In the year 2008, the seven major issues of Information Technology will certainly be changing. It’s to be expected in this day and age where everything is evolving rapidly and changes are constant. Let’s take a look at the 7 IT trends in 2008.

1. Strategy

Developments in operations and promotions will definitely be a critical move next year. In reaching out to the customers, businesses and companies have been both creative and competitive. A lot of strategies came up, evolving in both effectiveness and efficiency.

From the early 1990s, businesses became customer-oriented in their strategies to boost their image and sales. The next step would be in identifying and producing not only what the customer wants in the present but what the customer will want. Companies are trying to think ahead as a strategy. This may well be the turning point regarding strategies in 2008.

2. Security

Information security has been one of the major concerns when the world turned to the Web and technology. Hackers and Identity theft have been troubling. As of the present, there is still no way to be 100% free of these issues. Companies try to stay vigilant against the hackers and always inform employees of security threats. In 2008, security will still be on top of the lists of major organizations and more risk and security management programs are probably going to turn up.

3. IT Management

Information technology is already side by side with businesses that IT management will also be a focus of many companies and organizations. And as consumers become more driven by the Web as time goes by, the line between a business and technology management will become on par. Outsourcing and IT experts are now part of the big names, and there’s no sign of a decrease in the future.

4. Technology

No one can attest that the technology we have now is satisfactory for all. There are still many ideas out there that can make IT easier and simpler. And since, the customer is the focus of the businesses, technology that are beneficial to the customers, and which will enable businesses to reach out more to them, is definitely in the making.

5. Local Content

Local marketing and local searched are certainly on the rise. In 2008, many companies will be seen focusing more on the local market as the locals look for more approachable and accessible product and service providers.

6. IT Human Resources

Every business wants quality IT staff and workers. As businesses expand in 2008, there will be a huge demand for more IT workers. The problem is, there might be a shortage of talented workers, and recruiting and retaining them might be troublesome.

7. IT Education

Education is vital to information technology, especially sine the Web and technology are constantly evolving, and at a fast pace too. Massive investments in training are becoming vital to businesses. This is especially true to companies whose area rests on ecommerce and the online community.

How is search engine optimization helpful to marketing a business online? As we all know, SEO is vital for every company and business that also market online. This video will help explain how SEO is very helpful to business marketing.

In this age where employers and recruiters sometimes look through the Internet for applicants and job-seekers, it is only advisable to have an online presence and a strong profile that can have an impact on employers and recruiters. One site that can help you in getting hired fast is LinkedIn.com. Here’s a video that’ll give you 8 tips in getting hired fast through LinkedIn!

Many folks would not think that this would be an option for employers but, yes, they can do a background check on their applicants on the Web. This is the Information Age, and we have begun tapping into what technology and information can do combined, albeit this age is also commonly known as the Digital Age (others would rather call it the Wireless Age).

Since information is just a click away, employers and recruiters would take the easy option of surfing the Internet and looking for information on their applicants and candidates. With this development in many companies and businesses, especially businesses that specializes in computer and information technology, applicants and job-seekers should be aware of the potential, and the downside, of having a profile online.

For employers and recruiters, this process has unloaded a great deal of manual work for them. When information is automated, not only can they save time by surfing online for background checks but they can also generate more in-depth analysis from an applicant’s profile. There are some things that can be seen in the online profile that is not visible in the resume. Resumes can be stiff and limited, whereas looking at profiles at Facebook, for example, can give the employers and recruiters more information about you.

Online profiles give out not just facts about a person but also his interests and preferences. Blogs will also help the employers understand the applicants better because blogs can show their personal side. From what is written, employers and recruiters can deduct whether you are well-rounded, intelligent, flexible, etc.

In building your profile online, here are some tips to bear in mind:

Build up your profile with meaningful contributions to the community.

Make use of your knowledge and experiences and post them in.

Hook up to a lot of friends and acquaintances. Do not add strangers if you have no connection with them whatsoever.

Write and post more for more visibility in the search engines and to the public
Be sure not to post any photos that can ruin your impression (e.g. Drunken photos, nude photos, very foul language, etc.).

Tell your friends to do the same and ask them not to pass you photos, videos, or comments that are not pleasing for the visitors (and the employers).

You can opt not to have an online profile. But in this day and age, when the Internet and technology is used more than the usual manual labors, having an online presence is a thumbs-up for employers and recruiter. If you are nowhere in the Web, they would deem that you did not have that much of an impact on your past jobs, not enough that you would be recognized by the public.

For every company and every business, a grand marketing strategy is set up to market the company and the products and services offered. For every marketing strategy, steps are taken to fully make that decision that can give you that successful break you need.

Stepforth News released an article that tackles on how a successful marketing strategy and plan is made. They have specifically cited the following as the building blocks of a market strategy implementation:

1. Marketing budget and timeline development
2. Market research
3. Website design
4. Competitor analysis
5. Keyword research
6. Content creation
7. Content management system and or shopping cart creation
8. Search engine optimization (SEO)
9. Link building
10. Blogs, newsletters, articles
11. Social media
12. Website analytics
13. Pay-per-click marketing (PPC)

Market research is also being highlighted in the article as essential and critical to making decisions. Market research can give you data and information on what your competitors are doing, and can provide you with analyses that will determine what your next marketing step will be.

Stepforth News also emphasizes on webmarketing decisions and how a detailed marketing strategy can help them to their great advantage. From StepForth News The Genesis for a Successful Online Marketing Campaign:

Market research will produce a blueprint for your web marketing direction.

1. Competitor analysis reveals information about their keyword targets and how they are positioned in Google, Yahoo and MSN. In looking at several competitor sites one can construct a universe of keyword phrases that have proven successful in the search engines. Understanding this helps determine your keyword phrases and aid in the creation of textual content for your site.

2. Links can be analyzed for their reputation and their popularity. Where are they coming from and are they paid links or from a link farm? Knowing who is linking to your competitor can make your task an easier one when developing your own link building campaign.

3. An index saturation analysis will show how many pages a website has indexed in a search engine in comparison to the number of pages actually existing within the website. The purpose of the saturation analysis is to evaluate the various design elements that may be affecting indexing efficiency and to ultimately determine whether saturation is playing a noteworthy role in the website’s (your competitor’s) ranking.

4. Optimization analysis will determine what (if any) particular optimization techniques are overwhelmingly influencing rankings for internal review pages of each site.

Johnson & Johnson is one of the biggest health care companies in the world. One of their business practices is to be serious about corporate social responsibility and taking care of the environment. In the video, they also showed how being involved in environmental and energy issues have affected their business sales. It’s a great example for other businesses to be involved in conserving and saving the environment.

1. Creating a website for your business.

The website doesn’t really have to be very stylish or complicated. It is better for a website to be actually simple and effective. You website should be able to describe your product and services in a clear and understandable manner.

The customers also have to be hooked on at the very first seconds that they have laid their eyes on your website. Go straight to the point on your homepage. Directly address a customer’s problems right on that very first page.

Always be sure to include your contact information in the website. Make sure that the customer can easily contact you, too. bring your website up to the top ranks in search engines. Apply search engine optimization to build your online influence across the Web.

2. Consistent blogging.

Blogging can add a personal touch to you and your business and this would eventually gain you some readers across the Internet. In blogging, you are able to write in a conversational manner and your readers will be able to relate with you.

With constant blogging, you will be able to establish yourself as an expert in your field of business, thereby gaining the trust of readers and customers.

3. Podcasting.

Some Fortune 500 companies are using podcasts. Podcasts can give you an edge over competitors by bringing in the most of your show and subscriber audience. It is more likely to give and receive attention from the audience than plain words on the screen.

4. Using Youtube.

Youtube has been a great asset on the Internet. Youtube is also being used as a marketing tool. A Youtube link on your website and vice versa can do wonders in marketing your business. Of course, when marketing with videos, you would want to post something interesting and useful. Take into consideration your audience and make video that they would want to watch.

Source: CNN Money

8 Steps to Market Yourself

Marketing yourself on Facebook requires that you invest quite a bit of time. Here are eight steps, when repeated continually, that will grow your professional contacts and boost your credibility:

-> Step #1. Create a polished profile

First, enter as much information about yourself as possible. Building relationships is easier when people know more about you, including personal tidbits. It helps to create a stronger bond with other users. Be careful not to input information that might damage your professional image.

Another tip: Be specific. “If you say, ‘I’m looking for a job,’ people have a hard time with that. If you say, ‘I’m looking for a job with a PR firm based in New York in the entertainment industry,’ that’s more specific. You have to be very clear what your intentions are. Be very specific about what you’re looking for and people will help you, just like any part of life,” Kaplan says.

-> Step #2: Join a network

Facebook puts people in social networks based on school, workplace or region.

Want to build credibility as an Internet marketing consultant in the Silicon Valley? Enter Silicon Valley, CA, as your profile’s region, which would place you in that network. If your target is the publishing industry in New York City, make your regional network New York even if you live elsewhere.

You can join any regional network no matter where you live, but only one, and you can change it only once every 60 days.

-> Step #3. Join groups

Next, join a group to start networking with interesting people. There are thousands of groups on Facebook in two categories:
o Global
o Network

All members can join global groups. Only members of a particular network can join network-specific groups. Your networks determine the groups you can join, so make sure your profile ties you to the same groups as your target audience.

You can browse or search for groups. Check your network pages. Check which groups other members belong to by looking at their profiles. If you’re interested in public relations, join the global and the network-specific PR groups. Then, check which groups other members belong to. You can join up to 200 groups.

After you join a group, you can text-message other members, send them emails, comment on their profiles or contact them through one of the third-party applications developed for Facebook.

-> Step #4. Post relevant content

Once your profile is what you want it to be, start building your credibility by adding content to the site. Anything that establishes your authority should be used.

This can include:
o Links to articles you have written
o Links to articles that quote you
o Incorporating your industry blog
o Showing a list of your favorite industry books
o Having many “friends” from the industry

-> Step #5. Create your own group

Starting your own group gives you control over its content and reach.

Simple guidelines for creating a group:
o Click on the create-a-group button
o Pick a name for your group
o Choose a network for your group
o Describe your group
o Select a category for your group (business, workplace, etc.)
o Set the rules of access

You can allow only the administrators — you — to post content, or you can allow any member to post, depending on your settings. You can open the group only to the networks you belong to or you can open it globally.

-> Step #6. Interact with others

Socializing is the key to Facebook. There are several ways to socialize:
o Buy virtual gifts for other members
o Play games with them
o Give them a virtual “poke” to get their attention
o Start a new topic in the “discussion board”
o Comment on their profiles if they’re in a group
o Post something to The Wall

Each user’s profile page has a space, The Wall, where friends can post short messages for anyone with full access to their profile to see. More private conversations are usually sent as messages to a person’s inbox.

Talking to people on Facebook is easy. That’s why people open accounts in the first place.

-> Step #7. Extend relationships outside of Facebook

Once the ice is broken, “start getting to know [people] on a more personal level. Set up phone calls and talk to them,” Patel says. “You can continue communication on Facebook, but your goal should be to continue communications outside of Facebook.”

Patel suggests setting a goal, such as building 30 new relationships within a month.

“What I mean by that is not just connect with 30 new people with Facebook and have them as your friends,” he says. “Get however many people as your friend, but for 30 of those people, connect with them, get to know more about what they do, not just what they do for work but their family life, what they like to eat — all the basic stuff, all the personal stuff.”

-> Step #8. Aim for long-term relationships

Being patient and consistent is the best overall strategy for Facebook marketing.

“If you’re serious about any of these networks … I think you really need to be in there on a daily basis,” Patel says. “The more you’re in there, the more you’ll know how it works and the more you’ll be able to connect and find people that will help you.”

The amount of time you spend on Facebook becomes an investment. “You’re not going to get any benefit from your contacts right away,” he says. “You’re trying to build up relationships and get long-term benefits.”

3 Strategies to Market Your Company

Marketing your company on Facebook is closer to traditional Internet marketing. You can build brand, drive Web site traffic or sell products.

-> Strategy #1. Build your brand with applications

Facebook is an open-source application. This means that it allows any capable programmer to create an add-on for the site.

“If you are a company that has something to offer, you can develop a third-party application and you can somehow bring your company’s products into Facebook, or their knowledge into Facebook, by integrating it with the platform,” Kaplan says.

If you decide to create an application and it’s useful or entertaining enough to be adopted by many Facebook users, then your brand will gain fame.

“Let’s say your company is Flickster, and you provide movie data. What you would do is build a total application that lets people learn more about movies and show times,” Patel says. “By doing that, [users] may stay on Facebook and may never come to your Web site, but they see your logo and they see your data all the time.”

More than 6,000 applications have been built for Facebook, and more than 100 are added every day. Their functions vary greatly. For instance, a simple application adds a “friends” drop-down list on your profile for fast reference.

A music application will “add as many songs as you like to your profile, browse your friends’ music and send music to anybody,” according to its description. There are also scores of games and fun applications that help the Facebook community interact in quirky ways, such as sending each other personalized digital fortune cookies.

The key is to identify a useful or fun way so you or your company can contribute an application that will boost your brand’s image. If your application is deemed “cool,” other Facebook users will suggest it to their friends and your brand will spread.

-> Strategy #2. Buy an ad

Facebook Flyers Basic allows marketers to buy and create banner-like advertising on networks.

Quick start:
o Go to Create a Flyer, which has easy-to-follow directions
o Pick a theme
o Select a title
o Write the body copy
o Open a preview window to see the ad before it’s posted

Ad content could include information about your company or even a link to your Web site. It could link to your Facebook profile. If you want to generate orders for a book, for example, you could link to a landing page that sells it.

Here are the guidelines:
- Ads can contain text or images, but no animation.
- For every $5, your ad will be served 2,500 times a day, with increments running up to 50,000 flyers per day for $100, for as many days as indicated (up to 30).
- You can specify if you want your ad to serve all types of Facebook users or to users on a specific network. If you are holding an event in Atlanta, for instance, you could specify that the flyer target only the Atlanta, GA, network.
- You can specify the gender and age group of the users you want the ad to reach.
- You don’t have to be a member of a network to advertise on it.

-> Strategy #3. Pinpoint your advertising targets

Facebook recently started offering Flyers Pro — a cost-per-click advertising system that offers sharper targeting for Flyers. These follow the same guidelines, but marketers can choose to target users based on:
o Keywords in their profiles
o Declared political views
o Relationship status
o Education status
o Their workplace

Marketers bid on the CPC ads by selecting their maximum price per click and their maximum daily budget.

According to Facebook’s site: “A higher max price per click increases the chance your ad will be shown. We discount clicks on your behalf, so you may pay less than your max price depending on the current demand for your ad’s audience.”

Source: Tutorial: How to Market Yourself & Your Company on Facebook - 11 Steps & Strategies, MarketingSherpa

Multi-channel retailing is becoming increasingly crucial for businesses to survive in an online age - Rebecca Spicer explores the options and steps required to build a successful e-store.

Thanks to the spread of broadband and wireless services at home, online business are growing rapidly, urged on by confidence in online brands such as eBay and Amazon.

The global ACNielsen Online Consumer Opinion Survey conducted last October found the vast majority of Australian internet users (87 percent) made a purchase over the internet. “Our ongoing e-commerce research clearly demonstrates an upward trend in Australian and global online shopping,” says Richard Sandlant, ACNielsen’s director of customised research.

So, how can your business tap into this growing market? While businesses may already
have websites to promote their business and provide additional information, it may be worth considering actually selling online as well.

David Lammey, general manager of business and consumer at web and application hosting company WebCentral, believes the decision for a business to expand online will be based on increasing its turnover and making the business more profitable. “What businesses are trying to do is sell more with less effort, and an online store can do that,” he says.

However, before embarking on developing your e-store, Lammey suggests asking yourself the following questions:

1. Is my product really going to sell; is it applicable; are people going to buy it on the internet? Anna Carosa started her accessory business, msAnna, just over two years ago. After successfully selling via mail-order catalogue she decided to launch online a year later. Selling mainly handbags and jewellery, she knew these were viable products to sell online. “I find with handbags, it’s more of a visual thing,” she says. “People know roughly what their style and taste is so most can buy jewellery and fashion accessories online relatively easily.”

2. How do you want to brand and structure the shop; do you want it to be a link off your main business website or a separate entity?

3. How am I going to do it? Analyse your current financial position—resources, costs, and so on—then ask yourself, can I afford this additional distribution channel? You’ll need to consider the extra resources needed to fulfil online sales and maintain the website, as well as set-up charges, ongoing maintenance and trouble-shooting costs.

4. Will you build and maintain the site in-house, outsource the job or use a combination of both? Deciding which way to go will depend on your time and resources, and how much risk you’re willing to take.

If you’re planning to sell online, the best research starting point would be to shop online yourself. Have a look at how other e-stores function and you’ll get an understanding of what consumers expect in terms of usability and security.

More on how to build your e-store: Building an E-Store by Rebecca Spicer, DynamicBusiness.com

1.ElevateHome

A former furniture designer for Pottery Barn, Edgar Blazona, 35, is owner and CEO of a children’s-furniture firm called ElevateHome. Blazona depends on two factories - one in Thailand and one in India - for all of ElevateHome’s wares.

2.South West Trading

Jonelle Raffino’s family-owned startup, South West Trading (soysilk.com), had stirred up demand for its line of yarns made from bamboo, corn and soy fibers, but Raffino couldn’t supply it fast enough.

3.YakPak

Stephen Holt founded YakPak - a company that makes messenger bags, backpacks, and totes - in 1988, but despite a growing client base of hip urbanites, his firm was not living up to its potential.

4.Bulbs.com

A Worcester, Mass., online retailer of light bulbs and fixtures, has seen its revenue grow by 50 percent annually for the past three years.

5.Efficient Forms

David Kenney won the sale for his small company, Efficient Forms, whose software automates the process of filling out forms for companies such as big insurers.

6.China Manufacturing Network

China Manufacturing Network (sourceglobally.com), a ten-employee firm in Irvine, Calif., draws on 90 factories in China, Malaysia and Singapore to produce such esoteric devices as the lens housings of industrial lasers.

7.Carlisle Wide Plank Floors

When Carlisle Wide Plank Floors launched its new Web site last spring, the phone stopped ringing. Normally that would be a bad sign. For 40 years, Carlisle had relied primarily on print advertisements to generate calls to its toll-free number. It hadn’t been a particularly efficient practice in recent years; the wood-flooring company, based in Stoddard, N.H., kept increasing its ad budget just to maintain the same number of leads.

8.Carrot Ink

For years Carrot Ink, a Dallas-based online retailer of printer cartridges, treated its Web site design like a guessing game