What a difference 5 years can make! 1,000 millionaires and 5 billionaires!
Released on = December 13, 2005, 6:38 pm
Press Release Author = We Call You Now
Industry = Small Business
Press Release Summary = The article discusses the impact of the internet on local businesses. It identifies key trends and future directions. Three BIG concepts are explored and 5 tips are provided.
Press Release Body = As an internet "guru" I was asked what are the next BIG changes? Well one is easy to pick. If you can\'t be found on Google - you don\'t exist! Forget the Yellow Pages. Fewer and fewer consumers are lifting the 4 kilos of paper to find suppliers and contractors. All your future customers, those kids (and more and more of your current customers) with iPods, are buying and downloading music on line and will just use Google to find their next purchase in your business area.
1,000 millionaires and 5 billionaires is - Google. 5,000 employees - over 1,000 who are millionaires and 5 of the owners/executives who are billionaires.
In your industry, it was easy to ignore this trend. I mean who needs to be found on Google? That\'s just for international suppliers. I only service a small local area. Well, guess what? Local search is here. From Google, Yahoo, NineMSN and other local Australian local search directories like AussieWeb. Local search is one of the "next BIG things".
Here is another trend. How about a return to the telephone? Yup, the good old phone. And no - I do not mean press 1,2 or 3. I do not mean you are a valuable customer and number 12 in the queue. And I do NOT mean that we are taping your conversation for training purposes. I mean someone who calls you, when you want, and at their expense to see how they can help you. Amazing - customer service making a comeback?
There is now "push to talk" technology, that allows a visitor to your web site, or local directory listing, to just press a button - put in their phone number and as if by magic, their phone rings and you, the supplier, are on the other end.
Am I kidding? No, and this is NOT voice over your computer with a headset and microphone. (VOIP) This is the plain old telephone on your desk or your mobile phone ringing. Real people answer it. It\'s talking again! We are returning to humanity and not hiding behind emails and voice mail. That\'s the second BIG thing coming. Push to talk is just starting but it\'s going to be here to stay.
For your industry, being found and reaching out to qualified prospects is coming. The technology behind this growth is "local search" and "Push to talk".
Once you\'re found and the conversation has started you better get back to some real old-fashioned basics. You better learn to be polite again. This is the third BIG thing. Phone manners and real product knowledge and experience are a must. You can\'t hide behind the information on your web site - you have to be able to add to it. You can\'t fob me off with the promise of an enlightening email - I don\'t have the time and it may never even get through. I want your local knowledge and experience, right now.