My mother always used to (and still does) tell me to “Never depend on other people for things.” The advice is so simple and true and yet, people still ignore it anyway.  I mean, how many times have you asked someone to do something as simple as remember to bring back the cd they borrowed from you last week and then they forgot it?  The same is true for businesses- not the cd borrowing part- but the fact that many companies rely solely on the Internet to run their businesses.

Now, I’m not saying that the Internet is a bad thing.  On the contrary, I think that the Internet has done wonders for all of us.  However, there has been a growing tendency for many businesses to rely on the Internet, which opens them up to all sorts of vulnerabilities if they’re not careful.

Business Functions that Rely on the Internet

The following are some examples of things that a lot of businesses rely on where the Internet is involved. 

• Employee benefits administration
• Corporate transfer of funds
• Document backup and storage
• Contact info for customers
• Communications (i.e. voice, data)
• Accounting purposes
• Business management
• Payroll

Potential Internet Threats

Some potential threats to the Internet include things like:

• Corrupt code written by individuals
• Internet disruptions
• Natural disasters
• Terrorist attacks
• Hackers
• People looking to harm the United States

There is much talk today about global terrorism.  Terrorists aren’t just blowing things up anymore, they’re doing things more quietly too.  For example, there is much speculation that a future terrorist attacks will come in the form of a cyber war.  These attacks will be aimed not at the military, but at the United States economic infrastructure. 

So, What Can We Do?

BR suggests that CEOs ask some of the following questions:

And you thought running a business was easy!  There are many things to consider when operating your own business, especially if it is Internet- dependent! 

For more information about Internet marketing, visit Create Business Growth!

Tags: Business Building, Business Networking by Janelle - 5 Comments »

It is no surprise that ever since it’s introduction, Internet usage by United States businesses and governement has been growing rapidly over the past decade or so.  Additionally, Internet dependence has permeated to every inch of the global economy.  For instance, according to a 2007 study published by the World Bank, between the years of 1994 to 2004, Internet usage in the United States grew from less than 10 million users to more than 180 million users. 

A Reason to Depend 

By 2010, it is projected that the Internet will save U.S. businesses approximately $500 billion and increase revenues of $1.5 trillion (BR).  Why is this, you might wonder? The Internet is a valuable resource which reduces the amount of time, money and effort spent communicating ideas as well as information to people around the world.  If businesses are saving time, then it allows them to accomplish more, thereby increasing revenue, etc.  There are also other economic benefits from the increased use of the Internet by businesses, which (according to BR) include the following:

• Enhanced communications between businesses and companies/consumers

• Lower search costs that enable businesses to purchase materials at a lower cost

• Increased productivity

• Lower inventory costs

• Increased competition by making information readily available

• Lower accounting and finance costs

• Expanded sales and delivery channels

Now, what business wouldn’t want that?  However, we need to be weary of our seemingly  harmless dependence on the Internet.  A lot of businesses have turned towards the Internet for all of their company needs.  There’s that saying about putting all of your eggs in one basket.  Perhaps, we need to pay more attention to that.  For more information on Internet Marketing, contact Create Business Growth!

Tags: Business Building, Business Networking by Janelle - 2 Comments »

According to a 2007 business dependence report by Business Roundtable (BR), there is major concern that when it comes to having an online business, many companies are not ready or prepared to handle Internet-related disruptions that may arise.  You might be thinking, “So, what’s the big deal?” Well, as stated in my previous blog, when things go wrong with the Internet such as misinformation, glitches and the like, it makes consumers lose faith in that particular company, thereby causing the company to lose business.  In certain instances, this can be a crushing blow. 

Some of the things that catch businesses off guard include:

• Lack of awareness- For example, most businesses aren’t even aware that they have an “addiction” to the Internet until something happens to negatively impact the ability to conduct necessary business functions.
• Failure to plan- Since many businesses don’t view the Internet as something that could possibly work against them, a lot of their company plans don’t include a place for a “backup plan” should something actually go wrong with the Internet.
• Everyone suffers- If you fail to plan, then plan to fail; and plan to take other businesses with you.  The Internet is a social network, allowing for the exchange of ideas, products and services.  It’s a “web” and therefore, we’re all connected.  So, if something goes wrong with your business, plan to have it directly or indirectly affect your neighbors.
• Credibility- Credibility is so extremely important to the success of a business.  If there’s an issue with the Internet and information isn’t properly transmitted (especially if this is not the first time it’s happened), then this can and probably will have a negative impact on your company.

How Do We Fix the Problem?

Prevention is better than cure.  You cannot prevent most Internet problems from happening; however, you can be better prepared, so that when they do occur, you have all your bases covered.  When companies are established, or when annual reviews are done, businesses should address Internet dependence and assess all of the risks involved.  They should be  more proactive in seeking out the partnership of other businesses so that they can strengthen organizational response time in the event that something goes wrong.  BR also suggests that corportate executives ensure executive-level engagement with governement to set and communicate expectations about early warning and threat notifications for the business.

For more information on Internet marketing, contact Create Business Growth today!

Tags: Business Building, Business Networking by Janelle - 6 Comments »

Lately, the Internet has been a valuable resource and tool for many businesses.  In fact, some would even go so far as to say that it’s truly a ‘dream come true’.  But the Internet isn’t without its risks when it comes down to doing business. 

According to a 2007 report issued by the Business Roundtable (BR), greater dependence on the Internet also raises business vulnerabilities.  The positive thing that the Internet does for businesses is allow companies to conduct business that reaches the worldwide economy.  However, BR points out that many companies rely on the Internet as the source of fundamental business operations; and this dependence on the Internet may leave businesses vulnerable if there are every any significant Internet disruptions.  For example, disruption or corruption of data on the Internet could weaken public confidence in the reliability and integrity of that particular business, thereby ruining the business’ chance for success.

How many times have you been working on something really important- perhaps your college thesis paper- and then all of a sudden, without any warning, the computer crashes and you lose all of the hours of information that you had just worked so diligently on?  Then you remember that you had just printed it up only seconds before.  Whew; that was a close call.  But other people may not be and usually aren’t as lucky.  Face it, computers aren’t perfect.  Every year, it seems as if we have to keep up with technology.  There are always new upgrades to software and things are constantly becoming outdated.  For example, if you’ve had the same computer for longer than two years, then your computer is probably outdated. When doing business on the Internet, companies need to know how to be prepared and respond to Internet-related disruptions and malfunctions so that their business will be protected.

For more information on Internet marketing, contact Create Business Growth today.

Tags: Business Building, Business Networking by Janelle - 2 Comments »

More businesses are choosing to use the Internet than ever before due to convenience and cost.  We have entered into an age where businesses are almost relying on the Internet.  There are many ways in which the Internet is used for business purposes.  The Internet is a resource.  It is a tool for communicating effectively with others whether that’s through Internet marketing, advertising or some other means. Some of these are outlined below. 

Business Uses of the Internet

• track activity within that particular business industry
• stay current with latest news about what’s going on
• using blogs to find out what customers think about your products/services
• locate buyers or new markets for business
• evaluate products and get customer feedback
• hire or search for new employees
• market/advertise to potential consumers
• get the latest computer upgrades and software
• provide ways for consumers to purchase your product/services online
• save on postage and distribution costs by advertising on the Internet

Promotion

There are also numerous ways to promote your business on the Internet so that you appeal to consumers and their interests. This is where web designers and Internet marketing companies come into play. For promotional purposes, you have to consider your audience at all times.  What is it you’re trying to sell to them?  How can you create a bond with your target audience to spark their interest in your product or service and, more importantly, KEEP them interested? This is one of the most important things to keep in mind when you are thinking of putting your business on the Internet.  Of course, there are other things related to doing business on the Internet such as reliability, but we’ll get to that next time.

Tags: Business Building, Business Networking by Janelle - 2 Comments »

Almost anyone with any sort of decency knows the value in having good manners; things like holding the door for the person behind you, taking small bites at meals, not chewing or speaking with your mouth full of food, etc, etc.  But remembering your manners isn’t just for the dinner table and social setting anymore.  It now applies to Internet usage as well.  Especially if you’re a business owner who conducts a lot of online correspondence, a little net-quette can go a long way.  Here are some useful suggestions:

1. Check & Respond.  Hardly anyone opens up forwarded email or junk email.  However, if you do receive a message from someone, regardless if it’s an old friend or a potential client, alway respond and respond promptly.  Even if you send an email to the person to say that you don’t have time to talk at that moment, something is better than nothing.
2. Be Selective.  Clicking “send to all” can be tricky at times.  There’s nothing worse than getting a mass email saying “hello” that has been sent to a bunch of other people.  It makes the recipient feel less important and can be interpreted negatively.  Sending work messages can be sent this way, but private messages should remain private.
3. Keep it Professional.  If you’re at work, try to avoid sending emails or messages that aren’t work-related.  If you absolutely need to send a personal email to your spouse, friend or family  member, try to wait until lunch time or whenever you take a scheduled break.  Some companies will view checking and sending personal emails on company time as grounds for dismissal.
4. Regularity.  If you’re the kind of person who checks their email 500 times a day, great. On the other hand, if you’re the type who only checks your email once a month, make sure others know that.  Nothing irks people more than sending an email (especially if it is semi-important) and then not hearing anything back.
5. Addresses Galore!  When you send out an email to a bunch of people, consider using an address function that doesn’t list EVERYONE’S email addresses in the “to” header.  The reason for this is twofold: a) it’s annoying to have to scroll through a long list of addresses to actually get to the text and b) some people may not want their email information displayed to others.
6. Choose carefully. When sending an email out, make sure you put a relevant subject heading in the subject line.  Something that is going to grab the reader’s attention will more than likely get them to read the email versus something like, “Re:”.  This goes both for business purposes as well as personal.

For more information on Internet marketing, visit Create Business Growth today!

Tags: Blogging, Business Building, Business Networking by Janelle - 3 Comments »

With the price of gas escalating, it’s no wonder that more and more people are turning towards auto transport. In the past, if you were moving from New York to Florida, there wouldn’t be any hesitation; you were going to be packing up all of your things between a U-Haul, a moving company and your personal vehicle and making the long trip down. Nowadays, however, people are beginning to think twice. Now, someone might opt to simply pack up all of their things and have it shipped, including their vehicle while they book a plane flight. This may sound like the more expensive option, but is it really?

Think Twice

If you think about all of the work and money involved in moving from one state to another, it can get out of hand if you’re not careful. For example, let’s say that you decide to drive from New York to southern Florida. You have to take into account the following things:

• Gas
• Hotels
• Food
• Road emergencies

Now, compare these expenses to the amount of money that you would spend on a plane ticket and shipping all of your stuff. Do the math and see what works out. National Transport LLC is a well-known auto transport company that ships all sorts of vehicles such as cars, boats, motorcycles, trucks and construction equipment all over the United States and beyond. National Transport LLC also has an auto transport blog that you can read to find out the latest news and stories as it pertains to the auto industry.

For more information on auto transport, visit National Transport LLC today!

Tags: Affiliate, Business Building by Janelle - No Comments »

In this day and age, especially with the impending threat of recession, small businesses face an even greater challenge to try to rise to the same level as their competitors. The business world can be a sea full of opportunity for a small business. However, just like the ocean, it’s sink or swim out there; so don’t expect the bigger businesses to throw you a life line if you find yourself floundering around.

Questioning the True Key to Success

When it comes to business etiquette and being savvy, it might be somewhat surprising to see how many small businesses are right on the money. Last time, I talked about Stars Dancewear owner, Jennifer Moyers, who started her own small business. The idea to start her own small business was the product of a simple conversation between Jennifer and her sister (a professional choreographer for figure skating) about the increasing need for teen dancewear. Jennifer had been in the fashion industry for a while and had talked to various people about their dissatisfaction with the type of designs and styles that had been out there. Knowing this, Jennifer used her experience as well as her sister’s experience and expertise to open up the first line of clothing for Stars Dancewear, which consisted of five fairly simple styles. Now, a few years later, Stars Dancewear had budded as a small business enterprise offering over 50 different styles.

It Starts With a Dream

If you can dream it, you can make it happen. Like a lot of small businesses, Jennifer saw that there was a problem with a demand that wasn’t being met in her industry. As a result, she had a vision- a way of visualizing how to correct this problem. She spoke to people both inside and outside of her industry so that she would know exactly what people were looking for; then she made it happen. A lot of businesses make the mistake of losing focus as they expand and become more successful. In a way, smaller businesses have an advantage because there tends to be more of a focus on the consumer and meeting their needs. It’s more personal. As long as you keep your eye on the person(s) purchasing your product(s), you’ll never need anyone to throw you a life jacket.

Tags: Business Building by Janelle - 1 Comment »

Increasing numbers of small businesses are starting to dream bigger with a little marketing help from the Internet. For example, Stars Dancewear is a business that was founded by Jennifer Moyers, a clothing designer and was based on the general idea that teen dancewear was nearly impossible to find. This is yet, another example of someone simply making the connection with a particular audience, knowing what that audience’s needs were and meeting those needs by creating a site that catered to what they wanted to find out information about.

This is the stuff that small businesses, such as Jennifer’s strive for: to hopefully make that connection with the consumer by anticipating what their needs are going to be. Perhaps, this is what gives small businesses an edge over larger ones? Often, as a business grows and expands, it can be that much more easy to lose sight or focus of not what is important, but rather, who. If you think about it, no major multi-million corporation started out huge; it started out small. We’re not born adults, but rather, we grow into being one. The same concept can be applied to businesses alike. For any business to know and appreciate the value of success, it must first start out with a vision. Know your audience and what their needs are, then you can begin to cater to build your business into a success.

For more information about teen dancewear, visit Stars Dancewear.

Tags: Business Building by Janelle - No Comments »

At times us marketing managers and business owners can get pretty overly unbalanced in our focus of getting more leads and calls in our pursuits. High touch customer service is huge! It will make or break a business. Great customer service will lead to word of mouth business not just eCommerce efforts. “Word of mouth is the most powerful means by which any product or company builds a reputation, and the internet is a medium made for word of mouth.”-Bill Gates Business At The Speed of Thought. This becomes more and more precedent as social networks grow and social network marketing grows. We all have our favorite brands, vendors, and stores we love to frequent and those we don’t. Most times the likes and dislikes hinge on the basis of the quality of there customer service. For all companies that take calls from customers and potential customers need to be highly aware of what kind of conversations are taking place. A high majority of calls will be the basis of impressions made about your web business. How may rings before someone picks up? Is the person warm and receptive? How many times is the call transfered? How long are your hold times? Are the reps knowledgeable? Are the internal reps sales focused? If you are concerned with conversions your phone reps are a huge key to this. A sales focused (or one with incentive(aka Commissioned)) rep will greatly increase over phone sales and sales on the web after those customers hang up. I see this as a big hang-up with a lot of business in the transition to doing more and more business generated from the internet. So make sure you get it right in your organization so your business doesn’t get Hung-up On!

Tags: General Business Issues, Business Building, Pay Per Click Advertising, Social Networking by Noah - 1 Comment »