Using Web 2.0 - Experimenting with Blogs
I am still uncertain about the real value of Web 2.0 for small
businesses. In particular I find the active networking required by
sites such as FaceBook and LinkedIn is rather distasteful.
Normal social interaction I like. But the idea of spending time
and effort to build a series of links to others for the sole purpose of
generating future business seems to undermine the pleasures of meeting
such like-minded people.
This active networking goes against the justification of search
engine optimisation and promotion. These activities should help
searchers to find what they are looking for. The starting point is
the searcher tapping in specific words to find their solutions.
The marketer is making the process more effective by ensuring that his
site is visible to the search engines and ranked as important for the
relevant keywords.
What I do think is desirable is the opportunity to publish articles,
or a full site, of sufficient interest to attract others to read and
participate. This respects the individual internet user by
increasing their opportunity to do what they want. It is not
simply a tool to satisfy someone else's need for new customers.
Blogging is therefore potentially a very valuable way of attracting a
relevant readership. It is easy for people to leave comments and
can be linked to a full discussion forum if the interchange of ideas
requires it. So I have decided to run my own trial to see how far
I can generate an active readership and develop group ideas. I
hope the experience will also show me how blogs can be effectively used
in more general web marketing so that I can be more helpful to future
clients.
Please have a look at
UKEducationPolicy.blogspot.com
I have chosen Education as the subject area
first of all because I am frustrated by the failure of politicians to
think through a logical policy and then apply standard management
principles to putting it into effect. Perhaps by creating a
non-party platform for discussion, we can develop a widely agreed basis
for policy. Politicians can then help put in place a system
capable of delivering the policy. What I see at present is a lack
of any measurable objectives combined with an attempt to micro-manage
the whole education process in a way that is bound to lead to poor
quality results.
Many of you will have views on our current
education system quite as strong as mine - and perhaps with a deeper
knowledge of the detailed workings and results. Please look at
some of the points I have highlighted, then go to the bottom of the
article and click on 'Comments'. There you can add your own
contribution and others can reply to you.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Stephen Orr
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