Have a website? You’re in the media business

One of the most challenging things we have to help clients understand about the web can be summed up in the following statement:

If you have a website you’re in the media business.

True, it may be the micromedia business — small audience, small content archives and no advertisers. But you’re in the media business nonetheless. You communicate through media. And so media-business practices, guidelines and lessons need to apply.

Today I discovered I have good company saying it. John Battelle, author of The Search writes:

Today, I’ll assert, no matter what business you think you’re in – be it making widgets or providing a service, you’re now in the media business, plain and simple. Those that recognize this shift will succeed, those that ignore it will atrophy and eventually become irrelevant.

Now, what do I mean by the media business? Well, let’s start where all good businesses start: with the customer. Your customer’s media habits have changed dramatically in the past ten years. More likely than not, your customers spend nearly 15 hours a week online – it’s where they play, communicate, interact with services, and shop and research major purchases. In short, your customer has developed a major new media habit. The question is: Has your business?

If you want to understand more about how the web affects your business (and your website) please read: you’re in the media business now.

And if you like it, part two lives here: The Successful Business Owner Is a Great Conversationalist.