The internet just like media is evolving. It’s changing and transforming. However there is an online trend that is developing. We’re seeing more and more restricted content.
For many of us – we have seen a relatively free internet. Some services were charged, but for the most part access was free.
Another trend that we’re seeing with the internet is that it has nothing to do with computers. Internet is accessed through multiple devices like iPhones, cellphones, iPods and now the iPad. Each of these devices have their own unique applications, operating system and style.
As the web continues to move into the spotlight – should we pay for services on the web or should they be free? Keep in mind that people create websites, produce content, code and engineer those applications on your phone. A bigger question is what would this do the internet?
We have all been to websites who have the last updated year of 1995. Don’t be that person. Google and other search engines are constantly looking for websites with fresh and new content. If you own a website you may want to consider creating a blog for yourself. You’ll not only help yourself in the search engine battle but you’ll also be able to show your knowledge.
Some companies fear that by making or creating a blog that they will look less professional. However, I don’t think that will be the case. I think people are looking for blogs and new ways that they can interact with companies and businesses. Business owners should welcome the idea of customer interaction and would benefit from not only blogging but social media.
Blogging can be unprofessional, but so can your website. It doesn’t matter what your website really looks like (as long as you don’t have a white background with light gray text) but the content that your website provides.
START BLOGGING
Organize. Develop an idea of what you want your blog to talk about. If you’re a company that engraves things you may want to talk about the history of the company, how you engrave (and other how to articles) or possibly sales. Don’t talk about things that are unrelated to your website or your personal life as this will draw people away from your blog and your company. It will also make your blog seem unprofessional. Unrelated topics and personal life issues should be left to a personal blog unless it has relevance to your business. Also make a decision on who you want to update your blog – workers, management or just you.
Update. Don’t just update your blog, update it often. The more you update the higher your website will go in the search engines.
Encourage Feedback. One of the many features of blogging is the ability to get feedback on what you write. This is good because as a business owner you want to get feedback for your sales and your company.
Social Media, everyone uses it in some fashion today. It’s hard to find someone without a Myspace, Facebook or Twitter account. It reminds me of back when I was in elementary school when AOL and AIM were just getting started. Everyone would ask each other, “What’s your SN?” AOL and AIM was another way of communicating and staying in touch with one another. At the time this was revolutionary technology – you no longer had to wait for someone to respond back to your email. That could take days! With AOL and AIM you could receive messages instantly and respond instantly. Just like AOL and AIM we now have a new technology that is behaving just like AOL and AIM. We now have these social networking sites that we can use to keep in touch with one another. We can add our friends, family and even strangers to our profile friend lists. Facebook, Myspace and Twitter allow us to stay connected with one another in a new way.
Since many people are congregating to these social networking websites – you have to imagine that companies and businesses will want to follow suit. The point of advertising is to get your product out there to as many people as you can. The internet is doubt one of the best ways to do this. As a journalism major, this new technology is something that will have to be utilized in order to be successful in the business. Journalists will have to be able to communicate and use these social networking tools. Telling the news is no longer just going on air at selected times during the day. The internet is allowing people to get the news whenever, wherever they want. Not only the news but people are able to watch many of the prime time shows online. Television news CAN NOT and WILL NOT succeed by trying to compete with it. The success of broadcast news will be determined based on how the news industry integrates the internet into their broadcast models.
I know for me, social media is another way to stay in contact. I will use Twitter, Facebook, Myspace to promote my articles to gain readership and viewers. Other companies are recognizing this as well and doing the same. News agencies will post a story on their website and then post a link on Twitter and Facebook for readers to check it out.
If you would like me to join any of your social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook or website leave a comment below!
