The R3 Blog

Web 3.0 will expand on web 2.0 technology, which allows users to self-publish data and interact with one another through various social networking sites. web 3.0, which will enable websites to interface with one another, processes that data, creates meaning out of it and makes intelligent decisions based on it, Ailoch says. In the 3.0 realm, for example, a social shopping site could recommend products to you based on reviews you perused on another website, like epinions.com or reviews.com. This would further customize consumers' online shopping experiences, which is what they want, Weidberg says.

"web 3.0 aims to make the internet itself a huge database of information accessible to humans and machines," Ailoch says. "This data-driven web will enable us to unearth more accurate information, faster, from the internet."

More and more, we'll see shopping sites integrating with other sites, Ailoch says. This allows consumers, for example, to share a product--while on a social shopping site--with their personal network on a social media site, like Facebook. Integration with the social web, in fact, is the next phase for Giantnerd.

"We'll take our platform that's very internalized right now and spider that out into the web," Weidberg says. "It will take the viral aspect of social networking to another level."

Retailers need to be ready for web 3.0, Ailoch says, which means if you haven't already done so, you should:

• establish a social media presence (for example, publish a page on Facebook).
• incorporate customer reviews into your website.
• facilitate sharing from your site to social media outlets (Del.icio.us, StumbleUpon, MySpace, Digg, Twitter, etc.).
• personalize your customers' experiences as much as possible.
• enable users to access, surf and purchase from your site via mobile devices (like the iPhone).

"Social shopping will become the new standard for e-commerce sites that want to stay competitive," Weidberg says.

ARE YOU WEB 3.0 READY ?:
Read more about becoming MOBILE READY

 Read more about Social Shopping at Entrepreneur

Networking is one of the  best ways for small businesses to pick up new customers.
One of your 2012 resolutions should be to join a new community or neighborhood group and/or attend a new networking event.
It’s important that you keep talking about your business.

Networking in today's environment sometimes is "only one opportunity" and if you treat it as such, you'll see positive results.
Finding the appropriate networking events to meet others and hand out cards is now closer to an art-form.

- Attend Chamber of Commerce networking events.
- Give back to the community by serving on a Non Profit Charity Organization.
- Send out brief emails to those whom you met at your networking event - add them to your database to recieve your E-Newsletters (always allow them to opt-out)

Happy New Year .. Wishing everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!!

STAY AHEAD OF YOUR COMPETITION

If you feel that your competition is beating you in a certain area of your business, don’t feel as if you have been beaten and get mad, instead, understand that they have just found a smarter practice and you might want to emulate that, without copying them.

Competitors can be inspiring yet intimidating at the same time. You want to be ahead of you competition, however it can work to your advantage to follow your competitors just to see what they’re up to.   There are some things that you can do to make sure that your business climbs to the top of your niche and stay there.

1. Know your Competition:
   This is crucial and it may seem like you are spying, but you can’t beat the competition if you are not sure who they are. Make sure you do your research and find out whom your potential customers are currently working with.
   
   
2. Do not Compete in Pricing:
   Do not try to match your competitors pricing, you may find yourself skimming the bottom of the barrel when it is all said and done. Instead, focus on offering your customers a superior product or service, you will find that customers will pay for it.
   
   
3. Be-friend Your Competition:
   Your competitors are NOT your enemies, in fact, Sometimes it is beneficial to collaborate with them, especially in the online marketing world. You might even find it beneficial to endorse one another’s products or to promote one another as backup resources.
   
   
4. Competitors Can Play Dirty:
   Most people do business in a fair and equitable fashion; however there are always those people who will stop at nothing to take down the competition just to make a buck or two. This is another reason to keep a close eye on your competition, and if you happen to see them doing anything illegal, do not be afraid to take legal action if it is call for.

Email is a very powerful option for marketing, if used correctlY.

1) It's essential that every single person on your email list has opted- in via a form on your website.

1. Sending unsolicited emails will only hurt your company's reputation.
2. As tempting as it may be to purchase a list of one million prospects from a lead broker, you run the risk of creating angry prospects who cannot wait to report you and your company as spam.
3. Build your lists through permission, not spam.

2)   Large Lists are NOT the key to success.

1. Targeted lists is the key to success
2. It is better to have 500 targeted prospects, than it is to have 5,000 untargeted leads.

3)   Send Appropriate emails to appropriate leads

1. Segment prospects that have purchased from you, and send them emails to keep them happy and loyal customers.i.
2. For example: special offers, coupon, customer appreciated deals

4)   Deliver valuable information to your subscribers

1. This is key to building loyal customers.
2. Avoid the aggressive and pushy sales pitch
3. It is important that you deliver valuable and educational information to your prospects.

5)   Every email should ask your prospects to act

1. It does not matter what action you want them to take, just as long as you ask them to take some form of action
2. You may want for them to call on 800 number
3. You may want them to register for a webinar
4. You may want to them to take a look at your newest product