This BBC report is about remote working but whilst it's not particularly about rural working contains items that should be of interest to rural businesses. The interviewees use http://www.peopleperhour.com/ to recruit staff when they need them, great for rural businesses - I've already sent the link to a company I sometimes work for, as I'm also self employed I'm wondering if there are any opportunities there for me. It can be a challenge for rural businesses to get the right people, being able to get people with the right skills at the right time would make the job a lot easier - that said there's the downside of not interviewing people. Of course, there's Skype for that. I've used Skype to talk to colleagues, clients, to help sort out my parents IT problems... all for free (since I have the IT set up anyway).
Using the Internet also allows businesses to establish their brand, one local business http://www.magpiejewellery.net/ started a website in 2004 and "In June 2010 we opened our first shop on the Isle of Skye, and as well as retailing via this website, we also sell on Amazon and Ebay." The website, as well as allowing payments via PayPal which means that international orders can be taken, also has it's own developing community through "how-to" videos on the web, and a FaceBook page with 124 friends (I'm one). The Facebook page allows friends to find out about the latest stock, any offers etc. Use of the internet also allows the business to source suppliers and bring in unusual items from around the world, again B2B payments can be paid using PayPal and online banking.
You have two good examples there of how 'the net' can be used to the advantage of rural businesses. Both the ability to hire people in and also hire yourself out remotely is potentially very attractive to the rural context.
ReplyDeleteYour jewellery retail example I think just shows how important social software is becoming to building online awareness and an online'customer base'. Clearly such distance-shrinking technology based methods are of advantage to rural areas as they are able to 'level the playing field' somewhat in being able to build customer awareness in the Information Society.