Changing the Way We Do Business

Almost everyone LOVES the Internet; and if they don’t, then they at least tolerate it. In a blog post where I wrote about the effect of Internet marketing as it relates to the Yellow Pages, one reader brought up an excellent point.  He pointed out that many small businesses do not have websites and therefore, they are still relying on things like the Yellow Pages for advertising purposes.  However, as time goes on, they will more than likely have no choice but to advertise on the Internet due to all of their competition using the Internet and growing because of it.

Is the Internet really forcing people to change how they do business?  I think most would agree that that it is.  Perhaps we are a nation of people who are simply addicted to the Internet.  Think about how much time you actually spend sitting at your computer checking your six email accounts or looking something up throughout the course of a day.  I’m sure the results will surprise you.  What was life like before the Internet?  And how on earth did we survive?!  Like so many other people, I don’t even give it a second thought half the time.  Struggling to figure out how we made it without computers at all is like trying to remember a time when cell phones weren’t as popular.  Whenever I see a payphone, or even worse- someone actually using it- I have to stop and stare!

Is something or has something been lost due to the increased popularity of the Internet and it’s impact on the world today?  Playing devil’s advocate, I think this issue begs the question, “Is Internet marketing truly a good thing?  Is it changing how we do business for the better?”