Could you run your life or your business without the internet?

Here’s a question. What would your life look like if Ralph really did break the internet?

For those without young kids or grandchildren, Ralph Breaks the Internet is a Disney animation in which two arcade game characters travel through a wifi modem into an online world.

Together they discover, and are dazzled by, the world of Google, eBay, pop-ups and a video sharing site called Buzztube. Without giving too much away, it all goes horribly wrong when a virus latches onto Ralph’s “insecurities”.

At this point, Ralph literally breaks the internet.

The movie is a lot of fun, but it also made me think…

• Could I run my life without the internet?
• Could I run my business without the internet?
• Does being online diminish my life in the real world?

What did we do before the Internet?

You might pale at the thought of life without three or four devices in your home, but it is possible to live a connected and fulfilling life without the world wide web.

Here’s how.

If you want to find out about something buy a book, attend a conference, visit your local library or call an expert. After all, publishers reputations are built on providing accurate and useful information, while true “online experts” can be hard to find.

Shop in a real store. You always get free shipping (ok, maybe you’ll have to pay to get a fridge delivered, but you know what I mean), you can find most things you need at your closest major hub and it’s easier to make the right choice first time around.

Subscribe to magazines that cater to your area of interest. You pay a one off fee for several issues as opposed to each month for the internet. You also avoid information overload – the kind that soaks up the time you could have spent actually indulging that hobby or interest.

Buy a newspaper. You’ll get all the news from a metropolitan daily newspaper, not just the stories Facebook thinks you should see, and free local newspapers are a treasure trove of the kind of information that helps you live in, and be part of, your community.

Pay your bills in person, over the phone, or visit your branch and set up a direct debit. It is possible to keep on top of your finances without internet banking as most people over the age of 30 will remember.

Make use of the white and yellow pages and dial a number. How often do you need a number RIGHT NOW, and how much time are you really saving with an online search?

Visit your friends instead of their Facebook page. Because sharing a real laugh is so much more rewarding.

Find a wifi hotspot. If youreally can’t find that part for your bike, or you need to submit an online form, find a nearby wifi hotspot or, if you don’t own a computer, visit your local library.

Get your weather forecast from the radio or TV. Does weatherzone’s 48 hour breakdown really help, or do you feel more anxious knowing that cool change won’t hit till 4am?

Surely you can’t run a business without the internet?

Ok,with a business called Online Influence, I’m a fan of the opportunities afforded by the internet. And, in today’s world not all businesses lend themselves to an offline approach. But, you can achieve business success without a domain name or a social media account.

We all know someone who runs a business which relies on word of mouth. It might be your hairdresser, the conveyancer who saved you a packet, your mechanic or an artisan who’s the next big thing.

In most cases, success in business comes down to getting potential customers to “know, like and trust” you.

Get out there and meet people. Join a real world networking group or introduce yourself to businesses or people you think could benefit from your services.

Be seen in all the right places. Put a well-designed flyer up in your local cafe, the library or other places you know your target audience is likely to see them.

Business cards still cut it. Hand out your business card whenever you get the chance.

Earn repeat business and referrals with exceptional service and reliability. There’s nothing like loyal customers to keep your business ticking over. Excellence will also allow you to raise your prices without a loss of custom.

Go above and beyond. Bending your schedule to help out a valuable client can go a really long way.

Keep your overheads low. Can you operate your business from home? Do you really need expensive advertising? Can you be more strategic when ordering stock?

A Life Well Lived

There’s no question that the internet can connect you to a whole range of products, experiences and information. But at what cost?

I don’t know about you, but online shopping is so easy that I often want and buy more than I need. And I’m not quite sure what I’ve done with all the time I’ve apparently saved buying online either.

And of course, nothing soaks up time like searching for information online – whether it’s panning the gold from the dross or being distracted by other threads or sites.

Social media’s highly curated version of life can be a real downer when you’re feeling low. Its connective powers have even earnt fear of missing out its very own acronym – FOMO. But guess what ladies? If you don’t post any pictures, you can probably wear the same dress to four weddings in a row without a comment! Now that’s what I call a great payoff.

And despite being more connected than ever, numerous studies tell us young people, in particular, spend far less time in the company of friends than they ever have before.

It’s also hard to be trolled when you live your life offline.

Mr. Knowsmore is my friend

And yet…

I really do feel that my search bar (brought to life by the insightfully portrayed Mr KnowsMore in Ralph Breaks the Internet) enriches my social and working life, and I can only begin to imagine how the internet improves life for socially isolated people or those with disability.

I also love the fact that social media helps me keep in touch with far flung friends and allows me to promote charity events I’m involved in.

The internet is ultimately a tool to help you live a connected life – the trick is not to not loose site of the real world along the way. Because, as Ralph finds out, you can’t feel the sunrise online.

How much is Enough?

Online Influence is a trusted Google partner, we can help your business use just the right amount of technology to achieve success. Our friendly team can tailor an advertising campaign that will give you cut through without excess. Contact us to find out how we can help your business today.

Does this sound familiar? You’re at a café with a friend. Your phone is on the table next to you. Your friend mentions an amazing new product. It sounds interesting, so you think you’ll look into it later…but then you forget.

Soon after, an ad for the product pops up in your Facebook feed. You didn’t search for the product online, didn’t include it in a post, a text or email. You only ever mentioned it in a phone conversation or when your phone was nearby.

The first time this happens you probably just think it’s a coincidence. But when you receive more ads that are highly targeted to what you’ve only ever talked about you might start to wonder, “Is my phone listening to me?”.

Cue the creepy music.

Hey Google, could this really be happening?

After all, it’s not out of the realms of possibility.

• Smartphones have a microphone and are programmed to act when we ask a question – think Google assistant, Alexa and Siri.
• If you use these applications and your phone is on, it’s “listening” and ready to respond.
• Experts argue the technology exists and the algorithms are sophisticated enough.
• We know Google and Facebook collect data which they use to target ads.

But are they also listening in?

Computer says no

Google, Facebook and others say they are not listening to people’s conversations.

For one thing, gathering a constant stream of audio from so many phones would cost a great deal.

And, ultimately, they don’t need to listen to you. They already know you better than your nearest and dearest.

In a previous blog post on machine learning, I talked about how, by analysing 300 of your Facebook likes, an Artificial Intelligence enhanced algorithm can evaluate your character better than your partner.

And, Facebook likes are just the tip of the iceberg. Your status updates, photos you post or are tagged in, everywhere you’ve logged on and all your messenger conversations, even the ones you half typed, thought better of and deleted, all help paint a picture of you, your likes and dislikes.

Added to this, your clickstream is like a window into your stream of consciousness, and by analysing your browsing and purchase history, Google makes some spookily accurate guesses.

Big Brother is watching

By opting into the world of social media and online searches, we’ve opted out of an anonymous life.

Which shouldn’t really come as a surprise. Most of us know by now that you pay for free social media and internet browsers with your personal information.

So can I, as I suspect a lot of you do, still hear the creepy music?

Experts predict a ground swell of unease about online tracking will result in the rise of products and services to help us hide our activity. Until then, I’ve outlined several ways you can improve your online privacy in this blog post.

But, of course, there is an upside to all this.

ONLINE INFLUENCE’S PLAYLIST

Forget the tri-tones and dramatic swells of sound, if you run a business, there’s nothing at all creepy about Google’s astonishing foresight. In fact, it’s genuinely awesome!

Online Influence is a trusted Google partner, and by working with those nosy algorithms, our friendly team can help you target your advertising campaigns with almost pin point accuracy. Contact us to find out how we can help your business today.

So, you bought the piece of land, planted your vines and now produce a very nice range of wines.

You went big, so there’s enough to sell through your cellar door and at local markets. In fact, you’re producing so much you could supply a chain liquor store.

The choice here is marketing B2B or B2C.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN B2B AND B2C?

The B2B model involves one business marketing to another. In our scenario, this would be the vineyard
entering a supplier contract with, say, Dan Murphys.

B2C is business to consumer. If the wine maker chooses to forgo the chain store option and instead just open her cellar door and sell wine at markets and online, she’s selling direct to individual customers.

Online Influence has a foot in both camps. We market B2B, but many of our clients operate in the B2C space.

So, while we market ourselves to businesses, the wine we’re selling is strategies that connect our clients to their customers. You could say we’re an example of B2B2C!

ARE THERE DIFFERENT MARKETING RULES FOR B2B AND B2C?

Well, yes and no.

The golden rule for business success is to find and meet your customer’s needs. But there are differences depending on who that “customer” is.

With B2B, the customer or client is another business. Transactions or negotiations are less personal and more about cost, features and data.

B2B marketing also usually involves a longer transaction time. Here’s why.

The vineyard owner would need to prepare a business case, ensure she has every scrap of technical information and be prepared to nut out costs and logistics. Armed with this information, she would make contact with the company and wait for a response.

As you can imagine, it may take several attempts to connect with the company, and once contact is made she may need to work her way through several layers of authority before making a “sale” – or in this case, becoming a supplier to the store.

• With B2B the focus is on lots of data, logic and financial scrutiny.
• Because the B2B market involves more decision makers, the costs can be higher.
• It’s important to know, and be able to communicate, what your product or service does rather than what it means for another business.

With B2C your customer is usually an individual and a sale is based more on emotion and brand appeal.

A visitor to the cellar door will be influenced by their surroundings, the warmth of the host and the label on the bottle as much as what’s in it.

The transaction will be relatively fast – a few minutes at least, or possibly a week or so when they realise they should have bought a case instead of just two bottles.

• Your focus should be on the benefits of the product to the person in front of you – literally or digitally.
• B2C is more emotional and often about convenience – think great communication and a variety of distribution channels, in this case cellar door, markets, online orders and more.
• Keep your marketing short and simple – make it easy for the customer to know why they need your services or your product.

Of course, emotion and brand are key factors when marketing B2B as well. A strong connection is vital for any business success, but in the case of B2B you’ll need to back the emotion with facts.

WHERE DOES ONLINE ADVERTISING FIT?

The good news is, Google ads work well for both B2B and B2C. You just have to remember the golden rule and tailor your campaign to the customer and your specific business needs. As you can imagine, the way you pitch to another company is not the way you’d pitch to an online shopper.

Facebook ads generally work better in the B2C space – it’s a friendly, emotive platform after all – but, they can work well in the B2B space if customised to your ideal client. The Online Influence team can help you design a campaign for effective cut through.

And, whether you’re selling B2B or B2C, your website needs to be designed with user experience in mind. Again, the needs and habits of your potential client or customer are paramount. You can read more about hooking customers through a good online experience here.

NOT SURE WHAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU?

If you’re unsure of how to market your business, or even which business model to focus on, the Online Influence team has the insight and experience to help – we are B2B2C experts after all! Call us today to find out the best solution for you and your business.

It wasn’t all that long along ago that the word cloud was reserved for conversations about the weather, so you can be forgiven for being a bit hazy on what “The Cloud” is all about.

In a nutshell:

• Cloud computing uses the internet and central remote servers to store and maintain data and applications – rather than a hard drive.
• This means businesses and individuals can access applications from the cloud without having them installed on their device.
• With the cloud, so long as you have an internet connection, you can access your personal files on any device, anywhere.

And, whether you’re familiar with it or not, you’re probably already using the cloud.

• You use cloud computing when you update your Facebook status.
• When you upload photos to Instagram, you’re uploading them to the cloud.
• You’re in the cloud when you do internet banking on your phone.
• Those apps you love so much? Yep. In the cloud.
• Google drive is another cloud-based application.
• Do you subscribe to Netflix? You’re favourite shows are up in the cloud.

“I WANDERED LONELY AS A CLOUD”

The poet William Wordsworth famously used a simile of a cloud to describe his solitary state.

In a similar way, “the cloud” is just a metaphor for the internet – who knew computer engineers could be so poetic?

The term may sound insubstantial, and the cloud can hold a whole heap of information and has the potential to save you a whole heap of money.

WHY YOU SHOULD BE USING THE CLOUD

There are many good reasons to move to the cloud.

Cost saving and profit increasing

• You don’t have to invest in expensive hardware or the staff to maintain it. In fact, you don’t need a very powerful computer or tonnes of GB’s on your phone to run your business in the cloud.
• You don’t buy software, rather you subscribe for access to what you need, when you need it. This means you get all the latest upgrades.
• And, because you’re accessing the best technology, you’re in a better position to compete against other businesses – big and small.

Flexibility

• Cloud-based systems allow you to scale up or down your bandwidth demands.
• It also allows you and your staff to access your files or shared documents anywhere – so long as you have internet access.
• On top of this, you can usually access what you need on any device.

Efficiency

• The fact that you can work from anywhere, anytime will make your business more efficient.
• Staff members who work off-site can access emails, plans or documents, fill in forms and submit applications on the spot.
• In most cases when staff are given the chance to telecommute, at least some of the time, productivity rises.
• You won’t be wasting time, or money, dealing with onsite hardware failures.

Collaboration

• The cloud allows your team members to access, edit (in real time) and share documents from anywhere at any time, leading to better outcomes all round.
• Collaboration between onsite and remote staff or consultants saves time, email chain frustration and is great for document integrity too.

Security and recovery

• The cloud has made reliable disaster recovery a reality for businesses big and small.
• And when you use a cloud-based system, if you or your staff lose a phone or laptop you don’t lose all your important files.
• You can even wipe a lost device remotely.

CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF RAIN

Of course, there’s disadvantages to every technology, including the cloud.

Not all businesses need or even suit the whole gamut of cloud-based options. And, if you do want to embrace it all, you may need bigger and better phone and internet plans.

The big one is that if the internet goes down, or you suddenly find yourself with no service, you can’t access the cloud. But, in my experience, local problems are short lived. What’s more, if the whole thing ever falls apart, and the likes of Amazon, Google and Apple go down, we’ll all be dealing with bigger problems than accessing personal data.

Some people question the security of the cloud, but others think it’s the safest place for their information. It’s certainly got some of the best minds in the business working to keep it that way.

ONLINE INFLUENCE’S CLOUD-BASED APPROACH

You could say that Online Influence has its head in the clouds. Our web servers are cloud-based and we also use:

• G Suite for storing our emails
• Google drive and dropbox for file storage
• iCloud for desktop storage and or backups
• Podio for project management and team communications, and
• Zoom and Podio for client support and communication.

I use a Chrome book when I’m out of the office. This is a new breed of device, primarily designed to be used while connected to the internet, with most applications and documents living in the cloud.

I have to admit I was a little sceptical when I first got it, but I soon realised how handy it was to link to our cloud-based systems. It also allows me to access my Mac desktop from wherever I am (so long as I have an internet connection) or I can hotspot from my phone. Too easy.

NOT SURE WHAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU?

If you’re unsure of how to maximise the benefits of the cloud for your business, the Online Influence team has the insight and the experience to help. Call us today to find out the best solution for you and your business.