Ten years ago the reach of a small business expanded from a local sphere of influence to a global one. Initially that was great and the advantages resulted in more competitive prices, greater diversity of product offerings, and an expectation of instant results.
One thing that was lacking was trust. Companies like Amazon and eBay have been successful because they built it back into their business models with customer feedback.
The next trend that I see is a reinvestment in what is local. Online and in stores people like to feel connected to place and community.
The challenge is taking the skills and advantages that were learned by opening up the boarders and applying those standards to local enterprises. Even a small business that has a brick-and-mortar business needs a website. Do they need full eCommerce functionality? Maybe not, but they might need an online menu or store hours. People expect that now.
What will people expect tomorrow? I think it will be a hybrid of both that I like to call hyper-local.
I’m trying to accomplish this with my hyper-local real estate brands like Homes Near Campus or Columbus Square. I’ve found it difficult finding quality, consistent, and relevant content that is valued by the community. It requires an investment that doesn’t always have a clear ROI but one that I believe will pay for itself long-term. I fear that if we’re not leading the trend then it will be so much harder catching up.
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yeah there are a slew of tools about to hit the market.
gold in them hills~