Today, social networks have exponentially increased their presence on the Internet.  The time spent on social media sites is expanding, as over two-thirds of the world’s Internet users are using social networks to varying degrees. What better way than to create buzz through these user-generated content sites? In social media channels content is shared and created over and over, which is a benefit when it comes to incorporating keyword-rich links to your site within such content. These inbound links will increase the link authority of your site, and in time will increase your organic search rankings. While “followed links” are preferred, natural link growth will build a balance of followed and nofollowed links.  The participation and increase in “votes” to your site through brand mentions and social media content will positively impact rankings.

An article in ClickZ shares a few tips on how to easily gain online buzz.  Triangle Direct Media understands that flooding blogs and social networks using only brand promotional content is frowned upon. The key with social media is to actively participate in relative discussions to extend the conversation with a thoughtful comment, while including a relevant link to the client’s site as a useful resource for readers. By creating fresh content within these social media networks, you will increase your brand’s visibility and gain increase inbound links to your web site that helps to improve your organic search rankings. It’s important that brand advertisers recognize and leverage the convergence of social media with search engine optimization.

Even with the current economic situation, 80% of retailers are claiming the web to be better fit for survival from the recession than offline retail. According to the 2009 State of Retailing Online: Marketing Report, e-commerce sales will increase 11% this year from $141.3 billion in 2008 to an expected $156.1 billion. Almost one-fourth of online retailers surveyed for the study have plans to spend more this year on their web business plan than had initially intended. Cutting back on areas such as staffing, retailers are now focusing on enhancing areas such as search and social media marketing in their online businesses.

Organic traffic was rated over 50% among effective marketing tactics to be used. To increase organic traffic, retailers are using high value marketing tools designed to help address and optimize their site’s performance. Improving areas such as site structure, on-page and off-page content, retailers can increase online exposure using highly-targeted links and social media. Such techniques will enhance performance, brand reach and usability for online customers, in turn, helping to maintain customer loyalty and generate incremental revenue lifts.

There is no doubt that online retail is making its shift from a surviving industry to a thriving industry. With the current economic scenario it has become apparent that traditional retailers must invest in their online presence in order to keep their retail business thriving during the economy’s down cycle. Even in a down market, there is still evident optimism for the internet marketing industry.

Below is a video that Heath in our office ran across in You Tube. I have to admit I had never seen it. He ran across the video in a search for how other people are defining Web2.0 … Here it is and also a link to Prof. Wesch’s video on youtube. This is a good 4 minutes of video showing where the Internet is headed. If your company is not prepared at the very least you will lose sales by not embracing 2.0 marketing concepts.

The future for 2.0 Marketing is exciting, fun, effective, and the companies that employ 2.0 Marketing early stand to gain a foothold in the Web 2.o landscape.

Keep doing what you are doing if it generates results, but look ahead to what changes on the Internet are being brought about by blogging, social media sites, and user generated content to ensure your company’s place in front of the 2.0 Consumer.

Thanks to Prof. Wesch for making Web 2.0 easy to understand.

Here is a Link to the YouTube Video Web 2.0 by Prof. Wesch

Or Click the picture below and it will play right here.