Some of us grew up in a time when doing research for a project or writing a paper meant finding the nearest library or digging up your parent’s old encyclopedia. From a business standpoint, it was all about the traditional methods of climbing the ladder. Work hard, read the standard list of books and if you are lucky you might get yourself a mentor. “Going online” was a novelty.

The old methods worked reasonably well for some of us so why venture out into the internet? Why should a conventional businessperson jump online? Let me give you several reasons:

1. The internet is where the action is. If you have a particular interest, you can be certain that there is a group online that is engaging in a conversation about your topic. Niche marketing at its finest can be done via these groups.

2. The speed of learning is amazing. You no longer have to go to several sources to find an answer to your questions. Type a subject in a search engine, and you will find a wealth of information at your finger tips. Although the amount of information you get can be overwhelming, you can cut through a lot of it quickly. Make sure that you prioritize it by the writers that have “been there and done it.” Not everyone is an expert and should be viewed as such.

3. The internet can be networking at its finest. Networking can have a negative connotation with many of us (me included). We think of rooms full of cheesy people, exchanging handshakes, and faking interest with the intent of only personal gain. Networking does not have to be that way. Go into it with the intent to help others, and you might be surprised what you will get back in return. The internet is a great place to do the right kind of networking. Check out: Facebook, Linked In or search for interest groups by using the search engines.

4. Going online is also a great and inexpensive way to advertise. There are millions of businesses on the web so it is not easy to stand out. Find yourself a great content writer (I recommend Kellie Fowler), add value to your target audience, and the business will come. It is just a matter of when and how much.

5. It will also provide you with instant feedback on how you are performing. Make sure that when you communicate with your target group, you are asking for feedback at regular intervals. The best way to determine what changes you need to make is to ask the people closest to the issue.

For a “traditional” business person, going online can be a little scary, but it shouldn’t be. Take your time, be thoughtful, but get out there. Soon it will not be a matter of choice but necessity!