I find it amazing sometimes, the number of people who fail to realize that a companies website is most often their largest office. In fact, it is usually the modern equivalent to the “first impression”. To be more specific, it is usually the companies online presence which serves as a first impression, be it a website, a targeted email campaign, a well timed and placed advertisement, or top 3 finish in a search result. The landscape as competitive as it is, can still be conquered, but how?

Today the U.S. faces many economic uncertainties. From all sides we hear “recession”, and conflicting reports on the economy's health. Think about this for a minute, lots of companies do well when times are good. Really, chew on it for a few seconds, it has relevance. When consumers are short on time and long on cash, they are typically less discerning, and typically the opposite when times are uncertain. With the current situation in the U.S. economy, how can a business plan for success? The first step is to realize that the world has changed. The U.S. and international consumer is educated and commands a variety of very potent implements to weed out poor quality in products and services market wide. The next step is to realize and actualize a proactive and leveraged approach to online presence, though as we know, this by itself is not enough to guarantee success. The days of “build it and they will come” are long gone and we all know it.

Transparency, simplicity, engagement, and value wins consumers. Technology brings to market all that the market shall want for in a proverbial sense. The net is awash with independent ratings and reviews sites, over which typically a company has no control. And why? Because so many companies lack transparency, and therefore create a vacuum of trust with would be and existing consumers. I would argue that integrity, trust, and transparency are facets of perceived “value” in this day in age. These companies typically exude complacency and mediocrity, neither of which appeal to consumers, or clients. In an environment where consumers will spend more time validating a companies claims for its products, and services; transparency, trust, value, and the two way flow of information is vital.

How can you bring your product to market online with integrity and quality, in a way which builds trust and value for consumers? Hire an expert, hire someone with the experience, expertise and the technologies to keep you competitive and ahead of the game, even in times of economic uncertainty. Here at Blue Tent, we are constantly analyzing, comparing, and contrasting our own competitors as well as yours. Technology, tempered with the wisdom of experience, and an in-depth knowledge of vertical and audience can be leveraged in ways unimaginable. Whether it is our new content management platform, offerings in SEM, or our forth coming line of green products and services, we are always vying for new and engaging ways to empower our clients to bring transparency, simplicity, and value to their customers.

John Ensign
Chief Technical Officer