Posted on: 25 November, 2001
Author: Ron Sathoff and Kevin Nunley
Every business needs a web site. We used to say that to ... and get strange looks in return. "Why do I need a ... the manager of a pizza ... once asked.Of course, we now see a Every business needs a web site. We used to say that to businessowners and get strange looks in return. "Why do I need a website?" the manager of a pizza restaurant once asked.Of course, we now see a very large number of customers looking uptheir neighborhood pizza maker with search engines. They willtry Yahoo or HotBot before turning to the more traditional YellowPages. The restaurant owner no longer wonders why he should beonline.As more and more businesses get their own web sites, we're seeinga number of very smart ways to integrate an online presence withyour existing business. Here are the top five ways.1. Your web site gives customers a way to quickly search throughyour big selection. If you have an auto parts store, you mayhave many square feet of products to choose from. You may havehundreds more items that can be ordered and delivered quickly.In the past, it might have been difficult for customers to easilyfind what they were looking for, or even be aware that you couldget 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. Thereare a number of fine online catalog software applications. Ifyour selection isn't Walmart-sized, I suggest using a simplesearch engine to help people find what they want among yourpages. Try the free search service at atomz.com.2. Use your web site to make it easy to find updates in yourrapidly changing inventory. We often buy computers and musicalequipment from PCMall.com and MusiciansFriend.com. Bothcompanies 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 timetheir print catalog is published, many of the items are eitherdwindling or long gone. Their web sites can immediately tellcustomers if the product is still available, even listing howmany units are still in the warehouse.3. Use your web site to augment your print catalog. We justgave one example, but here are more. Mailers, sales letters, andcatalogs are expensive to print and even more costly to mail.Expand on the limited space you can devote to an item in print byincluding many more details on your web site.You may even be able to reduce how often you mail printmaterials. Replace some of your mailings with email reminders, anemail 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 distributionproblems. No matter what he tried, the cost of getting hisproducts and services to customers was too expensive for a new,start-up business.The Web represents a huge revolution in distribution. All kindsof services and information can be delivered to customersanywhere in the world via the Internet. The cost is almost free.Look for products and services you can distribute from your website. You many have existing products (like advice to customers)that are better delivered from your web site. There are probablya 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 marketany other way. Almost everyone has gotten an idea for abusiness, but never followed through with it because the cost ofstart-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, ofcourse!).With that comes one last reason why you need to think wisely anduse a web site in your business. If you don't, your competitorswill. The Web excels at giving every business person an equalchance to earn a profit -- don't throw yours away. Article Tags: Smart Ways Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com