How can we make money on the web?
We hear it all the time: "How can we make money on the web…..?" Here are two recent clients who no longer ask that question.
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How Social Networking Works
The world of social networks is growing at a rapid pace. What started with MySpace has quickly grown into an overwhelming number of potential channels, including Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Ning, to name just a few.
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In The Classroom
Asked to address a local community college economics class, we were reminded of past similar presentations. We often wind up learning more from the students, than we impart in conventional marketing/communications wisdom.
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In The Classroom

A dunk in the college classroom is always revelatory.

That was the situation we recently found ourselves in.  Asked to address a local community college economics class, we were reminded of past similar presentations.  We often wind up learning more from the students, than we impart in conventional marketing/communications wisdom.  The class we met with most recently had been assigned to break into teams, conceive of a needed business in the region, then draft a business plan.

And though our role was to just address the marketing phase of the plan, here were some things we learned during the presentation:

• The class was rife with eager, youthful entrepreneurs. A couple of the students were already savvy in the ways of selling things online, in particular on E-Bay.  One student was teading successfully in used auto parts. Others, though less active, had also engaged in productive online sales.
  
  
• The students, some 15-20 of them, were mostly in their late teens to early 20's.
  
  
• Though much of their reading time is spent on class related material, we posed the question to them - how do they get their news?  And are they even interested?  The answer was yes on both counts. And online is the favored mode. They check newspaper websites, here and in their hometowns.  Several also connect with national web sites like the Wall St. Journal, Fortune or other business-oriented publications. And if there's specific interest in a local issue, they'll buy a copy of the regional daily newspaper.
  
  
• Interestingly, almost all of them don't listen to conventional commercial radio.  They're into their iPods and other commercial-free audio devices.  As for TV, most said they don't have or take time to watch it.
  
  
• Another thing we learned from these wannabe business types is that they're innovative and creative.  Plans being worked on included a unique kayak service, a dance club and an ultra spa.  They had done their homework.  The details of finance, legal structure, management and staffing, value-added services, marketing and vetting the competition had received plenty of rigorous and diligent research and thought.

As an added dimension to the classroom dynamic, we Introduced one of our clients, Rod Call, purveyor of Snoloha, a distinctive clothing and lifestyle manufacturer (www.snoloha.com).

Rod's presentation was like dessert for the students.  He introduced it by explaining that several years ago he had been sitting where they were.  Having been immersed in the retail clothing business for many years, he had returned to NMC's University Center to earn a business degree.  Now, instead of selling clothing in a retail store setting, he's making it.  He told the students,  "I had no idea I would wind up doing what I'm doing, and in such a short period of time."  The resulting two-way dialogue was spirited and thought provoking, a worthwhile experience for the entrepreneur and perhaps someday entrepreneurs.

In reviewing the evening with the adjunct instructor, he noted that this class was one of his best.  "These students really want to be here.  Their work shows that."

Given our experience, we'd agree.