Monday, September 29, 2008

Using RSS Feeds

Real Simple Syndication (RSS 2.0) is a group of Web feed formats used to disseminate regularly updated works (blog entries, headlines, audio, and video) in a standardized format to mass amounts of people. It is an important component of Web 2.0, as it is an innovative way to reach a mass audience through the Internet.

An RSS feed usually includes full or summarized text, authorship and publishing dates. RSS benefits readers who want updates from websites or to aggregate feeds from different sites into one place. RSS allows publishers to syndicate information quickly. These information feeds use a standardized XML format, so information can be published once and viewed by several different programs.

RSS is a significant new media topic for Boston Marketing Agencies. Marketing specialists should guide clients on the value of RSS feeds. It is a great way for companies to broadcast new information to an interested audience quickly. Additionally, RSS feeds allow people to track users’ interests. Companies can see what content users want to know about and use that knowledge to their advantage.

Boston Marketing Agencies and Boston Public Relations Firms use RSS feeds in different ways for their clients. Boston marketing professionals guide companies on the use of RSS feeds for their websites and blogs. These feeds can notify subscribers of new additions to a website and new information regarding the company. Businesses that want to track their name in the news can subscribe to a universal RSS feed where the keyword is the company name. This allows businesses to keep track of their presence on the Internet. Boston Branding Agencies are also employing this use of RSS for their clients as a brand management tool.

RSS feeds create several opportunities for companies to connect with their audiences.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Building your Brand through Social Networking

I started out this blog talking about Web 2.0 and the implications it has had on social networking, so I thought I would take some time today to discuss how social networking can affect your brand.

Originally, the Internet was seen as a medium for communication much like TV; consumers were supposed to sit and wait to take in the message, just like they would watching a commercial. As we know, this way of thinking simply is not applicable any more, with much thanks to Web 2.0. Now, the Internet is seen as a medium for communication and conversation between business and consumer, and social networking sites are seen as the framework in which these conversations occur.

Web 2.0 and social networking sites are allowing Boston Branding Agencies and Boston Advertising Agencies to promote their brands and messages like never before. Social networking sites, like Facebook and LinkedIn, are now providing the necessary bridge for businesses to reach out to their consumers and hear exactly what they want, and also what they don’t want. Groups, pages, and discussion forums all allow companies to get their brand out to the masses in ways that simply did not exist before these sites emerged.

As a result, allowing customers to communicate how they feel about your company or brand, through user generated content, provides an entirely different and trusted voice for your company. People tend to determine whether or not they will buy a product or service based on consumer review, and social networking sites allow these reviews to be easily accessed by millions.

Finally, creating a brand experience that is tailored to the needs of the consumer speaks volumes about your company, and also tends to result in brand loyalty. Social networking sites have made this job easier for companies by allowing them to get involved and see what their consumer thinks, want, and needs. Many Boston Marketing Firms, Boston Branding Agencies, and Boston Advertising Agencies have gotten onboard with social networking, and have realized that, for the most part, any buzz is good buzz. These sites are allowing such companies to tune into their customers, and also reach out to new customers like never before, and are resulting in great successes.

Friday, September 19, 2008

Google Chrome

As most of you probably know, a couple weeks ago Google announced the release of their new browser: Google Chrome.

Google Chrome is a web browser built with open source, and was released via a comic on September 2nd in 43 languages. It was developed with the goals of improving security, speed, and stability over current existing browsers. Tests performed by Google have shown that Chrome is about twice as fast as Firefox and Safari. The user interface is also completely different from any existing browser.

One of the coolest features of Chrome is the “Omnibox” which combines the functionalities of a URL and search box. When you type something in Chrome automatically comes up with other search suggestions, with the search volume included. Applications like this will allow chrome to make SEO and SEO/PR much easier for Boston Interactive Agencies.

So far, Google Chrome has been well received, although its future sustainability is still to be determined. However, the implications it has for Boston Interactive and Digital Agencies and also web developers are great, as many of the new applications help to make their jobs much easier.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Del.icio.us

Known as a social bookmarking site, Del.icio.us has the largest collection of bookmarks in the world. Del.icio.us allows its users to tag, save, manage, and share web pages from a centralized source, and also improves how people discover and share information on the internet.

The concept of Del.icio.us centers on merging popular bookmarks, based on the amount of tags each receives, into one website so you are able to access your bookmarks on any computer. This exciting feature enables the internet user to discover relevant bookmarks based on topics they are most interested in. With the possibility of becoming a popular site, companies using Del.icio.us are finding the site effective in drawing in new customers that hold previous interests in the services they offer, and as a result are getting higher traffic volumes.

Much like Digg and StumbleUpon, Del.icio.us is another website that is making a huge impact on social networking and Web 2.0 for many Boston Interactive Agencies, Boston Public Relations and Boston Advertising Agencies. As technology continues to improve, and Web 2.0 continues to transform the worlds of Marketing, Public Relations, and Advertising, more and more businesses are taking the necessary steps in advancing to new Web 2.0 techniques, allowing for more creativity, interest, and a world wide audience.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Stumble Upon

StumbleUpon is another Web 2.0 tool much like Digg, however, it allows for more user interaction. When creating an account a user is able to browse different categories of interest and choose which are most relevant. Once the toolbar is downloaded, users are able to “stumble” around the internet freely by clicking the Stumble! button, much like channel surfing. Users are then given websites based on topics that best match their interests, as well as sites that hold high ratings from previous users, that they can then rate themselves by giving the site a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down”.

The benefits to Boston Public Relations Firms are very similar to those I mentioned in the Digg post yesterday. Additionally, because StumbleUpon users are getting search results that stem from topics of interest, companies are given a hand in locating customers and target markets in order to get a boost in site traffic. Just like with Digg, the more times a Boston Advertising Agency can get their name, or names of clients, out in the internet the higher the traffic volume back to the company’s site will be, and the more likely customers will be to purchase that company’s product or service.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Digg.com

In continuing to discuss different Web 2.0 topics, today I am going to talk a little bit about Digg.com.

Digg, a website that started as an experiment in November 2004 has exploded, becoming a powerful marketing tool for companies, and is known as the “Digg Effect”. Digg.com allows registered users to discover and share information from anywhere on the internet, letting users rate the sites based on whether they “dig it” or would prefer to “bury it”. The more Diggs a submission receives the better; if it receives enough Diggs by users it gets promoted to the front page of the site for its millions of visitors to see. If a website has earned a substantial amount of Diggs, it becomes popular and is posted to the homepage of its category.

What does this mean in terms of business for Boston Public Relations Firms? Many companies that are using Digg have gathered enough users that “Digg” their site and are noticing huge increases in traffic which is creating more business. The benefits are obvious: the more traffic driven to your site, the more people that view your site, recognize your brand, and ultimately buy your product or service.

Monday, September 15, 2008

The New Facebook

I mentioned Facebook in my last post as a great social networking tool for companies to reach a very targeted audience. Last week Facebook changed the layout of their site for good, and while some users may not like the new design, there are many new applications that Boston Interactive Agencies can benefit from, one of the most beneficial being the new Engagement Advertisements.

The significance of Facebook’s ‘Engagement Advertisements’ :

Everyone’s talking about the new Facebook. Students are ranting and raving about it across campuses. Other users either love it or hate it. But what do marketers think? How does the new Facebook impact them?

The new Facebook offers marketing tools that encourage brands to engage consumers through social marketing techniques. Companies looking to advertise on a social networking site that will effectively reach a target audience should check out Facebook’s ‘Engagement Advertisements.’ There are three ways to post an ad using the ‘Engagement Advertisement’ method. These ad categories are comment style ads, virtual gifts style ads and fan style ads. Each of these ad styles are designed to attract and engage customers through social interaction. Research shows that in order to engage potential consumers on a social networking site, brands must become involved in the community and social exploration.

Here in Massachusetts, Boston Public Relations Firms, Boston Advertising Agencies and Boston Branding Firms are interested in Facebook’s marketing tools and how they can use these tools for their clients. They want to help clients break into the social networking community and engage users in companies’ advertisements. In the era of Web 2.0 and Public Relations 2.0, it is increasingly important for companies to find alternative ways to cut through the clutter of content on the Internet.

This new Facebook advertising strategy offers unique ways for brands to connect and involve clients. But before marketers can succeed, they need to understand the world of social marketing. With the help of Boston Marketing Specialists, groups can understand social marketing and connect with clients on a mutual platform. Companies that work with a Boston Branding Firm, are able to meet with marketing professionals and learn how to use new social marketing tools to their advantage.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

The Web 2.0 Revolution

Working for an Interactive Agency in Boston, I learn more than the average person about Web 2.0 and all that it has to offer. I thought I would start this blog to share some of my thoughts and information I find along the way; so here it goes...


Web 2.0 is not so much a new technology, but a revolution. The rise of the web has changed the way we communicate as people, and thus the way we communicate as business and consumer. Web 2.0 includes such areas as social networking, blogging, mobile marketing, RSS feeds, etc.... This allows companies to reach their targeted audiences on a whole new level; one that allows constant interaction, conversation, and feedback. As a result, Web 2.0 firms have started to emerge all over the place. These innovative companies are recognizing the way Web 2.0 has revolutionized the entire field of communications, and more importantly the amazing reach it has to potential consumers. Consequently, Web 2.0 has become an essential part of most marketing, public relations, and advertising campaigns.

One of the best examples of this is Facebook. Facebook not only revolutionized the college experience, but it revolutionized social media. It is social networking forums such as this that have changed the way Boston Advertising Agencies reach out to their customers, as it allows for precise demographic targeting. Facebook also allows companies to set up groups, pages, and list items in the marketplace. Facebook has added a mobile application, which allows users to access all the site has to offer on their mobile phones, just furthering the reach and potential of this amazing social networking tool.

These new tools can mean amazing things for your company and also for your brand if you take advantage of them. The way people interact with each other, and also with the media, has changed for good. As a result, countless new opportunities are being presented that are both far reaching, and sustainable.