As anyone who lives here knows, Michigan’s business sector has seriously suffered these past few years. Other than a few notable improvements to the professional landscape (like the film incentives that the state is now talking about rescinding) it appears things have gone from bad to worst for this state’s job market. In an effort to help businesses re-think their position in this rather unruly economy, I should like to offer some of my ideas on 21st C. business, the Internet and how to improve your businesses bottom line.
The reason business has suffered so much in the past is simply because the people who run companies have been unable to adapt to the new way of doing things. Simple tasks that businesses used to pay phenomenal fees to accomplish can be achieved with a fraction of the resources, simply due to the innovations of the Internet. If your business sells baseball cards, for instance, rather than attempting to appeal solely to customers passing by the old shop, you now have the ability to connect with thousands or millions of people who may be interested in your wares at the click of a couple buttons. Facebook alone can connect you with millions of people who –no offense intended- basically live on the Internet, myself included.
“Baseball cards is a given,” you say. “What about medical practice?” How much money do medical offices spend sending out reminders, birthday wishes and other correspondences? What about time spent on the phone giving directions, or communication between staff? With a proper database and some Web 2.0 programming this whole process could be automated. Of course it takes a small investment to set up initially, but once it’s done you’re business has obtained a little bit of an edge that it didn’t have before. Besides, I don’t know if anyone told you, but people are comforted when they see you are keeping up with the times. After all, if you are bright enough to be my doctor, I should hope you’re bright enough to realize that this whole technology thing is sort of here to stay.
The fact of the matter is simple: I don’t care what type of business you operate; if you do not have a formidable Internet presence your days of being successful are numbered. Believe me I know technology can be frustrating, but it can also be fun, exciting and downright necessary to your business’ survival. I tell clients all the time, “your website should really make you more money than it costs, whether directly or indirectly.” This is the truth. If your website is not obviously benefiting your business monetarily, then something is not right.
I should like to suggest that the Internet is the answer to what I consider to be this generation’s Great Depression, because I know how many businesses are out there, barely staying afloat without utilizing the benefits of the Internet. If these businesses start using the Internet and stop trying to operate as their own isolated islands, the results would be more than enough to finally push our state, country and even world out of the economic funk we’ve been experiencing. It seems like a lot of people get this, but unfortunately even more don’t. To those of you who are wondering if you should invest the resources necessary to create a viable web strategy for your company, I say this: are you still watching VHS tapes on a VCR, or did you eventually join the rest of us in the wonderful world of digital media. Also, a word to the wise, HD is not going anywhere either, so you might want to stop buying DVD movies.
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