If you’re running an online Web marketing campaign that makes regular use social media services like Facebook and Twitter, then you already have a leg up on your competition. But how are your listening skills? In 2010, the most successful online Web marketing experts won’t just be tweeting, but they’ll also be listening to their targeted audience. Listening to your audience is a crucial way to become more engaged with your audience. Here are 7 listening tools that can help you refine your social media message.
1. Hootsuite: URL shortening is going to remain an essential online Web marketing tool in 2010. And while there are a range of choices out there, Hootsuite is one of the best, since it can give you some useful stats related to who is clicking on your links.
2. Collective Intellect: As a newer, paid Web service, Collective Intellect is a little different. The ci/listen application is an advanced system that provides intricate real time listening and tracking services. Things like automatic categorization and filtering technology make Collective Intellect one of the most intriguing paid listening apps we’ve seen in a while.
3. Google Alerts: If you’re not ready for the host of services that Collective Intellect offers, then Google Alerts can be the powerful online Web marketing tool for you. You can quickly and easily set up keywords and get nearly instant alerts.
4. Technorati: Google blog search is a great tool for quickly finding the latest online trends. But for specific, tailored search it still can’t beat Technorati, the most powerful tool for finding useful information in the blogosphere.
5. Monitter: When you visit Twitter, you can see the ten most popular keywords of the moment. But if you’re like most online Web marketing specialists, that’s not enough. Monitter offers real-time updates on a range of keywords and popular topics.
6. Twendz: Another useful Twitter monitor, Twendz uses Twitter Search and can provide more tailored real-time updates. You’ll be able to monitor up to 70 tweets at a time.
7. Lexicon: Just as Monitter and Twnedz track the latest tweets, Lexicon is an online Web marketing tool that tracks the latest trends on Facebook. You can get instant updates and you can measure the volume of chatter for a range of specific keywords.
Whether you’re into the idea of “guerrilla marketing” or whether you prefer more conventioal channels of promotion, there are may be a few simple ways to promote your Website that you’re unaware of. Are you doing all you can when it comes to boosting your brand? Check out our 
