The World Wide Web is the biggest revolution in communication since the invention of the printing press. The printing press started the democratisation of information. Knowledge was no longer concentrated in the hands of the very few, but could spread far and wide. Without print, the reformation and renaissance in Europe couldn’t have taken place. In other words, print changed the world.
Where Do Your Customers Learn?
When Gutenberg invented the printing press in 1450 he precipitated the democratisation of information. Neither the reformation nor renaissance, in Europe, could have happened if the printing press had not been invented.
What Does ‘Engagement’ With Customers Really Mean?
Why is it that before we get married, we are ‘engaged’?
Why do many public toilets say the word ‘engaged’ on the outside when they are locked?
How ‘Influencer Marketing’ Can Accelerate Your Business Development
We now live in a world where everyone has the opportunity to own their own media channels. Utilising Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube or any of the multitude of platforms that exist today, provide every individual with the opportunity to get their opinions and thoughts heard, in a way that most people could never have imagined twenty years ago.
How Information Distribution Is Changing
We used to live in a world where everyone knew the places to go for information. In the main, people would obtain their news from the same few newspapers, radio stations and TV channels. Specialist knowledge, whether in business to business or the consumer marketplace, would then be delivered through particular trade or consumer magazine titles.
What The Emergence Of ‘Social TV’ Can Teach Us All
Watching television, for many, used to be a solitary activity. Some people would obviously watch programmes, at home, with family members or friends. The following day, shows would also be talked about at the office, but that was as far as it went.
The Importance Of The Social Graph
For a vast majority of companies Social Media is still new. However, because many of the customers a business would like to reach, spend an increasing amount of time on these platforms, companies have come to recognize the importance of being involved. Therein the frustration starts to build. Businesses recognize the importance of social media and yet are struggling to make it work in any tangible way.
Welcome To The Social Web
The Web has enabled all of us to create and access this knowledge, in a way not previously known. So, for example, we can follow the collective train of thought, on any particular issue of the day, by following the comments posted on Twitter. We can evaluate the best place to stay, when abroad, by tapping into the collective wisdom on a website like tripadvisor.com.
Marketing Is A Conversation? Oh Yeah… About What?
There is an adage which is regularly used by ‘progressive’ marketers today. That is, marketing is no longer about broadcast messaging as it was before the Web. Rather, marketing is now about engaging with customers via online tools where customers have the right of reply. Consequently, marketing becomes less about broadcast messaging and more about a conversation. That is the move from ‘one way communication’ to ‘two way communication’.
The Customer Is No Longer ‘King’, They Are Your Partner
The old adage; ‘The Customer is King’ came from a time when companies aimed to provide great customer service for their clientele. Great service was literally about serving customers. In other words, service was something done to a customer.