TIGblogs - Global Entrepreneur

WHY DO I NEED A WEB SITE?

These days, having a web site is like having a business card. Even a simple web site will

• Act as a virtual storefront to sell your product or service

• ake your company more visible to a worldwide audience

• Position you as a resource for information

• Complement your other marketing efforts

SET YOUR SIGHTS ON THESE QUESTIONS

• What will your site name be? What if the name of your company is already taken?

• Who will help develop your site and how much will it cost?

• Will you use an Internet Service Provider (ISP) or host your own site?

• What information will be included on your site?

• Will your product or service be for sale on the site?

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Who will handle the transactions and fulfill the orders?

• What security barriers will be in place, to protect your company's information from outsiders?

• How will privacy be handled once you collect data from site visitors?

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How will the data be used?
HOW DO YOU CREATE TRAFFIC?

Think about ways you'll promote your site

• Will you register with search engines so you come up in a search?

• Will you want a tracking program to monitor how many people visit your site?

• What about advertising on related web sites? What will the costs be?

• Will you allow other companies to place ads on your site?

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What will you charge?

• Will you consider exchange links with other sites that complement yours?

(Visitors to your site can click on a link to their site, and vice versa)

INVITE THE BACK

Attracting visitors to your site is one thing, but giving them a reason to return is quite another. Give some thought to these questions

• How will you make your site "sticky?" — appealing enough so visitors come back.

• What are the costs for maintaining your web site?

• Who will be responsible for updating the site? How often?

• Who will respond to email inquiries?

NO SITE IN SIGHT?

Even if you don't have a web site, you can still take advantage of the Internet by

• Setting up an email account so you can send and receive information

• Asking other web sites to include your company information on their "link lists."

• Paying for ads on web sites that relate to your product or service

WebSites

Now You're Clicking

The internet's World Wide Web has changed marketing forever. These days, it seems that "www" is seen and heard everywhere. For companies large and small, the web is a powerful marketing tool that allows your marketing efforts to reach potential customers in your city, your state, the country and indeed the world.