Online Social Networking & Business Collaboration World – Paul Marshall
I’m at Day Two of Online Social Networking & Business Collaboration World, where I’m chairing the plenary sessions and enterprise streams.
Other posts:
RIchard Kimber, CEO of Friendster, presentation
Rebekah Horne, head of Fox Interactive Media Australia and Europe, presentation
Francisco Cordero, GM Australa, Bebo, presentation
Ross Ackland, Deputy Director, World Wide Web Consortium
Laurel Papworth, Director and Social Networks Strategist, World Communities
Partner event: Enterprise 2.0 Executive Forum on 24 February 2009
Paul Marshall, CEO, Lasoo.com.au
It’s not all about getting more traffic to your site and spending time. It’s about getting engaged with your customers, interacting with them wherever they are.
Retail networks and social networks are not currently connected. Retailers know that shopping is a social experience. But they are not using online social networks. Why not?
They need to see retail networks and social networks merging – currently non-existent. Interactions leading to transactions.
Word of mouth is the most powerful tool that sellers have, says research. The number one influencer on purchasing decisions.
‘For a portion of web users, blogs rival search as a way to find things’ Buzzlogic CEO
There are plenty of conversations going on, and lots of examples of companies responding poorly or not responding.
Widgets are being used to push brand, moving from the browser onto the desktop.
Many tools now to vote on what retail offers are good: Digg, OzBargian, uLasoo, TopBargains etc.
The power of recommendations and reviews is driven by word of mouth. It gives customers satisfaction, and creates happy customers. However no Australian retail companies have ratings on their sites.
Costs of organising social communities:
Cost of community/ discovery
Cost of participation/ transaction
Cost of communication/ access
Google Checkout, Paypal, iTunes make it far easier to buy online.
The ideal purchase process: decide to and can purchase instantly.
Social currency is reputation. The frameworks have yet to be build.
