Internet Strategy for Small Businesses: Step 1
Internet Strategy for Small Businesses: Step 1
You have this superb idea and you are raring to go to put those ideas into action. But as so get down to work the parameters involved overwhelm you and suck away half of the enthusiasm. Believe me setting up a business is no cakewalk even with years of experience. I have gone through it and in my business I see this often…
Here’s how to go raring ahead.
PLANNING: Be thorough. Even though you know what you want, write it out. Keep a notepad and a pen by your side to note down important ideas, information. Make alist of the tasks for each day and cross them out when done. This is the most satisfying time
• Why an I doing it? (Money, success, to make friend, to share information)
• Where to begin? (Totally online?)
• How to do it? (Myself or some vendor)
• What is the best way to do it? (Translates to reading and gaining a lot of knowledge)
Why Do You Need a Website?
Small established local businesses always ask this question.
It’s a well established fact through data that customers, especially in the US check products online before entering a store to make a purchase. Small businesses or relatively unknown businesses can benefit out of this. Take the example of OC Bride. It is an Orange County based bridal and wedding resource magazine. Its clientele is very local and specific. It went online and got an astonishing 124% increase in the number of subscriptions. This happened because when would be brides typed in phrases like “orange county bride”, “orange county bride resource”, “orange county wedding resource” they website came up.
United States: Average Web Usage on Home Panel
Month of December 2008
Sessions/Visits Per Person - 36
Domains Visited Per Person - 65
PC Time Per Person - 37:56:49
Duration of a Web Page Viewed - 00:00:54
Active Digital Media Universe - 153,326,129
Current Digital Media Universe Estimate - 222,723,436
Source: Nielsen Online, December 2008
See the stats. An average surfer spends 38 hours from his home and visits an amazing 65 domains. So he is not just replying to emails, he is searching or browsing. And that’s where your business comes in.
125 Million Websites Out There, Do You Stand A Chance?
Of course you do. Just do all the things correctly. Analyze your business and client behaviors and plan accordingly.
BUT make sure your website stands out either in product, offer or search engines.
Niche websites have a greater chance of doing well. For example, the OC-Bride.com website that caters only to Orange County brides.
If you have a remarkable business idea, create a demand for your product through the internet. Let people talk about it. Remember Starbucks was just a travel company with a website before it started offering lesbian and gay cruises. The website enabled them to sign up instantly. This idea transformed the entire business.
If you have a general business about which you think nothing is remarkable, concentrate on local search engine, local press and local offers. You will be amazed at the results.
What Type Of Website Should You Have?
Generally, business websites can be divided into two categories- ECommerce and Service websites. While ecommerce websites have a list of products along with a shopping cart, service websites just list their services along with additional information and a contact mail or number.
Do a lot of research on what you want your website to be. Research on customer behavior for your related product. Talk to experts, ask on forums. Only then come to a conclusion about the type of website you need. You’ll have the following options
1. Primarily an information site (a type of article site, or an ezine?)
2. An e-commerce site
3. A combination of both?
4. A service site with call to action
5. An info cum service site?
6. Just a blog
7. A forum
These issues will help determine the orientation and budget of your website.
So get your notepad and pens out…
Internet Strategy for Small Businesses Step 1 - To learn more about this author, visit Ajay Prasad's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
Congratulations on your new business venture!
You have this superb idea and you are raring to go to put those ideas into action. But as so get down to work the parameters involved overwhelm you and suck away half of the enthusiasm. Believe me setting up a business is no cakewalk even with years of experience. I have gone through it and in my business I see this often…
Here’s how to go raring ahead.
PLANNING: Be thorough. Even though you know what you want, write it out. Keep a notepad and a pen by your side to note down important ideas, information. Make alist of the tasks for each day and cross them out when done. This is the most satisfying time
• Why an I doing it? (Money, success, to make friend, to share information)
• Where to begin? (Totally online?)
• How to do it? (Myself or some vendor)
• What is the best way to do it? (Translates to reading and gaining a lot of knowledge)
Why Do You Need a Website?
Small established local businesses always ask this question.
It’s a well established fact through data that customers, especially in the US check products online before entering a store to make a purchase. Small businesses or relatively unknown businesses can benefit out of this. Take the example of OC Bride. It is an Orange County based bridal and wedding resource magazine. Its clientele is very local and specific. It went online and got an astonishing 124% increase in the number of subscriptions. This happened because when would be brides typed in phrases like “orange county bride”, “orange county bride resource”, “orange county wedding resource” they website came up.
United States: Average Web Usage on Home Panel
Month of December 2008
Sessions/Visits Per Person - 36
Domains Visited Per Person - 65
PC Time Per Person - 37:56:49
Duration of a Web Page Viewed - 00:00:54
Active Digital Media Universe - 153,326,129
Current Digital Media Universe Estimate - 222,723,436
Source: Nielsen Online, December 2008
See the stats. An average surfer spends 38 hours from his home and visits an amazing 65 domains. So he is not just replying to emails, he is searching or browsing. And that’s where your business comes in.
125 Million Websites Out There, Do You Stand A Chance?
Of course you do. Just do all the things correctly. Analyze your business and client behaviors and plan accordingly.
BUT make sure your website stands out either in product, offer or search engines.
Niche websites have a greater chance of doing well. For example, the OC-Bride.com website that caters only to Orange County brides.
If you have a remarkable business idea, create a demand for your product through the internet. Let people talk about it. Remember Starbucks was just a travel company with a website before it started offering lesbian and gay cruises. The website enabled them to sign up instantly. This idea transformed the entire business.
If you have a general business about which you think nothing is remarkable, concentrate on local search engine, local press and local offers. You will be amazed at the results.
What Type Of Website Should You Have?
Generally, business websites can be divided into two categories- ECommerce and Service websites. While ecommerce websites have a list of products along with a shopping cart, service websites just list their services along with additional information and a contact mail or number.
Do a lot of research on what you want your website to be. Research on customer behavior for your related product. Talk to experts, ask on forums. Only then come to a conclusion about the type of website you need. You’ll have the following options
1. Primarily an information site (a type of article site, or an ezine?)
2. An e-commerce site
3. A combination of both?
4. A service site with call to action
5. An info cum service site?
6. Just a blog
7. A forum
These issues will help determine the orientation and budget of your website.
So get your notepad and pens out…
Internet Strategy for Small Businesses Step 1 - To learn more about this author, visit Ajay Prasad's Website.
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Jeff FosterWebBizIdeas.com is a Minneapolis website design company founded to help people start an internet business by providing them with website, business, and internet resources that help foster the growth of successful online businesses and develop innovative Internet business ideas. We specialize in internet consulting & internet marketing. - Visit Jeff Foster's Website |
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Anne BarrAnne Barr has over 26 years experience in sales and marketing, six years as a franchisee. She has assisted over 367 business owners and purchasers to achieve their goals in career change, transition and exit strategy. She holds the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association, Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and Board Certified Broker from the Texas Association of Business Brokers. Anne is active in professional organizations, networking groups and volunteers for non-profit entities. As owner/operator of four successful businesses, Anne has proven people skills and enjoys helping clients find the right "fit" in business ownership. Visit www.FranchiseOpportunitySpecialist.com for more information about me and my company. - Visit Anne Barr's Website |
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John BrennanJohn Brennan Ed.D. Dr. Brennan is President of Interpersonal Development, LLC, a training and development firm. Interpersonal Development has provided sales training and coaching to more than 3,000 sales reps from over 100 companies. A native of Australia, Dr. Brennan received his doctorate from the University of Rochester. His dissertation researched the effectiveness of Behavioral Modeling Technology in training people in interpersonal skills. While he has spent most of his career designing or delivering training, he was also a Vice-President of Sales of a training and development franchise with operations in 25 markets. Dr. Brennan has designed and delivered sales training in North America, Asia, Europe, Australia and the Middle East. He has been a guest speaker at numerous national and regional professional conferences. When Microsoft wanted Best Practices articles on sales for their web site, they called Dr. Brennan. The results are at http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/FX011387391033.aspx His firm’s clients have included Volvo, The Prudential, Merrill Lynch, Eastman Kodak, Gannett, Equifax Europe, the Economist Group and countless small businesses. - Visit John Brennan's Website |
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Leanne Hoagland-SmithAre your sales where you want them to be? Will you be one of the few who achieves sales or business success or one of the many who have failed to change? Are you tired of being told you are like everyone else? Then you may find my first book on sales of interest. Be the Red Jacket in the Sea of Gray Suits, The Keys to Unlocking Sales available at Amazon or at http://www.processspecialist.com/red-jacket.htm. This book is a reflection of my no-nonsense approach to improving sales to overall business results. If you are truly committed to making sustainable changes, then I can help you secure a positive return on your investment because I focus on executable solutions not telling you the problems you already know you have. From training to corporate (group) coaching to executive one on one coaching, my approach is to assess, create awareness, build a goal driven action plan and then execute. The bottom line question is "Not do you or your employees know it, but do you or they want to do it?" Please call for a free strategy session at 219.759.5601. - Visit Leanne Hoagland-Smith's Website |
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Stephanie RobeyStephanie Robey is President and CoFounder of Pivot Positive, LLC - an Internet marketing business focused on helping people start work at home ventures. Previously, she was employed at The Search Agency with over 20 years experience in graphic design and 10 years experience in online marketing. She was responsible for launching the Conversion Path Optimization (CPO) unit where she and her team have conducted hundreds of optimization tests for online companies across multiple verticals. She is a successful entrepreneur having started and sold 2 companies and remains on the board of directors of the third, PhotoSpin.com Stephanie began her career in the direct marketing realm creating and producing direct mail for many of the major cable television companies and directly attributes her understanding of Internet marketing to those early offline experiences. Stephanie is a graduate of San Diego State University with a BFA in Graphic Arts and also holds an Executive MBA from the Graziadio School of Business and Management at Pepperdine University. Read Steph's Blog Meet Steph and Dave Sign up for our Free 7-Day BootCamp: Self Employed & Rich - Visit Stephanie Robey's Website |
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Staging DivaDebra Gould, aka The Staging Diva®, is President of Six Elements Inc., an internationally recognized home staging company. Inspired by many requests from aspiring home stagers wanting to start similar businesses, Gould created the Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program. Gould has trained over 1000 Staging Diva Graduates worldwide to start staging businesses. Buying decorating and selling six of her own homes in four years lead to an interest in real estate staging which she turned into a career with the launch of sixelements.com in 2002. Since then she has staged hundreds of homes in addition to teaching home staging training. Gould is the author of several home staging resources including a series of popular ebooks made up of a Design Guide, Color Guide and Portfolio Guide. For more information about Debra Gould visit stagingdiva.com. - Visit Staging Diva's Website |
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George LudwigGeorge Ludwig is a recognized authority on sales strategy and peak performance psychology. An international speaker, trainer, and corporate consultant, he helps clients like Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Laboratories, Northwestern Mutual, CIGNA, and numerous others improve sales force effectiveness and performance. Though it's George's strategies and processes that help corporations increase productivity and performance, it's his tremendous energy and dynamism that spark the transformation. Again and again, clients remark on his amazing ability to unleash human capacity and inspire men and women to break out of their comfort zones. The result is a whole new type of salesperson. His customized presentations teach achievers to make stunning advances in their lives. From helping salespeople realize cherished dreams to helping corporations exponentially accelerate revenue streams, George Ludwig leaves audiences and individuals empowered, emboldened, and clamoring for more. George is the best-selling author of Power Selling: Seven Strategies for Cracking the Sales Code and Wise Moves: 60 Quick Tips to Improve Your Position in Life & Business. - Visit George Ludwig's Website |
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