What Is The Internet?

The Internet is a global non-stop electronic selling system, offering you well over 100 million customers worldwide in the largest "store" of all time.

Operationally, the Internet is a global system to gather and exchange information AND to sell products and services, using computers and other "information appliances," such as a Web TV. The Internet works like the international phone system.

You have a unique phone number. And on the Internet, you have a unique address, called a URL, for your website. And, of course, you will have a unique e-mail address as well, so that people can communicate with you on-line. And you need a secure e-commerce form on your website, so people can buy from you on-line safely.

Strategic Considerations

The Internet is the most profound technical development since the advent of commercial television in the 1950's. And the Internet is the pathway to enter into the Information Age and operate your global business from a single place, typically where you live.

With modern technology, it makes no difference where you live. You can operate a business from anywhere on the planet, making the Internet the backbone of your business.

At first, humans were hunting and fishing nomads. Next, they settled down into farming lifestyles, raising crops and herds. Third, the Industrial Revolution came to the United States about 1870 (earlier in Europe), but now the Industrial Revolution is moving into the history books, being displaced by the Information Age.

Except for the Industrial Revolution, a 120 year span in the United States, humans have been self-employed in most cases during history. The Information Age and the Internet allow us to return to that historically normal and totally glorious condition of self-employment.

In the Information Age, you are a global citizen. Your business home is on the Internet--no matter where on the planet you live and work, thanks to satellites and wireless technology.

You could headquarter yourself in New York City or York County, South Carolina. Or Buffalo or Barbados. You can work from an urban skyscraper, suburban office park, home-based office, from your car or customized van, or out in the wilderness, using wireless devices.

If you wish, the Internet allows you to become a nomad who hunts and fishes for customers, roving around, using the weapons of modern technology.

Five Historical Myths About Any Technology

Whenever a new technology is introduced, skeptics go into a state of denial and predict failure. These people always use the same five myths to advance their view. They are always wrong. Of course, they have said it about the Internet. These myths are:

1. It's only a fad, and it will not last. Yet, even if this new thing never goes away, it does not apply to me--not now and not ever !!! This was said about ATM's, cell phones, the VCR, and personal computers. Don't believe the Internet is just a fad or you will lose greatly in business. In fact, you may lose your business--period--if you believe this lie. The Internet is for you--right now. Seize its staggering profit possibilities.

2. It will replace older technologies. This never happens. New technologies just give consumers even more choices--and they use them.

People will still shop in stores. Increasingly, however, they are buying products, services and information via "e-commerce" over the Internet. Competent research studies clearly prove that 17 to 20 million army of regular Internet on-line buyers in 1998 grew to an affluent Internet purchasing corps of 40 to 50 million by late 1999. Wouldn't you like to add just a few thousand of these people to your customer list?

3. The new technology is too hard and too technical for me to use. Actually, using the Internet is much easier than using word processing and accounting software. In fact, using the Internet is as easy as using the phone.

4. Too much new use will kill any technology. This is always wrong because although increased transaction volume always challenges any new technology, continuing technological improvements will always solve volume problems. Just consider the speed of 600+ MH chips and high speed Internet access via DSL lines, cable connections, etc.

In the 1960's and 1970's, bankers thought they had too many checks to process-- and that the banking system would collapse. But faster check processing technology easily solved this concern while sharply reducing expense. DSL lines, cable connections and lightning fast chips are doing the same thing now to Internet traffic.

5. We understand how any new technology will evolve. Wrong, wrong, wrong--dead wrong and always wrong. What a joke. The telephone, dubbed an "electronic toy" was rejected by Western Union. The phone was never intended for routine home use.

Radio was perceived as a "wireless telegraph." And TV was considered just radio with pictures. Obviously, humans have no ability to see the possible future uses of a technology, just viewing it as an extension of their own current and painfully limited experience.

A few years ago, people thought that the Internet was just a new form of advertising, rather than what it is now--a whole new way to do your business.

Juicy Demographics--If You Do Not Want These People, You're Just Nuts!!!

Internet users make up to 40 to 45% of the American population according to various studies. This is growing dramatically, all studies show. Currently, there are well over 100 million REGULAR users worldwide. Of these, 80 million live in the United States. !!!

And it is estimated that, by the end of the Year 2000, another several hundred million people will become Internet users, too, many of them via a whole new generation of "information appliances," comparatively inexpensive devices--including Web TV--which allow Internet access without using a personal computer.

Average income of the Internet user in the United States is $62,000. Do your customers have incomes of $62,000 or more? Home expert Martha Stewart has learned that her on-line Internet buyers are younger and even more affluent than her audience buying her products through traditional methods.

Dell Computers sells $18 million of its computers DAILY on the Internet via e-commerce. Dell's goal is $150 million of DAILY Internet sales.

Egghead Software closed its hundreds of stores, all of them, and now Egghead operates more profitably by deriving all of its sales from the Internet.

Charles Schwab, a big discount broker, reegineering his whole corporate business plan, featuring the Internet. Now, nearly 60% of Schwab stock trades come from the Internet. One-third of all stock market trades are done over the Internet--to the chagrin of stockbrokers.

33% of all college graduates use the Interent, as do 30% of those earning over $50,000 annually.

These users find information gathering to be the most popular feature. Sending and receiving e-mail is second. And, increasingly, the Internet is becoming the world's electronic storefront.

You cannot ignore this, unless you want the market to ignore you. If you ignore the Internet, your business will be left with two unprofitable market segments--poor people (with incomes under $20,000 annually) and cranky technophobes. A website is not just another expense. It is an outstanding sales generator which can sharply reduce expenses.

Huge Financial Benefits For You!!

A major "Big Five" accounting firm study proves that Internet-using businesses enjoy sales per employee of 65% higher than non-Internet using businesses. Could you use a 65% increase in sales?

And, recently, a Cisco Systems study documented $ 89 billion in operating expense savings enjoyed in 1999 by Internet using companies. Wouldn't you like a piece of that in 2000?

Quite frankly, to quote a published expert, "If the Net is not in your business plans, you should plan to go out of business." We agree. And we can help you get on the Internet. We are the best in this business. On the Internet, you can be the best in your business.

As a business consultant, John J. Alquist can help you sell or liquidate your company and retire, if you do not want to be on the Internet and, therefore, remain in business as a serious, profitable player.

Benefits and Possibilities
To You On The Internet

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