This is a guest post by Frank Angelone.
I have been listening to a lot of keynotes lately by entrepreneurs, especially ones by Gary Vaynerchuk. He’s accomplished so much and his philosophy is to do what you love, work your tail off, care about your customers, and you will be able to monetize. Hearing this from someone who came from Russia with no money to build a 60 million dollar company in Wine Library is very inspirational advice. Its advice I myself have taken, but many people still question how they can do the same thing he did with their business? Like any business, becoming successful takes time and it’s not going to happen overnight unless you work for it. Granted, people here this all the time and it’s obvious, but does anyone truly understand where businesses are headed today?
Gary has stressed the starting an online business is so easy that anyone can do it. There’s no cost to start up like there used to be. So, what better way to get a company started? Free to start and you don’t need a facility. I think anyone can appreciate the simplicity in that. Businesses are headed in a direction where the old way we remember businesses being are becoming no more. Now you may be wondering, what does this mean?
Well, with everyone having the ability to start a business online, you take a business like newspapers. Most people are reading the news online and the need to buy a physical newspaper isn’t in demand like it was 10 years ago. When companies put coupons for discounts off their products in both the newspapers and online, where do you think most people are going to get that coupon off of? Quite simple, it’s the internet. The internet business is taking over physical businesses to be as straight forward as possible. This doesn’t go for all businesses, but with customers being able to purchase products online, they are less likely to go to the location of the business. Why would they? It’s easier to do things online.
Online businesses become more and more accessible as the internet grows by the years. I think businesses that aren’t making a presence online are seriously missing out. There’s so much potential revenue from companies online just as there is at their current location. Today, the money is predominantly coming from their online business. Having an online business is being served to practically the entire world as more people each day engage with each other online. Those companies that are hesitant to bring their company online aren’t only limiting themselves from making more money, but they are being ignorant! The internet is a space where we as people live. Your company will have more luck converting your customer to a sale online than doing it at a location. This isn’t to say that physical businesses can’t make money anymore because they definitely can, however they need to realize the direction businesses are heading. If they fail to acknowledge this, they will be eaten alive by the competition.
So the question is, where is your company positioned in the marketplace? Can you be found online as well as at current location? Please be aware that this is a fact with where companies are heading. It’s not a joke and it’s where many individuals are making their careers off of. My three takeaways that any new or current business should be aware of are as follows…
- You are not a dominant company today if you don’t have a presence online. The world we live in is changing and growing. You must understand that even though your company may make millions of dollars at your facility, you have the potential to double that with an online presence.
- Your cost to startup up your business online is NOTHING. For those that run their business through a facility, think how much you paid to start that and business and compare that to ZERO.
- Listen to keynotes by Gary Vaynerchuk to get an even in depth description of why online businesses are the way to go and why anyone can do it!
Frank Angelone is the founder of Social Tech Zone. He provides individuals and businesses the news and tips they need to better interact with social networks and technology.
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December 29th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Not being online in today’s world, no matter what your business is, is indeed a no win situation. While one can survive, a lot of opportunities will be lost as increasingly BtoB transactions depend on online contacts.
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Frank (11 comments) Reply:
January 2nd, 2010 at 5:27 am
I feel it’s all about creating more opportunities to be a successful company in today’s market. Holding on one idea to take off and make you money is not the way to go. You need to always be innovating and thinking of new ways to grow to survive in business today. The companies that do that best will see long term growth. Apple and Google are perfect examples of companies doing it right!
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December 31st, 2009 at 3:41 am
It’s without doubt that businesses not online are missing out. Lots of people today including I find it much easier to shop online. Some things stores don’t have and it might even be cheaper to shop online.
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Frank (11 comments) Reply:
January 2nd, 2010 at 5:22 am
It’s funny; while I was Christmas shopping this year, I was talking to a friend of mine and they said, I’d rather just by gifts online. There’s the ultimate reasons why businesses need the online presence. The customers want it and if they want the revenue to come in, they better have a way for customers to buy their products online.
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December 31st, 2009 at 8:23 am
Happy New Year To You!
“THE UNIVERSITY KID,STANLEY TANG.”
Best Wishes,
Kuan
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December 31st, 2009 at 10:22 am
You got that right. Everything is changing really fast these days. Adapt or get out.
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Frank (11 comments) Reply:
January 2nd, 2010 at 5:18 am
I like your “adapt or get out” philosophy. It really is so true, businesses need to wake up and really where they are actually doing business in. The game has changed and the customers are the most important asset. They need to focus their attention on them and what they want. I think this is a reason why most businesses fail.
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January 1st, 2010 at 8:57 am
I agree, the internet is the future. As we speak, many paper publications are switching to online publications, and this is just one example.
Happy new year.
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Frank (11 comments) Reply:
January 2nd, 2010 at 5:17 am
An interested fact about paper publications deals with my local newspaper. They recently made their online newspaper for members only. You need to pay to see the full articles. I know some newspapers that are online do this already, but it will be interesting to see if they profit from this strategy. Thanks for your thoughts on my post!
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Free CNA Classes (3 comments) Reply:
January 10th, 2010 at 3:37 am
Well I personally think that this strategy will work; however, it will take some time for people to adapt and get used to the idea. It’s so much more convenient (and lower costs).
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January 1st, 2010 at 5:45 pm
I agree with you 100%, Frank. I think every business should have an online presence and one that doesn’t have is really losing out a lot.
Great post, Frank
.
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Frank (11 comments) Reply:
January 2nd, 2010 at 5:15 am
Thanks for your thoughts on the post Shirley. I am glad you enjoyed it. I always thrive on seeing feedback from the content I write and interacting with people after it’s been written. I think that’s something businesses need to do more of and that’s interact with their customers to succeed.
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January 2nd, 2010 at 5:20 am
I am glad you enjoyed this post. My inspiration for writing it came from the researching and video watching I did of people who built successful businesses and realizing how they adapted to the business world changing around them.
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January 2nd, 2010 at 5:24 am
6 trillion dollars! Wow! That’s a statistic I had no idea about. I expect that number to double by the time 2010 is over. Maybe even triple with the way online business is conducted today. Thanks for providing that statistic, I found it really interesting and it blew my mind.
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January 2nd, 2010 at 6:15 am
Thanks for your thoughts on the post Shirley. I am glad you enjoyed it. I always thrive on seeing feedback from the content I write and interacting with people after it’s been written. I think that’s something businesses need to do more of and that’s interact with their customers to succeed.- I agree to this
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January 2nd, 2010 at 6:20 am
Thanks for your thoughts on the post Shirley. I am glad you enjoyed it. I always thrive on seeing feedback from the content I write and interacting with people after it’s been written. I think that’s something businesses need to do more of and that’s interact with their customers to succeed.
greatsss
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January 2nd, 2010 at 7:21 am
I agree with the ability to make so much more money if your company will establish an online presence. Many of the bigger well known companies make this a high priority, but even some of the semi big companies for get the many benefits of marketing online and thus lose out on half the business they could be having. Thanks for the great guest post Frank.
Happy New Year To All!
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Frank (11 comments) Reply:
January 7th, 2010 at 11:41 pm
I am glad you enjoyed the post! Even though some of the big companies get involved in online business, you are definitely right. The smaller companies need to get involved as well. If smaller companies got involved from the beginning, they could go from a small to large company just from their revenue stream!
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January 4th, 2010 at 3:05 am
The online market is so big and making your company’s presence known online will make your site much bigger than if it didn’t have a presence. It will open the market to many more people.
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Frank (11 comments) Reply:
January 7th, 2010 at 11:39 pm
Couldn’t agree with you more! I honestly wish companies would realize this because they are leaving so much money on the table otherwise. Those that jump on getting an online presence will have an advantage over competitors and as a business that’s the differentiation you want to have.
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January 4th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Happy new year to you Stanley. May you post more this year!
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January 5th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
I agree as everything is moving that way, every business needs an online presence!It’s important for all businesses to do this.
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Frank (11 comments) Reply:
January 7th, 2010 at 11:38 pm
Exactly. Look at it this way – they are simply hurting themselves if they are not conducting business online as well as offline. Both mediums serve as a revenue stream.
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January 9th, 2010 at 7:53 am
“Where are businesses headed?” Online! The trend will continue for many, many years to come!
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January 14th, 2010 at 8:47 am
I am hoping that my online business takes a leap of growth for this new year!
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January 15th, 2010 at 7:47 am
First of all, Happy New Year 2010. Very interesting post. Yes online businesses are booming and it’s easier now than ever to find whatever you want on the web. From the very comfort of your home, you buy things and get them home delivered to you. This is what most people, including myself want. To get the service of quality. To be hassle free. And most importantly, to be comfortable and have the peace of mind when shopping for something. Was a definite great read.
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January 24th, 2010 at 1:34 pm
Businesses are everywhere for some people, and nowhere for others.
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January 25th, 2010 at 1:09 pm
This year i will try the business online with hard work i belive i can grow
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January 27th, 2010 at 2:24 am
Great guest post Frank, hope to see more from you. I also admire that you take the time to respond to individual comments.
Megan Fox´s last blog ..Emma Roberts
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February 24th, 2010 at 11:38 am
Hi,
I think a business that uses independent contractors is probably most suspectable to its classification of such workers being challenged. But by discovering who you are and how you perceive the world.
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March 10th, 2010 at 8:21 pm
online presence has become extremely important…If you dont have a business website, people consider that you are a faker..)))…
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June 18th, 2010 at 12:43 pm
Where the business headed? Well that the kind of question that keeps on torturing my mind in these past few days, but thanks to you, my mind now is free from those worries. Now I have my own business and I’m having some good time working in it.
Thanks
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July 14th, 2010 at 4:48 pm
60 million dollar company? Wow, how inspirational! If only I could be like that!!! Or can I? Seriously, though you have the right way of looking at things…like taking the time to interview and listen to interviews being done with successful people….we could all learn a great deal.
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July 14th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
I only wish I could run a company that successful…..I never even heard of this man or his company….where do you find such useful information to share with all of us? anyway, much appreciated!
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