Social networking sites such as Myspace and Facebook used to be strictly for socializing purposes. You could hook up with friends, send messages back and forth, exchange pictures and information, etc. However, now these same social networking sites have developed into much more. Let’s take a look at the infamous Facebook.

A Little Background on Facebook

Facebook originally began back in 2004 when a guy named Mark Zuckerberg launched a social networking site that, at the time, was exclusively for students at Harvard University. Within a short matter of time (something like 2 weeks), over half of the student body at the university had signed up. Zuckerberg had came up with the idea for Facebook after he had attended his high school (Phillips Exeter Academy). At Zuckerberg’s high school, the Exeter Face Book was passed out to each student as a way for students to get to know their fellow classmates. It used to be a paper book until Zuckerberg brought it into existence on the World Wide Web. After the initial (and somewhat unexpected) success of launching the web site, Zuckerberg brought in a couple of his friends, Dustin Moskowitz and Chris Hughes to help him manage Facebook. Within only a few months of having the site up and running, 30 other colleges requested to join.

Following the Trends

Social networks, such as Facebook, used to be watering holes for young adults and professors to go and hang out. However, it wasn’t long before marketers and businesses realized the value of using Facebook to generate business. Today, many small and large businesses alike are stuck trying to figure out how they can best utilize Facebook to generate more traffic to their sites. There are many rules in place that govern how one is allowed to use Facebook, and if you’re not careful; if you’re leaving a web trail of spammy looking material, you could get yourself kicked out. Everyone seems to know or realize that social networks are what most young people are tinkering around with. Hence, the wave of businesses who are trying to get into Facebook now is almost ridiculous. They are taking Facebook at face value and are finally seeing its importance.

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

Tags: Business Networking, Internet Marketing by Janelle - 2 Comments »

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 »

All across the United States, more people and businesses are turning towards their computers to save money as well as get ahead. There is now a wave of people out there who are using the Internet to create social networks as well as facilitate the exchange of information. Internet marketing has been around for a little while, but it still seems like brand new to a lot of people. Companies see the value in marketing on the Internet as opposed to other, more traditional means of advertising such as news media and print (you’ll recall my blog on the Yellow Pages).

So, why the Internet? Why is there this huge push for Internet marketing, and why (like that Kevin Bacon game) does everything seem to lead back to it lately? Well, for starters, Internet marketing is beginning to change the way that most companies do business. Even smaller businesses can jump in because Internet marketing is still fairly affordable. It’s a cost effective means that save businesses tons of money in advertising costs. It also helps to facilitate communication around the world. For example, any business owner can simply type a question into Google or any other search engine and more than likely find the answer he/she was looking for. Within a matter of minutes, you can send a detailed email message with pictures and links to other articles or videos to you business partners in Asia or your best friend around the block.

Additionally, marketing/advertising campaigns for most companies can be expensive. For example, it may cost a company anywhere from $10k-30k for a one page advertisement in a newspaper or some other form of traditional media. However, if that company decided to advertise on the Internet, it would cost them only a tiny portion of what they paid. The smarter choice, it would seem, would be Internet marketing. With all the craze of the World Wide Web and everyone using it for every and anything, it doesn’t automatically mean that traditional advertising in newspapers and magazines will end….at least- not yet…

Tags: Blogging, Social Networking, Business Networking by Janelle - 6 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 »

LinkedIn.com is a business networking resource on the internet. It complements your fundamental networking skills in building relationships of value which you would use with people you interact with in person. It offers you a world wide connection, a way to “personally brand” yourself, make contacts for jobs, and have a chance to acknowledge good people throughout your past. 

First of all sign up if you have not, today! The basic service is free!  And fill out the entire profile. Include as much information in your profile as you can. This includes simple hobbies, interest, and associations that are important to you. Those profiles show up in Google searches, so others will be able to view the information. If you understand “personal branding” of YOU, then you know the benefit of this. The more positive points of reference to you on the web the better (as long as they are real).

Take a few minutes and think about people of value from your past who you might link with. Search for their names and invite them to reconnect. Then take the time to write them an endorsement (even a sentence is good). Your name is tied to this so make sure it is authentic and also reflects well on you. If you keep doing this and helping people your own endorsements will grow over time and be well earned. Endorsements of you initiated by others are obviously best. You really don’t want to ask for an endorsement unless you are clear they would love to give you one and are simply looking for an opportunity. 

Look for professional associations or groups such as your college on LinkedIn and if they are not listed encourage them to”register.” My own college St. Andrews is not listed and I am working on getting them to sign up. This “group” feature of LinkedIn is very important. It lets you gain contact with all the members of that group to build relationships if appropriate. As you set up for your own “LinkedIn” web link be sure it reflects your real name. When you sign up for an account, you are assigned a random number that designates your profile page on LinkedIn. You can then go into your profile settings and change that number so that instead of  http://www.linkedin.com/pub/1/712/a78, you would have a personal link like mine: http://www.linkedin.com/in/martinbrossman.  You can and should add this to your website and email address.

Understand and use the questions area. People are wonderfully generous about helping other LinkedIn.com members.  Ask questions of things you think the members may be able to help you with and answer some of the questions if you can. You may be known as an “expert” over time in that area.

Also, have some fun. I found a distant cousin in Australia of whom I was completely unaware of.  I have looked up people who took training programs that turned out to be of great value to me and made some good friends that way. Remember to build your network and invest in it before you need it!

Let me know how YOU are using linkedin.com You may enjoy the current article in the News & Observer about Linkedin.com. It is titled “Are You Linked?”
http://www.newsobserver.com/business/technology/story/630408.html

Martin Brossman - Podcast: www.Inquireonline.info (see podcast on linkedin)
www.CoachingSupport.com - martin@coachingsupport.com

Tags: Social Networking, Business Networking by Martin - No Comments »

Coined by a guy named Harry Gordon Selfridge in 1909, the popular saying “The customer is always right,” is still used by many businesses today to (ideally) do two things:

1. Convince employees to give excellent customer service through their skills and training (Keep the customer happy!).
2. Convince the potential customers that they will receive excellent service.

But the customer can be wrong too…

Bad for Business

At some point in all of our lives, we’ve either been the irate customer or have had to deal with one.  Usually people don’t get too out of hand, but there are some customers who really take it to the extreme and make employees and employers alike wonder, “Is this customer really worth it?”  The “it” in that statement refers to how irate customers can actually be wrong sometimes.  If you ask any business owner, I’m sure they could tell you horror stories about customers that were bad for business; and it wasn’t even because the service was bad.  It was worse than that; it was because some people are just downright disrespectful!

When the Customer is Wrong

The following are some reasons why the customer isn’t always “right”:

• Where is your loyalty?  In conflicts that sometimes arise between employees and customers, where do you draw the line between the irate customer and the employee who is getting his/her ear chewed off?  In the past, and even today, many companies will actually side with the customer without fully investigating the situation.
• Company morale is low.  When companies choose to defend a customer over an employee time and time again, this can ruin employee morale, making the employee feel as if he/she is not being fairly supported.
• There is a lack of motivation. Think about this for a second.  If your supervisor hardly ever took your side to defend you whenever a customer got upset, wouldn’t it make you upset and then after a while make you THAT much more unmotivated?  When companies constantly put the customer first, they tend to neglect the very people who are working for them, who are partially responsible for that company’s success!

Secrets for Success

An increasing number of Internet marketing businesses are finding that by putting their employees first and the customer second, that employees are happier.  Nowadays, the relationship between customer and employee, employee and employer, has more to do with respect versus being “right”.  In the Internet marketing world, it’s no different.  While a lot of us are still very customer service-oriented, we also realize the value in putting employee needs first.

Studies have shown that the more happy a person is, the more energy they have.  People who are happier are also more pleasurable to be around and are usually more motivated, thus functioning better in any work environment.  If an employee knows that their employer stands behind them 100% (when it’s fair of course), then they feel more valued and appreciated- all of which translates to better business.

Tags: Business Networking by Janelle - 1 Comment »