Did you get a chance to attent Web 2.0 Expo that just ended on April 3rd? Well, I didnt either…but found this article entitled “Building Your Business in a Web 2.0 World – Web 2.0 Expo Highlights”  by Candis Hidalgo helpful (although definitely not like going to the suuny skies of California.)  Here’s a little of what Candis says about the Expo:

When you think of the Web 2.0 phenomenon, what words come to mind? Transparency, engagement, conversation, guru, apps, social networking, social media, social marketing… any of these sound familiar? Web 2.0 lingo has saturated articles, blog posts, tweets, and conversations across the web, but what does it all mean? And more importantly, how does it apply to the health and growth of your business? Thankfully, the Web 2.0 Expo in San Francisco helped to answer these questions in an applicable way, since it was “focused on ideas and solutions that will translate into real value and ultimately sales” (Bub.blicio.us). To read more valuable takeaways from the event, go to :
http://www.gosmart4u.com/blog/building-your-business-in-a-web-20-world-web-20-expo-highlights/165/

Businesses are waking up to the value of the Social Web and allocating money to create or enhance social marketing budgets. I found this to be true in my own consulting business…which is good news in light of all the doom and gloom in todays economic news front.

According to a new study released by Aberdeen Group (published today by eMarketer), 63 percent of companies plan to increase their social media marketing budgets in 2009, despite the current weakness in the economy. Digging deeper into the numbers, 21 percent of those surveyed plan to increase social media spending by 25 percent or more, while a mere 3 percent plan to shrink their budgets (34 percent responded “no change”).
To read more go to http://mashable.com/2009/03/23/social-media-marketing-budgets/

You may have seen this before, but I think it sheds some light on the nuances that words can make…

You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You went up to her and say “I am very rich. Marry me”.
That’s DIRECT MARKETING

You are at a party with a bunch of friends and see a gorgeous girl. One of your friends goes up to her and pointing at you says, “He is very rich. Marry him”.
That’s ADVERTISING

You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and get her telephone number. The next day you called her and say, “Hi, I am very rich. Marry me”.
That’s TELEMARKETING.

You are at a party and see a beautiful girl. You get up and straighten your tie, you walk up to her and pour her a drink. You open the door for her, pick up her bag after she drops it, offer her a ride, and then say, ‘By the way, I’m very rich. Will you marry me?’.
That’s PUBLIC RELATIONS.

You are at a party and see a gorgeous girl. She walks up to you and says, “You are very rich”.
That’s BRAND RECOGNITION.

You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and say, “I am very rich. Marry me”.
She gives you a nice hard slap on your face.
That’s CUSTOMER FEEDBACK. 
-Unknown