Thankful for the Evolving Web

At this point in time, in history, I am reminded about how excited I was about technology over 13 years ago when I opened the first little Internet Studio in a sleepy town on the Illinois/Wisconsin border.  Much has happened since then. That sleepy town became congested and crazy, technology has evolved at a pace most cannot keep up with and I moved off the grid to a plot of land in Mississippi.  So my life has always been about embracing change.  And thankfully so.

Yesterday, while on the way to an appointment with an associate, I had an epiphany.  Out of my mouth came “…thank goodness for Web 2.0, 3.0 or whatever version we’re on and for Blogging and social media or I probably wouldn’t be doing this any longer.”  I had never thought that before but out it came. I went on to explain how since Blogging really began kicking in several years ago, I renewed my enthusiasm and excitement for technology all over again.  Once again potential and opportunity was hitting me right between the eyes!

I’ve always loved writing and the communication aspect of interactive technology was what had inspired me.  With that said, having a static HTML site, adding static pages and developing static HTML Web sites had become boring.  Not just boring; I had become disinterested.  And when you are disinterested you don’t do as good of a job as you should.

Technology has moved on beyond the static brochureware gratuitous attempt that having a real Web presence requires.  eCommerce is now so much more than slapping up some fuzzy photos and generic descriptions thinking one is on the path to riches.  This gig has always evolved and thankfully, continues to do so, at what is at times a frightening pace. Unfortunately, many participants are still kicking and fighting to hold on to the past and what used to be exciting that simply no longer is.

With the advent of this latest evolution, I found that more times than not I was being asked to cater backwards instead of helping onliners keep up and move forward.  It was totally cramping my style.  Now, regardless of the presumption “the customer is always right” I’m just not going to play that game and defer to those who want to remain in the past.  Doing so would be an injustice because the more they stay behind and the less they embrace, the more their chances of enjoying any level of ROI decrease exponentially.

So I am firmly planted in the now and am going to take as many onliners with me who are up to the challenge and willing to accept whatever is around the next corner.  Those who remain in the past, well, they may feel I am no longer willing to assist when in fact my “XXXX or get off the pot” speech (a phrase my Father was known for saying) is genuinely, sincerely given with their best interests at heart. 

Now, I find I don’t have enough time in the day to “play” on all the sites I have profiles on - I’m like a kid in a candy store again!  WordPress and Blogging has allowed me to easily manage my passion — writing about what folks need to know and do to succeed online — while tapping into onliners who are interested in the same but we probably would never have crossed paths.  Not that I didn’t write before, but without all the social networking and media tools available today, my writings were just a bunch of articles on one of many HTML sites clogging the search engines.

And, with the added benefit of folks expecting, almost demanding a personality be shown on Blogs — well let’s just say that’s one thing I’ve got more than enough to go around.  But too much “personality” on a business HTML site tended to make you come off as a rebel or someone with an “attitude.”   Now if you can’t write from a point of knowledge and experience with a dash of personality — you don’t stand out — you are a lemming not a leader.

How can anyone online today, not be bursting at the seems over all the potential and opportunity the current environment offers?!

At your service,
Judith