1…

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