Not to be left behind, I spent the last few days browsing the web looking for ways to improve my small business. That came about after I perfectly know that in this new age, aside from the fact that I have to be dealing with up to date information, it is becoming a must that I get savvy with technology. So, I did. I began searching for data that could greatly impact on my business sales (just like any of you businessmen) and was frustrated, if not overwhelmed with the over flooding data available in the internet.

I sat back, thinking how funny the internet can open you up to worlds of possibilities and limit you at the same time. Confronted with my 'human' limitation, I pursued and scavenged the web. I did find some scrap (no surprise there) and I also found some really useful articles (finally my efforts paid off).

It surprised me too that there are quite a number of things that I will have to get the hang of. I just heard about blogs (yes, that's how late I am but then, I have always been a late bloomer) and the more hours I spend browsing the world wide web, I found out that there's more internet marketing strategies to take advantage of than what I presently know.

There's email marketing, for instance. I thought I was already maximizing my accounts. I previously use my email to contact my suppliers and some customers who have the same. I was proud, quite content and happy that I have this fishbowl of calling cards that I, once in a while, use to call up useful partners and customers when the need arises.

I fiddle with the computer keyboard once in a while. And although I am no computer geek, I have always had a friend (who is also my business partner) to work on the business' computer transactions. He is more computer literate than I am. (Thank goodness for a variation of skills) He sends out the emails. I wait and work on the results. Though simple, everything seems to be going great. I'm hitting my sales targets. What more can I ask for?

I thought I was doing all the best I can. But in reality, I was doing so little with so much potential.

I thought my business was just going right. What I failed to know due to my ignorance with technology is that I am missing so much.

The internet indeed offers us spectrum of possibilities. Now and generally, I have a good view of: blogs and its impact to businesses, the many doors of opportunities that social networks bring, the magic of emails, e-zines, and e-books. Then, if you have opted to get a website set up for you, there are even more surprises. You could get dazed with all these wonderful tools available.

E-mail marketing is not just a quick, cool version of snail mail. It actually helps me reach out to the customers that I cannot reach with the current advertising tools I employ (I gradually understand that TV is becoming expensive and limited). I learned about the importance of building my mailing list and how to choose these people.

When I first heard about social networking, I had a feeling it was a tool built for teenagers and people who like to chat and socialize. I was finding it silly to be boasting off the number of people you have in your buddy list and getting connected with people who interest you or who are interested with you. So maybe I didn't completely dig the whole point. I forgot to explore the potential this gives people like me.

Customers interest me. Customers are interested with me too.

Slowly with that realization, these "silly ideas" just melted into "golden ways" to connect with my market. It's really about choosing the right sites and setting the proper tones of interacting with all these networks that allow you to make it work right for you.

There are a few other techniques we can take advantage of with the internet. Many companies now send out newsletters or e-books. I heard that most of these come in free packages. Well, as a businessman, I still am left with the option of giving it for free or for a fee. But considering the many inputs that technology has blessed and will bless me, I have no doubts in just giving it away. They say it always comes back tenfold.

These and a lot more are some things I would have to explore on more. I'm becoming ridiculously techy for my age. As I have said, I just got into the trend and I am taking it real slow. Uh, on second thought--- not too slow though.