Will Google Wave Change Internet Marketing?

With the launch of Google Wave, marketers and online businesses have been wondering...will this new application change everything for me? Will it allow me to get closer to potential customers or make them harder to find. Will it expose hidden marketing agendas that have been effective, or will it cause a new wave to opportunities?

Our verdict? We believe Google Wave will allow marketers and businesses who are doing their own marketing, to work more effectively. The pros definitely outweigh the cons. For those of you who are just hearing about Google Wave, Google Wave is "a web-based service, computing platform, and communications protocol designed to merge e-mail, instant messaging, wikis, and social networking." (Source: Wikipedia)

The main reason we believe The Wave is going to change marketing of the past to a new effective future is the implementation of cloud computing. Cloud computing allows for a laptop users to use applications and programs from a hub instead of having to download it to a computer. The idea here is the ability to take "real-time" to the next level. Marketers can utilize this real-time component to interact and communicate with customers in real time.

Just imagine, releasing a email offer that immediately allows customers to engage, communicate and ask others about an offer that they also received...and even ask you questions about the offer..in real-time. Something that email has yet to do.

Learning to utilize this powerful tool now by interacting with developers and testing the product out now is imperative to the success of any marketing campaign going forward.

Want to learn more? Visit our previous post on What Exactly is Google Wave..

Tweet Your Way to More Customers

Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service which allows users to read other users updates, called tweets. Remember that PowerPoint course you took that discussed how less bullet points is actually more? Well, the same theory applies to Twitter. It's a phenomenal way to attain more customers with fewer words and that means effective free online marketing!

But before you start tweeting there are some Twitter etiquette points that every business should practice.

1. Make sure your Twitter Profile reflects your business
Twitter has background customization options that allow you to add your business logo or color schemes to your Twitter background. The objective is to make sure your brand is identifiable across all of your social media venues. Additionally, your business blog or website URL should always be present on your Twitter page. Customers click on that link to uncover precisely who you are and if following you will be advantageous to their online experience.

2. Make Twitter known on your business blog
Your Twitter feed, a list of all your recent Twitter updates, should be present on your blog. Many customers will go to a business blog to get a better sense of the products you offer or learn more about the face of your company. This is your one chance to make a great connection! If a customer sees your Twitter feed and he or she has a Twitter account most likely they will choose to follow you; and if they don’t have a Twitter account curiosity will set in. Now you can send immediate information on coupons, company initiatives, and any other company news directly to customers.

3. Word of Mouth is still important
When attending networking events spread the word about you Twitter account and encourage possible partners to get involved. Additionally, your business card is still the most important networking tool you can use to leverage your business. Use this powerful tool to advertise your Twitter profile by adding a link to your business card right next to you email. You'd be surprised how great of a conversation starter that is to potential clients and partners.

So what are you waiting for? Tweet yourself to new customers today