Is the future of business online? How can I adapt to this environment?

[Y.Allison]

Hi all,
I am seeking some friendly advice.

The vast majority of news relating to startups these days seems to revolve around technology and the internet.
I am rarely hearing of new business ideas that involve face-to-face interaction or much of a physical presence.

Do you think that in the future there will be still be a place for the traditional way of doing business? Or am I better off trying to adapt to this changing environment?

I have always wanted to run my own business. I have been working for two years as a professional now and I want to do something more exciting with my life. I have a few diverse ideas but nothing I have explored very deeply yet.

Are there any essential skills that I should learn that will always be useful? e.g. I know the basics of website design, but do you think I should invest the time into learning proper programming?

Any advice/past experiences would be very helpful.

Cheers

[akula]

ummm....no not really

the future of business is in the same place as its past: at the intersection of problems and the solutions
it's true that some of the solutions are best delivered over the net, but in terms of global GDP, the internet economy is pretty much just a small blip on the screen

mostly, as a rule thumb - if you wanna have a safe venture, you should be able to execute both on and offline...preferably offline
for example: it's not a good thing if a founder is incapable of running their business without seo and adwords

in terms of learning wed dev, nah, don't worry about it

[angeladenby]

I like to think of online strategies as tools for business within a greater tool box. Since the majority of us manage a great part of our lives online (finances, news, email/communication, social media, etc.), there are obviously many opportunities for business exposure online. With that said, networking and referrals still drive business and personal interactions will likely dominate e-relationships. Understanding how each business and industry can be enhanced with websites and social media marketing is key.

Here's an example:
I may not spend all of my time looking to build relationships and sell services online. However, if I'm planning on attending a business event, I can usually find a list of attendees online through the event's website or a Linkedin group. I can then reach out to select attendees before the event through Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook or email. When I eventually get to the event, I've already made the initial connection online, I've done some preliminary research on the contact and their company, and that allows me to take the next step in building this business relationship.

Offline and Online strategies work hand in hand to make effective business decisions and connections.

[veikoh]

Even in Online, you still sell to persons

[vidhiparekh84]

it purely depends on the type of business you have. a little bit of online media will on boost your rep.It will show that you are on the map.U know what i mean?. all the very best to you.