Source: Pixabay
The business landscape is changing all the time, but it is fair to say that few developments have had an impact on companies quite like the rise of the internet.
The online world has created a whole new way for firms and consumers to interact and has led to the creation of a host of tools which businesses can use to try and promote their products and services to the wider world.
Transformative effect
In fact, it is probably hard to overstate the importance of the internet, as it has had an impact on almost every sector. A brand like Amazon is a fine example of how retail has changed, with the service becoming a one-stop shop for people looking to make a host of different purchases from books to groceries and much more.
All kinds of gaming have also been transformed, with online multiplayer titles like Fortnite becoming a huge phenomenon and even a classic pastime like bingo being reborn. The latter game was once strictly an offline affair in bingo halls, but the emergence of bingo sites like Lucky Pants Bingo has breathed new life into it. The aforementioned site not only offers bingo games with a range of jackpots, but also gives gamers the chance to take advantage of offers and sample other experiences like slot games too.
Another area clearly affected by the internet has been TV and film, with services like Netflix not only offering a range of content but also going on to produce their own. Streaming undoubtedly means the days of DVD or video rental are well and truly behind us, something highlighted by the nostalgic nod to Blockbuster Video in the recent 90s-set superhero movie Captain Marvel.
Levelling the playing field
However, if one community within the business world has been boosted by the web more than any other, it is probably smaller firms. The rise of digital marketing tools has in a way levelled the playing field and given such companies a real chance to take on larger rivals.
Such opportunities are clearly not lost on them either, if recent research is to be believed. A study released by The Manifest earlier this year polled a range of small businesses in the US to get their views on marketing and discovered that a massive 95 per cent of them are boosting their spending on digital promotions in 2019.
Source: Pixabay
Examining specific channels, the study also found that small businesses were looking to boost investment in social media, their websites and SEO across this year. It also revealed that 73 per cent of small businesses now invest in social media, which hints that many view Twitter, Facebook and other platforms as valuable tools to promote their work. Other channels are also on the radar, with 34 per cent investing in video marketing.
Perhaps most importantly, the study found that 35 per cent of businesses prefer digital marketing to more traditional forms of promotion.
The future is online
Such findings provide a truly fascinating insight into current business trends and how digital tools are now undoubtedly a priority for firms of all sizes.
Small businesses clearly see the future as being online and, with innovations constantly emerging, it will be interesting to see which other new tools are created to help them rival larger competitors.
