Personal experience in the workplace

¶ … management at your company expects technology to improve business. Management at my company uses technology, but does not use it enough to improve business. They use computers to manage the company's internal functions, but they do not use it enough outside the company, and that leads to less outside interest in the company.

As with just about every business today, our company uses computers throughout the business. They do their planning, accounting, and other internal functions with computers, and most of the employees have a computer on their desk with access to the other employees. They input information, communicate, update business inventories through the computer, and most use it on a daily basis. It seems that without a computer, the business would come to a halt, both financially and in the way we communicate with each other.

It seems the technology has improved business, in that we communicate faster and more effectively, we have instant access to business information and statistics, and we can track the progress of our business at any given moment. I think they use technology quite effectively inside the business, and that it has improved the business since its adoption, but I think they could use it much more effectively outside the business, to market it and find new customers.

While we use technology inside the business quite effectively, I think outside the business, my company is dropping the ball. They market themselves in more traditional venues, and they are not taking advantage of all the Internet has to offer. For example, they have a Web site, but they really do not market it online. They do not advertise online, they seem to think that a Web site is enough, and in today's world, that simply is not the case. They need to develop an online marketing campaign that includes social networking sites, and they need to use more marketing tools. A marketing expert writes about online marketing, "You can accomplish that with an online marketing tool. The key is to find the best tool for you and your business" (Prescott-Willis, 2010). I know there are many different tools that businesses can use to promote their businesses online. Many of these tools include statistics and information on how many people visit your site, what they are looking for, and how many actually buy from your site. Right now, our Internet sales and interest is very low, and that is because our company really does not promote itself online.

My company recognizes the importance of marketing, and they do market the company through traditional means. I think they understand the basics of marketing. Another writer notes, "Using the 'Four Ps' of marketing -- product, place, price, and promotion -- advertisers use paid public presentations of goods and services in a variety of media to influence consumers' attention to, and interest in, purchasing certain products" (Calvert, 2008). I just do not think they are utilizing the Internet effectively, and that is costing them revenue. Another writer states, "Almost all organizations, companies, communities and even individuals have a web site. Reaching an audience and encouraging repeat visitors requires a careful and targeted approach" (Lee, 2005). I do not think my company has this targeted approach, and that is a marketing weakness with them.

Today, social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter are increasingly popular with millions of people. More and more companies are using these sites to market their businesses, and I think this is where my company is falling short. They have no presence in this area, when many other companies are recognizing the importance of marketing to people on these sites. When I go to my social networking sites, I see many companies, big and small, national and local, Tweeting, posting, and gaining attention. My company ignores this, and refuses to set up accounts, or let us access our accounts from our office computers. It is as if they are living in a pre-Internet world, and cannot see the ramifications of that for the future. I shop online, talk to friends online, and always check my social networking sites as often as I can. When I see a business online, or promoting themselves on Facebook, I may not shop there right that minute, but I think about them when I am looking for something they offer. They just get their name and brand in front of me so often that I remember them. I believe my company is costing itself revenue and recognition by ignoring these advertising outlets, and that it is important for them to recognize them and start to utilize them.