Speaking of elephants….. the biggest elephant standing in the room right now is what is called Web 2.0. Just like the blind men who each described an elephant differently, web 2.0 would appear to have the same characteristic. Some would say it is about audio, others would say it is about video, others would say it is about social bookmarking, others would say it is about blogs…….. In reality just like our elephant, it is all of those things and more. The way I would describe it as the web has crossed the threshold of where the user determines the relevance - not the search engines, where content is built form the user up instead of the corporate down. It is like the internet users of the world are producing and directing what is really deemed important and what is not.

Not many people are aware of this, but there was a major shift or crossover point that was passed in 2006. The old media, tv, newspapers, magazines are heading down in usage and relevance, and the internet is heading up and now has greater usage then the traditional media. In fact the average number of hours that the tv is watched is going down here in the US. Internet usage is going up as it becomes more interactive.

The major difference if we examine tv and the current and future trends of the internet, is that tv is a passive activity - unless you count fiddlin’ with the remote - there is no real participation of you the viewer. If you are going to watch tv - you either watch what they make for you to watch or you do not. When you contrast that to the new internet or Web 2.0, where participation and personal selection is what drives usage and viewership. You select and view what is important to YOU - not what some corporate head thinks you should watch like TV “programming”.

There is the word “programming” - the old media and tv was pre-programmed with what “they” thought was important. Web 2.0 is the opposite - we say we no longer want to be programmed - forced to watch the gibberish they produce. We as individuals can now thru blogs write what we think and believe, through audio, mp3 and podcast we can say what we ant to say and find a world of listeners, we can make our own video’s, shows, and dare I say movies, about what is important to us - and we now have a vehicle to allow the world to view what we create. It is from the bottom up - not top down.

What’s in it (Web 2.0) for me???

Now that we have a clearer picture of what Web 2.0 is - we need to examine what is in it for you. What can you do to generate revenue or an income from your online business? With so many different options, what is the best way to start? How can you capitalize on this trend? How can you generate revenue or an income from your online business?

Like I spoke about last week - there are 3 parts to earning a income online.

1-The Media format - in other words your website or video or blog or podcast - the media format that you use to deliver your message.

2-Tar-g-et-ed tra-ffi-c - you want as many tar-g-et-ed visitors to view your message

3-Conversion - you need to con-vert your visitors into revenue

Don’t make any of this more complicated then that. Always keep focused on these three parts and continually tweak to improve.

If you are trying to expand your current online business you need to multiply and magnify the way you present your message. Use multiple media formats - don’t be stuck on the static website - that will be like a black and white tv in just a couple of years - old and gray.

If you are looking to start a new online business then Web 2.0 is a world of opportunity. Like I discussed above, with all of the different media formats there is the need for specialization. Pick on thing and become the very best in the world on that one thing. One thing Web 2.0 has done is it has greatly multiplied the areas of specialization. For the brick and mortar business that were doing good to just get a website up - web 2.0 has just made it much more complicated. Business owners don’t have the expertise - they will be hiring individuals and firms that do.

Another huge opportunity is to create your own social networking site - become the next youtube that google wants to buy.

You could become the video guru and a expert at producing 90 second videos.
You could become a Squidoo Lensmaster expert - or one I was looking for yesterday - a Squidoo Lense Magnifier Service
You could be a podcasting expert
You could be a blog linking and tagging expert
You could start up a new blog service that caters specifically to __________ fill in the blank
You could start producing 90second sports clips - I heard TV firms were buying rights to use some of you tubes clips

The possibilities are endless - Become the go to person with any of these and the world really will beat a path to your door.

You could become the Web 2.0 guru that explains it all - the thing is with this, there are several people doing exactly that - and from all of the video’s, audios, and pdf reports I have read or watched or listed to - not a single one really knows what the heck they are talking about. To me it’s kinda like being an expert about the internet - it is much to broad of subject. Specialization is where the opportunity lies. It is like one I watched this week - they suggested going to all of these Web 2.0 sites and finding a way to get a url listed with each. To me that is like trying to get the old web plugged into the new web - it is not about fully utilizing what is possible. Talking about links is old web talk - that’s how you get listed in google - 6 months 1 year later - by getting a bunch of back links. While sure that can be a useful tool - its like using the water dispenser on a space ship to fill your water jug. Way under utilization.

This is opportunity - waiting to explode for those who take action. Become the expert. Market your strengths.

Great Web 2.0 Resources

The best wasy to start learning about Web 2.0 is to just dive in. See what is out there and what others are doing. Here are some Great Web 2.0 resources: You Yourself could actually build one of these type of sites - most these are less then year old.

http://www.alexaholic.com/sethgodin
http://www.allthingsweb2.com/
http://bobstumpel.blogspot.com/

This Week’s Dreaming Assignment

The reason I wanted to write this Web 2.0 article is that I wanted each of you to seriously consider it when you are making your dreams and setting goals for 2007. There is no reason anyone of you could not become the most sought over expert in your area. With this major shift in the media world vast opportunities have opened up. Anything is possible and to become an expert - just start learning everything there is to know on one thing. So put that in the mix this week when you dream about what you want to happen in your life in 2007.

HOLY SMOKES
(Now that’s a weird expression??)

This is one offer I immediately snatched up - This beats any firesale or
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Speaking of Giving….

If you have not taken the opportunity and gone over to Mark Hendricks 12 days of Christmas - You are missing out BIG TIME! Here is the Link Quality is what he strives for and he has definitely found some real winners. Do yourself a big favor and go and take advantage of the gifts - and that package he has put together is unbelievable - compare that to any of these dime sales or fire sales ……. Go do this NOW!

A Very Workable Approach - ATTENTION - ATTENTION - This is a WINNER!!!

I told you about this last week - This is the best deal I have seen anyone put on the table in a very long while. Yes he is a good friend - But he had his first teleconference this week with the members - Alex is basically taking you by the hand and showing you step by step how to make a very profitable business. If you feel you are wandering and not sure which way to go - Hook up with this - Alex is committed to helping you be successful - and still time to get in on one on one coaching calls. I am building a site right along with Alex and the rest of the members - this is very exciting !!! Alex has taken the power of the 12th most visited website in the world ebay (we are talking multiple millions of visitors daily) and driving tar-geted traffic to your websites and most importantly using it to develop tar-get buyers em-ail l-ists. So you end up with a traffic model and a revenue model focused on what you have to offer. Alex Jeffrey’s Easy Profit Auctions - Ingenious I say - Ch-eck it Out

It’s Holiday Season - Free Gifts Anyone?

I am involved with several of these Christmas Giveaways - And it is a Great opportunity to Pick Up some free software and e-books on a multitude of subjects. Many of these have some outstanding one-t-i-me -d-ea-ls that are well worth it! I recommend downloading these products into a specific folder, so it will be easy to find at a later date.

Many of these you can still get on and promote your own products and gifts - is a very excellent way to increase you list! Hint Hint Hint!!!!

The Grand Daddy of them All - Mark Hendricks 12 Days of Christmas - Cli–ck H-ere

Brad Dixon’s Ultimate JV Giveaway - C-lick He-re

The Great Giveaway JV - Cl-ick H-ere

I’m a W-ork at H-ome M-om - JV Giveaway - Cl-ick H-ere

The Best Christmas Giveaway - C-lick H-ere

30 Days of Christmas - C-lick H-ere

Rebecca Hubbard’s Christmas in a Box - C-lick H-ere

Holiday Season Software

There are always two approaches to most everything in life. You either go into with the mindset of this is going to be fun and enjoyable or you go into with the mindset of “oh what a pain this is going to be”. It’s the ole glass half full -half empty thing. I prefer to live my life looking for beauty and good things wherever I can.

Add a little holiday spirit to your website or blog for a mere pittance. An associate of mine has put together a product called Ho Ho Audio. This is a perfect tool for you to increase your holiday sales as well as introduce you to Web 2.0 and adding audio to your website.
Web 2.0 and all of it facets is something I am going to concentrate and learn on this coming year - so I am starting my learning by adding audio to my blog using this great tool. Learn more about it here.

White Hat Search Engine Optimization

Over the last year I have been working closely with a SEO expert by the name of Dan Bourlan. During this time our relationship has become one in which we would both refer to each other as a good friend. The long term strategy for any website should dwell in the White Hat arena of search engine optimization. Dan has released the ultimate guide to white hat seo this week. And to me the best part of his offer is that he is including lifetime upgrades with his product. To me, being able to learn directly from the source the latest seo tactics as they continuously change is worth the price alone. This is one book I recommend you read and put into action. This is good stuff - White Hat SEO Stealth

This is Hot - And When They Draw Your Name…

It would be the same as if you had one a real lottery. Regardless of what you may have heard, emails are still the most effective way to reach the greatest number of people for the lowest cost. Most of us though either do not have a list, or have a list of a just a few hundred or maybe even a few thousand. A very good friend, Martin of mine put together a way for you to be able to email tens of thousands. Called the List Lotto, every week each person has the chance of being able to email the entire list. Completely free to signup. You can greatly magnify your chances by low cost upgrade. So don’t delay go here now. Ray Recommends List Lotto http://www.imgads.com/listlotto Whether you do free or upgrade - well worth it!!

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Enjoy Your Weekend!