The internet has had an impact on almost every sphere of life today. Though it started in the military and academia, computing has moved on to business and the home. Today, the internet is increasingly considered a must have for any organization that intends to make a mark in its area of specialization. Even not for profit organizations have found the power of the World Wide Web handy in many ways.
So what are the specific reasons why your business cannot do without the internet? First is people. The lifeblood of any business is its customers – no customers means no business. Your business primarily exists to serve the needs of its clients and this is the only way to make a profit. How does the internet come in? – It is the single largest market. With recent research indicating the total number of internet users to be at 2 billion globally, the online audience is much larger than any other advertising media can have access to.
The second reason a business needs the internet is to establish a global presence. In the past, the term ‘going global’ was reserved for multi-billion dollar conglomerates and involved establishing a physical presence in the countries where one wanted to do business. Not so today. Even a one person business can today have worldwide reach by simply setting up a website. Your business will be accessible to persons based anywhere in the world as long as they have an internet connection.
The World Wide Web has drastically reduced the time it takes businesses to communicate. Communicating with customers, suppliers and employees is no longer an arduous task that must rely on the postal system or multiple telephone calls. Through email, a single message can be sent and received by thousands of persons in an instant.
That means you can quickly inform your customers of new products, changes in opening hours or significant developments in the industry. Email and internet communication is not only fast but cheap. The cost of sending a single email to 100 customers is a fraction of the cost of sending the same communication via regular mail. The internet has heralded the end of daily opening and closing times for many businesses. As long as you have a website, it means any person that wants to know more information on your products or (if you have an ecommerce site) wants to make a purchase, can do so any time of day 365 days a year. The fact that the web provides for pictures, videos and sound, gives you many more options than conventional methods of advertising. Remember, a picture is still worth more than a thousand words.
Of course the internet itself is not homogenous – it is a complex mixture of demographics. This too is important as it allows your business to focus on its target market. For instance, if you are looking for a younger audience for your product, having an active presence in social networking sites such as FaceBook and Twitter would come in handy.
So what are the specific reasons why your business cannot do without the internet? First is people. The lifeblood of any business is its customers – no customers means no business. Your business primarily exists to serve the needs of its clients and this is the only way to make a profit. How does the internet come in? – It is the single largest market. With recent research indicating the total number of internet users to be at 2 billion globally, the online audience is much larger than any other advertising media can have access to.
The second reason a business needs the internet is to establish a global presence. In the past, the term ‘going global’ was reserved for multi-billion dollar conglomerates and involved establishing a physical presence in the countries where one wanted to do business. Not so today. Even a one person business can today have worldwide reach by simply setting up a website. Your business will be accessible to persons based anywhere in the world as long as they have an internet connection.
The World Wide Web has drastically reduced the time it takes businesses to communicate. Communicating with customers, suppliers and employees is no longer an arduous task that must rely on the postal system or multiple telephone calls. Through email, a single message can be sent and received by thousands of persons in an instant.
That means you can quickly inform your customers of new products, changes in opening hours or significant developments in the industry. Email and internet communication is not only fast but cheap. The cost of sending a single email to 100 customers is a fraction of the cost of sending the same communication via regular mail. The internet has heralded the end of daily opening and closing times for many businesses. As long as you have a website, it means any person that wants to know more information on your products or (if you have an ecommerce site) wants to make a purchase, can do so any time of day 365 days a year. The fact that the web provides for pictures, videos and sound, gives you many more options than conventional methods of advertising. Remember, a picture is still worth more than a thousand words.
Of course the internet itself is not homogenous – it is a complex mixture of demographics. This too is important as it allows your business to focus on its target market. For instance, if you are looking for a younger audience for your product, having an active presence in social networking sites such as FaceBook and Twitter would come in handy.
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