Have you heard that term, floating around the internet? Its hard to know what’s coming next with the violent speed of change on the web, but 2.0 is here and its effecting you right now.

What is web 2.0? A new version of the internet? Another “revolution”? A techy term only internet-gurus can comprehend? How about the next step towards active involvement with your customers. That’s what we all want. The internet already reaches people at times and places we normal can’t. But what-if: instead of just posting a bunch of facts on a website we could interact with our consumers? Welcome Web 2.0. Blogs, RSS feeds, interactive software, all of these things take the internet to a new level. Pod casts, media files, wikis… These are all Web 2.0. You are already aware of it and probably interacting with it, but are you using it to further your business?

Video:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=NLlGopyXT_g

This is from an article at Entrepreneur.com. I stumbled across it and it made me smile. So I share them with you. If you believe any of these myths, find someone to replace them with facts!

11 Myths of the Internet:

1. This internet thing is going to be a revolution. You missed the train, the revolution’s been and gone.
2. I don’t need a website.
3. I’ll hire professionals for internet stuff. According to the article this does not mean don’t get a designer/or talk to people about the internet. It means, you don’t have to outsource or pay an extremely expensive company. Do what’s right for you business!
4. All I need is the yellow pages.
5. My business is local.
6. My website is only for new customers.
7. My site is just for customers.
8. My website is my internet strategy.
9. Being small is a huge disadvantage.
10. The internet will make me rich.
11. “Okay, I’ll do whatever you say.”

And I’m going to add one:

12. All I need is to be first in a Google web search. Ask me why this is a myth!

I encourage you to check out the article.

http://www.entrepreneur.com/ebusiness/gettingstarted/article190590.html

There is a wonderful article on the small business bible website that talks about small business internet presence. I refer to this site all the time because it links to 40 other articles that are all relevant. But I just want to point out some facts about why you should have website if you don’t already:

• Small business online grow 46% faster than those who do not.
• Businesses that use the internet have an average of a 58% higher annual income.

But just being online isn’t enough. The company you choose to design your site is important too (according to the article).

• Have a creative, dynamic site. This makes you look professional and attracts people to you.
• A website is a marketing tool that works 24 hours a day 7 days a week. What kind of investment should you make in something like that?
• Make sure your website gives your potential clients enough facts to make an informed decision about your company and what it offers.
• Creative websites always give you an edge. People are attracted to clean, well-designed sites that are easy to navigate and understand.

This information comes from:

http://www.smallbusinessbible.org/2005-11-10-v1-dp-wd-00066.html

I admit, I read webcomics.

Here is an amusing little sketch I happened upon. If you have any experience in the less intellectual spheres of the internet you might get a laugh out of this:

Online Communities.

Tomorrow I will be back with facts! But its Wednesday, half way through the week, everyone needs something silly to get through the week.

Want to know the magic number for today? 842 MILLION! Research for March 2008 shows that there are 842 million people online across the world, according to www.comscore.com. Surprisingly, only 21% of those users come from America. Of course, on the other hand, 21% equals 173 million people just in our country! And the numbers continue to grow. This information came from an article at www.emarketer.com.