An article at Small Business SEM made me think that there are two types of small business owners. Type A is the proactive type. A new technology comes along and they are eager to grasp it. They may not adopt it quickly, but they attempt to understand it to see if they’ll ever be able to apply it to their business. If they see a way to use it for their business then they’ll integrate it into their business plans and make money on it. They are proactive.

The second type of small business owner is the reactive one. Instead of embracing new technology, the reactive business owner criticizes it. These small business owners are likely to say that the Internet is killing their business and then make an emotional appeal to their neighbors to “buy locally”. Of course, consumers are going to buy where they get the best service and the best product for the lowest price. If it’s online then so be it.

Are you proactive or reactive? Are you embracing new technologies or criticizing them? Is the Internet your friend or your enemy?

Frankly, if you have not figured out that the Internet is your ticket to the future then you are likely more reactive than any of the people in Matt McGee’s article. Even local small businesses can use the Internet to increase their business revenues. Even in small towns. But you have to get out of your comfort zone, move away from the TV, and learn about the new technology. If you aren’t willing to do that, don’t call the Internet your enemy. You are your own enemy for all progress depends on embracing the new, not criticizing it.

Caroline Melberg
Melberg Marketing
Blue Chip Marketing Tips
Small Business Mavericks

Tags: Internet marketing, local online marketing, small business

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 12th, 2008 at 8:29 am and is filed under Local Internet Marketing, Small Business Internet Marketing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.