I attended a meeting last night where the speaker gave networking tips. Many of her tips had to do with face-to-face networking. Also at the meeting was a student reporter who was interviewing people for a story she was doing. Her questions had to do with how small startup businesses use computers. Suddenly the light went on in my head...!
Many people are focused locally. If you look around, likely you can see some businesses that are focused on their regions or neighborhoods. Many libraries have a very local focus. Doing business with people that we interact with in our communities is very comfortable for many reasons. And for some, having a truly local focus is the correct thing to do.
Do you need a web site if your focus is purely local? Although I would agree that a web site could be helpful, I suspect that some businesses really wouldn't see the need if their customers truly are people in their community that they can reach out and (literally) touch.
Do you need to use social networking tools if your focus is purely local? Again, maybe not. Although we know that there could be a benefit in using them.
However, if you want to reach out beyond your local area and want to do business with -- or just interact with -- people in other geographic areas, then you need to be more findable. You need a web site and you need to be using various online tools in order to interact with your potential customers.
Local libraries do want to attract people from outside their region to use their local history collections. They also want to remain relevant to students who head of to college and residents who travels. They also recognize that some of their customers don't feel comfortable walking through the door, but do feel comfortable walking through a virtual door. So being online is important. It also helps those libraries to collaborate on electronic resources and other things that will make their collections stronger.
The other thing that really hit home last night was that I am of a different generation. Not necessarily age-wise, but in my comfort in communicating electronically. What is normal for me, is not normal for others who are around my actual age. Last night's speaker has rules about what she won't do electronically, like send a note of sympathy when someone dies. mmm...when my mother died several years ago, I sent an email note to a lot of people with the information, and received email notes of sympathy back. The emails came quicker that the snail mail and were greatly appreciated. But I need to keep in mind that some are not comfortable with that type of interaction.
I've rambled and don't have a "conclusion." If you've read this far, thanks. If you found something that hit home, that's good! I think I just needed to get this all off my chest!
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