Rodney's response to "Web 2.0 Cured My Cancer and Made Me Taller -- and Rich!"

Old world perspective on new technology is why some marketers are having a problem with Web 2.0.

Web 2.0 isn't portal based. It lives with or without Klickable.tv, Youtube, Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, etc.

Barrack Obama's campaign team harnessed Web 2.0 and changed history by getting youth to actually vote. I don't recall any Second Life in the mix.

The consumer is in control. They are the media.

If you provide the comparison or demonstration tools to simplify their decision making process and enable them to quickly share with their trusted friends and family, for both affirmation and to provide an opinion reference when asked, and your product or service is actually good and has a good reputation in the Web 2.0 landscape, then, as Barrack Obama did, you, the Web 2.0 marketer will win.

A recent study concluded that a brand's web site is the most powerful tool a marketer has to impact retail sales. The study found that shoppers make lists. They search, which leads to brand web sites, where they are comfortable checking things out, and often forward information from the sites to their friends and trusted advisers for opinions on what they've read or compared.

Other times, they take the information at face-value and will make a purchase with no trusted opinions. Further yet, some people just walk into a store and sample buy, because the product looks good for their need that day.

But if the product fails them, no matter how they found it, they let everyone know. Want proof, look no further than on any blog forum, youtube, Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, check your e-mail, or better yet Google - "I hate (company name here)" and you'll find all kinds of websites and blogs on the subject.

Search and awareness are important. But both are manipulated and are not trusted or believed at face value.

All the awareness in the world won't fix an inferior product or experience, which is what the consumer cares most about.

The consumer now knows the "truth" about products and experiences based on their networks of friends. That's what Web 2.0 really is, social networking.

Apps, Widgets, Portals, Search, Awareness and In-Game enhancers are some of the tools that can be used in a Web 2.0 strategy. But before you choose your tools, you have to understand what you're building.

Rodney Mason
CMO, Moosylvania
The Great State Of Design
www.moosylvania.com – RODNEY MASON | FRISCO, TX

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