Over the past week or so, we’ve been talking a lot about what this year’s Presidential election means for the economy, and for your business.  Today we’re going to look at an example by revisiting our friend the caramel apple seller.  Let’s fast forward to two years from now.  Television networks broadcast only in digital signals; a lot of space on the broadcast spectrum was freed up.  Legislation was put into place to grant the internet part of that freed-up space.  Because television is broadcast only in digital, television advertising costs quite a bit more, however, internet marketing costs haven’t risen all that much, if at all.  Anyone who doesn’t prepare their home televisions to receive digital broadcasts is without television programming, while internet use has grown exponentially as broadband access has spread to just about every community, and continues to grow.

With a degree of spending devoted to technological study and enhancement, the internet works faster and search engines are able to crawl even more websites and deliver customized, dynamic results to searchers.  The caramel apple seller, once having advertised solely on the television, began using the internet to market his product, and now uses the internet exclusively to run internet radio ads, online video advertisement, his informative blog, his caramel apple email campaign and of course his website.  All of those combine to form his custom-tailored internet marketing strategy, and are managed and maintained by his internet marketing agency, leaving him free to discover new caramel apple recipes and communicate with his customers.

Hit the rewind button, to the winter of 2008.  He has an agent handling his television spots, works directly with the local radio stations, and works with a print ad agency to handle all of his mailings.  He’s paying three different entities to manage most of his marketing needs, but he still has to do a lot of the legwork.  The promise of digital television seems vague and distant.

Obviously, we’ve taken some creative license in presuming what the situation might be in two years time.  But before the switch to digital, and before space on the broadcasting spectrum is allocated to the internet, before funds are devoted to researching technology specifically relating to “Next-Gen Broadband,” our caramel apple seller is paying three different groups to run his advertising.  But in order to get a good grasp on the success of his marketing strategies, he still has to acquire and analyze reports.  When we fast-forwarded to the autumn of 2010, he was working with an internet marketing agency, reaching more people with more channels of advertisement.  He’s only paying one entity, and that one entity is producing real-time reports and helping him analyze and understand the results of his marketing campaigns.

Why not get a jump-start on the future of marketing and implement your complete internet marketing strategy?  Why wait for the internet to evolve without you when you and your company can benefit from evolving with the internet?  We’re nearing a time that will be as exciting as when the internet first stepped into people’s homes.  Soon, the internet will be easily accessed everywhere.  Wi-Fi hotspots won’t exist because everywhere will be a hot-spot.

Now that the election is over, what really awaits us as we step into this next age? What does this election mean specifically for internet marketing? We’ve discussed Barack Obama’s position on Next-Generation Broadband, which would be possible after the television networks begin broadcasting only in digital as of February 17, 2009. Now that the election is over, we can connect what we know about going digital with Obama’s position on bringing broadband to every community in the country.

Already, AT&T offers AT&T Wi-Fi which grants internet access to their customers at hotspots such as coffee shops, libraries and restaurants. The same service is available to cell phone users, which means that anyone who subscribes to AT&T mobile services with internet or any of their home or business internet solutions can now access the internet from any of these Wi-Fi hotspots for free.

Once television networks go digital in about three months and change, the broadcast spectrum will open up, allowing the internet to take over some of that space. However, there was potential danger for the internet because the broadcasting spectrum is only so large; many industries want to claim space within that spectrum.

With Obama’s Next-Gen Broadband policy, the internet will be given enough space to reach every community; your internet marketing campaigns will reach anyone in any part of the country. This is big news, both on the small and large scale (individual businesses and the economy, respectively). Visibility on the internet will as important, if not more so, than was visibility on television throughout the latter half of the twentieth century.

Now, in the twenty-first century, it’s time to move beyond what television can do for your company. Television advertisement is becoming more and more expensive, and less effective. If you talk with anyone of the Baby Boomer generation, or are a member of that generation yourself, it won’t be difficult to recall the jingles sung for specific products (an example that lasts even through today is the “Snap, Crackle, Pop! Rice Krispies!”). However, today, television advertisement is usually skipped over by DVR and TiVO devices.

Most business owners have already asked themselves, “Why am I paying so much for such meager results?” and moved onto internet marketing as the main channel for their company’s advertising. We’ve discussed in the past how internet marketing not only costs less and produces stronger results, but allows for business owners and marketers to view real-time reports to improve internet marketing ad campaigns thus increasing success.

Once broadband internet reaches more communities, approaching and perhaps reaching the ideal of every community, internet marketing will become even more widely used. Since it costs less and results in more prospects (and thus more customers), widespread use of the internet as a marketing channel over television, radio and print will help to boost R.O.I. (return on investment), and thus boost our economy.

Whenever something as integral as the internet experiences an evolutionary jump, it sets off a chain reaction that filters through every industry it touches, and internet marketing can boost businesses in any industry. For example, in the travel industry, use of the internet to book flights and hotel reservations forever changed the way the travel industry operates. The insurance agency is currently in the midst of becoming more reliant on the internet. You can browse homes, inside and out, over the internet; you can even pick out your next hairstyle on pages that allow you to put an image of your own face into hairstyles of various colors so that you can see just how a particular look will complement your facial features.

We’re headed for a great many changes, and the catalyst for many of those changes is the evolution of the internet. We live in an exciting age where things happen quickly enough that we can see these changes through and benefit from all of the work put in on the front side.

President-Elect Barack Obama’s victory speech late Tuesday night (into Wednesday morning here on the east coast) was inspirational and clear.  He spoke about the record number of voters, which seems to be renewing, if not already, individual’s pride in our nation.  He talked about, in general, what we should expect for the weeks, months and years to come.  He reminded listeners what his election means, a chance to make changes.  Obama eloquently harkened back to the founding of our country as well as the words of Abraham Lincoln, whose political home state was also Illinois.

Whatever apathy rested around the fate of the United States of America fizzled away to nothing more than air when, on Tuesday, November 4, 2008, voters waited in line for up to four hours (perhaps even longer) to make their voices heard.  America should be proud of this election, not simply for the history-making result, but because this was an election truly owned by Americans.  As a nation, we were able to rise above the residual apathy surrounding the voting faux pas of the 2004 election.  This November, wearing an “I voted” sticker was a matter of pride, dignity and duty.

Barack Obama’s speech didn’t sugarcoat our nation’s current situation.  He reminded us of the “long road ahead,” but also that he’s hopeful that over the coming years we will ultimately succeed in our goals, in changing what needs to be changed in order to improve the lives of not only Americans, but people around the globe.  Hearing a political speech that reminds listeners that there will be, as Obama put it, false starts, before we find the right path for the issues before us is refreshing as it lacks the all-around promise that everything will be instantly wonderful and perfect.

In his speech, Obama reminded listeners that his victory in this election is not his alone but belongs to everyone, and that this victory represents a chance to make changes.  He talked about America’s governmental progress throughout the nation’s history and used a metaphor of laying bricks.  If each change we see over the course of his term or terms is a layer of bricks, then this election is the first coating of mortar.  He reminded the nation that in order to make these changes, every individual must renew his or her “spirit of service, sacrifice, patriotism and responsibility.”

Obama quoted President Abraham Lincoln when he was speaking about how each of us must work together in order to achieve our goals.  “We are not enemies, but friends.  Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.”  As our 44th President pointed out after quoting our 16th, the time for bi-partisan pettiness, as he put it, is at an end.  One final sentence during which Obama spoke to all Americans, regardless of background or political belief, stuck out above all others.  “I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices; I need your help and I will be your President too.”

And of course, everyone wants to know what kind of puppy Barack Obama is buying for his daughters to bring to the White House.

Change is the catalyst for evolution, and the internet will continue to evolve, especially when it comes to plans for Next-Generation broadband that will bring the internet to communities nationwide.  Let’s do our part, and work together, to maximize the utilization of the internet so that we can heal our economy and provide security for businesses throughout the country, including yours.

Every news network is now reporting Barack Obama as the 44^th President. With almost three hundred electoral votes, against John McCain’s one hundred fifty-five, as they said on the news, “Tonight, every American should be celebrating.” Whether your cause for celebration is that Obama was your choice for President, for the fact that he will be America’s first African-American President or simply for the fact that the campaign is over, celebration is indeed overtaking the nation (at least those who aren’t asleep for the night).

When it comes to the economy though, it’s important to note that the President doesn’t have unmatched control over the economy. Obama’s economic policies will come into play, but it’s just as important to note the Congressional elections and the new Senators that will shape the next four years. In addition to Obama, Biden, the House and the Senate, Obama’s choice of Cabinet members will also be very telling of the next four years. As for the Senate, which is still being said to be too close to call, currently, fifty-six seats are pointed toward democratic senators while forty-four are pointed toward republican senators.

McCain is currently giving a speech, during which he just made a very valuable point; the number of voters that came out of their homes and offices today to voice their opinions. Voter turnout in the last few elections were not anywhere near this year’s turnout of voters. McCain’s speech is graceful to the point of being sure to shush those booing his commendations to Obama. His words emphasized the importance of working together to continue to improve and strengthen our nation. “Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans, and please believe me when I say, no association has ever meant more to me than that.” Those words sufficiently sum up the heart of McCain’s speech.

It’s important to take McCain’s speech into consideration because he emphasizes the need to work together. Over the coming years, hopefully voters will continue to flood to the polls and write to representatives to express views and participate in local and national levels of government.

As far as what to expect for the economy, when it comes to details, those projections may have to wait as much as a week while we wait for the Senate and House of Representatives elections to cement. The latest question floating around on the news networks is whether our government will take an activist role in our economy or maintain a less active position.

To live during an election as historic as this election is nevertheless exciting. This election will be one of those defining generational moments that touches every generation alive to not only witness this election but to take part, to participate and vote in this election.

As of yet, Barack Obama hasn’t delivered a speech regarding his victory.