Altered State

The Internet-Road to Financial Security May 27, 2009

This is perhaps one of harshest economic downturns the world has ever seen.  Many of the largest institutions that were though untouchable before are in trouble or out of business.  News of massive bonuses, Ponzi schemes, poor leadership from a president, a war on 2 fronts…this has all shifted consumer sentiment to a new direction.  You could describe what has been happening for a few years now as a paradigm shift in how the Unites States, the world, and people operate.  I think we are seeing business as a whole becoming democratized.  Where most of thew growth and change has come from has been the Internet.  It has been the one ever evolving tool that places enormous potential and growth in the hands of individuals…specifically those looking to have a business of their own.  Don’t think so?  Look at these examples.  

YouTube…the ability to place recorded video on a platform that ANYONE can view.  Why should that matter right?  Well, the public and consumers, increasingly want to know, see and to a degree trust who they deal with.  Well, if you recorded your own promotional videos, posted commentaries, showed how to videos just from what you already know, could that not catapult a viable business?  

Facebook/MySpace etc.  Leveraging Social Network sites again allow people to know you.  You can use them as platforms to get free advertisement in a non-invasive way.  As people want to get to know you they will know your business , if you choose. Not only that, most businesses cannot survive without exposure to their products or services.  As you join groups, talk with others, connect with others, your potential to have some of those individuals seek your products or serive grows.  Here is the plus….what would you have to have paid for that?  This is actually called Inbound Marketing…allowing the consumer of a good or service to come to you instead of you hounding them (outbound marketing). 

How about this platform, Blogging?  Some of you will pass right over this post or read it.  I am expressing ideas and concepts that may be of use or interest to you.  Do you have an opportunity to contact me?  Is this more personal to you than reading a newspaper or magazine?  If I were selling a service, could this have been a great platform?  Perhaps.  

The biggest draw to the internet at this point in history is that allows individuals to potentially grow and learn a new business at there own pace, specifically in a down market.  Start up costs are typically lower.  For those willing to learn and grow, it can offer an immense source of information that can turn your financial picture around.  All that is requires is your persistence, determination and vision to goal you desire.  Here are some useful articles to look at:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1890387-1,00.html

http://homebusinessmag.com/business-start/selecting-business/selecting-right-business-tough-economic-times

I hope this was of some help to you.