The best role of business online is that of interdependency. We’ve all
heard the old saying, “No man is an island.” When it comes to online
business this is especially true.
If a business owner who takes their business into the online world
determines they will be self reliant and never accept the help of
anyone then that individual will not be in business long enough to
change their minds.
It is accepted fact that the greatest tool for long-term exposure
to your website is through Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Without it
potential customers can’t find you. It is unreasonable to expect that
you can adequately develop a website without optimizing your website
for the best possible search engine ranking.
Search engines also place a high value on sites that have links
placed on existing sites. These ‘backlinks’ demonstrate to search
engines that others trust your site. By placing your link on their
website these other businesses indicate a trust and recommendation for
your site.
In effect the two strategies listed above rely exclusively on what others can do for you when it comes to your online business.
Shirley Temple once proclaimed in her movie Rebecca of Sunnybrook
Farm, “I’m very self-reliant.” American westerns are filled with lines
dealing with pulling yourself up by your bootstraps and holding down
the fort. Many of us have grown up to believe if we want something done
right we have to do it ourselves.
This thinking is in opposition to the rules associated with an online business.
The online world can only exist because people share. Individuals
share technology, but the also share links, reviews, blogs, forums and
a wide range of other marketing strategies that find a commingling of
interdependency.
In online business you are as dependent on others as they may be on
you. Unlike the word ‘dependent’, the term interdependent indicates a
mutual dependency. In other words you are depending on others to help
provide links back to your site while they are equally dependent on you
(or others) for the success of their business.
Have you really taken a proactive approach to networking? It’s
possible you are reading this today and you’ve never considered asking
someone else to place a link to your site on his or her online business
site.
It can feel awkward depending on others to achieve online success
especially if you’ve been lead to believe reliance on others is also a
sign of imposing on their otherwise brilliant generosity.
I suppose it could be a deep-seated sense of pride that makes it
hard to consider the need to ask others for help. However, the truth is
depending on others is really what has made the Internet possible. The
growth of this online world is comprised of a link of computers,
networks and servers that are connected in a way that provides the
maximum benefit for all.
Building an online business can feel a bit like trying to build a
house of cards. Without the ability to rely on the other ‘cards’ around
you it is virtually impossible to build.
Interdependence. This is the essence of online business.
