Why Doing Business On The Wrong Side Of The Online Divide Kills Your Local Business Slowly
Doing business on the wrong side of the digital divide is a very bad idea.
Being on the wrong side of the digital divide is a dangerous place to be because it puts you one or two steps away from being on the wrong side of a social and cultural divide.
Bit heavy I know, not your regular local, mobile and online online marketing pointers and tips to be absolutely sure!
I run an web-based marketing agency in Plymouth, Devon. It’s not a rich place and there is – like so many towns in this recession-riddled world – a large amount of discrepancy between the ones that have and the ones that don’t.
And I am not just talking about cash. Before you get cash you need talents, confidence, backbone, knowledge, ambition and a goal. These attributes are in short supply and as a result people loose hope.
Business people loose hope like everybody else. They are survivors for the most part but even the most determined small business owner gets desperate if times are tough enough.
It may be enticing for me to leverage the pain being felt by business people in difficult times so that I can make them buy into my online online marketing services but I will not do that.
Why?
Well first I sell strategic online marketing solutions not silver bullets and I don’t need to raise false expectations.
Second, I don’t really want to sell mystery I’d like to sell mastery.
By leading people out of the dark and giving them the knowledge, processes and support they need to begin to do business on the right side of the digital divide I am giving them hope. I am being a pal to their business and I am not profiteering from their lack of understanding.
As well as being in business I am a member of my town, my community and I see the damage that a dearth of opportunity, confidence and education can do to the place in which I live.
Marketing consultants have a role to play in lifting hopes, capabilities and hopes.
We are able to only do this if we help move businesses onto the right side of the digital divide and help give people the talents, tools and service they need to improve their lot in life.
By Stephane Kolinsky of Springboard Outsourcing: integrated marketing agency plymouth devon and expert mobile internet site developer plymouth devon.
