Smart Ways To Use A Website With Your Business
Every business needs a web site. We used to say that to business
owners and get strange looks in return. "Why do I need a web
site?" the manager of a pizza restaurant once asked.
Of course, we now see a very large number of customers looking up
their neighborhood pizza maker with search engines. They will
try Yahoo or HotBot before turning to the more traditional Yellow
Pages. The restaurant owner no longer wonders why he should be
online.
As more and more businesses get their own web sites, we're seeing
a number of very smart ways to integrate an online presence with
your existing business. Here are the top five ways.
1. Your web site gives customers a way to quickly search through
your big selection. If you have an auto parts store, you may
have many square feet of products to choose from. You may have
hundreds more items that can be ordered and delivered quickly.
In the past, it might have been difficult for customers to easily
find what they were looking for, or even be aware that you could
get it for them.
Your web site makes it easy to type in the name of a product,
then see those products with descriptions and your prices. There
are a number of fine online catalog software applications. If
your selection isn't Walmart-sized, I suggest using a simple
search engine to help people find what they want among your
pages. Try the free search service at atomz.com.
2. Use your web site to make it easy to find updates in your
rapidly changing inventory. We often buy computers and musical
equipment from PCMall.com and MusiciansFriend.com. Both
companies provide some of the lowest prices in their industries.
They do so by buying up discontinued items.
For companies like these, a web site is essential. By the time
their print catalog is published, many of the items are either
dwindling or long gone. Their web sites can immediately tell
customers if the product is still available, even listing how
many units are still in the warehouse.
3. Use your web site to augment your print catalog. We
just
gave one example, but here are more. Mailers, sales letters, and
catalogs are expensive to print and even more costly to mail.
Expand on the limited space you can devote to an item in print by
including many more details on your web site.
You may even be able to reduce how often you mail print
materials. Replace some of your mailings with email reminders, an
email newsletter, and references to your always updated web site.
4. Use a web site when you can't get distribution. For years,
Kevin couldn't get his own business going because of distribution
problems. No matter what he tried, the cost of getting his
products and services to customers was too expensive for a new,
start-up business.
The Web represents a huge revolution in distribution. All kinds
of services and information can be delivered to customers
anywhere in the world via the Internet. The cost is almost free.
Look for products and services you can distribute from your web
site. You many have existing products (like advice to customers)
that are better delivered from your web site. There are probably
a host of new things you can sell once your web site is set up.
5. Use a web site when your business is too small to market
any other way. Almost everyone has gotten an idea for a
business, but never followed through with it because the cost of
start-up was too high.
With a web site, you don't necessarily need a storefront,
employees, or anything more than a home phone (and a computer, of
course!).
With that comes one last reason why you need to think wisely and
use a web site in your business. If you don't, your competitors
will. The Web excels at giving every business person an equal
chance to earn a profit -- don't throw yours away.
About the Author
Ron Sathoff and Kevin Nunley provide marketing advice, business
writing, and promotion packages. See their massive 5-in-1
marketing deal now 75% off. Read all their business tips at
http://InternetWriters.com Reach Ron and Kevin at
service@InternetWriters.com or 801-328-9006.
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