Web 2.0 Marketing Tools

Shopping Notes is one of my favorite Web 2.0 services because it is so flexible and useful. It allows users to save items they want to purchase to their "alert list" so that any time that item's price changes, they get an email telling them to go check it out. Shopping Notes has helped me save money as a consumer several times!

However, this feature is just as useful for e-commerce businesses. Imagine you have someone browsing your website and is somewhat interested in one of your products, but isn't willing to commit to the purchase right at that moment. They may or may not end up back at your website to look at that item again.

However, if you placed a link below your item that said something like "Click here to get an email alert if the price drops on this item" you would get a second chance to get a sale (maybe a third chance, depending on how often you change your prices).

Shopping Notes makes this completely possible! When making a link all you have to do is use the following link and change out the xxxx's with the URL of the product you wish to get an alert for.

http://www.shoppingnotes.com/savelink?url=xxxxxxxx&alert=2

Are you on Facebook? If you sell products online you should consider using the FaceBook application I Want . Users post what kind of items they are looking for, and you can make product recommendations to them. As an added benefit, anything you recommend shows up in your FaceBook feed for all your other friends to see. That's all free advertising for your product!

Several "social shopping networks" have also sprung up that make it easy for users to make product recommendations and find friends based on similar interests.

A great way to advertise your products is to participate in these social networks. Even better, you could hire someone that fits the demographic you are trying to reach to make friends on these networks and to include your best products in their recommendations.

ThisNext is my favorite Social Shopping Network because I've invested so much time rating products there. However, Kaboodle, BoxedUp and StyleHive are all excellent Social Shopping Networks. Another that I have not tried personally is WishPot.

You can find me on This Next by clicking here. Give me a shout! I'm always happy to add new friends, and to check out new products.

Polyvore allows users to mix and match photos from all over the web into "sets." This is a great way to put together outfits, and to see a room redecorated before making a purchase. The great thing is that any time a user uses one of your images in a set, you get a link back to your website! You can submit your most fashionable items on Polyvore so that the user base can easily have access to your images. You'll also get an email notification every time a user uses one of your photos in a set! Great free marketing. You can even sponsor a contest.