Internet marketing is fascinating, but it is only a small piece of what the internet makes possible. One of the things I have always admired about the online community is how quickly people rally when someone needs help. Back in 2008, I saw this firsthand when a blogger named Garry Conn put out a call to help a fellow community member facing a serious health crisis.
The Power of Internet Community
A member of our blogging community had been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. Within hours of Garry publishing a request for help, bloggers across the internet were sharing the story, spreading the word, and sending donations. No advertising budget. No PR agency. Just people with platforms choosing to use them for something that mattered.
This is the real power of having an internet business. Yes, you can make money. Yes, you can build a lifestyle you enjoy. But you also build something that most people never have: a platform with reach. And when you choose to use that reach to help someone, the results can be extraordinary.
Why Every Entrepreneur Should Think About This
If you are building an online business — a blog, a podcast, a YouTube channel, a newsletter — you are building more than a revenue stream. You are building influence. And influence comes with both opportunity and responsibility.
Here is what I have learned about using your platform for good over the past 18 years of being online.
Your Audience Trusts You
When you recommend a product, people buy it. When you share a cause, people pay attention. That trust is earned through years of consistent, honest content. Do not waste it on things that do not matter, and do not be afraid to use it when something genuinely does matter.
Small Platforms Have Power Too
You do not need a million followers to make a difference. I have seen podcasters with a few hundred listeners raise thousands of dollars for causes they care about. I have seen bloggers with modest traffic connect people who needed help with people who could provide it. The size of your audience matters less than the depth of your relationship with them.
Give First, Always
The bloggers who were most effective at rallying support were the ones who had spent years giving value to their communities. They had built trust by being generous with their knowledge and their time. When they asked for something, people listened — because those bloggers had already given so much.
Building a Business That Matters
The internet in 2026 can feel cynical sometimes. There is a lot of noise, a lot of hype, and a lot of people chasing quick money. But underneath all of that, the same community spirit that existed in 2008 is still alive. People still help each other. Entrepreneurs still use their platforms for good. Online communities still rally around people in need.
Build your business. Grow your audience. Make money doing something you enjoy. But never forget that the most powerful thing about having an internet platform is the ability to help someone when it counts.
