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This is an article about the use of the internet, the people that use it, and how it competes with print media. The single biggest difference is internet media can be real time. I can
start this article today...
and not finish it until a later time, but still beat print media that publishes monthly. Internet publication allows for an article to be updated and continue its useful life. Articles also lend
them selves to be critiqued by readers in a shorter period of time. Articles published can be changed to add readers comments.
Print media has taken a hit in the recent years, this is evident by the fact that the periodicals received by fleet managers have shrunk in size. The high quality articles are still there but
advertisers are not spending as much in print media. Ad dollars are moving away from print media and going to the internet.
The internet allows journalist and editors to publish smaller articles and provide them quicker. Readers do not have the time nor the desire to sit and read long drawn out articles, this is especially
true for the younger readers.
Internet usage by fleet maintenance personnel is steadily on the rise. This is what a personal study has revealed from visiting with fleets. All across the country shops are online and accessing
information. When asked what information they would like to have available, the majority said training material in an easy, to find and use, format. All respondents use the internet for
finding products but most are disappointed with how search engines provide results. When ask if they would share information with others, the majority said yes if there was a reliable venue
that did not resort to bitching and complaining but offered useful responses to questions and comments.
Getting access is much easier and more affordable then any time in the past and it is getting cheaper. Any shop that does not have internet access is losing out on this valuable tool.
Sadly, in a lot of cases, not having internet access in the shop is not from lack of desire but from lack of understanding from upper management. The old argument of abuse and security does not
apply as much as some people want to believe.
Larger companies have created intranets with company related information available without having to go outside. Good intranets have links to sites that pertain to the business and provide
internet access where needed.
If you want to comment or contact Dick Massengill, the e-mail address is m2dick@rmsinternationalinc.com
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