Internet Business Solution Skill Sets
Business class web success at a high level requires multi-disciplinary skills that are impossible to find all in one person.
Business class Internet activities require skill sets in: technology, programming, graphic design, copy writing, marketing principles, salesmanship, psychology, analytics, business strategizing, and of course a depth of understanding about your products & services.
Training and experience are needed in website development & webmaster skills, search engine optimization, search marketing (PPC, banner ads), advertising copy writing, email marketing, content marketing, and even the laws governing the Internet.
Application and administration skills must also be acquired to interact with programs like website content management editors, eCommerce packages if you need one, Google AdWords, Google Maps, Google Analytics or similar, multiple Social Media websites, measurement & tracking software, and report programs.
No one performs at a high level with all of the above; not a business owner or manager nor does an IT guy, a marketing specialist, a salesman, an accountant, a bright college kid, nor any one person within a company.
So how is high level Internet business success accomplished? It takes a team.
- If you are a small company, chances are the owner or manager tries to be a one-man ‘team’ who gets help from friends who know a little of this or that plus the help of a contract specialist who does spot duty in an area beyond the manager’s ability. Chances are the manger will also invest in ‘bargain basement’ tools and services.
- If you are a large enough company, you can pull together people from within your organization who collectively have the skill sets needed and add your Internet Solution to their job duties. You will need to equip them with tools and train them in what they need to know about the Internet business world plus hire specialists to fill in any gaps.
- Or you can take a few key individuals within your company to team with an outside Internet Business Solution firm that has the specialized tools and people with the necessary internet knowledge and experience.
- Or you can outsource nearly all aspects of your Internet Business Solution retaining only strategy approval and product knowledge input.
Which online path to success you take depends on your business philosophy.
- Do you prefer vertical integration (keep everything you do in house)? If you don’t like anything ‘not invented here’ or think an internal solution will cost less, then you will be okay with tying up a lot of time & valuable internal resources and pathway #1 or #2 above is for you.
- Do you prefer to use your time and internal resources on your core business competencies and rely on outsourcing for specialty needs like Internet Solutions? If you don’t like tying up valuable internal resources on a rapidly changing specialty, then path #3 or #4 above is for you.
It comes down to do you want to immerse yourself and your staff into mastering the many skills, tools, and nuances of developing a high level Internet Business Solution or do you just want to be able to use an Internet Solution to the benefit of your business?
If you prefer a do-it-all-myself approach, then good luck and my best wishes.
If you want the benefits without a steep learning curve and huge time & internal resource commitment, then partner with a company who has assembled a team of experts to work for your web success.
