|
Why your business needs a web site.
We've done considerable research and have found many important reasons to have a web site. Below
are some ideas about how a Web site can help you promote your company's
image, help with sales
and marketing, provide better customer
service and staff management, and find
more networking opportunities. |
Image |
|||
| A Level Playing Field |
 |
The Internet provides equal access to it users, whether you are a small business or a Fortune 500 firm. Everyone gets the same amount of screen space, and the most important factor is the image you project with your web site. A well designed web site costing a few hundred dollars can make a better impression than a poorly designed web site costing millions. | |
| Image Is Everything |
|
Surveys
have shown that most small business and organizations do not yet have
web sites, so putting your business or organization on the web puts
you a step above the rest. |
 |
Marketing |
|||
| Low
Cost Advertising |
 |
When
compared to the costs associated with traditional advertising methods
such as direct mail, newspaper or magazine ads, or radio and television,
the cost of a web site is nominal. |
|
| Dramatically Reduce Recurring Printing Costs |
|
The
most common problem with printed advertising materials is that they
quickly become outdated, as new products and services are introduced,
incurring tremendous costs in revision and reprinting. Web sites offer
the opportunity to provide your customers with up-to-date information
when they need it, and allow you the freedom to change your products,
services and information when necessary. |
|
| Build
a Customer/User Database |
|
With a web site, you can build a customer / user database to save contact and demographic information about people who visit your web site. This can enable you to gain a better understanding of who your online visitors are, and create complimentary marketing strategies (direct mailings, etc.) customized to their interests. This is also a great way to keep in touch with customers who have purchased your products, leaving you the ability to send a follow-up e-mail, or occasionally sending them information about new products. | |
| Customer Coupons at Zero Cost to You |
|
Give
your customers an extra incentive to visit your store or purchase
from your web site, by providing them with "coupons" and
information about sales directly on your Web site Customers can simply
print the coupons from your site on their own paper, so you get a
wide distribution without incurring any printing or postage costs. |
|
| Increased Free Advertising |
|
One
of the greatest features of the Internet is the ability to link to
other web sites, and, more importantly, have them link to yours. This
allow customers to find your web site through several different channels,
increases the potential for traffic to your site, and essentially
provides free advertising for your business or organization. |
|
| Supplement Your Current Advertising |
|
Having
a web site is a great way to supplement your current advertising.
By displaying your Internet address in other forms of advertising
media, you let your customers know exactly where they can go to get
more information about your business right away. |
|
| Public Relations |
|
Make
information about your business or organization available to millions
of people or just a select group through password protected areas
of your web site. |
|
| Great Demographics |
|
Surveys
have shown that the average Internet user is 36 years old, has a college
education, and an annual income of $65,000. |
|
| Universal "Findability" |
|
Thanks
to search engines, someone looking for the products, services, or
information you offer can find you in a matter of seconds, no matter
where they are. With a well-designed web site and a few good marketing
techniques, you can broaden your customer base to anyone with Internet
access. |
|
Customer Service |
|||
| Give
Your Users Printable Information They Can Use |
|
A
visitor to your web site can download and print anything that appears
on their screen. You can take advantage of this by displaying: a map
to your place of business, application forms that can be filled out
which require a signature (which can then be mailed or faxed to you),
product literature, assembly instructions for your products, diagnostic
flowcharts, dimensional drawings, etc. |
|
| Improved Customer Service |
|
Your
web site is a great place to publish your own list of "Frequently
Asked Questions", or even the rarely asked ones. Well thought
out questions and answers, in as much detail as you like, and exactly
as you'd like it stated, can provide your customers with immediate
help with their question, as well as provide customer service staff
with a reference tool. |
|
| Improved Technical Support |
|
Additionally,
you can provide up-to-date technical information, such as user manuals,
product specifications, or detailed diagrams, allowing your customers
immediate access to such information, and possibly saving yourself
the cost of extra technical support staff. |
|
| Immediate Feedback |
|
A web site is a great way to get immediate feedback from your customers, through customer surveys, contact forms, and e-mail addresses for your contact personnel. This type of feedback can allow you to provide great customer service based on what your customers really want! | |
| Your
Clients Expect It |
|
With
over 400 million users worldwide, the Internet is getting more and
more publicity every year. As public awareness increases, the public
will expect even small companies and organizations to have web sites. |
|
Sales |
|||
| e-Commerce | |
Setting
up an e-commerce site has never been easier. Allowing your customers
access to browse and buy your products online gives your sales a boost
with no direct involvement from you. |
|
| Open
an Online Store for a Fraction of the Cost of a Physical Store |
|
Along
those same lines, an e-commerce web site allows you to display all
your products, complete with photographs, audio and video clips, and
detailed written descriptions, without the need for a physical store.
This means no rent, no utilities, no property and liability insurance,
no property taxes, no repair and maintenance, no supplies, and none
of the associated labor costs. If your suppliers will drop-ship, you
don't even need to maintain an inventory. |
|
| 24
x 7 Availability |
|
The
time of day is now irrelevant. With a web site your products, services
and information become available to anyone with Internet access 24
hours a day, 7 days a week. |
|
| Reach
Very Specialized Markets |
|
A web site can help you to reach very specialized markets because of the sheer volume of Internet users, now estimated at over 400 million worldwide! Customers looking for rare or specialized products, services, and information often rely on the larger Internet marketplace to find what they are looking for, rather than limit themselves to their local area stores. | |
| Product Availability |
|
Save your customers and your sales reps time by tying your web site to your product database, so your customers know instantly if the product they want is in stock, or when it can be expected to be available. | |
| Product
and Service Demonstrations |
|
Use your web-site as a tool for demonstrating your products and services to customers. Multimedia presentations allow you to provide your customers with an in-depth, interactive experience with your products and services before they buy, and ultimately make them feel more secure about purchasing your product online. This could also be extremely helpful as an in-store sales tool for your local customers. | |
| Your Competitors May Have Web Sites |
|
As
more and more businesses and organizations get online, those who don't
will increasingly be putting themselves at a competitive disadvantage.
|
|
| Your Competitors May NOT Have Web Sites |
|
This
is even better than the reason above! |
|
Networking |
|||
| Networking | |
The
Internet makes business-to-business networking as easy as clicking
on a link, and your web site serves as your "business card"
to introduce yourself to people around the world. By establishing
relationships with other business and organizations you can provide
industry-related information to your customers, employees, or colleagues,
or provide issue-related resources your members, as well boost your
user base through reciprocal links. |
|
| Host
a Discussion Board for Your Users |
|
The
interactivity of the Intranet also offers great opportunities for
user networking. Hosting a discussion board where visitors can post
and reply to comments and questions can be a great way to generate
interest in your web site and your organization. |
|
Staff Management |
|||
| Employee Recruiting |
|
Do you have a position open in your business or organization? Announce it on your web site. The Internet has become a driving force in recruiting qualified and quality employees. By posting your job opportunities in the largest market you can, you make sure you're getting the best people out there. | |
| Faster
Sales Force Training |
|
A
great way to promote faster training and product knowledge for your
employees is through the use of a password protected area on your
web site. Your employees can access it from anywhere, so you can ensure
they always have updated prices and product information, as well as
details about any time-sensitive issues such as a "Labor Day
Weekend Sale" or next weeks staff meeting. |
|
| Education
/ Distance Learning |
|
If
your organization offers educational services, consider putting your
entire course online. Materials can be place in a password protected
area so it can be accessed only after tuition has been paid, and the
online setting provides a great way for students and teachers to interact.
|
|
| Good
for the Environment |
|
In a world where our diminishing natural resources are an ever-mounting concern, the Internet is becoming a constant and "recyclable" resource. Every business that uses the Internet for marketing, advertising and commerce helps alleviate the need for printed information and advertising, in turn conserving the energy and resources it takes to print those materials. | |
| Be sure to check out our Services and Prices sections, to see how we implement these answers for our clients. |
| Site
Map |
| Top
of Page |