Spinfield: Web marketing trends today, tomorrow, and beyond…

While watching the news lately about the 500 plus grounded airplanes, the Northwest/Delta merger resulting in fewer flights, skyrocketing ticket prices, rising fuel costs and the effect air travel has on the environment, I couldn’t help but think, “EEEW, who would fly anymore?”

Sure, I’ve done more than my fair share of business travel, been stuck in the never-ending security line one too many times, taken off my shoes, unpacked my laptop, removed my jewelry, my belt and anything else that may make me beep, just to get to the other side to prove to “TSA” that the lipstick at the bottom of my purse is just a lipstick and not some kind of James Bond-like bomb. No more! Uncle! I’m done! And so far I really have reduced my business travel from monthly to roughly quarterly (maybe less).

I know you’re thinking, ” But, I have to travel, I have to train that new rep in North Dakota, I have to give that presentation in Des Moines, or our National Reps have to be here for the annual meeting. It sounds Utopian, but really Laurel, in my business it can’t be done.” I used to think just like you but trust me it can be done,

Here’s a few ways how:

• Use an iPod. This method can be a high efficient and cost effective way to deliver training sessions and sales support, quarterly reports, corporate messages. Companies such as Capital One, Siemens, and National Semiconductor provide their employees with iPods for just that purpose. Think about the productivity! It’s after business hours your employee is getting in their evening workout, running on the treadmill and listening to their supplemental training course.

• YouTube! It has revolutionized the Internet. When I did a search today there are currently 1,200 corporate training videos posted. Companies like TCP use this medium to deliver their message. It can have a corporate or light feel to it. Either way it is a time-saving, cost-effective, no-travel way to share information with your customers and employees.

All you really need is a studio, green screen, and an awesome audio/visual team to produce it. Call me, I’ll tell you how.

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