Cloud computing is the usage or access of computing resources (software, hardware, etc.) through the internet without having to pay for the product itself – only it’s services. In a way, it can be compared to outsourcing as you’re only paying for the services and nothing more. A simple example for this is when you’re using web-based email services like Yahoo!Mail. The mechanism that runs the service –such as its server, storage and software–is located elsewhere and not in your computer. You don’t pay for maintenance or anything else because a third party provider takes care of everything, I know Yahoo is a free service, but you get the idea.
So how does cloud computing benefit business and commerce? Through cloud computing, small business owners are given access to software/hardware that were only available to big players in the past as they’re too expensive to purchase. It’s a great equalizer as it allows consumers access to some of the best tools technology has to offer without the burden of capital investment and having to pay for an in-house IT expert for maintenance. It’s not free, but it’s an amazing deal whichever way you look at it. Additionally, since almost everything is available through the internet these days, consumers are given the privilege to consolidate various apps/software from multiple third party providers whenever and wherever they want at prices they can afford.
Cloud computing is especially valuable to small business owners who rely on blogging to promote their products and services. WordPress is a popular cloud computing service that when utilized with keyword targeted content, can really shoot up the popularity of a certain site and its online traffic in an instant. Once that happens, you don’t need to look for a new server as all you need to do is scale up your website through cloud computing and all your traffic related problems will be taken care of.
There is no doubt in my mind that cloud computing is more than just a craze. It is here to stay as it not only makes business transactions much more efficient and cost-effective; it also gives little players a voice in the industry long dominated by huge companies with deep pockets. The sky is the limit and with cloud computing which means your business’ growth is only limited by your imagination.
About the Author: Claudia Salinas is a web marketing specialist who advises clients on everything from ways to increase traffic and sales to finding the right Credit Card Processing for their online marketing campaign.