According “Socialnomics” author, Eric Qualman, Internet advertising is “antiquated” and its way out the door.

For over a year, I have been ahead of the curve saying this was going to be a reality sooner, rather than later. As a previous owner of an small, local online newspaper, I was seeing the trend develop from 2008-2009. People were simply learning of more efficient, cost effective means of reaching larger audiences than traditional advertising methods could reach. Combine that with the reality that Internetadvertising is the “same old interruptive advertising applied to a new medium.”

According to one study, people want authenticity and honesty.78% of people trust peer recommendations, only 14% trust advertisements.

Simply stated, Qualman says, “It’s a people-driven economy, stupid?

With the ability to communicate at light speed about your company, products, and services, the Internet is still changing the way we do business and marketing.

Want to offer a sale, discount, or promotion? Your online tools are now the front line in reaching your audience. Long gone are the days newspapers were the premier tool. And TV, how many of us turn the channel or fast forward the DVR. Radio, many listen to CD’s or Ipods in the car (yes, many radios connect to it). That means these marketing tools are becoming pre-historic.

 So, how will you get your message out?

According to Qualman, here is a great example:

Sally is in a supermarket checkout line on the Fourth of July weekend. She thinks it will take 10 minutes to reach the cashier. But instead of wasting that time, she uses her mobile phone to check her social media updates. She posts a message that the store is out of an ingredient she needs.

• Within minutes, a friend recommends an alternative.
• She learns that her daughter just aced an exam.
• Another friend announces she’s pregnant.
• She notices a Starbucks gift card at the checkout stand and buys it for her daughter.

You must be pro-active, not reactive. Get in the game now before your company suffers. The paradigm shift has been happening for over ten years. Look how much has changed so rapidly. The degree of separation from you and your competitors will soon be measured squarely by how well you connect with your customers and clients.

Do nothing, and they will become some else’s customers and clients.

Arguments against maintaining and growing your web presence through a dynamic, ever changing website where content is king, a blog, and social media are numerous.

Just last week we heard another web design company tell a business that, “businesses don’t have time for all of this.”

Foolish! Those businesses don’t have time NOT to invest in what should be their greatest marketing presence.

The online world is turning into the greatest opportunity in the history of the world to grow your business. Yes, it can be challenging…Yes, it may require you to learn new things…Yes, you may step out of your comfort zone.

But doing so always stretches us to a higher level and greater opportunities. You don’t know what you can do, unless you go for it.

Gone are the days you pay money and people come. People want authenticity and honesty.78% of people trust peer recommendations, only 14% trust advertisements. Where will you spend your time, resources, and money?

Don

www.texstarweb.com