PlusOne – Marketing Musings

Has the internet changed your life? I mean, more than just being able to access information quickly and easily, or buy something you would not have normally had access to in your everyday life. I mean think of the doors the internet has opened up.

Take for example the millions of people who every day are programming some new piece of software, or applying a piece of software for a useful purpose. Today there are millions more capable database programmers out there than there would have been if it had not been for the internet. Why? Simply because of the opportunity to apply there skills to a useful purpose (well to them if not humanity, but you get my meaning…).

Databases and websites
Sure, in the early days of computers there were geeks who did programming. But not like today. Now there are average people sitting in offices, lounge rooms and spare bedrooms (AKA offices) doing amazing things with databases. Not to mention web page design and associated specialties like graphic design. The use of databases to store large volumes of information that needs to be accessed through functional web interfaces has seen an explosion in adult learning. Today there are men and women in their 60s and 70s learning how to build a database, or how to build a website. Stand aside Bingo, I’ve a website to build!

I first started out with an ecommerce site ‘way’ back in 1997. Who would’ve thought that just a few years on that the www would have evolved into the huge ‘beast’ it has become – and what of the future!

Part of this ability for people to come out of their creative cupboards, to discover new skills and interests has been the accessibility of tools. The ability to access cheap database software soon evolved into free database software, free website building software and free web hosting.

Fling the creative cupboard doors wide open with a Blog
Recently the surge in the popularity of blogs has opened doors to allow people who did not wish to get into full website building (because it was outside their sphere of determined interest or it was just too hard) to be able to publish. What started out as a simple means to log your daily life on a web platform has evolved into a whole new genre of, well, stuff.

Blogs now encompass everything from a personal diary, to a fast and simple way to publish information, or a way of commenting on daily issues, to another publishing means for commercial gain. And once again, the internet through Blogging has allowed the creative spirit to be unleashed. A whole new sector of society has been given a voice. Best of all, you can often get free blogging software with your web hosting package – like this blog software.

Always wanted to be an author? Publish away with E-books
People who have always wanted to write and be published can do just that – in a sort of DIY way either on a blog (I like this one) or via E-books. I’ve not had a lot to do with E-books, but there is a whole industry of information published via E-books. There are also lots of traditional books available as E-books. I generally read books on my Palm – download for free and delete when done. For all you budding novelists out there, writing some good short stories and giving them away on E-book sites is a great way to build a following before venturing into pay-to-download versions or even printing in hard copy. Sort of the concept discussed recently on this blog about giving away to make money on an allied product.

Chase your dream, without losing your shirt
Which leads in nicely to entrepreneurs. The internet has allowed anyone with even the slightest entrepreneurial leaning to get out there and give it a go for a fraction of the money it would cost to try to do the same thing in the real world. It has provided the tool for many who can only be described as internet business geniuses, to come to the fore.

The best part is you don’t have to invest heavily. It is possible to set up a web site with a recommended web hosting company , grab some web page building software, or if ecommerce is your thing, get a good piece of ecommerce software .

Has the internet allowed you to come out of the creative closet? I’d love to hear about it. Let us know by leaving a comment.

1 Comment »