If No One In Your Industry Thinks Online Presence Is Important, Could That Be Your Competitive Advantage?

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Written By Anastasia Ashman

If people in your particular career field or industry don't 'do' meaningful/extensive/basic social media do you think you might make it your competitive advantage?

If no, why not?

I ask because I've been adding to the GlobalNiche homepage the reasons people don't invest in their online presence, and that's one I hear from a lot of people. The people around them aren't doing it.

Something to consider: you might be mistaken about this perception that no one else in your life is doing it. If you're not online in expansive ways you probably aren't in a position to gauge if other people are.

Do any of these reasons sound familiar to you?

  • DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START
  • NOTHING OF INTEREST OUT THERE FOR ME
  • I'M HESITANT TO BECOME VISIBLE
  • DON'T WANT TO BE EGOTISTICAL & TALK ABOUT MYSELF
  • NO CONNECTION BETWEEN WHAT I DO ONLINE & EFFECTS OFFLINE
  • MY OPPORTUNITIES COME FROM CONNECTIONS I ALREADY HAVE
  • I'M CONFUSED ABOUT OWNING MY ONLINE PRESENCE
  • CAN'T AFFORD TO MAKE MISTAKES ONLINE 
  • I'M NOT A CREATIVE/TECHY/SOCIAL PERSON
  • DON'T WANT TO BLOG OR JOIN A BUNCH OF SITES
  • JUST USE SOCIAL MEDIA FOR ENTERTAINMENT
  • MY CONTACTS ALREADY KNOW ALL ABOUT ME
  • TOO EARLY OR LATE IN MY CAREER OR LIFE TO GET STARTED
  • FEEL THE NEED TO BE ONLINE *LESS* NOT *MORE*
  • IT'S JUST ONE MORE THING TO DO
  • I'M NOT ACCOMPLISHED ENOUGH TO GO PUBLIC
  • WAITING TO BE PUBLISHED/DISCOVERED/HIRED/INVITED
  • PLAN TO DO IT RIGHT WHEN I NEED IT
  • CAN'T RISK HAVING MY WORK STOLEN
  • TAKES AWAY TIME FROM MY WORK/FAMILY/RELAXATION
  • MY CUSTOMERS/FRIENDS/COLLEAGUES AREN'T ON WEB
  • DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE ASSETS NOR HOW TO USE THEM ONLINE
  • UNCLEAR ABOUT MY SERIOUS PURPOSE ONLINE 
  • DON'T WANT TO MIX MY WORK & PRIVATE LIFE
  • DON'T WANT TO ANNOY MY CONTACTS BY POSTING A LOT
  • NO ONE AROUND ME IS DOING IT
  • ADVISED TO WAIT UNTIL VALUE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IS FIGURED OUT
  • NO ONE IN MY INDUSTRY THINKS IT'S IMPORTANT
  • CAN'T MANAGE IT ALL BY MYSELF

Consider getting started anyway.

Anastasia Ashman

Anastasia Ashman has built a portfolio career across publishing, entertainment, technology, entrepreneurship and civic life in four countries. She now writes, researches, works on neighborhood readiness, and is developing the narrative nonfiction project Family of Mine.

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