..yes.

Well, if you are clever and actually use it for what it is and engage with your customers. If you’re the sort that thinks all this Internet malarky is for other people then you won’t, but maybe we should all sit up and listen when a name, a big name announces they’ve made a bit of cash from the social networking site of the moment…

I shouldn’t get angry, but I do. You see, I know what I’m doing. I do it well and I do it every day but when I meet people who say “that’s not for us” or “it’s just a fad” when they’re talking about new technology then I just see red.

I still meet people who say “This Internet thingy – it’s just not for our type of business”. Now, in the past I would have stood and argued and explained how it is for them and how with careful management you can actually do quite well out of it thankyouverymuch. But now I just shrug my shoulders and move on. Unless they are provoking me in which case I glare, and them move on.

It irks even more because most people I meet like this are in my own region. In the Black Country, right in the middle of the UK. Right where industry thrived, you know, the new stuff. Industry took off because a select few people threw away the old way of doing things and replaced it with lots of new technology that many people said “that won’t work”. They went against prevailing thought and decided that they would embrace new things.

But the Internet is different. We’re being overtaken by other areas, other companies and other industries because people round here just don’t get it. And that’s annoying.

I’ve just come back from a very wet week in Devon. Do you know, every single attraction that I wanted to go and see was available on the Internet? Every one! Not only that, nearly every specialist baker, butcher or candlestick maker had a website address on the outside of their shop.

They’re in the middle of a recession too and they’re not seeing the amount of visitors they used to see, but it doesn’t matter because they’re not just marketing to the short-wearing, hanky-sporting grey-haired Saga-louts of old, no, they’re selling their stuff to the world. Stuff the recession, they’re doing well anyway.

Look at this: www.tram.co.uk. What a fantastic domain name!! And it’s just a small tram that takes you on a 25 minute drive to a neighbouring town. And I can get prices, timetables and all the information I need through their website.

But hang on, let’s get back to the point. Twitter and that two million.

Dell have recently stated that their Twitter account has been directly responsible for sales of $2 million – read about it here : Dell.

Amazing huh?

Not really, you could do it too. I mean, I know you’ll say “Ahhh, but they’re Dell and they sell stuff and we don’t…” Blah blah.

You’re missing out and you’re not being left behind, you’ve been left behind.