Leveraging the open, transparent and content-sharing precepts of web 2.0, TradeKing is launching its ‘conversationality campaign’ through a variety of vehicles, including blogging, a YouTube video, and a series of provocative online/offline ads, which feature fictional TradeKing clients swapping pithy sound-bites on the art of trading.

The new initiative was created with the help of ad agency Stick and Move and, according to the broker dealer, is in keeping with TradeKing’s overall philosophy that trading should be simple and transparent for all.

To that end, TradeKing is offering a range of social networking capabilities to promote collaborative learning and community sharing, including the ability for TradeKing clients to start their own free trading blog, search for like-minded traders, and read other traders’ blogs, profiles and commentary.

People socially network about investments in the real world. It’s a natural extension to have these conversations amplified through technology, said Donato Montanaro, Jr., CEO of TradeKing. It’s relevant and interesting for people of like minds to connect. Our social networking tools make this possible in the online trading space.

In other news, TradeKing was recently selected as one of the five best web-based online brokers in Barron’s 12th annual survey of Best Online Brokers, beating well-established rivals such as E-Trade, Charles Schwab, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Scottrade.