The Virtual Location

The Virtual Location
With the advent and subsequent advances in technology, another type of business location has
emerged – the virtual location. Millions of product and service businesses now exist entirely on
the Internet. There are no limits to the ways that they operate.
• Retailers who choose not to setup brick and mortar (physical) locations, put
their products up on their web sites and use online marketing strategies to reach
and sell to their target markets via shopping carts.
• Affiliates set up web sites and sell other people’s products without ever
handling the merchandise. They merely advertise the product, take the order,
and use the manufacturer for fulfillment.
• Virtual service professionals utilize company websites and email databases to
simultaneously market their services and keep clients abreast of the latest
industry information. Then they service their customers via electronic
communications, sometimes never physically meeting face-to-face.
The interesting feature of the virtual location is that the consumer seldom knows (or cares) what
is behind the scenes in the operation. The only thing that matters is that the product or service fills
his needs in terms of quality and timing.
The opportunities are as limitless as the imagination in the minds of today’s entrepreneurs. I have
seen thousands of part-time employees contracted out for construction jobs, heavy equipment
moved across the country, giant auctions taking place, cars sold, betting taking place, and every
other unimaginable type of trade pursued – all arranged and taking place from virtual offices in
homes. Now, with smart phones and other portable communication devices, businesses can
communicate with customers and venders from literally any location that is within range of
wireless connectivity.