| Why You Want
to be 'On The Web' Notice we didn't say 'Why you
Need to be 'On The Web'. Unless your business is exclusively based on the Internet,
you don't need to be there.
Yet.
The Internet was designed as a fast and efficient way to pass large amounts of
information. That's it's strength. More and more, that's what businesses are using. The
Web is no longer a playground for hobbyists, pornographers, and rip-off artists (despite
what you might have heard). Now, every Fortune 500 company has an Internet web
presence, and almost all use the same technology to link offices and operations in private
'intranets'.
Small and medium-sized businesses everywhere are doing the same thing. Here's why -
They can:
- Show their products and services to millions of potential customers/clients - without
spending millions on advertising.
- Provide 24 hours a day, 7 days a week customer service or technical support - without
having to keep operators standing by.
- Enable salesmen, executives, and anyone else on the road to stay in touch - and
use all the resources of the home office.
More importantly, though it's in its infancy now, the Internet is growing by leaps and
bounds every year. Just like the telephone 100 years ago, people are just discovering the
potential of this new form of communication. As computers become ever more integrated into
all aspects of business operations and administration, the Internet's usefulness will only
continue to grow.
The Dark Side of
Paradise
Even with all its advantages, the Internet does have its downside. Some are
technology-driven, and will one day be solved. Others are 'design' issues.
- Speed. Slow data transmission speeds and crowds of users mean long waits for
information. This will change as phone lines are upgraded and modems are improved, but
huge catalogs, giant images, and glitzy applets will still slow things down considerably.
Solution: Smaller images, like puzzle pieces, to make up bigger images; few
(if any) animated images or image maps; transferring data in smaller, more defined chunks.
Security. Banks, large corporations and governments all have the same problem:
hackers and data thieves. Systems can be wrecked and sensitive information stolen -
sometimes no matter how much security the victim uses. That said, the threat to a small
business is more likely to come from a disgruntled or dishonest employee than a dedicated
hacker, and there are relatively easy techniques available to foil all but the most
knowledgeable, diligent hacker/thief.
Solution: Keep the most sensitive information off the web. Use
readily available security tools to thwart the bulk of the threats to your site and its
data.
Cost vs Revenue. 'If we build it, they will come' only works in the movies. There
are hundreds of thousands of sites on the Internet - and thousands more added every day.
Without a lot of work publicizing your site, no one will go there. And if the site is hard
to use, slow to load, or devoid of useful content no one will come back to it. Even the
best, most useful sites may not be money makers, however. If you expect the site to bring
in all your business, you're probably being unrealistic. But - if you use the internet to
supplement your other marketing efforts, and as a means to streamline or speed other
activities, it can provide big benefits.
Solution: A well-designed site, tailored to your customers and your
business. Realistic expectations, knowing what purpose the site serves, and spending the
time and energy to properly promote it are the key.
Crappy Design. There are a dizzying array of tools out there one can use to 'jazz
up' a web site - but mostly all one sees is the dizzying part. A good, useful site
requires the same (or greater!) effort devoted to design and implementation as any other
facet of your business. You have to know who your customers are and what they want, or
you'll end up with an unwieldy, underperforming, pothole on the Infobahn.
Solution: A well-designed site which emphasises content and information
delivery over glitz and empty phrases. Answer the basic questions (who are we? what do we
offer? why do you care?, etc.) and provide the visitor a reason to return. Humor helps;
mission statements do not (unless you're a non-profit or the 'Man From U.N.C.L.E').
The Internet Is Not All
There Is
Your company may not benefit from a large web site available to the entire world.
However - the same technology can be used within a business to create an 'internal
internet' - an intranet - and reap the same rewards.
Does your business have several offices in different cities, or in different parts of
the same city? Do you have a sales force, or other employees, on the road or at home who
need to access data located on a computer at the home office? Your company can use web
pages and applications as a user-friendly 'front end' to all manner of information
exchange:
- Streamline Operations by Linking Applications. Do multiple people need to see the
same reports time and again? Do separate offices share information that constantly
changes, like inventory levels or stock numbers? Web interfaces can be linked to databases
(such as inventory tables to generate dynamic pages. Because this information is only
available to the people you give access to, it's much safer than if it were available to
the World Wide Web.
- Automate Routine Administration. Employees can fill out timesheets, ask for time
off, schedule appointments, etc. via a page linked to a simple database, which can be
linked in turn to your payroll application (for instance).
- Disseminate Company-wide Information. Post schedules, training opportunities,
employee handbooks, common reference materials, and more in one central, easily accessed
location.
More and more large and small businesses are taking advantage of internet technology to
build internal intranets. Contact us to learn how your company
might also benefit.
Why You Want To Work With Us
Let's face it - there are busloads of people and businesses out there that can build
your company a website. Why choose us?
- Experience. We've been working with small and medium-sized businesses for over
twelve years, providing sales, specialized programming, and technical support. We have
clients in a wide variety of industries, from internet service provider to aircraft
repair. We know what you need, what you can afford, and what you can't.
- Know-How. We know how to build a simple, flexible, and easy-to-use system
tailored to your needs. We avoid the gimmicks and the glitzy and favor the simple
and efficient. We'll suggest options, applications, and use your knowledge of your
customers and your operations to build an effective tool for increasing your business.
- Availability. We're easy to contact and always available. There's no waiting for
days for support, or unreturned phone calls, with us.
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