When Al Gore invented the internet (no he didn’t) in 1982, few could imagine the impact it would have on the world. From your local weather forecast to how to build a nuclear reactor, the world wide web has fundamentally changed the way we connect and the way we do business. When it comes to shopping goods and services, consider this… up to seventy percent of Americans make the web their first resource for where to call, where to go, what to do and how to do it. This year, businesses across the country will increase their web marketing and social media budgets by an average of forty percent. While that increase signifies some savvy marketing decisions, the fact is, well over half of those dollars will be wasted through specifics such as poor design, lack of maintenance, little or no support and a host of other issues. The internet is a big, big deal and it’s getting bigger (and more competitive) every day. If you’re entrusting your web and social marketing to someone other than a professional, it’s likely time to consider doing just that. As for what the heck Al Gore is up to these days, I haven’t a clue, but it is comforting to know I can just Google, Bing or Yahoo the guy and get up to speed.