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Eight Ways New Media Will Transform Your Business in ’08
September 5, 2007
You are overwhelmed with information and
nonstop technology. Every day you are bombarded with options. We understand.
You need help. As a customer-focused media company, we are
committed to delivering information in ways that will make your job easier and
more efficient. You can thrive by strategically managing how and when you
receive information.
1. Go Online for Training and Certification
Online training has come of age and keeps getting
better. Early attempts at Webcasts and Webinars were clunky, strained affairs.
Fuzzy images and lost connections were the norm. Today, high-speed connections,
in-house projection, enhanced software, improved two-way communication, and
experienced providers make Web-based training an engaging experience.
Got a question? Most Webinars allow you to submit questions
and answer them during a Q&A period.
Want a video clip or additional information on the Webinar?
Providers often include video links, which can be entertaining, and related Web
sites so you can dig deeper.
Need proof of participation to qualify for CEUs? You might
need to take a short quiz, but many Webinars provide a link allowing you to
print a course completion certificate.
Takeaway: Challenge your staff to use Webcasts
instead of costly travel and you’ll improve training.
2. Use Online Community to Obtain Real-Time, Real-Life
Answers
Perhaps you’ve avoided places like You Tube, bulletin
boards, and blogs. Aren’t those for newbies, techies or people without lives?
In some cases, that’s true. But for a growing number, online community is now
an essential source of their business success.
A huge benefit of online community is free access to people
just like you who have already tackled your challenges. Whether you are fixing
a broken part, launching an initiative, or revolutionizing your company,
someone is waiting to tell you how they succeeded at that task, or, equally
valuable, which pitfalls to avoid. Many sites also offer video that shows
you how to do it.
Another aspect of community is the ability to build your
reputation. Community participants don’t want a sales pitch (spammer!), but
they respect you for providing useful information and solving problems. Respect
translates into trust, and trust translates into opportunities for your
company.
Takeaway: Find trustworthy bulletin boards,
blogs and communal spaces that focus on your industry. You’ll benefit by
engaging with sharp-minded, impassioned participants.
3. Find Information With Lightning
Speed
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a geeky way of saying
“fast answers”. If you are even a bit Web savvy, you’ve Googled something. But
Google can be overwhelming when you pull up 101,234 results.
A better option is vertical search – using the search
functions of industry-specific Websites. Niched sites are more targeted and
eliminate fluff. Some, like BNP Media’s sites, license Google technology for
speed but limit the search to a highly defined universe of data, making your
search vastly more efficient.
Takeaway: Visit the top Websites in your field
and bookmark those providing the best search results. You’ll save a ton of
time.
4. Locate Products Quickly With Online
Directories
Finding products poses a problem when you need specific
items to complete a project. Online directories are a great solution. Most
allow you to enter a company name, product category, or a brand and then
provide a defined list.
OK, you love your print directories. Why use an online
directory?
Print directories remain excellent resources, but online
directories can be updated daily. Online directories also include links to
supplier Websites, spec sheets, and even product videos.
Takeaway: Keep your print directories handy
and visit their online versions for even more updated and comprehensive
information.
5. Read Breaking News
Whether you’re a leader in your company or headed up the
ladder, staying informed has never been easier.
Websites.
Some sites are updated daily, while others languish for weeks. Limit your
visits to sites that are updated frequently and offer professional
coverage.
E-newsletters.
Electronic newsletters offer a big advantage because they come to you.
E-newsletters have proliferated so focus on those that provide truly
useful industry information.
RSS
feeds. Real Simple Syndication (RSS) is a way to assure you are
alerted whenever certain news breaks on the Web. RSS requires you to sign
up for a reader and select the topics you want. Those articles collect
until you access them.
Takeaway: Avoid news overload. Focus on
Websites, e-news and RSS feeds that best meet your needs and unsubscribe to the
rest.
6. Study In-depth Content For Personal Development and Strategic
Planning
While the Web is fantastic for immediacy,
it is equally strong in providing content that will help you obtain
comprehensive knowledge, perspective, and leadership skills.
Archived articles stored on
industry Websites allow concentrated study of a topic or in-depth analysis of
an expert’s opinions.
White papers allow you to read
thoughtful analysis on new products and procedures, often complete with
statistics and projections.
Syndicated research can help you
maintain a high level of expertise on a topic or industry, and provides insight
for strategic planning.
Takeaway: Search Websites for meaty data and
expertise. If required, register to gain access to highly valuable information
that others may miss.
7. Conduct Business Online
E-commerce is more than a buzzword. Many companies now
require online purchase orders, applications, designs, specifications, bids,
change-orders, credit checks, and payments. A recent survey conducted among
subscribers to BNP Media publications showed that while most all had company
websites, only 30% allowed customers to place orders online.
Takeaway: Embrace this trend by becoming
e-commerce savvy. Promote your company as Web-friendly, making sure your
Website is customer-driven, and you will be rewarded.
8. Buy the Right Technology
Your staff may be clamoring for iPhones, Blackberries,
Windows Vista, or other technology. While these products can enhance your
company’s ability to receive and relay information, new technology produces a
strain on resources. Your IT staff may require significant ramp-up time and
your users will need training.
Takeaway: A
good solution is to skip one or two generations of tech products, but commit
fully when you do jump in. Having everyone using the same version of the same
product enhances company-wide efficiency.
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