Communication in the business world has changed forever thanks to technology…but in what ways? Are these changes bad or good for business network and office communication? The good news is that technology has had more positive effects on business than negative – as long as you can keep up. Here are the primary ways that human interaction at work has shifted thanks to the latest digital tech.
Details, DetailsWant to find out more about someone? Look them up online! Send them a friend request! Check their tweets and photos. We have a dozen research options available immediately to find out more about the people we meet. Of course this has an effect on our personal relationships, but it's also affecting how business and networking operate. In-person impressions and elevator speeches are becoming less important – but what your profile and online history say about your brand is becoming more important. These days, important leads make their decisions by looking up a business and seeing what their Facebook page says, seeing how their website is designed, and what other reviews or forums say about their service.

With so many details available online, brand management and careful profile maintenance is vital when it comes to successfully growing your business. Sleek website design, easy calls to action, and mobile optimization will also make a big difference here. You can also help make this process easier and more guided by using business cards with clear links to online profiles or QR codes to save clients a step.
The Power of Conversation (In Any Format)There is a common fear that our digital dependency is slowly choking our in-face conversations and traditional socializing. While this worry does have a few valid points, most serious research into online communication shows that it actually aids socialization, especially among people who struggled to find social circles before going online. This is, of course, due to the ease of online conversations through multiple channels, from web conferencing and comment sections to social media circles and old-fashioned emails.

In the working setting, this is seen most often in professional social networks and cloud tech. When faced with questions, people are no longer limited to static resources and nearby people – they can reach out and chat with experts around the world. Clients no longer need to live in the same city – or the same country. Joint ventures between companies on opposite coasts are now easier than ever before. We can choose where, when and how to how our conversations thanks to online options (think how mobile devices alone have changed this field).

Instant CommunicationLet's switch focus a little and talk about the power of instant communication options. As we just mentioned, this helps use forge conversations that would not have otherwise been possible, but in more everyday situations, this tech is also changing the way that the office operates. Most social networks – even those used on business intranets – have IM tools that allow employees to instantly chat with each other.

This affects the business environment in several ways. Notably, it changes the way that gossip happens: Conversations are both more private and – considering that messages can be easily read or saved based on IT decisions – more public than before. Businesses today must develop strict online guidelines for conversations, rumors, gossip, badmouthing, and other practices: Everyone knows the old joke about accidentally emailing a nasty message to your boss. However, instant communication is also, well, instant: It has banished the need to walk across the office, and made it much easier to work on the go or from home. Consider also the enormous implications for traveling sales agents on the road or at trade shows: Now they can confer with their bosses at a moment's notice when faced with questions or contract changes.

Like Minds and CollaborationWhen we talk about collaboration in the tech world, we're usually talking about the power of cloud technology and collaboration platforms that allow teams to work together seamlessly on projects and work flow. It's difficult to overestimate just how important this is in the workplace. We no longer need to gather around a table in the same room to compare notes, discuss topic changes, and create content. Now several people can work on the same document, at the same time, no matter where they are, thanks to ever-present tools like Google Docs. As a result, among competent users less time is wasted and schedules are more flexible.

This also affects brainstorming, new ventures, and the beginnings of projects. Here, people are looking for interested partners, backers, specialists, consultants, and more. The online world has made finding such connections much more efficient, so ideas can get off the ground and running at top speed: Just look at Kickstarter and Indiegogo!
 
MediaMagnetism.org was kind enough to let me contribute as a guest blogger recently! In this article, I discuss how a business's competition can actually help their own brand. Check it out when you have a moment (you'll need to scroll down to where you see my name and article title):

http://mediamagnetism.org/guest-blogs-2/
 
I recently contributed an article to St. Cyprian's School Technology Blog about how children are learning today with the advanced technology available. Check it out:

http://techblog.stcyprians.net/index/top-3-ways-technology-is-changing-how-children-learn
 
The Internet is no doubt one of the best resources to use for just about anything. Whether you're looking for a great recipe for dinner, comparing prices on products, or are looking for more information about a company, the Internet will always be your best bet to finding it. 

And today, many adults from around the world are using the Internet to advance in their education through MOOCs (Massive Open Online Classes). While a great idea, and certainly a growing worldwide trend, many others don't see it as a legit way to earn their education. Let's get a better idea of where MOOCs are heading. I recently posted an article on Infantium.com:

http://www.infantium.com/blog/2014/04/01/future-moocs-giving-world-access-education/
 
There seems to be an app for everything these days. Apps to keep up with your financial accounts, apps to help you remember your grocery list, track fitness progress, etc. There's little to what you can't accomplish with a smartphone. So it makes sense for businesses to jump on the bandwagon and start developing apps for the consumers as well. 

If you have a moment, take a look at this article I contributed to QRCodePress.com. It covers changing consumer trends, as well as how having an app or mobile storefront may boost the conversions and sales:

http://www.qrcodepress.com/keeping-consumer-trends-mobile-apps/8526162/
 
Communication has always been a huge player in the overall success of a business. After all, without proper communication technology or skills, how can one expect to get anything done? Particularly, for businesses who are working to expand, communication will be more important than ever. Make is easier on yourself and your staff by considering what I have to say in this article about business communications. I am truly thankful for I2Mag.com for the opportunity!

 http://i2mag.com/how-to-improve-communications-throughout-your-business-to-achieve-success/
 
I think we can all agree that mobile technology has become an essential part of any business's strategy, but it really comes as a surprise when I come into contact with business owners who don't have a grasp on the importance of mobile commerce. For those still in the dark about incorporating mobile into your business's strategy, take a look at this article I wrote for EcommerceOuttakes.com. It covers the importance of a handheld storefront and how mobile technology can help to further build upon a brand.

http://ecommerceouttakes.com/2014/03/18/mobile-commerce-your-global-footprint-in-2014/
 
There's a lot of content out there that will offer advice on how to gain a client, but rarely does this information focus exactly how to lose a client. Well, today is the day! Check out this article I wrote up for ConvergenceServices.in. Because client are so important to any business's success, it's important to treat them right, before you even meet them:

http://convergenceservices.in/blog/corporate-blog/398-5-surefire-ways-to-lose-clients-in-todays-market.html
 
It seems like no matter where you look, there's always an upgrade for something, especially in the realm of technology. From flip phones to touch screens, and from VHS to Blu-rays, will there ever be an end to technology? Check out this article I wrote that I had the opportunity to share with HomeBusinessMag.com. It covers where technology is today and where it may be headed in the near future. 

http://www.homebusinessmag.com/blog/technologies-rise-what-expect-and-whats-fade
 
Remember when we had to physically go to a movie rental place to get our favorite movies on demand? The late fees, long queues on Friday nights and praying that the tape was already rewound (yes, there were days when we didn't have DVDs) were just some of the consequences of not actually buying the video. But today, with smart phones and televisions, we can easily watch the films and TV shows we want on demand with just a simple click of the button. 

I recently just published an article about Netflix's journey from novelty to innovator on GlobalBankingAndFinance.com. Check it out! http://www.globalbankingandfinance.com/refuge-to-the-bored-netflixs-journey-from-novelty-to-innovator/