Martha Lane Fox suggests businesses "steal from Google" with its web-first philosophy
Martha Lane Fox, founder of lastminute.com and the Government’s digital champion, has urged companies to “steal from Google” with its web-first philosophy.
Speaking at the Telegraph’s Festival of Business in Manchester, Lane Fox advised: “If you’re considering a new aspect of your business or changing an existing process, think internet first.
“If you were starting your company now, you would put the internet first. That’s what will make businesses robust into the future.”
She went on to discuss the skills gap among medium-sized businesses and that while companies have invested in their customer-facing websites, there is far more they could be doing online that would save them money and help them expand.
She also spoke on her government role pushing for wider internet access in the UK, saying that getting more people online would “unleash entrepreneurialism and increase skills.”
“Anyone can start a business” because the barriers are lower when you start online. A kid can build an app in a bedroom and become a success.”
“Being online puts you in touch with your customer to quite an alarming degree,” she said. “They can find you more easily and they can tell you what they think more easily.”
As a result, companies can constantly pursue ways to improve what they are selling. For all small business owners, life should be a “constant sales pitch,” she said.
“You’re selling the business to the shareholders, to employees and the wider community. You never think ‘that’s it, we’ve done enough, we’ve raised enough money to achieve what we want’.”