ABM RELEASES WHITEPAPER ON WEB 2.0 BEST PRACTICES
TO HELP B-TO-B MEDIA COMPANIES WEATHER TOUGH TIMES
Whitepaper focuses on leveraging Web 2.0 and social media tactics,
from blogs to widgets and beyond
NEW YORK, March 4, 2009 - American Business Media is proud to announce the availability of a new whitepaper that helps b-to-b media companies leverage Web 2.0 and social media tactics and technologies. Created by ABM’s Media Marketing Committee and entitled “Leveraging Web 2.0 for B2B Media – Ideas & Best Practices,” the whitepaper focuses on education for those b-to-b media executives who are not familiar with many of the latest Web 2.0 applications or whose companies have been slow to implement them.
“It has never been more important for our members to learn more effective strategies for engaging their audiences,” said John Holden, ABM’s SVP of business media services. “ABM is proud to provide the insights, tools and best practices to help b-to-b media companies weather these economic times and meet the challenges of a transforming industry.”
A survey of ABM members, in conjunction with the whitepaper, shows that only 15% consider themselves “pros” on the latest Web 2.0 technology, while 54% say they are actively trying to learn more.
The same survey shows some interesting statistics in regards to how b-to-b media companies use Web 2.0 and social media tactics, including:
- The main purpose of b-to-b media Web sites is to increase reader engagement, followed closely by generating advertising revenue;
- Executives with 20-plus years of industry experience – the leaders of many b-to-b media companies – are far less familiar with Web 2.0 tactics and technology than less-experienced executives;
- Small-sized companies are significantly more familiar with Web 2.0 tactics and technology than their medium- and large-sized competitors; and
- Respondents rank video, search content archives, and forums/discussion boards most successful at achieving their main goal of increasing reader engagement.
“Our research supports the need for education among all b-to-b media companies, but especially among larger firms and more experienced leaders,” says Glenn L. Laudenslager IV, marketing director at Reed Medical Education and chair of the ABM’s Media Marketing Committee, which created the whitepaper. “While nobody has an easy time right now justifying investments required in time and capital, there is clear opportunity for b-to-b media companies to leverage social media in their marketplaces. Yet each specific tactic needs to be approached with a clear understanding of the opportunities, challenges, costs and time involved.”
“Leveraging Web 2.0 for B2B Media – Ideas & Best Practices” contains definitions and examples of various Web 2.0 tactics used by b-to-b media companies, including blogs, forums, podcasts, social networking, social bookmarking, video, wikis and more. It also contains a glossary of Web 2.0 terms and Web sites. The free whitepaper is available here.
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About American Business Media:
Founded in 1906, American Business Media is the association of business information companies, delivering business intelligence to industry professionals worldwide, including Madison Avenue, Wall Street and the Beltway. Its 300-plus member companies reach an audience of more than 100 million professionals and represent nearly 6,000 print and online titles and over 1,000 trade shows, with well over $33 billion in annual revenues.
Contact:
Kate Patton
Managing Editor
American Business Media
k.patton@abmmail.com