We’ve commented on how the larger, more established brokerage firms have been slow to adopt Web 2.0 technologies. We recently received an e-mail from TradeKing, a small active-trader focused firm, that shows a neat use of the community and provides a good example of how to drive interest in it among the firm’s client base:

IMPRESS THE TRADEKING COMMUNITY, AND GET UNLIMITED ZERO-COMMISSION TRADING FOR A MONTH

Fellow Trader:

To celebrate the launch of our new, radically improved version of the TradeKing Community, we’re rewarding the best contributors.

Here’s how it works. In the new Community, when you create a blog post or a "trade note," other Community members have the option of voting for your contribution as a "good post." We’re keeping track of the voting and will have the running tally displayed on its own page.

Measured at midnight on February 29th, winners in the following categories will be rewarded with unlimited commission-free trading for the entire month of March, 2008:

  • Top-voted trade notes - 3 winners
  • Top-voted blog posts - 3 winners
  • Top-voted Community member (total number of votes for blog posts and trade notes by a single Community member) - 1 winner - this month’s REAL "Trade King"

So what are you waiting for? Head there, get in touch with your inner trading genius, and start writing blog posts and trade notes in the TradeKing Community. And don’t forget to vote for other members who manage to impress you. After all, there’s room for multiple winners-so let the best trader win!

Best Regards,


Donato A. Montanaro Jr.
Chief Executive Officer
(877) 495-KING (5464)