The hyper-competitive online environment is a lot like the wild, wild west of marketing. Businesses in industries across the board are struggling to compete and establish a sustainable web business or presence. At HATHWAY, we understand how difficult it can be so we have established the following 6 essential steps to establishing a sustainable business online.

Today, it’s difficult to imagine life without social media. Many of us wouldn’t know what to do with ourselves if we couldn’t update our network with a current relationship status, favorite band or lunch ideas. While it may seem that social media is the relative new kid on the block with the more recent popularity of platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, this isn’t a new fad.

Uprising. Revolution. Death. Not the first things that come to mind when speaking of Twitter. None-the-less, the micro-blogging platform has taken center stage as a key player in social change around the world as of late.  Throughout history, technology has played an essential role in political and economic development of mankind. Twitter has now cemented its position in the history books as a disruptive technology.

With Twitter all over New York Fashion Week and Donna Karan using a virtual trunk show to promote her fall line, there is no denying social networking is hot this season. Top brands have embraced new social media tools to help spread the word about new trends and further brand loyalty. With the launch of Facebook Deals last fall, retailers are now able to drive customers through their doors while creating a word-of-mouth buzz and customer loyalty.

With Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at a close; designers, fashionistas, journalists, and bloggers alike, shed a little tear and reflect on lessons learned from the iconic event. More so than in season’s past the 2011 New York Fashion Week presented fashion trends and shows to the public at lightning fast speeds, across multiple channels, mobilized and in 140-characters-or-less. In sharp contrast to the way fashion week was covered and executed in the past, many are calling this season’s event the Fashion Week of the people.