|
If you're asking yourself "why do I want a website? What can a website do for me?" then read on...
Reach more people
Worldwide there are approximately 150 million people accessing the Internet daily. Putting your company on the Internet opens up the possibility of getting business from 150 million people everyday.
Admittedly, it is unlikely that all of these will visit your site. However, how many people walked past your shop today? The busiest streets in the world don't have anywhere near 150 million people on them in a day.
Putting your business on the Internet is like putting your shop front on the busiest high street in the world. And the more people walking past the more likely it is that some will walk in.
And the bigger audience isn't the only benefit:
Make money. Save money
Investing in a website may seem like another expense that you don't need, but is that true?
The Internet is one of the biggest marketplaces in the world - there are literally millions and millions of online shoppers. Can you really afford to snub millions of potential customers?
Aside from increasing your customer-base and catchment area you can make money by saving money, before you've sold anything:
-
Converting your current "book" catalogue to an online catalogue means you save on paper, printing, and delivery.
-
By including an online order form you can take orders day and night, your customers can order at their convenience: you save on paper and printing and your customers can make purchases any time, any day, from the comfort of their own homes.
-
Anything that can be conveyed in a telephone call can be communicated across the Internet, and for this sort of communication the Internet is generally less expensive and more efficient than phone, fax, or post.
Look at the competition. See what they're doing - a lot of people have already taken the steps into online business and are doing very well. Do you want to be left behind?
Showcase your goods
Business has always been about getting people to look at the goods. With close to 1 billion people around the world having access to the Internet, your target market is going to be represented in large numbers. Putting your business on the Internet gives you the opportunity of pitching your goods and services to millions and millions of people.
Once these people arrive they need to be presented with an attractive, easily-navigable, informative site that tells them what they want to know and makes it easy for them to take the next step.
By allowing Devon Web Services to design your site that is exactly what they will get;
-
an attractive : easy-to-look-at site making the visitors experience enjoyable but not detracting from the informative, function-driven core of the site.
-
easily-navigable : letting the visitor know where they are and exactly how to get to where they want to be makes the visitors experience only more enjoyable.
-
informative : information is what most people look for prior to making a decision. Having clear, concise information easily accessible to visitors means they will be making their decision that much quicker.
Trade around-the-clock
With a website you can be making money in your sleep.
Taking orders over the Internet requires no staff; so you can be trading any hour, any day, without any attendant being at your shop - you don't even need a shop.
You can cut costs by trimming man-hours, and saving on the lighting, heating and water.
You can make money by taking orders any time, any day, from a global customer-base.
Reach the specialised market
No matter how specialised, with the millions and millions of online shoppers your target market is going to be represented in large numbers.
The Internet population is one of the largest and most diverse in the world. With representation from nearly all countries, cultures and races, spanning all sexes and classes, the Internet really is making the world a smaller place; people can be ordering goods on the other side of the world in a matter of seconds.
The Internet caters for all tastes and types. If you want to sell something then there will be someone on the Internet who wants it.
To sell it to them you need to reach them.
To reach them you need a website.
Provide customer care
Getting people to buy from you is one thing, getting them to come back again and again involves you tailoring your service and support to meet their desires.
Providing this kind of service requires a bit of research. Generally people are happy to provide an opinion, so why not ask them? - include a questionnaire or comments page on your website, ask them what they want to see.
Why not post special offers and promotions on your website? - a website is the perfect way to provide this kind of information because as soon as the change is made everybody sees the up-to-date information - no more people coming in with out of date coupons and offers.
Perhaps you provide digital goods - why not post tutorials, updates and patches on your website. Supplying these services means that anybody who wants the updates and tutorials has to visit your website - you can take advantage of their visit by including related advertising and promotion.
Providing the services mentioned here are just some of the ways to ensure customers keep coming back there are many more e.g. user manuals, tips and tricks, and competitons.
Keeping customers informed and providing useful, informative, training and advice rates among the highest in the merchant's bible. Being open about your products and services invokes the building of trust in you from the customer - and if the customer trusts you they will usually become regular customers.
Go global
Become an international name in your field - trade on the international market as easily as the home market.
Starting a dialogue on the international market is as easy as it is on the home market - the Internet is accessible in almost all countries - putting your business on the Internet makes your goods and services available to an international clientele.
Maybe you don't need this kind of exoposure - but you can be sure it won't do your business any harm.
|
|
|
|
