The internet is changing the way we get our information. The evening news is simply a recap of what we already know because there are so many other sources of information. The Whitehouse streams music concerts and speeches. You can watch cable news channels on live TV. You can program your DVR with your iPhone. But all of these sources point from the internet, but as of a few days ago the circle has begun to complete it’s cycle FROM your television TO the internet. This is a pretty big deal towards the integration of your television and the internet.

Verizon FiOS TV has added social networking connections to it’s service. It allows to update your status using the television interface. You could let people know what TV show you are watching and you can even watch user generated content from social video sites Blip, Daily Motion, and Veoh.

Check out this demo of the Verizon FiOS service:

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You may be familiar with social software as a platform for networking and sharing content, but there’s another side to the social world and it’s a mashup between social networking and professional collaboration management software.

SocialCast is a business management software that is modeled after services like Friendfeed and Facebook. Basically it’s a communication tool businesses can use to incorporate social networking with real-time messaging to share knowledge across enterprises.

It carries many different social media standards like IM, mircoblogging, RSS, bookmarklets, email, and it’s even iPhone ready.

Why Should I Care?
It’s important because these social platforms are becoming standards in project collaboration and personal connectivity. While Facebook and other networks become a staple in our personal lives for connecting with friends and family, organizations are realizing the power of using the internet as a communication system to connect people within their businesses.

And this isn’t a new idea. Other sites like CubeTree, GoogleWave, and Yammer are also popular professional intranets. The online world is flocking to social engines like these to provide them not only with personal connectivity, but a new edge in the business world.

Is your company ready for the Web2.0 revolution?
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Each morning I drive past a middle school a few minutes before the first period bell rings. A lot of things have changed since I’ve been in grade school, but one major difference is the introduction of portable music and cell phones.

There is always a crowd of preteens standing at the corner of the street waiting for the crossing guard to help them cross. That part of school hasn’t changed much, except that the preteens aren’t saying a word to each other! No one is talking, laughing, or joking around. They all have ipods plugged into their ears and their eyes are locked on their cell phones screens.

So here’s the question, how is your company preparing to engage and market to this new generation? Blogs, search engines, podcasts, social networks… It’s not going away. It’s not a fad. Is your company ready to participate in this new interactive market?

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A good business blog is like the best kind of salesperson; someone who waits to be approached, listens, offers advice and solutions, leaves you to close the sale yourself, is someone you would return to again and again, and best of all, someone you would want to tell all your friends about.

Blog checklist for success

Here are some tips for establishing a better business blog:

1. Put your readers first. Don’t focus on what you want or need, remember this is an attraction, not an interruption.
2. It’s about quality and value. Everyone’s an expert on something. You may not be a great writer, but writing gets better with practice and people will forgive small writing issues if you provide informative content.
3. Set aside a certain amount of time in your week to write your blog. It’s common to start out at a sprint and lose momentum quickly. Pace yourself. All it takes is a few posts a week.
4. A subscriber gained is one step closer to a client. Think of your blog feed as a newsletter and every subscriber receives your informative blog post in his RSS reader or inbox.

A blog is a very powerful hype engine, but it requires your creative input. People forget that it takes consistent effort and sustained creativity to keep a blog going. This is why businesses often hire freelance bloggers or marketing agencies to keep the momentum going and share some of the load. A successful blog doesn’t happen overnight, but then neither does a successful business.

Need some help getting your business blog started? We can help.

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