Connected in a Digital World - A commentary

So as a veteran of almost 30 years of working in the Information Technology (IT) industry you would think that I've seen it all and embrace it all. And for the most part you would be right. My only two main caveats are a) being expected to be in 24x7 contact with my email and b) using social media as a business tool. Let's start with the second one first. I have nothing against social media. I personally have a Facebook acount, initially to track my teenagers but I admit it is a great way to find and keep in touch with old friends. For business I have had a Link-In account for years, a sort of professional networking tool. More recently when we launched Zombie Data I found myself bloging (in the old days we just posted commentaries to newsgroups), having my blogs connected to my @zombiedata Twitter account which I now have linked back to my Linked-In account so that is now full circle. I post the blog, a mini-tweet entry posts to Twitter and my Linked-In account picks it up too. Additionally on Facebook I created a ZombieData page - need to figure out how to feed Facebook from Twitter and we will be all set. I know this is a way to continuously promote our company as well as giving me a venue to write on subjects I'm interested in. Just can't tell you how it is affecting our company bottom line.

The second (or rather the first) caveat was about the growing expectation that email be a 24x7 phenomenom. Email is not conversation. I don't read email in my sleep. I rarely connect my laptop up after say 8 PM at night unless working on a special project. I do have a smartphone which is a mixed blessing and curse but that doesn't mean I'm going over to the charger every 5 minutes to check emails when I hear the ping of a new message arriving. I'd rather talk with my wife, watch the program or football game I have on or continue to read whatever book I have in my hands (again old school). While I know that for the younger generations this is not true I REALLY don't think that if you and I have a breakfast meeting scheduled for 7 AM that if you send me an email at 11 PM the night before that you should expect that I know our meeting was cancelled. It's my cross to bear I know but... Ok I'm finished with my rant... kinda...

Sorry but I thought of a third item...
While every business needs to have a website so prospective customers can search and find them it does not mean that setting up your website will immediately DRIVE hundreds or thousands of new clients to your door. YES you can do a lot to improve your SEO and you will therefore show up earlier (higher priority index) in the Search Engine lists. But a website is basically the modern brochure, a passive marketing tool. It is informational and should be used to best educate your potential clients on your products and services. The trick is to compell these potential clients into contacting you or placing an initial order if you are an online store. Like a Resume or CV getting you an interview you want your website to get you into a conversation. What ever happens from that point on is up to you.

Rob Vorbroker