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Maximising your Internet Presence

by Heather Maloney

To create a presence on the internet, businesses need to
have a good understanding of what they wish to achieve
before they start developing their site. Sounds simple
right...

To create a presence on the internet, businesses need to
have a good understanding of what they wish to achieve
before they start developing their site.

While this may sound very simple, often businesses focus on
their core capabilities or just simply running their
business. When it comes to developing a website, they do
not put in as much time or thought as they should.

Knowing what you want to achieve with your website will
help your web developer to meet your needs as efficiently
and effectively as possible.

Knowing why you want a website and being able to
communicate this to the web developer is very important.
Ultimately this will save you money and help to build your
business. There are three key reasons for having an
internet site. Often the purpose of the business website
will cover more than one of three categories:
1. Letting people know you exist, and how to contact you
2. Automating a service which your business provides
3. Selling your product or service, and gaining new
business

Let's explore each of these in turn.

1. Letting people know you exist, and how to contact you

This is an extension of your yellow pages advertisement. If
someone wants to find your business they can type in your
companyname.com / .com.au / etc into their browser's
address bar to find your address, phone number, what you
offer, and maybe complete an online form to ask you a
question.

2. Automating a service which your business provides

There are many tasks carried out by your business on a day
to day basis. Some of these tasks may be carried out
through your website, or could be in part replaced by
allowing your customers to self-serve from your website.
For example, if you receive many calls from your customers
inquiring as to the estimated delivery date or progress of
their order, you may decide to allow the customer to
quickly see the status of their order via a secure order
tracking feature on your website. This will provide a
better service to your customers, streamlining your
processes and often theirs, and allow you to concentrate
your resources on fulfilling the orders.

3. Selling your product or service, and gaining new business

On an ecommerce site, where a customer can order and pay
for your product or service and in so doing, kick start the
process inside your business to fulfill his or her request.
The process to fulfill the customers request may take many
forms, for example an email with purchase details sent to
the right person or department in your business or, in more
sophisticated solutions, the creation of an order in your
manufacturing control system. This type of website will
also provide information regarding your product or service
to assist in the sales process and help customers to make
an informed decision about whether it is your product or
service that they require. Effectively promoting your
product or service via your website and an online marketing
strategy can assist you to increase your sales and reach
additional target markets.

If you would like to explore ways to utilise the internet
for your business, please feel free to contact me via:
http://www.contactpoint.com.au.