Wow! What a sad situation our country is facing as we prepare to celebrate and enjoy the freedoms that have been purchased and ransomed for us today on the backs of many a fine American. I thought to myself, “Is this our story for 2010 and on?”

The article went on to say “even though we’ve gained about 600,000 private sector jobs back, we’ve got nearly 8 million jobs to go,” said Lakshman Achuthan, managing director of Economic Cycle Research Institute.

The article went on to point out; it would take the creation of 10.6 million jobs immediately for the same percentage of the population to be working as was the case three years ago. Many of the workers who have lost jobs were in industries that are not likely to recover their former strength. They are predicting that as many as half of the people who lost their jobs will have to find something else to do.

This is very disturbing news. Millions of folks who have lost their jobs are not going to be able to find jobs in their line of work so they better figure something else out, right?

Ok, well I ask myself… what can be done about this? Are we just going to throw up our hands and except this? How are we going to turn this mess around? Are we going to wait for the government or big business to “bail us out”…again? Whatever good that did!

I THINK NOT!!

While I don’t pretend to have all the answers I do know a thing or two about entrepreneurship, small business and this New Business Era we have been sucked into!

I know they are right when the Foreman says these” jobs are going boy and they ain’t coming back”.  Those dinosaur industries and companies are falling like flies and more are to come. Much more judging by the way they are not willing to enter in to this new digital age and 21^st century marketing!

I know the golden egg for economic recovery and stability in this country is in the rise and well being of entrepreneurs and small business.

I know there are incredible opportunities for ANYONE to be in business for themselves doing what they love doing like never before! The internet and social media has knocked the feet out from under the gatekeepers. You can go in there and get yours now!

I know if we (the average everyday American) would support and commit ourselves to conduct the majority of our business transactions with entrepreneurs and small businesses across this country we would not only start money flowing into our communities again but we would see lots of jobs being created.

I know the internet and social media can and will facilitate the needed handshake where we tell one another about small businesses in our circle and community that are providing great products, services and customer appreciation and we recommend them to our friends and family to support them.

I know entrepreneurs and small business can beat out the big boys hands down, every time, on quality, price, creativity and service to make us want to transact with you…so Do It.

I know we all (both those of us in business and those of us the customer) care deeply about this and want to do our part.

I know we can and will support buying Local!

I know we are still the GREATEST country in the world and we have not lost who we are because we are innovators, creative, hard workers, good hearted, resilient, and we love to help each other out when we are in a jam. And folks, we are in a JAM!

I know when we make supporting our entrepreneurs and small businesses a priority like we have for causes like ‘Green living’, ‘Recycling’, Relief for Haiti, Tsunamis and countless other good things we do without a second thought…we can get behind entrepreneurs and small businesses who are committed to earning our business and support them so we can get back on the path to financial stability in this country.

I know this Fourth of July, 2010 we can also commemorate the adoption of…

BUY AND SUPPORT AMERICAN ENTREPRENEURS AND SMALL BUSINESSES.

I know anyone can make it in this great country and they don’t have to be left at the mercy of companies who care more about their bottom-line and shareholder than they ever will for you!

I know you can say loudly to those companies that sent our jobs abroad to increase their profitability, who managed poorly, who didn’t give a heck about the customer, our communities or our country, who over built, over indulged, and just passed their wows on to the employees…
Take this job and shove it! I ain’t working here no more”!!!! I’m starting my own business!

I know I am going to do my part and practice what I preach. Will you join me?

HAPPY FOURTH of JULY EVERYBODY!

Independence Day

During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the American colonies from Great Britain occurred on July 2, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia.^[4][5] After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by a Committee of Five, with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author. Congress debated and revised the Declaration, finally approving it on July 4. A day earlier, John Adams had written to his wife Abigail:

Adams’ prediction was off by two days. From the outset, Americans celebrated independence on July 4, the date shown on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence, rather than on July 2, the date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress.

Wikipedia

What is not common knowledge is most businesses (large and small) do not control these precious assets nor do they spend much time planning, strategizing, and nurturing the birth of their digital jewels.

If that were not shocking enough…very little if any attention is given to the ongoing marketing efforts and strategies that will now be needed once they have a presence online. Nor is much attention is given on how they will integrate their digital presence with the physical so they can have a powerhouse effect with their marketing!

Although I am focusing in primarily on websites in this conversation, this holds true for just about every facet of digital media and marketing development. Most businesses leave this to their creative services, Web Development Company, web person, your son in high school or whomever.

Am I saying you should not use such professionals to design and develop your web presence?

Absolutely not!!

I AM one of such. I’ve been in the web development and digital marketing business for 13 years now. As a matter a fact, I believe our world is becoming some graphically sophisticated, one of the ways you need to break through the noise out there are professionals who do this for a living. As it becomes more and more crowed out there and newer technology takes hold, I believe you will begin to regard the services of professionals in this arena even more valuable than ever. Even if they make PhotoShop a “Speak and Design” application! There is WAY more to capturing that magic for your brand, message and perception than just a few user friendly DIY tools.

No…what I am saying is there needs to be a huge shift from viewing your business’s web presence (in whatever form it’s in) as just a marketing tool or tactic.

Your digital property and web presence is extremely valuable! It is an asset for your business.

Dictionary.com says an asset is…

as·set

A resource having economic value that an individual, corporation or country owns or controls with the expectation that it will provide future benefit.

These digital assets are tangibles that have the power to help drive your business today and in the future. For something that can bring you such an advantage in the marketplace you would think it would be something businesses would want total involvement in and would want to ensure they have total ownership of.

That is not the case most of the time though. Many web clients pass it on to the web people to “Make It So”. Don’t get me wrong, they do engage somewhat but many times it is very minimal.

My experience with hundreds of web development and web marketing clients has proven to me this is happening in most cases because of two things.

One…they simply don’t understand the real value of their web assets. Two…they understand traditional adverting and selling but not web marketing, the digital marketplace, nor web design and creative’s.

Very, very, understandable but disturbing when you think of the implications of this for a business and some of the horror stories where the business is really being taken to the cleaners and over charged and under delivered. I have come across clients that had paid out a ton of money yet own nothing! It’s happening all the time.

I am on a quest to help businesses get in the driver’s seat to take ownership and call the shots on their web destiny.

Stay tuned…