Web Design

Reasons & benefits of having an Internet presence

EVERY small or home-based business should consider a website. A Website is a very effective sales channel and marketing tool - consider the following:

Research from Ipsos-Reid shows that people are becoming increasingly reliant on the Internet and users are going online more frequently. Approximately 72 percent of the US population have gone online once within the previous month. According to Nielsen-Netratings, around 168.9 million American households are now online.

The buying power of women is well known; they not only buy but they also have huge influences on what other members of the family purchase. eMarketer reports that American mothers are spending more time on-line. According to a new survey from Digital Marketing Services, a subsidiary of AOL, mothers spend an average of 16 hours and 52 minutes online per week.

The VA/MD/DC metropolitan area is one of the most wired areas in the US with over 70% of household having/ using the Internet. This means that more people in this area use the Internet to locate services, do purchases, conduct research, do business, etc. In general, businesses with website do 40% more business. You can leverage this opportunity to improve your sales.

The Internet allows small businesses to compete with the corporate suits. It has a low cost of entry and allows you to market to a global audience. Your site can sell your products/services even while you sleep. For about the same cost of a small one time newspaper ad you can have a 4 or 5 page web site, open 24 hours a day with, the potential to reach millions of customers. By the year 2002, an estimated 3.7 million small businesses will be online and they will be doing an estimated $50 billion in online sales (source: ZD Net).Businesses that have Websites do 40% more business!

These are just some of the ways your business can benefit from having a Website:

Increase Product / Service Awareness
Sell the product or service direct to a wide customer base
Extremely low advertising costs: - The small business owner can have a Web Page designed and promoted for as little as a few hundred dollars. Whereas, to place an ad in the newspaper can cost several thousands of dollars for a one time placement
Decrease marketing costs and provides a cheap and quick medium to gather data / feedback to help grow & market your business.
Helps Small Business compete with large companies
Dynamic – Can be changed to reflect new condition / product quickly and cheaply, unlike with flyers, brochure, etc.
Interactive: - Your client can search for their required information
Enhances your business image
Niche or Specialized market exposure
Allows a company to communicate with people 24 hours a day x 7 days a week x 365 days a year
Serves local market and gives National/ International presence

The following are suggestions of some of the things you can have on your website, but since you know your business a lot better than we do, you will probably have many other ideas of your own!!!

Welcome Page (Home Page)	Reply Form / Request Information
Company Profile - Mission Statement	Discussion Page
Company History	Newsletter & Newsletter Archives
Product / Service General Information	Links to Related Sites / Link Exchanges
Technical Product Specs. & Data Sheets	Industry Related Resources & Information
Technical Support	Locations / Contact Information
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)	Map / Directions
Order Form	Human Resources / Employment
Special or Seasonal Promotions	Site Search Page
Customer Access for Order Status	Quality / ISO 9000 Certification
Training with Real Audio/Video	Facilities Brochure
Website Sponsor Advertisements	Shareholders Information / Financials
Promotions / Specials / Coupons / Contests	Annual Report
Annual Report	Professional / Industry Association Memberships
Brand Name Development	Fax on Demand Information

Don’t get left behind, put your business in step with the modern market trend!!! Contact us today for a free, no obligation evaluation.

 

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Last Updated 02/02/03 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Webmaster