Why A Website

Increase Revenue

• Open up a virtual storefront that creates an additional sales channel
• Sell products online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Introduce new products to the market faster
• Compete with big corporations based on service, price, and quality
• Capture the impulse buyer
• Accept credit card orders online in real time
• Optimize existing advertising (add a .com to ads directing customers to your dynamic, informative Web site)
• Expose your business to new markets you may not otherwise reach
• Establish credibility with potential customers

Decrease Expenses

• Create an additional, inexpensive form of advertising that costs less than mail outs, phone book ads, etc.
• Automate the sales process
• Eliminate costs typically associated with expanding sales--employees, rent, utilities, insurance, etc.
• Display your entire inventory without increasing warehousing costs
• Drop ship products to reduce inventory levels
• Reduce dependency/money spent on traditional advertising media
• Update documents and manuals online in one centralized location
• Replace mass mail marketing campaigns with bulk e-mail
• Make your marketing efforts highly targeted and efficient with e-mails through the Contact Manager and statistical tracking of promotions

Improve Customer Service

• Provide fast, personalized service to customers
• Provide answers to frequently asked questions 24 hours a day
• Offer special packages or deals through your Web site
• Display testimonials from satisfied customers
• Send customers exclusive online coupons or discounts
• Allow customers to set appointments online
• Facilitate pro-active communication between you and your customers
• Respond to customers’ changing demands faster

Industry-specific Benefits

Accounting Firm

• List the different services provided - small business, personal, commercial, estate planning, etc.
• Post preparer’s credentials
• Provide customers with tips and information regarding the latest tax laws
• Explain why and how services can assist a customer
• List partners and affiliates — enhancing credibility

Air Conditioning/Heating

• Company profile
• Post product line (product catalog)
• Post type of services residential/commercial
• List product manufacturers
• Post warranty
• Create a preventative maintenance or product upkeep page
• Create a frequently asked questions page regarding products/services
• Dedicate a page to the latest in product technology
• Conservation of energy page
• Online day timer - set appointments, create a to-do list, post upcoming job events (Contact Management Tool)
• Create mailing lists (Contact Management Tool, Feedback Tool)
• Sub-contract/employment page (Contact Management, Feedback Tool)
• Employee of the month
• Post a map to business/physical location
• Post credentials and city/state licenses

Auto Body/Paint Shops

• Before and after pictures of cars
• Sell salvage cars online
• Sell car parts online
• Types of paints and materials used
• Furnish customers with tips on maintaining their paint, finishes, etc.
• Special services like murals, pin striping, window tint, etc.
• Let your customers know that your shop works with insurance companies
• Post whether or not on-site estimates are available
• Post whether or not work is subcontracted out 
• Attract out-of-towners who commute and work in your town and may not know where to go

Beauty Salons/Spas

• Online scheduling
  
• Post pictures of happy customers and their hairstyles
• Feature each stylist in salon
• Post rates
• Promote hair shows, bridal packages
• Feature seasonal packages, offer discounts for online customers
• Sell hair care products online
• Feature ancillary services offered by the salon such as facials, nail care, etc.
• Use site to acquire new stylists
• Provide hair, skin and nail care tips

Consignment Store

• Supports both types—where the objective is to acquire additional merchandise and where the objective is to sell more merchandise
• Acquire merchandise—post which items are/are not acceptable, seller’s percentage, and any applicable store policies
• Sell merchandise—display a wide selection of merchandise retail customers can expect to find through the store; feature any unusual items which may interest collectors; run promotions offering an additional discount to retail customers who mention Web site; shoppers can request an item specifically—if not available, request can be posted on the Web, then sold to the retail customer when located; charge customers an extra fee to post the products they consign on Web site

Employment Agency

• One of the most popular uses for the Internet
• Attract companies who need to search for employees
• Post an online application
• Search for potential employees
• List areas of specialization (e.g. engineering, marketing, technical)
• Post top 10 companies looking for employees
• Tips for preparing resumes
• Interviewing advice
• Provide a map to office for interviews
• Easy transfer of correspondence from companies to Web site
• Prospect out of state—not limited to local market 
• Job hunters can e-mail requests for employment by using the Feedback page on the Web site

Mortgage Company

• Post prime interest rates
• Make recommendations for property appraisers
• Provide information for first-time buyers
• Feature approved lenders
• Pre-approve clients online through Web site
• Set up e-mail for referral business
• Implement online questionnaire for pre-qualification purposes
• Provide perspective clients with your company’s profile, credentials, etc.

Non-Profit Organizations

• History of the organization—how and why it was founded, etc.
• Attract additional members
• Save money on extra software tools and other computer management systems by utilizing features like the Contact Management System
• Save money on direct mail, dedicate a page to online donations
• Sell tickets to special events
• Feature organization’s mission statement
• Specify how the monies are allocated (what percentage of donations go to cause)
• Highlight past accomplishments—success stories
• Feature a monthly/current project, state future goals and objectives
• List affiliates and/or satellites, thank and highlight prominent contributors

Office Maintenance/Maid Service/Janitorial Service

• List bond certification and qualifications
• Devote a page to testimonials from most satisfied clients/ customers
• Provide customers with rate information
• Online scheduling
• Coupons for new and referral clients
• Post service area
• Companies can send you a bid for services using the Feedback page
• Feature special cleaning products for environmentally conscious clients

Optometrists

• Sell eyeglasses and contact lenses online
• List health insurance providers to reduce number of telephone inquiries
• Physician profile—post credentials—increase credibility
• Provide a “wear care” page for patients (caring for your contact lenses, etc.)
• Online scheduling for patients
• Provide the latest information on radial keratotomy
• Provide referrals to qualified ophthalmologists/surgeons

Painting/Photography/Design/Artists

• Display work on Web site
• Sell your work 24 hours a day, seven days a week
• Receive special requests for work/ consignments/ commissions
• Provide pertinent background information
• Feature any specialty work such as mural painting, faux finishing, etc.

Pool Cleaning

• Feature services offered
• Sell products like skimmers, heaters, and chlorine
• Provide helpful tips for preventative maintenance of pool cleaning
• Address frequently asked questions (Why acid baths? Why clean my pool? The proper pH balance for pool water, etc.)
• Furnish pool safety tips and emergency information
• Provide referrals to affiliates/partners like pool contractors and designers
• Customers can e-mail questions or problems
• Outline service area, request appointments

Restaurants

• Online reservations, post menus
• Photograph of restaurant/staff and best dishes
• Profile exceptional chef and his/her credentials
• Feature dinner and lunch specials
• Tribute to employee(s) of the month
• Provide a map to restaurant location
• Promote catering services
• Special events scheduling
• Provide an online tour of special facilities (banquet, private dining room)
• Provide online coupon
• Customers can place orders for take-out or delivery

Retail

• E-commerce capable; sell products 24 hours a day, seven days a week
• Post special product promotions
• Develop an extensive product list with thousands of items
• Develop affiliate relationships and partnerships
• Use Contact Management Tool to e-mail notification of sales and promotions
• Provide an online coupon that retail customers can print out and carry into the actual store

Veterinarians/Pet Hotels/Walkers/Sitters

• Banner exchanges with local pet stores and kennels, humane society, SPCA
• Sell ointments, leashes, eye drops, etc.
• Put online live video of dogs/cats in kennel so that pet owners can see their pets while on a trip
• Display vet’s resume and credentials
• Tell special stories (“I rescued a cat...”)
• Display rates, services offered
• Offer a “classifieds” area where customers can advertise (Free to good home, etc.)