How Do You Use the Internet?

A couple of months ago, I stumbled upon LinkedIn Learning, a subsidiary app of LinkedIn. It was in the wee hours of a Saturday morning as I scoured the Web.

That was one helluva eureka moment!

It got me thinking about how technology has grown by leaps and bounds in the last couple of years, that with just a smartphone in your palm, you have the entire world in your hand and a plethora of possibilities.

I remember turning the app upside down searching for topics of interest and one of the first sessions I watched was “How to write a compelling blog post”. By the time I was done with the lesson (which was about thirty minutes of short video lectures and quizzes), I was on fire to share with all and sundry this Eighth wonder of the world.

I hastily banged away at my phone and crafted a Facebook post to tell the world of my discovery.

The entire experience got me pondering for a long time about how we spend time on the internet and the things we do while on it. And in the end, I figured that these are some of the ways to use the internet more profitably.

Back in the day when the internet was still a preserve of the affluent, if you wanted to do a little research you had to go to the local library or find your way to a stuffy, crowded internet cafe downtown and part with some good hard-earned money to have access to a few minutes on the Web. Fast forward to 2019 and internet cafes are fast going out of vogue because you can now access a zillion research resources from the comfort of your bed, in the taxi, while strolling on the street, and anywhere else.

2. Personal branding
With the internet, you can choose to be whatever you want. One of the places where you can leave a great impression on people is on social media. Your daily online activity screams volumes to those who visit your various accounts. And the claim by many that they are not what they post holds naught. What you portray online defines you as a brand.
It’s standard procedure lately for potential employers to do a background check on your digital footprint. Even with study, training, and other opportunities, your social media platforms are thoroughly checked to gauge your worth. Your Social media presence, therefore, says a lot, and the content you post online could be the difference between clinching that coveted job, opportunity, or it sliding through your fingers.

3. Networking
One of the pluses that the internet has provided is an avenue to keep in touch with friends, family, and associates. And not just that, but connecting with inspiring and worthwhile individuals has been made easy because, with a simple click, a friend request, private message, or account follow is sent out setting in motion a journey of acquaintance.

4. Sell something
This is self-explanatory, right? From cars to books, to land to houses, the internet has greatly improved and reduced the gulf between buyer and seller. Big global enterprises tapped into this vast opportunity years ago through online buying and then shipping stuff to lands across seas, and you too can use it to sell something.

6. Further learning
Just like research, the internet is a fountain of knowledge for those who seek to learn. I have learned lots of things, especially from YouTube both in my line of work and in other out-of-work interests. A friend told me the other day that if someone spent 3 hours on YouTube daily learning something of their interest, they’d be better than a person who attended school to learn the same. I concurred with him after he intimated to me how he had self-taught himself web designing and was doing several gigs with some coming from people who had studied IT at school.

6. Social media Influencing
Online influencing has become a real job for scores of youth on Social media, especially on Facebook and Twitter. Because of the proliferation of the internet, marketing has gone digital and brands are jostling for the services of social media personalities who have amassed huge followings. With a solid online social media brand, this is an opportunity to eke out a living.