Have you ever found yourself sitting around and wondering “how has the internet helped businesses?” In the modern world, any business that does not engage in some form of online marketing or digital reputation building will simply be left behind in the swirl of the new business climate. Technology and the internet have certainly forced businesses of all kinds and sizes to adapt with the help of a web design agency and digital marketing or perish. But just how has the internet helped businesses over the years? We came up with this list to delve into this subject with a bit more detail. Let’s get started.
Creating Jobs
First and foremost, there is simply no denying the fact that the internet has created an immense number of jobs across a wide breadth of different industries. Sure, a lot of people like to focus on all the different jobs that the internet has gotten rid of due to automation, code, and the like. But you cannot overlook the vast number of jobs that the internet has also created at the same time.
As an example, you can begin by first looking at the sheer number of software development jobs the internet has created. Anyone asking themselves the question how has the internet helped businesses? would be wise to look at software as a key metric. Software jobs allow many employees to work from home. It also gives them a degree of flexibility and creativity in their work. With more and more traditional companies developing their own software solutions to meet the demands of the digital age, software development jobs are in higher demand than they ever have been in the past. This boom in job creation only serves as one example of addressing the question of how has the internet helped businesses.
You could also take a look at the world of remote customer support. Even the largest technology and consumer-facing companies such as Amazon and Google make use of comprehensive customer support channels that all exist in a remote capacity. Whether you are looking at a phone center where customers can file complaints and ask questions or a chat window where customers can get immediate help online, there’s no denying the fact that the internet has created a whole host of customer service jobs in a remote capacity. Chances are, this is only the beginning, too. With more technological innovation on the horizon, the internet will continue to create new jobs where they never even seemed possible in the first place.
Identity Theft Detection
In response to a world that uses the internet more to transfer money, value, and other forms of sensitive information, fraud detection services have become that much more important. In order for a business to feel secure in doing their day to day transactions online, they need to know that they are being protected. Not only do they risk the compromise of their own company’s files and reports, but in many cases, they may also be risking the sensitive data of their customers. For this reason, identity theft detection and online security measures represent one more answer to the question “how has the internet helped businesses?”
Think about just the banking sector as an example. With so many users making use of online banking websites and apps on their mobile phones, they are exposing themselves to the risk of identity theft and other forms of fraud at a much higher rate. Hackers and scammers now have even greater access to tools that can cause trouble both for a business and its users. In response to this new climate, identity theft detection software solutions represent a crucial part of any business that is attempting to do business on the internet in today’s world. These security services serve as necessary layers of protection for all kinds of businesses. And there are many applications in this field, even when looking at a single business.
For example, an online bank system may make use of two-factor authentication, captchas, and password protection services. Each one of these services may use different proprietary technology systems. This just serves as a small portion of the larger ecosystem that exists in the world of identity theft protection and online security protocols present in the modern technological world. Online security will only continue to grow in response to the threats that rise up when making use of the internet for business.
New Job Markets
In addition to creating new jobs altogether, the growth of the internet has also created entirely new job markets. In the world of internet marketing, a whole new ecosystem of digital strategy has been born. Copywriters, video creators, audio engineers, and traditional advertising agents now have access to an even greater set of tools that expand their offerings and create the potential for massive growth. Those who focus on creating software-based tools also have access to an entirely new job market. The gig economy, which includes those who deliver food and drive with ride-sharing companies, has also given birth to a new generation that questions the way in which work is performed in the modern world. The internet presents a whole host of potential case studies on how technology has created enormous new job markets.
In the world of SEO services and other digital marketing techniques, for example, it’s quite illuminating to look at some of the foundational numbers that serve to make these approaches so successful in the first place. As an example, were you aware of the fact that the first page of Google search engine rankings capture 97% of all search traffic performed? If a small business can use SEO services in order to make sure that their business website is popping up on the first page of Google’s search results, then they can dramatically improve their exposure to potential customers. With these methods and others adding up to create a new business landscape, it’s not too hard to see how the internet has created new job markets to a major degree. These new job markets only serve to provide yet another answer to the question of how has the internet helped businesses?
Access to Educational Tools
Education no longer has to take place in a classroom setting thanks to the internet. Sure the question of “how has the internet helped businesses” can get quite complex when you look at the transformation the education system has undergone due to technology. Even so, some fundamental components of education are still present. For example, computer labs that have specialized software may be needed in order to teach specific skills. Those looking to educate themselves outside of the traditional educational system have more options than ever before.
If someone is looking to teach themselves a skill, then the internet enables this. For instance, if someone wants to learn how to weld stainless steel, there are resources on the internet to help them do so. Furthermore, the internet is also friendly to all different types of learning styles. If someone is more focused on reading in order to absorb information, then they can visit online libraries to find a great number of informational texts that may have only been available in person in the past. On the other hand, if a person finds it easier to learn by watching and doing, then they can look up video tutorials that will walk them through a skill in real time. This kind of learning acceleration has big implications for the world of business. It serves to provide yet another comprehensive answer for those asking the question “how has the internet helped businesses?”
Better Technology
The internet has also accelerated the development of technology itself. In terms of IT consulting, network security, and software development, the internet has made it easier for businesses to engage in technological upgrades of all kinds. So exactly how has the internet helped businesses in this regard? Well, for one, a business can do the kind of in-depth research that is needed to find a technological solution that meets their exact needs. In the past, they may have been stuck making the best out of a sub-par solution. Now they can dig in and find the product or service that is perfect for their business needs, no matter how large or small they may happen to be.
The world of computer repair has also been revolutionized by the internet. Businesses who rely on their computers no longer have to worry about costly and time-consuming repairs. In many cases, they can resolve problems quickly by having a dedicated repair service to work on their machines. This kind of evolution in technology not only accelerates commerce, but it also allows businesses to stay productive throughout the kinds of roadblocks and hurdles that tend to present themselves over the course of a day.
More Direct Communication
The internet allows businesses to communicate directly to their customers. If a customer has a concern, a company can address them directly without any additional layers of complexity. Sure, many businesses may still make the choice to use marketing consultants in order to assist with their customer service protocols. But the fact remains: the internet allows a business to speak right to its customers and shareholders without too much signal noise.
Exposure for Small Businesses
Small businesses that lack the kinds of experience and knowledge present in larger businesses now have a distinct set of advantages thanks to the internet. Anyone who finds themselves asking the question how has the internet helped businesses? needs only to take a look at the massive growth potential that exists for anyone who starts a new or small business using the internet. As an example, a small business consulting service may now operate with digital methods that streamline both productivity and customer service. But consulting is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to small businesses and the internet.
Another excellent example for anyone wondering “how has the internet helped businesses?” is the field of digital marketing. Even when starting from the ground up, a small business owner can take advantage of multiple digital marketing outlets that allow for nearly infinite leverage. Take, for one small example, the current landscape of social media marketing. A new small business can quickly grow their customer base online by taking advantage of the attention that social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram can bring to their brand. With a continued effort placed on content creation and marketing, it’s not uncommon for a new business to explode into massive success in a minimal amount of time. This kind of exposure and short term growth would not have been possible for many small businesses before the advent of the internet.
Social media marketing only stands as one small example of digital marketing too. A small business may also make use of reputation management services and search engine optimization to make sure that their business is being discovered by new customers from all around the world. Once again, this kind of reach and relevance would be difficult to achieve without the leverage that’s available with the internet. If you are still asking yourself the question “how has the internet helped businesses?” then it would be well worth your time to do some more research on the latest content marketing and digital advertising strategies that are delivering results to businesses of all kinds.
New Internet Laws
Finally, as the internet continues to influence the way we live our lives and do our business, there must be laws that are made to keep pace with this new world. As a result, internet law has become a topic that applies not only to individual users and local government entities but also to businesses. With more and more internet laws coming into relevance each and every day, businesses have benefited in a number of ways. Anyone who is wondering to themselves “how has the internet helped businesses?” would be wise to examine some of the more recent internet laws that have come into existence. Many of them serve to protect the rights and capital of businesses that operate in a wide range of different industries. In many cases, without the presence of these laws, a business would be exposed to severe levels of risk that may even shut them down in some cases. With the internet continuing to exert its dominance in global business and politics, the subject of internet law will only grow in importance and relevance as time marches on.
As you can see from the different elements included in this list, there are many possible answers for anyone who happens to find themselves wondering “how has the internet helped businesses?” By continuing to educate yourself and enact some of these practices and more, you can continue to grow your business with the internet, regardless of what kind of product or service you happen to offer. Best of luck out there!
