Change or Be Left Behind

It is not your imagination. Business has changed. In fact, life as we know it is different. It started sneaking up on us only a few years ago. What happened? rnIn "The World is Flat", Thomas Friedman talks about the triple convergence. rn1. There are now enough PCs, bandwidth, storage and computing comfort for everyone in the world to be a user. rn2. People are learning new skills and ways to use available tools, collaboratively. We have creating a horizontal playing field. Everything and everybody, anywhere, can play. rn3. BRIC - Brazil, Russia, India and China. A billion people entering the marketplace ready to do whatever it takes to be successful is very real. rnThe website facts:rnThere are 182 million websites as of October 2008.rnThe US census claims that online sales grew 22% while other retail sales have only grown 3%.rnShop.org claims that $204 billion was sold online in 2008 and that it is expected that $300 billion will be sold online within 5 years. rnSmall business owners in the US, many of them who are hurting in this economy, have to change the way they market and sell products . People research your product, your company and your competitors online before they buy. If people can't get to know you online, you are at a disadvantage. rnYou need to answer this question: What are you selling online? The marketing facts:rnIt takes 7 touches to put your name and your product together in a prospect’s mind. rnIt takes an average of 29 touches for someone to be ready to buy a product from you.rnThe more personal your touch, the more effective. Marketing messages aren't the same as they used to be. We want simple and authentic messages. We are on information overload. We are over stimulated. We are turning them off, changing the channel or hitting delete. You need to answer this question: How can I authentically touch the lives of my customers? The social networking facts: 30% of us polled say they read weblogs... or blogs. rn150 million people around the world are now actively using Face-bookrnLinked In hit 36 million members and is adding them at a rate of about one member per second. We are looking for relationships with others. rnYou need to answer this question: Who is following me? Small business owners must meet the triple convergence head on or be left behind.