Web 2.0 applications that can help market your group

There are a huge number of Web 2.0 applications that have the potential to help your group's marketing efforts.

The following list is by no means exhaustive, but it does outline some useful applications your group can utilise in its marketing efforts.

Blogging packages or services

These include packages like WordPress, Blogger, Typepad, Live Journal, and Movable Type.

For most people, using a blogging service will be the best way to go. A service gets you started in just a few minutes and can be customised to use your design and logos. Many of them are available for free - with charges applying only if you use advanced features.

Photo hosting

Of all the Web 2.0 photo hosting and sharing sites around, Flickr is the probably well-known, and most popular.

Many of the basics of Flickr are available for free, with advanced features - including the ability to upload a larger number of photos - costing a small amount.

Photos uploaded onto Flickr can be arranged in galleries or albums on the Flickr website, with site visitors able to view them and comment on them. They can also be embedded into most blogs; a great way to quickly and easily add further content - and interest - to your blog posts.

Social Networking

Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter have the potential to raise your profile.

Facebook allows you to establish a page for your group, as well as brand it and link it to any online donations facility you might have. Facebook members can visit your page, sign on or subscribe as a "friend" and receive updates via email of any changes you make.

Twitter is a microblog which enables users to send and read each others' updates, known as tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters, displayed on the author's profile page and delivered to other users - known as followers - who have subscribed to them.

To grasp Twitter, it may be best to compare it to the SMS messages you can receive on your mobile phone. Many argue that Twitter is best used not to directly sell your wares, but to get people interested in what you are doing before attracting them to your website and getting them more involved in your group.

Twitter and other social networking sites can be linked - with users able to arrange for their Twitter posts (or tweets) to show up on their Facebook page, for example.

Document sharing and digital publishing

Document sharing sites (like Scribd) and digital publishing sites (like Issuu) allow your group to upload its publications onto the web for anyone, anywhere to read.

Scribd allows people to post documents of various formats, and embed them into a web page or blog using its own special formatting. This formatting allows people to view the embedded document exactly as it would appear on paper. For the most part, it can be used for free.

Issuu is a digital publishing service where groups can upload their documents. The site then converts them to digital online editions. Again, these publications can be embedded on websites and blogs, as well as social networking sites.

Online surveys

Online survey creators like SurveyMonkey, Surveygizmo and Oistar are great interactive Web 2.0 tools that can be used to gauge the attitudes and opinions of members, supporters, donors or even the wider community.

Both SurveyMonkey and SurveyGizmo offer the option of free basic surveys, with advanced features accessible to those who pay a inexpensive yearly membership fee. Oistar, an Australian company, offers "community-based, charity and not-for-profit organisations" a 60% discount on their fees and some sponsorship for community-based organisations.

Surveys on these sites are easy to establish and usually come with their own web link which can be inserted into your website, blog or other online locations.

Video hosting

Many of the software programs used to create blogs can also help you embed a video in your blog, though it might cost you extra to do so.

Other options are the popular YouTube or Vimeo sites, which allow people to upload their videos and then receive a code which can be used to embed or insert those videos into blogs, emails or websites.

Add-ons and extras

It's hard to keep track of all of the developments in Web 2.0 technology, but once you've made a start on using some of the tools out there, it's worth trying to keep track of some of the add-ons.

For example:

• Tweetbeep allows users to receive automatic email updates whenever a story containing certain words, names or phrases chosen by the user appears on Twitter. This allows you to keep track of what is being said by Twitter users.
• Tumblr allows people to update their blogs via a number of methods - text, photo, video, music, web browser, phone, email or desktop.

Have a look yourself

The web 2.0 tools and applications listed above are only a small fraction of the many available. If your group is looking for a specific tool or application, get onto the web and start searching - there's a good chance there will be something that will meet your needs.

The information contained on this site is subject to change. Our Community will not be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever coming from reliance placed on all or part of its contents.