New Century Thinkers – Online Business Methodology
New Century Thinkers? You hear “turn of the century” in regard to the early 1900’s. Certainly the 2000’s require a new turn of the century mind set for businesses to thrive. Having been online for over 12 years and having assisted 100s of businesses to learn how to successfully do business online, in my experience I have found there is still a pretty strong resistance to technology.
This is due in part to the fact that to use technology effectively does require a new way of thinking and human beings in general are known to be slow to accept dramatic change. Technology certainly is dramatic change.
Embracing technology is a strong challenge for most everyone who decides to participate in the networked economy for commercial gain. Not a single one of us had any experience with the Internet/Web – it didn’t exist in the main stream until a decade ago. Your attitude to succeed and embrace this new environment will ensure you will always be one step ahead of your competition.
One has to be willing to break out of the constraints of typical business methodology while not throwing the baby out with the bath water. Of course the basics of business still apply – planning, marketing, budgeting – however, as a business owner you have to be prepared to learn new concepts and skills while utilizing available data and information in order to use this tool called technology to produce ROI.
Over the past 9 years, I have developed a strong proven online methodology for my clients to build upon. Each has a complete program and access to all the information and needed skill building tools to make sure they have an edge over their competitors who just have Web sites – not Web programs.
However, after the launch of any new Web program is when you separate the men from the boys as they say. Those more willing to tackle the frustrations of knowledge acquisition, software, computer use, and an ever changing landscape produce remarkable results compared to those who for whatever reason idly sit by the wayside thinking technology will do all the work for them.
Online marketing requires innovation. There are no preset limitations – take the risk of trying something new and you reap the rewards by having the guts to go in that direction while others play it safe or follow what everyone else is doing. One has to keep in the back of their mind that unproven does not mean unpromising. The entire Internet/Web experience has been doubted, questioned and unproven from the start – that isn’t going to change.
Then there is the other extreme of making changes or taking risks without any type of data or discovery. All too often I see businesses want to modify their program for no other reason than a competitor is doing “something”. Whether that “something” is effective or not is not their concern nor do they seem to want to find out, they dive headstrong into making the very same mistakes that their competitors have by following in tow. Taking risks or trying new things doesn’t mean we do so blindly.
This is where the standard basics of minimizing risk in business by investigating and discussing options with those who have the appropriate information and/or experience allow you to minimize those risks while still trying a new concept. As with anything, building a team and surrounding yourself with those who excel in areas you don’t or simply do not want to deal with is a trait of a smart business person.
This is one of the staples of running any business. Don’t like accounting, hire an accountant. If you do not enjoy marketing you will need to work with someone who does. We all would admit that when we do not enjoy certain activities we will most likely not perform as needed to produce the results we desire.
This too is just human nature but something if we recognize can be compensated for. With the online environment, partnering with proven professionals who have been online since the start are those that can work with you on your program’s growth and nurturing by offering that invaluable “been there – done that” experience.
Just like your accountant, your attorney and the other professionals you rely on to guide you as you concentrate on the basics of running your business.
The single most new concept we all have to grapple with is the ongoing change that we need to embrace and adapt to as data requires. The human beings who get beyond this natural resistance to change are those who will thrive in the online environment.
Changing how we think about business practices in regard to our online versus off-line operations, how we handle the challenge du jour and how we make decisions moving forward. That said, one thing that will never change is that information technology is what it is – information and technology. Information technology only works on its own terms – data, facts, details and excruciating frustration in learning how to do new things on your computer or acquiring new skills to apply online.
Technology is unrelenting in its ongoing requirements for success (one being new century thinking) and doesn’t differentiate between participants.
First, lets cover the information part. At what other time in our history, as a new or established business have we had so much rich information at our fingertips to study, extrapolate, apply and use to plan at our convenience, 24/7? Never.
Web sites galore, server statistical data to give you the what, when and where of the activity on your site and a newsletter for every specific topic you may want to address. The information is available for your use. In addition, you will need to make the effort to determine what is credible and what is not – that in of itself is a challenge but a challenge only a seasoned technology professional can assist you with.
One thing is clear; you won’t gain this knowledge or information by osmosis. You need to learn and apply, then keep learning and learn some more to be on top of your game.
Then you have the technology part. Don’t say you are not a “techie”. If you are online for commercial gain – you’d better become a techie.
You cannot have a Web site and be involved in technology and then say you are not or do not want to be technical. New century thinkers realize they need to become as technical as they can – even with the frustrations that most likely will come with that process. Nothing less than that type of attitude is required to succeed online. They want to be on top in their field and do not want to be known as someone who stopped learning and growing in the mid-1990’s.
The online arena has opportunity just waiting for exploitation by those who have that new century way of thinking described here that allows them to take risks either by trying something new or putting a different spin on something tried before. New century thinkers partner with those who have the online experience they simply do not, review the available data looking for trends, brainstorm and come up with new ideas – whether their competitors are doing it or not is moot. They want that edge that becoming a techie will provide. New century thinking requires new century businesses. Is yours one?
