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The Internet is...
a transport for a number
of completely separate services (E-mail,
FTP, Newsgroups, Chat, DNS, etc.). But
to business people, the Internet is
first and foremost, "the
Web" (World Wide Web service). In
fact
they do use other services, but most are
now integrated into the Web browser, so
all services appear to be part of the W W W
service.
Web pages have rapidly become the
essential Master Communications Center
for every business. For most businesses,
the Web site will never produce income
directly, but will be critically
important to generating revenue through
established business methods.
[see
below]
What does this mean to you, the
business manager?
Without an effective, well
designed and well promoted Web presence,
your business, products or services,
are not going to be considered at all. If
people cannot effectively gather the
information they need BEFORE visiting
your store or business enterprise, or
even before picking up the phone to
acquire your services, they are not going
to bother. Why? Because they can get all that
information from your competitors.
Increasingly, the first impression made
by a business establishment is their Web presence.
And so if it is not an effective
impression, that will be the last
impression that business will get to
make at all. Speed and ease of finding
information count for everything, and an
amateurish, outdated, or slow Web site, or
one that offers "pizzaz" instead of content will be the
death of many businesses. Evolution is a
harsh and unforgiving process.
The good news...
is that your company can
use the Internet with just as much
impact and reap just as many benefits,
or more, as any famous and well
established business. In
fact, the World Wide Web widens the
playing field and allows any business
(even yours!) to communicate with its
clients or customers on an equal level.
The only difference is in how effective,
informative
and appealing you decide to make your
Web presence. To help you achieve these goals
successfully,
PROFound would be pleased to
be your partner in every detail of
developing your Web identity.
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Questions & Answers (Q&A)
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Q: What can a Web site do for
my business?
A: You probably understand the value of print advertising, flyers,
brochures, billboards, as well as television and radio ads. Perhaps your
business already uses some or all of these. If you do, then you probably have
discovered how expensive these forms of media can be. What’s worse is that if
any part of your message requires change (and it will), you end up spending
even more valuable time and money on
these changes. Your previous effort is
often wasted. Furthermore, you are limited in
how many of your clients, or potential
clients, are exposed to this information and your
message is usually restricted to your
immediate geographical area. But if you
don’t advertise, customers will not know
what your business has to offer. They
may not even know you exist!
The World Wide Web, on the other hand,
offers opportunities for communications
unlike any other. Your Web site will
allow you to communicate directly with
your audience.
Your Web site can inform and reflect
your "business personality" while
exposing your message to the entire
world. Now, when you decide to update or change
your information, or change the looks of
its presentation,
this can be done quickly and with
nothing to reprint or redistribute! Best
of all, your message is available to the
world, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day!
That's better than ultra-expensive
television or radio ads! Furthermore, if
your business already uses these other
advertising methods, your Web site
can further compliment, enhance or expand the promotion
of your products or services.
Q: Are Web sites just
for advertising?
A: Your Web presence is not limited to just advertising your business.
You may decide to sell your products or
services directly using the Internet
(often referred to as E-commerce). You
may also use your Web site for any or
all of the following:
- a 2-way communications
vehicle where your clients
can make inquires about your
product or service
- client support --
clients may want to ask
questions about products
they bought from you
- you may post answers to
common question which will
save you from answering
repetitive and
time-consuming telephone
calls
- you may post value-added
information or tips to
compliment your product
- you may distribute your
brochures or detailed
information by allowing your
visitors to download these
and then print them on their
own computers. (A
'self-serve' section)
- conduct surveys, request
feedback
- offer a partial or
entire catalogue of products
that you offer for review
and pre-sales
- the opportunities are
endless
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Q: Can I really
increase my revenue through my Web site?
A: Yes of course you can sell
products directly from your Web site.
But also consider this: Studies have
shown that most customers who use
retailer Web sites generally still
travel to stores to purchase. BUT when
they get there it is to buy, not to
shop. They've already used the Web site to research products, compare value
and make buying decisions. Can you see the potential this implies? This trend is
quite solid - people still want to buy in the presence of the physical product
and talk to a real sales rep in person or on the phone. But people don't have
time to go to stores to shop anymore. They can't afford to travel to stores
except to buy. Shopping, research and price comparison can be done on the
Internet quickly, conveniently, and at any time of day or night. And this
trend is here to stay -- it's not going to go away!
So as stated before, if people cannot
effectively gather the information they
need before visiting your business establishment or
picking up the phone to acquire your
services, they are not going to bother,
because they can get all this
information from your competitors and
their effective, informative and
well-organized Web site.
Q: What
can PROFound do for my
business?
A: We can help you create and
maintain your business identity on the
Internet and help you accomplish all of
the above. We focus on producing unique,
creative and professional looking Web
sites that best serve you - our client,
and ultimately, your clients. We offer
a
complete range of services including Web site design
and development, Internet marketing,
domain name registration for new sites
and the upgrading of already existing
sites. You can be confident that our
advice will always be based on what is
best for you. Please
contact us
for more information.
Q: What if my Information changes constantly?
A:
PROFound's IC
PRO is for You! - Update it yourself
whenever you want...
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Click the logo on the
left to Learn more! |
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More Questions & Answers will be
added periodically.
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PROFound Technology Consulting Inc.
Mississauga, Ontario (near Toronto)
Canada
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