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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 used by TRAVERSE
Accounting Software 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.
See for Yourself! Take a look at a sample of some
of the sites we've built:
- Miller Laundry Systems, Inc. - is a large and experienced commercial laundry equipment and kitchen appliance distributor. Their on-line product catalog is linked to a shopping cart system. Information regarding available products, stores for sale and brands carried can be added or changed by company personnel via a password-protected web interface. This eliminates the cost of having an outside resource making updates everytime inventory levels change or new products are added.
- KidCo, Inc. - a site designed primarily as an on-line catalog (though KidCo, Inc. does not sell directly over the web). KidCo markets pet and child safety gates, KidCo/ Bébécar strollers and prams, infant carriers and home safety products. KidCo is located in Mundelein, Illinois.
- WonderWash-WonderLube, Inc. - operate a chain of self service & automatic car washes, and quick auto service stations across Wisconsin. Customers can learn of promotions and specials, as well as buy tokens and print cupons from this site. The most trafficked portion, however, is the employment listings section. All information on the site is updated by company personnel via a web-based, password protected interface.
- The Law Office of Attorney Edward M. Craig -- a very simple site marketing Attorney Edward M. Craig's services. Edward is a Fort Wayne, Indiana attorney practicing in the areas of bankruptcy and motorcycle accidents.
- Starship Modeler - Starship Modeler™ is an on-line magazine ("e-zine") that reaches 60,000 subscribers per month (as of 1/1/1999). Many of the features are created "on-the-fly" from information stored in Access® databases. An extensive, password-protected administration area enables the editors to manage this information.
What we offer
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