| If you're a fan of Western movies I'm sure | | | | hang on; |
| you've heard most | | | | uncertain as to where it leads and what it will |
| of the title line before; just replace "Web" with | | | | look like!Those are just a few of the things |
| "town." | | | | awaiting us, in the |
| That line of dialog is offered right before the two | | | | not-too-distant future. I'm sure there are many |
| cowboys | | | | more in store; |
| go outside and have a deadly gun duel. Wind | | | | not imagined, unseen and unexpected. The only |
| blown | | | | two constant |
| tumbleweeds and shades of the OK Corral as a | | | | factors are: growth and change! In its tender |
| backdrop!Nevertheless, can mean spirited politics | | | | years, the Net |
| help you corral a | | | | has grown and mutated in ways barely imagined |
| little corner of the Web? Can you put up no | | | | a decade ago.If I've waxed too fantastically in the |
| trespassing | | | | preceding paragraphs, |
| signs on what you've deemed to call your | | | | I do apologize! The point is to explain the utter |
| own?Most progressive Net businesses grab | | | | futility |
| market share by their | | | | of arresting or trapping a corner of the Web! By |
| good business practices and excellent customer | | | | its very |
| service. | | | | nature it's the agent of revolutionary change and |
| There's more than a few of those that come to | | | | growth; |
| mind. There | | | | never to be proclaimed as your self-appointed |
| are others - less enlightened - that use negative | | | | kingdom! |
| practices | | | | It won't work!All Internet Marketers should |
| to maintain their market foothold.Creative ways | | | | consider the preceding when |
| to slow down or stop your perceived | | | | making policy decisions that deal with perceived |
| competitors or opponents are many. They can | | | | competitors. Notice my usage of the word |
| take the form | | | | "perceived." |
| of misinformation, gossip, poisonous tips, setting | | | | Just because an upstart business wants some of |
| up dummy | | | | the turf you |
| email accounts to spread rumors, etc, etcA few | | | | formerly called your own, is no reason to engage |
| of them will work in the short term. Some will be | | | | in |
| more | | | | attrition and trench warfare.These are much |
| effective than others. Most will stain your | | | | better options:(a) Find weak areas in your |
| personal and | | | | competitor's business. Not so |
| business name, when found out! All of them are | | | | much for the purpose of exploiting them, but to |
| foolhardy!Yes, you can raise your hand to the sky | | | | see if you |
| and block the sun; | | | | can supply some of their needs. No matter what |
| yet and still, it's not an accurate description of | | | | the |
| what's | | | | copywriters say, all businesses have strong and |
| happening. When the mighty Mississippi river | | | | weak areas.(b) Look for product lines that are |
| wants to change | | | | complementary and form |
| course, how can it be stopped? When the Net | | | | linking relationships. |
| wants to grow, | | | | The nature and placement of the link will insure |
| expand and mutate, how are you going to tame | | | | mutual |
| it to your | | | | benefit from the agreement.(c) When provoked |
| petty designs?Entire countries have bent to the | | | | by some of the negative practices of other |
| will of the Web! Here's an | | | | - less progressive - competitors, do what you |
| example: Long-standing phone monopolies in | | | | must to uphold |
| Central American | | | | your reputation. If it's something trivial and small, |
| countries used political pressure to stop their | | | | turn |
| citizens | | | | the other cheek and seek the high road; not |
| from making Internet phone calls, to no avail! | | | | from altruism |
| Though "special legislation" was passed, there | | | | but to save your time, energy and attention for |
| was such a | | | | more |
| huge outcry from the rest of the Net, they | | | | productive endeavors. Pick your battles on |
| relented! | | | | principle and only |
| Let the Net be the Net, is the call of | | | | when all other avenues are exhausted.When all |
| wisdom.Historically speaking, the Web is an infant. | | | | things are considered, the best use of your time |
| It will | | | | in |
| continue to grow and expand, networking even | | | | maintaining market share should be spent in |
| the most remote | | | | finding new |
| outpost or village! Powerful and speedy | | | | resources and partners. Likewise, implementing |
| microchips will give | | | | new content |
| us the ability to reach out to other people and | | | | delivery technology will prove very effective. By |
| cultures. | | | | all means, |
| Language barriers will be eliminated with real-time, | | | | every possible effort should be made to convert |
| two way | | | | competitors |
| translation. Stone Age villages are going to join | | | | into friends and partners.The alternative is so |
| the modern | | | | unsavory:While the Web continues its relentless |
| world in one fantastic step!The swift technological | | | | gallop, leaving both |
| change and the accelerated rate of | | | | you and your sparring partner in the dust; will |
| deployment promise a bumpy ride, to say the | | | | you even |
| least! | | | | recognize why you went into battle, in the first |
| All we can do is grab the beast by the tail and | | | | place? |