| Copyright (c) 2010 Ted Cantu | | | | black letters on the outside of the building. The |
| Driving through downtown Birmingham, Michigan | | | | newspaper advertiing format has been a long |
| today was a real eye opening experience. It's a city | | | | standing tradition amongst the retail world. It ran ads |
| that has been going through a lot of changes. | | | | for companies, it was the economic glue for S.E. |
| Historically speaking it is a city that has been through | | | | Michigan. What happened in Birmingham, Michigan is |
| decades of changes and has always remained intact | | | | something that is echoing all over America and even |
| and relevant. The one thing you will notice is that | | | | closer to home in a town called Ann Arbor. There, |
| some stores are thriving and other store fronts have | | | | the once popular Ann Arbor News has fallen to the |
| vacated almost overnight. These storefront owners | | | | same depressing state. It's newspaper too is now |
| have lost faith and have opted to forever close their | | | | defunct. |
| doors instead of trying to adapt to our economy's | | | | Web technology can carry the heavy load for S.E. |
| current wave of change. | | | | Michigan retailers. That is already happening and smart |
| Even in our darkest hour there is hope. Economists | | | | medical companies are contacting viral video |
| will tell you that you can make a fortune in a down | | | | marketing firms to spread the word. The web is not |
| market. Other stores have braced themselves for | | | | just standard web sites but also comes in the form |
| the worst and have strengthened their online | | | | of Web 2.0. Due to the lack of recent newspaper |
| presence. Companies that have figured out the online | | | | advertising options many retailers are looking at |
| aspect of marketing have really pulled out all stops. | | | | adveritising on the Internet. The interesting thing |
| This city serves as a microcosm of America's | | | | about them is that many of these businesses are not |
| economy. In this very diverse neighborhood you will | | | | doing this with pay per click. They are instead getting |
| see companies selling Yamaha ATV parts, Kawasaki | | | | there with search engine optimization and through |
| Motorcyle parts, kitchen remodeling services, exotic | | | | organic means. |
| sink parts, Porsche car parts, European kit cars, | | | | What makes this new commerce model so appealing |
| designer furniture and gourmet foods that are ready | | | | is that it is a perfect system. If you place things |
| to ship. Now these particular companies have | | | | correctly on the web there is literally no way you |
| embraced the web and have thriving store fronts. | | | | cannot be successful. That notion has many retailers |
| Up the street is another interesting site. The high | | | | intrigued and enthused about this new culture. |
| profile Eccentric newspaper company now sits vacant | | | | Despite these harsh economic conditions where many |
| and its doors are forever shut. The paper presses | | | | businesses are folding up many more are sustaining |
| are silent and the only thing that is left is the large | | | | and flourishing. |