We have established that sitting on the fence when it comes to conversation marketing today is dangerous. It is like taking a position in the middle of a highway road. I do understand that for some, it appears we are speaking a foreign language with all the terms we are using here such as web 2.0, conversation marketing etc. because of these set of people, I hereby give my opinion and what those terms translate to in a lay man’s language as well as make open what the rules of the game are. Like we have established, conversational marketing takes place on the web. Interestingly the web has moved from web 1.0 for beginners to web 2.0. To add insult to injury for many, web 3.0 is around the corner in the western world. This requires that those of us here must quickly update our knowledge as fast as possible so we can play in the big league. I must say I am not a web savvy individual neither do I study science related course in the university, my passion is only on how brands can take advantages made available to harness visibility and relevance. This I have being doing in the past three years before I start talking about it today. Not to worry, individuals out there will not need three years period to learn, all you need do is to closely follow issues here and drop comment if you do not understand anything. So to be a player in this game, take note of the following as brand owner or a brand.

1. Have basic knowledge of the internet: You do not need to be a guru. I am not one. There are things I wish I know that I do not know.

2. Understand your brand, business and its users.

3. Be keenly interested in your niche and listen to the conversation going on around the world.

4. Develop a strategy to partake. This will help you to measure results.

5. Delegate responsibility: you either get involve –personal brand, or delegate responsibility as corporate brand owner. Get a social media consultant or community manager as it is called now. If you can not get any, send your people to us for training. It pays greater dividends.

6. Utilize integrated social media method: There are great numbers out there i.e. forums, social network, ding, discussion group, blogs. These require adequate training to get best results.

 On the last note, do not enter conversation as a marketer delivering a sales pitch, it will boomerang. People do not like to be sold to. Learn to respect privacy terms too. 

Getting new business is becoming a great issue in this recession time. Many hurdles are now on the way. Many have depended on referrals and old clients without tilling new grounds. Yes, new business development can be daunting, challenging but with adequate knowledge, planning, persistence, determination; some can still build new opportunities because this season also throw up new opportunities as much as the reality of the harsh, biting environment. That is if one knows how.

The following will help individuals, corporate organizations to win new businesses in this season.

1. Timely intervention: Ability to show up with right product/service per time is really important. This is possible if you are really close to your customer and you are involved in ongoing research of your niche market. Active listening to your environment will help in no small way in ‘guaranteeing’ that you will always have an answer to your niche market. Listen to the yearnings of your target audience and come up with a creative idea to solve these demands will help you in no small measure. Developing new business requires you take new initiatives and being ready to take opportunities when its available.

2. Show it: Before you can get new business, you must be able to proof that you can handle it. Be convincing, forceful in your approach. Being forceful does not mean you are brutal. Branding world is a game of war. You are always in the war room. Give the target the reason to believe you. Let the audience note you understand their problems and the solution is in your kitty. Let your message shatter any resistance.

3. Seamless communications: This is where many miss the opportunity for a new deal. Their messages are not consistence with the promise of value. Their brand environment gives room for doubt. If you say you are rich and will not need customers’ money to live, let it be visible in what your associates, employees wear to meet client. Opportunities still fall on people’s lap, if the laps are well-positioned. You will get yours. Its weekend, use the time and holiday to think through your strategy.