http://bravenewfilms.org/topics/big-business 2008-09-28T16:37:29Z http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/53163-sex-drugs-and-big-oil-new-scandal-rocks-d-c 2008-09-28T16:37:29Z CTC411.com <object width="375" height="308"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kYgJAxwZBw4&border=0&rel=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kYgJAxwZBw4&border=0&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="375" height="308"></embed></object> <a href="/blog/53163-sex-drugs-and-big-oil-new-scandal-rocks-d-c"><img src="http://bravenewfilms.org/pictures/medium/64516" width="140" height="105" border="0" align="left" style="border: solid 1px black;" /></a> <div class="post_content"> <p>The Bush administration has long been accused of having too close a relationship with the oil industry. The investigative report was released a day after President Bush had a private lunch with Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, the man in charge of the agency at the heart of the scandal. <br />That was behind closed doors.</p> <p>"The government employees who oversee offshore oil drilling are literally and figuratively in bed with big oil," said Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. </p> <p>The allegations of bad behavior involve about a dozen government employees in Denver and Washington - workers who sell U.S. mineral rights to oil companies, which is one of the government's biggest sources of revenue besides taxes. </p> <p>They're supposed to be looking out for the taxpayers' interest. But according to the inspector general, they rigged contracts, and engaged in illegal moonlighting, drugs, sex and gift-taking from oil company representatives. </p> <p>http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/10/cbsnews_investigates/main4437818.shtml</p> </div> <a href="/blog/53163-sex-drugs-and-big-oil-new-scandal-rocks-d-c">Watch the video</a> http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/43577-john-mccain-speech-01-28-08 2008-07-12T15:40:25Z IssueAlliance <object width="375" height="308"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/v-yQnu7GUfo&border=0&rel=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/v-yQnu7GUfo&border=0&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="375" height="308"></embed></object> <a href="/blog/43577-john-mccain-speech-01-28-08"><img src="http://bravenewfilms.org/pictures/medium/49915" width="140" height="105" border="0" align="left" style="border: solid 1px black;" /></a> <div class="post_content"> <p>John McCain <br />Speech <br />Tampa, FL 01/028/08</p> <p>TRANSCRIPT: <br />JOHN MCCAIN: "So I went to New Hampshire and I told them the truth, and we had over a hundred town hall meetings. And we went to Michigan, and we told them the truth, they didn't like it much. And we went to South Carolina and we told them the truth, that maybe the old textile mills weren't coming back... Let the American businesses have their way and get the government out of their way. </p> <p>LABEL: JM FL 1-28 (AM#26) AC - ClipA</p> <p>To download a high res version of this clip, VISIT: <br />https://issuealliance.box.net/shared/ocrsvbkgs8 <br />To download the full campaign event, VISIT: https://issuealliance.box.net/shared/zg941hjsw8</p> </div> <a href="/blog/43577-john-mccain-speech-01-28-08">Watch the video</a> http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/43573-john-mccain-speech-06-10-08 2008-07-13T10:40:46Z IssueAlliance <object width="375" height="308"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ld_ntBd2p-o&border=0&rel=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ld_ntBd2p-o&border=0&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="375" height="308"></embed></object> <a href="/blog/43573-john-mccain-speech-06-10-08"><img src="http://bravenewfilms.org/pictures/medium/49911" width="140" height="105" border="0" align="left" style="border: solid 1px black;" /></a> <div class="post_content"> <p>John McCain <br />Speech <br />Washington, DC 06/10/08</p> <p>TRANSCRIPT: <br />JOHN MCCAIN: For Women, for immigrants for people of every background small businesses are the path to success and to the American Dream and I congratulate you for it </p> <p>Heckler interrupts - regarding cost of the Iraq War </p> <p>LABEL: JM DC 6-10 (AM#31) GHIS - ClipA</p> <p>To download a high res version of this clip, VISIT: https://issuealliance.box.net/shared/gsc46854w4 <br />To download the full campaign event, VISIT: https://issuealliance.box.net/shared/h700kltwko</p> </div> <a href="/blog/43573-john-mccain-speech-06-10-08">Watch the video</a> http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/43057-leverage-your-business-with-web-video 2008-10-13T12:20:16Z David Skul <object width="375" height="308"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/EuY8f7D75wQ&border=0&rel=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/EuY8f7D75wQ&border=0&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="375" height="308"></embed></object> <a href="/blog/43057-leverage-your-business-with-web-video"><img src="http://bravenewfilms.org/pictures/medium/48636" width="140" height="105" border="0" align="left" style="border: solid 1px black;" /></a> <div class="post_content"> <p>Online videos offer internet marketers one of the best platforms for engaging an audience and building a solid clientele. </p> <p>This innovative new marketing medium allows marketers to communicate with their viewers on several different levels using music, visual imagery and visual text.</p> <p>Online video allows you to reach out to the global audience with a minimal investment, thus increasing your ROI tremendously. Moreover, it requires no technical expertise to set up or use. Adding a basic video to your web site only requires that you have access to a computer and a webcam or a digital camcorder. </p> <p>Of course, knowing how to edit the video and add special effects by way of graphics, music and specialized text would give you the competitive edge over other businesses that use online videos for marketing. </p> <p>Although there are no restrictions as to the kind of video you may produce for the purpose of marketing, remember the main aim of the video is to generate more business by keeping the customer engaged. With this in mind, it's critical that the video should be riveting enough to hold the viewers attention and yet it should remain relevant to your area of business.</p> </div> <a href="/blog/43057-leverage-your-business-with-web-video">Watch the video</a> http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/42968-sinking-confidence-in-u-s-banks 2008-08-15T06:25:06Z Gallup <object width="375" height="308"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ci9cuXV-iLg&border=0&rel=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ci9cuXV-iLg&border=0&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="375" height="308"></embed></object> <a href="/blog/42968-sinking-confidence-in-u-s-banks"><img src="http://bravenewfilms.org/pictures/medium/48526" width="140" height="105" border="0" align="left" style="border: solid 1px black;" /></a> <div class="post_content"> <p>Americans' confidence in banks has dropped nine percentage points since June 2007 and more than any other institution in the survey.</p> </div> <a href="/blog/42968-sinking-confidence-in-u-s-banks">Watch the video</a> http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/39473-how-blogging-gives-small-businesses-the-competitive-edge 2008-08-26T14:41:40Z David Skul <object width="375" height="308"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vtsO55GXxfM&border=0&rel=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vtsO55GXxfM&border=0&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="375" height="308"></embed></object> <a href="/blog/39473-how-blogging-gives-small-businesses-the-competitive-edge"><img src="http://bravenewfilms.org/pictures/medium/44558" width="140" height="105" border="0" align="left" style="border: solid 1px black;" /></a> <div class="post_content"> <p>Blogging produced a revolution in the business of online marketing. While blogging is a great Web 2.0 marketing tool for any business, it has become, especially for new, shoestring budget start-ups, a vital means to getting website traffic.</p> <p>The following are ways blogging has helped level the playing field between well established, corporate giants and small businesses just starting out.</p> <p>Setting up a Blog is Fast, Free & Easy</p> <p>There was a time when setting up a business online wasn't free. Many businesses were at the mercy of the technologically savvy — the "gurus" who knew design. Then the concept of "free" became synonymous with blogging. Now, it's incomprehensible to think otherwise.</p> <p>For startup businesses, blogs provide a great alternative to quickly and affordably setting up an online presence. There's no technical knowledge required other than basic internet skills.</p> <p>With so many blog building tools and software freely available, creating a blog is faster and easier than setting up a web site. There's no need to send yourself, or staff, to expensive training programs or seminars. Once you've decided which software and tools you'd like to use, it will usually take less than ten minutes to</p> </div> <a href="/blog/39473-how-blogging-gives-small-businesses-the-competitive-edge">Watch the video</a> http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/39458-understand-why-blogging-is-good-for-your-business 2008-08-19T18:36:31Z David Skul <object width="375" height="308"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CWWP4JYTidU&border=0&rel=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CWWP4JYTidU&border=0&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="375" height="308"></embed></object> <a href="/blog/39458-understand-why-blogging-is-good-for-your-business"><img src="http://bravenewfilms.org/pictures/medium/44541" width="140" height="105" border="0" align="left" style="border: solid 1px black;" /></a> <div class="post_content"> <p>Blogging for business is the new marketing mantra. But do you know why blogging is good for your business? Do you know how it affects your bottom line? </p> <p>Take a look at why blogging is a win-win situation for businesses as well as for their customers. </p> <p>Why Your Business Should Have a Blog</p> <p>Blogs are one of the best ways to broadcast information and establish credibility. Whether your posts include industry news or whether you provide valuable insider information, your audience will begin to label you as an expert. They will also begin to see you as a business that is interested in its community rather than just commercial activities. </p> <p>One of the most surprising benefits to blogging is getting media attention. Traditionally, a business would send a press release to media outlets announcing "major" news then hope they get featured. But a press release is just another form of interruption marketing. Journalists are bombarded with press releases. Most are simply promotional pieces disguised as news.</p> <p>If you are blogging interesting, informative, and thought provoking ideas, the media will come looking for you, without you having to pitch them. Journalists are looking for experts that know what they're talking about.</p> <p>Because of instant syndication, blogging is the preferred method to distribute content quickly, establish yourself as an expert, and get featured by the media.</p> </div> <a href="/blog/39458-understand-why-blogging-is-good-for-your-business">Watch the video</a> http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/38033-6-tips-for-increasing-blog-traffic 2008-07-11T08:31:37Z David Skul <object width="375" height="308"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Vsj7JkxvqGc&border=0&rel=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Vsj7JkxvqGc&border=0&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="375" height="308"></embed></object> <a href="/blog/38033-6-tips-for-increasing-blog-traffic"><img src="http://bravenewfilms.org/pictures/medium/42968" width="140" height="105" border="0" align="left" style="border: solid 1px black;" /></a> <div class="post_content"> <p>you've built a blog, your primary focus should be in developing a solid readership. Now that you have your blog running, you've been adding quality content, and you've been engaging your readers, what do you do now?</p> <p>You need to spend more time promoting your blog. When you market your blog, you're marketing yourself. You can't hide behind a faceless company which makes marketing so much more collaborative and difficult at the same time.</p> <p>Think of these six methods as a way of reaching out to your audiences and saying, "This is who I am. Come on over and let's chat."</p> </div> <a href="/blog/38033-6-tips-for-increasing-blog-traffic">Watch the video</a> http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/36571-5-tips-to-help-you-succeed-at-web-2-0-marketing 2008-06-07T03:30:15Z David Skul <object width="375" height="308"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GtW8s3sVFJQ&border=0&rel=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GtW8s3sVFJQ&border=0&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="375" height="308"></embed></object> <a href="/blog/36571-5-tips-to-help-you-succeed-at-web-2-0-marketing"><img src="http://bravenewfilms.org/pictures/medium/41068" width="140" height="105" border="0" align="left" style="border: solid 1px black;" /></a> <div class="post_content"> <p>While Web 2.0 marketing does not involve any complex technology, it does involve a radical shift in the way organizations think about marketing. The rules of the game have changed drastically and to succeed in a Web 2.0 world, it is important that all of Web 2.0 marketing doctrine is instilled in your organization's staff.</p> <p>Here are a few things you may want to consider when entering the Web 2.0 marketing arena:</p> <p>Tip #1 Learn how social media works</p> <p>Social media marketing is a critical component of Web 2.0 marketing. Taking some time for you as well as your staff to understand and participate in social media marketing is an important first step. Some of the new services you need to understand and be familiar with include MySpace, YouTube, Flickr, Technorati and del.icio.us.</p> </div> <a href="/blog/36571-5-tips-to-help-you-succeed-at-web-2-0-marketing">Watch the video</a> http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/36554-gearing-up-your-site-for-web-2-0-marketing 2008-06-07T03:30:07Z David Skul <object width="375" height="308"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-QeS-BmNG2A&border=0&rel=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-QeS-BmNG2A&border=0&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="375" height="308"></embed></object> <a href="/blog/36554-gearing-up-your-site-for-web-2-0-marketing"><img src="http://bravenewfilms.org/pictures/medium/41051" width="140" height="105" border="0" align="left" style="border: solid 1px black;" /></a> <div class="post_content"> <p>Contrary to prior assumptions, social media has traversed the fad stage and transformed itself from a teenager based model to a full-scale marketing medium.</p> <p>Social media marketing is here to stay and it brings with it tremendous changes to users' internet experiences as well as significant changes in the marketing techniques used by online businesses. Social media marketing effectively straddles the territory between virtual worlds and the real world, offering marketers as well as customers, unprecedented opportunities for delving into previously unknown territories.</p> <p>If you are engaged in trying to sell your products or services online, it is absolutely critical to exploit this web 2.0 trend by implementing essential features that will make your web site social-media friendly. <br />The components of social media dramatically increase your potential of attracting repeat visitors who will also feel compelled to stay longer and buy more.</p> <p>Social media marketing in a virtual world is immersive and real and is rapidly becoming a realistic means for reaching users as well as influencing their behaviors and attitudes in ways that never before possible. When designing your web site, it is important to keep in mind the kind of experience you are offering your customers.</p> </div> <a href="/blog/36554-gearing-up-your-site-for-web-2-0-marketing">Watch the video</a> http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/36555-web-2-0-marketing-5-concepts-that-matter 2008-06-07T03:30:08Z David Skul <object width="375" height="308"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3aMMdewEXiw&border=0&rel=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3aMMdewEXiw&border=0&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="375" height="308"></embed></object> <a href="/blog/36555-web-2-0-marketing-5-concepts-that-matter"><img src="http://bravenewfilms.org/pictures/medium/41052" width="140" height="105" border="0" align="left" style="border: solid 1px black;" /></a> <div class="post_content"> <p>Web 2.0 marketing has made previous conventional marketing methods seem nearly obsolete. Trying to succeed in a Web 2.0 world means having to discard old marketing notions and embrace new ones.</p> <p>If you are trying to figure out the secret to successful Web 2.0 marketing, here are a few creative concepts that are sure to get started in the right direction.</p> <p>Your Audiences Matter more than the Markets</p> <p>Unlike conventional marketing where the markets were the prime focus and the customers just fell in place, the web is all about audiences. People do not just want to come, buy and walk away. They want to be enlightened, engaged, and entertained. The only way you can succeed in that is by thinking of your web visitors in terms of an audience instead of merely regarding them as market to "pitch" every week.</p> <p>Forget business; think entertainment</p> <p>You cannot enlighten, engage, or entertain your audience if your web site looks and sounds like it came from an academic textbook.</p> <p>Weave a little creativity and imagination into your story and present it to your audiences in a compelling way. Engage your audience's senses. If you want your audience to sit up and notice you, you need to appeal to their senses.</p> <p>Capture their attention by delivering your message in an audio-video presentation. Sights and sounds put together can create a powerful impact and are more entertaining than poring over pages of boring, static text.</p> </div> <a href="/blog/36555-web-2-0-marketing-5-concepts-that-matter">Watch the video</a> http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/36550-the-power-of-imedia-in-web-2-0-marketing 2008-06-07T03:30:05Z David Skul <object width="375" height="308"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/IqX7p_zcdas&border=0&rel=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IqX7p_zcdas&border=0&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="375" height="308"></embed></object> <a href="/blog/36550-the-power-of-imedia-in-web-2-0-marketing"><img src="http://bravenewfilms.org/pictures/medium/41047" width="140" height="105" border="0" align="left" style="border: solid 1px black;" /></a> <div class="post_content"> <p>The development of digital media, or iMedia, has opened up a number of new opportunites for the web marketer. Marketing is about getting your message across as quickly and effectively as possible. Digital media has opened up many new avenues in this regard.</p> <p>Whether you want to add simple background music to your website, or launch an expensive web video marketing campaign, iMedia can get your product sales rolling.</p> <p>iMedia also allow business to create interactive audio-visual presentations that allow for viewer contribution. The power of traditional advertising on television and the print media is quickly being replaced by internet advertising and marketing. Digital media is at the forefront of this transformation.</p> <p>One of the easiest ways to start with iMedia is by adding simple web videos to your website. Statistics have shown that video invites higher click through rates. Video's popularity continues to rise as more users discover and share videos.</p> </div> <a href="/blog/36550-the-power-of-imedia-in-web-2-0-marketing">Watch the video</a> http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/36530-use-rss-to-market-your-business 2008-06-08T03:31:19Z David Skul <object width="375" height="308"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rCTvfjOYPdU&border=0&rel=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rCTvfjOYPdU&border=0&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="375" height="308"></embed></object> <a href="/blog/36530-use-rss-to-market-your-business"><img src="http://bravenewfilms.org/pictures/medium/41027" width="140" height="105" border="0" align="left" style="border: solid 1px black;" /></a> <div class="post_content"> <p>Web 2.0 has opened up a number of interesting new options for internet marketers, especially in the area of content syndication.</p> <p>RSS, which stands for Really Simple Syndication, is a web content syndication format that allows you to publish and distribute a variety of content across the web.</p> <p>You may have noticed RSS buttons on many websites. A user simply clicks on an RSS button and has content and updates from the website delivered directly to their desktop. Of course, your content has to be interesting enough to warrant a click.</p> <p>If you have a product or service you want to promote on the internet, RSS can be an invaluable marketing tool. If you can produce good quality content you can keep customers coming back to your website for news, updates, and special offers.</p> <p>One of the main reasons that RSS is popular among consumers is that they can receive your news while remaining anonymous. Many users that would be reluctant to subscribe to an e-zine are happy to subscribe to RSS feeds.</p> </div> <a href="/blog/36530-use-rss-to-market-your-business">Watch the video</a> http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/36527-the-push-and-pull-of-online-marketing 2008-06-08T03:31:18Z David Skul <object width="375" height="308"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xhMBsn6CFAM&border=0&rel=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xhMBsn6CFAM&border=0&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="375" height="308"></embed></object> <a href="/blog/36527-the-push-and-pull-of-online-marketing"><img src="http://bravenewfilms.org/pictures/medium/41024" width="140" height="105" border="0" align="left" style="border: solid 1px black;" /></a> <div class="post_content"> <p>Traditional marketing strategies were focused on pushing marketing information to potential customers. Enter the internet age and the pushing technique is all but obsolete. What's more important is that businesses learn marketing strategies that enable customers to "pull" the necessary information about their company from various places around the web. </p> <p>Advertising is everywhere. Consumers are left feeling numbed and overwhelmed by advertising. Instead of noticing advertisement, people prefer to go to the source for expert information, locate it and pull it in for themselves. This information "pulling" helps consumers gather their own information rather than simply accepting what's being pitched to them. While this does not signify the end of "push" marketing, "pull" marketing is becoming more and more significant.</p> <p>Below are several crucial elements of pull marketing and how to make it work for you:</p> <p>Join the Conversation</p> <p>Join virtual communities where the conversations are centered on your expertise. Give free advice. Giving valuable advice establishes you as an expert. Once you've proven yourself, with credible content, connections will take over.</p> <p>Word-of-mouth combined with search engines will inevitably market your product, taking it beyond your reach.</p> <p>"Engagement" has become marketing's new key metric.</p> <p>Engaging with your consumers transforms your marketing messages into conversations that spread faster than advertising campaigns. The sheer speed that your marketing message travels, as well as the extent of its reach, shifts the focus from media buying to customer understanding.</p> </div> <a href="/blog/36527-the-push-and-pull-of-online-marketing">Watch the video</a> http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/36525-how-to-adjust-to-the-web-2-0-marketing-world 2008-06-08T03:31:18Z David Skul <object width="375" height="308"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oaeCeoXw7B8&border=0&rel=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oaeCeoXw7B8&border=0&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="375" height="308"></embed></object> <a href="/blog/36525-how-to-adjust-to-the-web-2-0-marketing-world"><img src="http://bravenewfilms.org/pictures/medium/41022" width="140" height="105" border="0" align="left" style="border: solid 1px black;" /></a> <div class="post_content"> <p>Change is good but not always easy. If you have been involved in internet marketing, or marketing in general, the Web 2.0 landscape offers new and exciting opportunities. However, its very nature means that you may have to unlearn old methods to be successful.</p> <p>The following are several Web 2.0 paradigms you will have to learn and adjust to.</p> <p>First, the term Web 2.0 has been hyped for a couple of years now and, still to this day, isn't completely defined. However, for the purposes of this article we can safely say that Web 2.0 marketing is the use of social networking websites (e.g. Digg, Delicious, FaceBook, YouTube, Flickr) to promote a product or service.</p> <p>The defining feature of all these websites is that the content is user generated. This presents excellent marketing opportunities, but it can also be a double edged sword. By putting yourself and your products in the Web 2.0 world you are giving anyone a free license to express their opinions about you and your product.</p> </div> <a href="/blog/36525-how-to-adjust-to-the-web-2-0-marketing-world">Watch the video</a> http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/36523-web-2-0-marketing-for-the-home-business 2008-07-09T20:24:08Z David Skul <object width="375" height="308"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hDjDOXrN7tk&border=0&rel=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hDjDOXrN7tk&border=0&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="375" height="308"></embed></object> <a href="/blog/36523-web-2-0-marketing-for-the-home-business"><img src="http://bravenewfilms.org/pictures/medium/41020" width="140" height="105" border="0" align="left" style="border: solid 1px black;" /></a> <div class="post_content"> <p>Social websites, blogs, RSS feeds and other Web 2.0 technologies have become the new tool chest for the online marketer. But, Web 2.0 isn't only for the big guys. Web 2.0 provides excellent marketing opportunities for everyone, especially the home-based entrepreneur.</p> <p>In this article I examine several ways Web 2.0 marketing can help you grow your home business, from start up to ongoing success.</p> <p>You most likely have heard about the blogging phenomenon. This is perhaps the original Web 2.0 marketing tool.</p> <p>Blogs differ from traditional websites in that they allow you to interact with customers on a more personal level. </p> <p>Content can be more casual than standard website content. More importantly, it's easy. Publishing is instant and it's free if you don't count bandwidth and equipment.</p> <p>In fact, if you don't have a website yet, don't bother. Get a blog. Blogger and TypePad both offer free and paid blogs. Start out small. Most blogging platforms will allow you to upgrade once you need more space and bandwidth.</p> </div> <a href="/blog/36523-web-2-0-marketing-for-the-home-business">Watch the video</a> http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/36521-tapping-the-marketing-power-of-twitter 2008-06-12T09:35:16Z David Skul <object width="375" height="308"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fpPL1U0Nf30&border=0&rel=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fpPL1U0Nf30&border=0&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="375" height="308"></embed></object> <a href="/blog/36521-tapping-the-marketing-power-of-twitter"><img src="http://bravenewfilms.org/pictures/medium/41018" width="140" height="105" border="0" align="left" style="border: solid 1px black;" /></a> <div class="post_content"> <p>Twitter is a fairly new kind of social networking site that allows what has become known as "micro blogging". Users can send short messages to other users and to the Twitter website through a number of different outlets.</p> <p>The most distinctive aspect of Twitter is that messages are limited to 140 characters in length. While this does limit the detail that can be sent in a message, or "Tweet", it means that users can receive updates through the Twitter website, SMS, instant messaging, RSS or email.</p> <p>Twitter was launched in March 2006 by start-up company Obvious Corp. From a marketing point of view, it has uses in customer service, ecommerce and mcommerce marketing, and affiliate marketing.</p> <p>A number of companies, large and small, are using Twitter to keep their customers up to date about their products and deals. Amazon has been using Twitter successfully to keep customers posted about new products and special deals.</p> </div> <a href="/blog/36521-tapping-the-marketing-power-of-twitter">Watch the video</a> http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/36514-boost-your-business-with-web-2-0-advertising 2008-06-17T21:31:23Z David Skul <object width="375" height="308"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Yr1EM1ZDQkk&border=0&rel=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Yr1EM1ZDQkk&border=0&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="375" height="308"></embed></object> <a href="/blog/36514-boost-your-business-with-web-2-0-advertising"><img src="http://bravenewfilms.org/pictures/medium/41011" width="140" height="105" border="0" align="left" style="border: solid 1px black;" /></a> <div class="post_content"> <p>Web 2.0 has revolutionized the way online advertising is happening. Now, instead of spending a large budget on blanket advertising techniques, advertisers can target specific audiences while cutting costs, connecting with customers and improving the chances of getting a sale.</p> <p>Pay per click (PPC) remains one of the most effective—time and cost wise—ways of advertising on the internet. Your best option is still Google Adwords. How does Adwords relate to Web 2.0? With Adwords, you can target specific sites where your ads will run. All you have to do is research which social networking sites or blogs you want your ads to run on. Many major blogs and social networking sites syndicate Adwords ads. Just make sure you target the right audience.</p> <p>Another technique is creating ad interactivity. Web 2.0 advertisers are thinking up clever ways to engage visitors with ad content. It might be a quiz or a survey after which a visitor is offered an incentive to download.</p> <p>There are also new advertising opportunities emerging on social networking websites like FaceBook. On FaceBook you can buy traditional banner ads that will be placed at the top of pages. Also, you can buy flyers that can be targeted at a particular university, company or group. These are a great way of targeting a specific audience and can be bought for as little as $5 per flyer.</p> </div> <a href="/blog/36514-boost-your-business-with-web-2-0-advertising">Watch the video</a> http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/36510-understanding-web-2-0-advertising 2008-06-13T21:31:14Z David Skul <object width="375" height="308"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/b4IwvzkiFCw&border=0&rel=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/b4IwvzkiFCw&border=0&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="375" height="308"></embed></object> <a href="/blog/36510-understanding-web-2-0-advertising"><img src="http://bravenewfilms.org/pictures/medium/41007" width="140" height="105" border="0" align="left" style="border: solid 1px black;" /></a> <div class="post_content"> <p>Web 2.0 has the potential to be a dream come through for businessmen and marketers as it offers an opportunity for free advertising.</p> <p>So what is Web 2.0? The phrase was coined originally by O'Reilly Media and generally refers to the latest generation of websites and web applications that allow increased user participation, rather than the static nature of older websites.</p> <p>We have all seen, and probably participated in, Web 2.0 websites. YouTube, Flickr, FaceBook. Wikipedia and My Space are all Web 2.0 websites, as is every blog you come across on the internet.</p> <p>Because of the participative nature of Web 2.0, you can advertise your product or service free of charge simply by word of mouth. Take this example. Write an informative article describing the history, structure, and services offered by your company and submit it to Wikipedia. If it is genuinely informative and of interest, it will be accepted and you will have a page on one of the most popular websites in the world...for free.</p> </div> <a href="/blog/36510-understanding-web-2-0-advertising">Watch the video</a> http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/36508-lens-building-money-making-in-a-web-2-0-world 2008-06-13T21:31:18Z David Skul <object width="375" height="308"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/umJpITacpoA&border=0&rel=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/umJpITacpoA&border=0&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="375" height="308"></embed></object> <a href="/blog/36508-lens-building-money-making-in-a-web-2-0-world"><img src="http://bravenewfilms.org/pictures/medium/41005" width="140" height="105" border="0" align="left" style="border: solid 1px black;" /></a> <div class="post_content"> <p>Squidoo, one of the most revolutionary sites to emerge from the Web 2.0 phenomenon, can best be described as a cross between a mini site, a MySpace page, and a blog. If you are looking for a free and fast way to build traffic and make money online, this is it! Any internet marketer who is not building lenses on Squidoo is missing out on one of the quickest and easiest money making opportunities.</p> <p>Intimidating as it may sound, a Squidoo 'lens' is just a simple one page website on Squidoo. To build a Squidoo lens all you need to do is write an article pertinent to your area of expertise, put it together on one page, and submit it. Squidoo offers a range of innovative tools to make the whole process simple, easy, and very creative. This simple one-step process establishes you as an expert in your field, and if your article is interesting enough, it will send the right kind of traffic back to your site.</p> <p>Here are a number of pertinent facts about using Squidoo and the many ways you can use your Squidoo lens to build traffic and make money online:</p> <p>Squidoo lenses are remarkably easy to build. Even if you are a novice to website or blog-building, you could create your Squidoo lens and have it up and running in less then twenty minutes.</p> </div> <a href="/blog/36508-lens-building-money-making-in-a-web-2-0-world">Watch the video</a> http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/36507-make-your-business-better-with-web-2-0 2008-06-13T21:31:18Z David Skul <object width="375" height="308"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Nh9wRk5zG1I&border=0&rel=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Nh9wRk5zG1I&border=0&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="375" height="308"></embed></object> <a href="/blog/36507-make-your-business-better-with-web-2-0"><img src="http://bravenewfilms.org/pictures/medium/41004" width="140" height="105" border="0" align="left" style="border: solid 1px black;" /></a> <div class="post_content"> <p>Much has been written about the power of Web 2.0 as a marketing tool and for good reason. Its power to help you market products to potential customers is undeniable. However, besides marketing your products, Web 2.0 can help your business in other ways.</p> <p>Web 2.0 technologies are increasingly being used within organizations to improve productivity and efficiency and to improve communication between organizations. Take web video for example. Videos can be used for employee training, customer followup, as well as frequently asked questions. The purpose is to provide more types of media to fit more customers. Some people learn better by reading. Others by hearing or seeing.</p> <p>The flexibility and usability of Web 2.0 applications ensures that IT departments can give other workers more power to customize applications to better suit themselves. This not only improves efficiency but also boosts morale and productivity.</p> <p>Good communication is an essential part of any successful organization.</p> </div> <a href="/blog/36507-make-your-business-better-with-web-2-0">Watch the video</a> http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/36505-managing-multiple-blogs-successfully 2008-06-13T21:31:17Z David Skul <object width="375" height="308"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/a7ePiUJeyyE&border=0&rel=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/a7ePiUJeyyE&border=0&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="375" height="308"></embed></object> <a href="/blog/36505-managing-multiple-blogs-successfully"><img src="http://bravenewfilms.org/pictures/medium/41002" width="140" height="105" border="0" align="left" style="border: solid 1px black;" /></a> <div class="post_content"> <p>Realizing the tremendous potential of blogging, many businesses have developed multiple blogs to promote multiple product lines. </p> <p>While this is great way to segment product lines, you must take extra care to ensure the blog content is original.</p> <p>What's the best way to do this? If you have employees, assign a blog to different employees, preferably employees who are familiar with each specific blog topic. If you don't have employees, you'll have to create the separation on paper and in your mind.</p> <p>Dedicating time to work on each blog and keeping all blogs up to date are the two fundamental techniques that will help you juggle multiple blogs successfully.</p> <p>Dedicating Time for Each Blog</p> <p>Maintaining a blog requires time and commitment. Bloggers who desire to maintain multiple blogs need to ensure that they budget their time carefully and allocate sufficient time to each of their blogs. Each blog is equally important and should not be neglected. Bad time management can lead to neglecting one or more of the blogs, resulting in poor blog performance.</p> </div> <a href="/blog/36505-managing-multiple-blogs-successfully">Watch the video</a> http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/36506-web-2-0-advertising-crucial-in-a-word-of-mouth-world 2008-06-13T21:31:17Z David Skul <object width="375" height="308"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZjR4JSSFJiI&border=0&rel=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZjR4JSSFJiI&border=0&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="375" height="308"></embed></object> <a href="/blog/36506-web-2-0-advertising-crucial-in-a-word-of-mouth-world"><img src="http://bravenewfilms.org/pictures/medium/41003" width="140" height="105" border="0" align="left" style="border: solid 1px black;" /></a> <div class="post_content"> <p>Word-of-mouth is the crucial component of Web 2.0 advertising. Unlike conventional advertising, which was solely one way and largely interruptive, Web 2.0 advertising actually welcomes control by users and invites users to create and share their own messages. In that sense, Web 2.0 advertising is revolutionary.</p> <p>However, the technology and the advertising tools being used are familiar and have been in use by people for a long time. Web 2.0 advertising can more accurately be described as a radical concept involving the innovative implementation of currently available tools.</p> <p>This seemingly mild shift has opened up endless opportunities for consumers and marketers alike. Consumers play a role in the marketing conversation by creating reviews, adding entries to blogs and sharing photos. Every time a consumer makes a contribution to this conversation it shifts the balance of power back to the consumer. Marketers are aware of it and embrace this participation, improving the conversation even more.</p> <p>Working in collaboration, consumers and marketers are moving from "interruptive advertising" to "invited advertising" thus making Web 2.0 advertising participative, mixed and scalable.</p> </div> <a href="/blog/36506-web-2-0-advertising-crucial-in-a-word-of-mouth-world">Watch the video</a> http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/36504-getting-your-business-on-the-blogging-bandwagon 2008-06-13T21:31:16Z David Skul <object width="375" height="308"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GMBgNpqEB_0&border=0&rel=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GMBgNpqEB_0&border=0&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="375" height="308"></embed></object> <a href="/blog/36504-getting-your-business-on-the-blogging-bandwagon"><img src="http://bravenewfilms.org/pictures/medium/41001" width="140" height="105" border="0" align="left" style="border: solid 1px black;" /></a> <div class="post_content"> <p>The term blogging is so common today—it's hard to imagine that just a few years ago it was the realm of personal musings on everything from pet hamsters to the latest movies.</p> <p>Today, blogging has become a critical business marketing strategy. Businesses blog to market their products and services, to build a client following, and to keep their readers informed about the product, service, and industry news.</p> <p>For business owners who haven't jumped into the blog phenomena, there's bad news and good news.</p> <p>The bad news is that if you haven't started blogging, you will have to play catch up. You may have lost online market share. It's true that those who start first online are the first to establish their brand. Instead of spending a fortune on launching and revamping local advertising campaigns, your competition has already gained considerable online exposure. In fact, your competitions' customers may not even know you're a competitor.</p> <p>The good news is that blogs are simple and easy to create for even the most technology neophyte. You'll be playing catch up but it won't take you long to get in the game.</p> </div> <a href="/blog/36504-getting-your-business-on-the-blogging-bandwagon">Watch the video</a> http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/36502-teach-for-america-bridging-the-education-gap 2008-06-14T03:31:34Z David Skul <object width="375" height="308"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0-OwkZh8WAQ&border=0&rel=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0-OwkZh8WAQ&border=0&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="375" height="308"></embed></object> <a href="/blog/36502-teach-for-america-bridging-the-education-gap"><img src="http://bravenewfilms.org/pictures/medium/40998" width="140" height="105" border="0" align="left" style="border: solid 1px black;" /></a> <div class="post_content"> <p>The continued fight to bridge the education gap has brought many new ideas and many new organizations with it. And over the past decades it is these efforts that have seen the education gap between students from different ethnic backgrounds graduating from high school narrow dramatically.</p> <p>However, the education gap remains a big problem for society and students from ethnic minorities and socially disadvantaged backgrounds remain far more likely to go on to college or university, and enjoy the benefits that this can bring.</p> <p>Thankfully, there are many organizations, both public and private, that are working hard to bridge the gap. One such organization is Teach For America, which has taken a fresh and innovative approach to dealing with the education gap problem.</p> <p>Teach For America enlists the United States' top university and college graduates to help eliminate educational inequality. The greatest minds coming out of the country's educational system put something back in by committing two years of their lives to sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm with students at urban and rural public schools around the country.</p> </div> <a href="/blog/36502-teach-for-america-bridging-the-education-gap">Watch the video</a>