subject: Become The Expert [print this page] Become The Expert Become The Expert
Social media and eCommerce are arguably the most influential areas in business today. Thousands upon thousands of people are not only joining social media each day but they are also embracing the eCommerce aspect of business. One of the reasons eCommerce has exploded is because companies, government and individuals, are looking for ways to reach more people faster and at a lower cost. Currently there are more lenient taxes on eCommerce which also increases the attractiveness of this option to every business arena. Perhaps the most prevalent reason that eCommerce has exploded is the simple fact that it has become the social norm.A little over a decade ago I had traveled home from college to visit my parents for the Christmas break. One evening I was on the computer browsing through the plethora of items displayed on the popular auction site eBay. I found a pair of running shoes I was interested in and was making a bid when my mother stepped into the room. Internet was a new addition to my parents home and my mother had more than her fair share of skepticism about the advantages it offered. An argument quickly ensued as my mother expounded on her theory that my identity was going to be stolen and that buying anything through the Internet was a guaranteed way to get scammed! I obviously felt that she was wrong and made my purchase anyway; the entire time trying to convince her that not only was shopping on the Internet a very convenient way to purchase products, but also much more relaxing than competing with the masses of people at the shopping malls.Over the ensuing years my mother was gradually exposed to the Internet in larger and more varied capacities. She began to see that not only did it offer a source of useful information but was also a great tool to compare prices on a product or to do research on an item before she made her final purchasing decision. At first she would just browse the Internet to see what was there then it became a quick fact finding tool (3 out of 5 purchases all start with Internet searches), then she attempted to buy small indiscreet services such as anti-virus over the Internet, and then she finally started buying products. She has now reached the point at which she does almost all of here gift shopping exclusively through eCommerce.The eCommerce arena has grown to a billion dollar a year industry and keeps on growing. Not only has it reached the baby boomer generation but also generation Y and everyone in between. A good friend pointed out to me the other day that we are surrounded by the digital age. He was not referring to the amazing advances we have seen over the last decade but rather to the fact that the children who are born now do not know the world without computers and the Internet. Just as the steam engine revolutionized the farming industry and changed the world forever so too has the computer and Internet changed the world we live in. Regardless of the product or service you offer, if you are not adapting that product to the Internet arena you will surely get lost in the crowd just as the VCR has become a tool of the past. Just remember as the great western philosopher said, "it doesn't matter if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just stand there!"
