One of the things a long-time business mentor and associate of mine, Rick Citron says, is that so much of creating and growing a successful business is having an “on-going commitment to doing things better and faster.” –That means internally within your business, and of course, for your customers.  However, we must be mindful, as faster is not always better, if the quality is lesser.

Lots of things can pick-up your pace… Funny, speaking of speed, having recently moved back to New York City again from California, I can say, there’s definitely a reason for the old expression, “as fast as a New York minute.” The variety of stimulus here is intense; you have to adjust to an incredible level of palpable activity.  I even catch myself talking faster these days.  I can still humorously recall the first time my husband and I moved here, and our introduction to the city through a wonderful cab driver with a heavy Russian accent.   As he drove us across the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan, he said, ”here’s your heart beating normally,” gesturing a normal heart rhythm with his opening and contracting hand (as if a heart were beating in it)… “and now, here’s your heart when you enter ‘The City’!” as he began simulating a heart beating at hyper-speed with rapid hand movement.  “Can you feel it?” he asked (Ha-ha, yeah, we could! -funny but true.)

Well, another place for this stimulation, that’s even faster for business, is on the Internet… in CyberSpace! –It’s another world, a CyberWorld, our new frontier. It’s faster than just about anything we’ve experienced on the planet!  We can now instantaneously gather a growing amount of information (qualified or unqualified).  We have so much available at our fingertips.

As a result, our habits and appetites are changing. Almost the way New Yorkers have become accustomed to being able to get just about any food delivered any time, has changed them.  We now possess the relatively new convenience of being able to research and buy just about anything, at any time through the Internet. It’s becoming the first place most of us turn to for answers.  Even my 80-something year-old grandma adopted her little dog on-line. It’s amazing!

So, as a business owner, what does this mean?  I say, it means that opportunities, unlike any other point in time, are before us.  It also means there are different levels of pitfalls, known and unknown, we have to be aware of. We are like explorers entering and a new frontier.  As noted speaker and web marketing strategist, Lorrie Thomas says, “It’s time we stop thinking ‘webSITES’ and start thinking ‘webSOLUTIONS’!” Adding to that, I’d like to say, “it’s more than just the destination… It’s the journey, the relationships, the learning, and the dynamic full experience that counts.”

How can we make sure that we explore this wild new frontier of the Internet effectively and safely for our business growth?

How do we use the web to be better AND faster?…

The following are some leading, yet open-ended questions to help catalyze your business growth on the Internet:

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1. Can potential customers find you if they don’t know the name of your business?  –Might they even come across your business when looking for something related?

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2. Do you provide information or educational details that help build a sense of trust in your company, product or people?

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3. Are services easily provided on the web to help support your customers with inquiries and interest? (which may include direct contact numbers)

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4. Is your company personality and voice coming through in the web environment?

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5. Are your unique assets available for web users to see, read and comprehend.

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6. Are you integrating and re-purposing all your valued multimedia materials on the Internet for maximum results?

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7. Have you created a platform to build relationships with your market, community of customers as well as partners and allies?

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8. Are you using the Internet to help support and build your team internally?

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Like the explorers who sailed to the New World or those who traveled West, it’s wise to find guides to help you effectively navigate the territory. At Web Marketing Therapy (WMT), we serve clients as guides in the new world of the wild, wild web.  We are specialists who have even been nicknamed the “Wild Web Women” as a result.  We help guide and prescribe.  We help combine your internal goals and uniqueness, and match them with web marketing efforts that work for your business.

The business world is now “as fast as a Cyber-minute.”

How will you keep up the pace?  How will you explore new ways of reaching and serving your customers?