One of the hottest concepts in technology news today is “cloud computing.” Simply put, cloud computing is the next generation of software-as-a-service (SaaS.) Instead of maintaining a full IT structure with updated software and other expenses within your company, you keep your technology infrastructure remotely hosted on a web-based central server farm sharing software but having your own database.

At SharedVue we created an extension to cloud computing we call “cloud marketing.” Traditional marketing is still viable but can be expensive in the current economy. The Internet provides a much more cost effective way to market as opposed to TV, radio or direct mail. Some of the same content and promotional activities used traditionally can also be used in web-based marketing programs. By using the web you can utilize online activities such as social media, webinars, emails, events, YouTube and, most important, your own websites.

Any of these tools can be used if you have a channel strategy or a direct sales strategy. You can now take approved corporate content presented in a way your company wants it delivered and syndicate it through the web in a SaaS format. That is what we call cloud marketing or marketing in the cloud.

The channel partner or direct salesperson benefits because they get instant, customized help and expertise from the corporation that is based on market research and brand quality. The corporation benefits because channel partners and salespeople are communicating a succinct, cohesive, and consistent message at all customer touch points.

The benefits of cloud marketing are:

• A relatively low cost way to have marketing content delivered to multiple web sites throughout an organization
• Consistency of messaging and brand communication
• Ability to customize for regional and local needs
• Lead generation opportunities within the content
• Messaging can be changed or edited within minutes
• Since it’s on the cloud, the corporation does not have to manage the technology

Are there ways your company utilizes cloud marketing or other like strategies?