The Modern Entrepreneur

Marketing has undergone a major shift in the last five years with the explosion of the digital age and the significantly increased access that consumers have to Internet, with smart phones, tablets, and the advancements in wireless networks. This new technology and the new found love for social networking has led to marketing revolution and a seismic shift in corporate marketing budgets, but also has led to many opportunities for small businesses and young entrepreneurs alike. Many young entrepreneurs have seen this trend grown, watching the shift importance to digital and internet marketing from traditional television, print, and radio advertising. Such modern technologies and tools such as Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Pay Per Click (PPC) , and paid Banner Ads, marketing techniques have improved demographic targeting and customer focus, allowing businesses to engage customers who are in search of their product already, in a more cost effective and efficient manner. The development of social media from, Twitter to Facebook, has improved this technology and has allowed for small businesses and major corporations, to be competitive and have access to similar marketing channels.
The best part about this new technology for young entrepreneurs is that much of it is cheap in comparison to older models of developing an entire print or television ad campaign which would be costly and consume many more resources and time. Today many entrepreneurs can do things are their own, by optimizing there companies websites, products, and services on all search engines. You can run ads on Facebook and twitter to focused demographics. There are many free tools that can help any entrepreneur analyze and boost your company’s performance online. You can utilize tools such as Google analytics, Site-Perf, Crazy Egg, and many more which can help you with the optimization and market research to better understand not just consumers, but also competitors. Another huge trend that entrepreneurs should take advantage of is the Q/R code generators and the ability to connect with users in person as well as digitally. Websites like QRStuff.com among many others can provide you with barcodes which can be distributed physically and strategically to provide a physical medium between customers and the digital world. These can provide business owners and customers with a medium to share, connect, provide information, deals, and interaction on a whole new level.
Many young entrepreneurs have watched these trends develop and will be able to maximize their growth and impact on their market space with the utilization and efficient application of these tools which are available. Every entrepreneur should carefully examine the many options available and not leave any on the table which could give your business an edge in the increasingly competitive landscape of digital commerce.

As a young Entrepreneur you should look to do things effectively and efficiently, two areas where both Apple and Amazon excel as far as distributing, marketing, and monetizing content. As I talked about previously, there are many platforms for content providers to distribute their material both free , with a fee, and some with deals along the lines of traditional publishing deals. Obviously products and services vary among all of these, whether it is from Apple and Amazon, or Hulu and You Tube, or something else.
Apple and Amazon have set themselves apart, being the largest and most popular digital publishers and distributors in the World today. They can provide a platform which is easy to access, distribute and market through. Through each avenue of entertainment whether, print, music, video, or applications ( Apple: iphone / Ipad) ( Amazon: Android, kindle, etc.) these platforms can generate content for almost anyone. What sets these two apart is the fact that you can market and distribute content in a cost effective manner, and you can pinpoint consumers much more efficiently by understanding consumers preferences and desires. Another major advantage is the ability to directly monetize your content! Apple and Amazon offer songs in the range of .99 cents to $1.29, they have e-books available at a variety of prices generally cheaper than the physical copy, and movies available for rent at $5.00 or Digitally in HD or standard definition for a price also less expensive than physical copies. This is a benefit that other mediums such as YouTube and Hulu have yet to perfect, trying to properly gauge ad revenue, or monthly fees, it is possible for these to be successful, but is much more difficult to specifically monetize.
Even though Apple and Amazon are technically two very different companies, one being a technology / computer company, and one being a pure online retailer who specialized in selling all products from music, to food, to clothes, and more. Besides the fundamental differences of the company, their futures are very closely related in the digital content arena. As young entrepreneurs it is important to take advantage of these distribution mediums and conduct their businesses as effectively as possible. A hybrid strategy utilizing multiple platforms may be the answer, but it will depend on the specific product and opportunity, and each entrepreneur will have to make that determination on their own understanding the benefits, and the dynamics of their consumers and target demographics.

The Relationship between Content providers and publishers used to a lot more one-sided. Publishers and Distributors have traditionally always had the leverage on new content providers and writers who don’t have a proven track record. Many writers, musicians, and artists in general would have to give up the majority of their financial stake in their product just to insure it would enter the proper traditional distribution channels, because of the investments required to have products physically produced, and distributed to brick and mortar establishments which would also then take a cut of the bottom line.
As a young entrepreneur the digital age is a tremendous benefit to young writers, musicians, game developers, film producers, and any artist in general. The digital age has a given the content providers and creators the power to monetize and produce their products on a variety of digital mediums which have proven quite effective with consumers even preferring digital content on the many devices they utilize daily from smartphones, to tablets, to e-readers, to their computers, and even new smart televisions, and gaming consoles. The possibilities are now not just endless, but expanding every day. Entrepreneurs and Artists alike now can just as effectively if not more effectively market and distribute their products through the likes of Itunes / Apple TV, Amazon (create space), You Tube, Pandora, Bit Torrents, just to name a few. These channels can market and distribute content efficiently maximizing profits and allowing to even offer lower prices, because there are no added costs of production, materials, and companies taking a cut at each level of the supply chain.
Entrepreneurs now only need to worry about small fees for certain channels like Amazon and Itunes, or they can utilize free channels like Vimeo, Youtube, Film Buff, Hulu, Meta Café, and Pandora, and can even generate additional ad revenue through such mediums, as well as create a greater presence for you personal brand.
The digital age is creating many opportunities for young creators and entrepreneurs and will continue to become a greater opportunity as long as you know how to monetize such content and manage consumers expectations.