The Internet Gold Rush

  Today is more of an op-ed than anything else. And it isn't a piece on COVD-19. As we are sequestered in our homes riding out the storm, we are destined to find thing to keep ourselves busy. Binge-watching all our favorite shows and turning to new ones out of boredom, we all have our phones, iPad, or laptops in our hands as we continue the search the internet battling against the urge to leave our home. I look at this as an opportunity for all of us who use social media platforms to make contacts, push our wares, and introduce ourselves to the world as this new something or someone. 
 
According to Statica.com, as of February 2020, 4.54 billion people use the internet worldwide. That's fifty-nine percent of the world's population. Now factor in that was before people were obligated to stay home. There are no post-pandemic numbers at this time. I'll bet that the numbers have gone up drastically. 
 
Oberlo reports that each internet user spends six hours, thirty minutes a day on the internet. 81% of US adults go on the internet daily. Lastly, $4.2 trillion will be spent on e-commerce in 2020. It should be noted that these last set of numbers were also pre-pandemic.
Why tell you all this? Because as an author, influencer, or any social media entrepreneur, the need to understand that people are at home and searching the internet for anything to keep their minds busy is pure gold.
 
If you are trying to build a social media presence, now is your fifteen minutes of fame (Andy Warhol). If you are promoting a new book, a course, or a podcast - Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Twitter, YouTube, and whatever other platforms you can think of should have your full attention.
The success of our internet campaigns is not tied to the pandemic, but to the time and effort we are willing to put in. It is my theory that internet use is at a peak and making use of this peak is an opportunity. 
 

Stay in your lane and at a distance. Be safe in these times. If you must share yourself with others do it safely, do it through the internet.