Introduction Finlay Carmichael – Managing Director, C2 Software Ltd Quick introduction on who we are... How the web has evolved Effective Forums The potential of RSS The Blog effect Controlled User Generated Content Conclusions Kind thanks to Steve Clayton of Microsoft for input on RSS & Blogs

Formed in 1997 Privately owned, self funded & profitable UK Based Developers of the Activedition CMS Platform Over 200 implementations throughout the UK Leading e-Business Development House Total solution provider All development UK based Offices in Dundee & London About C2 Software

Our Experience Of Delivering Business Benefit

What is User Generated Content? Internally Managed Content Forums RSS Blogs User Profiles Mass Content Contribution How the web has evolved....

Next Generation of Websites Subscription to Content –Keeping clients informed –Allow niche and targeted content to be found with ease Involving Customers in a 2 Way Conversation –Embrace customer feedback –Respond to customer issues –Use the web to build relationships with clients

Forums Next Level of Contribution –RSS to keep informed –Community Rating – Member Points System –Folksonomy – used across user generated content Moderated or Community Moderated –Report Abuse

RSS Subscription Tag Cloud Traditional Forum Functionality

RSS Subscription User Profiling Subscription Configurable View Member Points System

RSS – Really Simple Syndication What is RSS? Why its important –RSS enabled site allows people to keep informed –Personalised to what they think is important Aggregate the content to other sites to: – promote viral marketing

Tag Cloud – User Tagging of Content (Folksonomy) RSS Subscription to stay informed Comments on Blog Post Search Facility Blog Classification Community Rating System

Blogs Fresh informal content Invite customer feedback and use the web as an online conversation Subscription of specialist expertise areas – drive viral marketing Microsoft have embraced the concept –With over 5% of staff blogging –Recognition that this has helped improve their corporate image

Blogs Benefits –Provides the ideal platform to involve key members in generating website content –Blogs typically have high search engine rankings Fresh content, targeted content (subject specific), likely to encourage links –Allows members and visitors to keep in touch via subscriptions Engages the community in an open, honest discussion –Give people an insight into how the company is open and cares about its customers – “Naked Conversations” –Comment element is an important part of any corporate blog

English Cut Listed on GoogleExpert Content Blog

User Profiles Applying the lessons of Bebo, Facebook and My Space to your own community Help facilitate members to help each other Build online communities and self help networks Improving communication between staff, customers and influencers

Recent Posts & Blogs Help facilitate communication between members Avatar Building an online network

Mass User Generated Content Taking Content Contribution to the next level Designing contribution forms for the task at hand Delivering business requirement Opens content contribution up to more staff Potential for translation and localisation Design your own CMS for your Staff & Customers to use....

Examples Send us your Events Send us your News Post an Advert Submit a Job Submit a CV Tell us your story – case study Create a translation in Chinese

How do we deliver on this? Activedition CMS –Empower staff with an easy to use CMS –Keep content fresh –Page Comment System Activedition Content Management Designer –Build your own user contribution interfaces –Get the community creating the content for the site Activedition e-Community with Community Server –Forums –Blogs –Comment & Rating System –User Profiling

Conclusions The web is/has evolved into a 2 way conversation This is the essence of “Web 2.0” CMS’s need to adapt to recognise and facilitate this next generation of sites Businesses are struggling with this “open” inclusive culture Trusting staff to respect and be advocates of the brand is key to engaging customers in an online discussion There is great potential to learn, interact and influence the conversation online by embracing these new technologies Come and see the ideas in action on stand E315

London Office 2 Sheraton Street Soho London W1F 88H + 44 (0) Dundee Office Tayside Software Centre Technology Park Dundee DD2 1TY + 44 (0)