It is now obvious that the internet is here to stay.  It has revolutionized communications and marketing, while streamlining how the world conducts business.  But is the use of this tool limited to large corporations?  The answer is absolutely not.  In actuality the internet helps to put the little guy on a level playing field with even the largest of multi-nationals.  With a webpage you can create whatever image you want for your small business.

 Your business’ image, in the end this is what it all comes down to. People want to do business with a company that has an agreeable image.  It is in a company’s positioning where success lies.  Positioning is the culmination of a company’s marketing and business practices.  An example of great positioning would be Wal-Mart (The ever popular business example).  Wal-Mart has positioned itself as a store that sells everything for a cheaper price.  Holt Renfrew on the other hand has positioned itself as a store that sells everything for a more expensive price.  Which way is right?  The answer is clearly that both are correct.  Whether a person shops at Wal-Mart or if they are fortunate enough to shop at Holt Renfrew, they walk into the store knowing exactly what they are going to get.

So now that you are thanking me for the beginner’s lesson in effective market positioning, you are probably wondering how this all ties into the online market place.

An example: what gives the better impression joesmith2343627abcd@hotmail.com or JSmith@yourbusiness.com?  In addition to named email addresses, having a website offers any address that you wish.  My customers receive as many as 50 distinct email accounts.  Examples can include: sales@yourbusiness.com or info@yourbusiness.com or just about any other account name that you wish.  This gives a much more professional image compared to the aforementioned Hotmail address (no offense to Microsoft, but Hotmail has its place outside of the business community).

Now to the website itself.  For the first time in history any company, large or small has the opportunity to affordably produce whatever image they want for themselves.  Your website becomes the front for whatever you wish to project.  The better your website, the more success you will attain for your business.  Don’t take my word for it though, Click here to visit an article from The Globe & Mail.  The article contains many good reasons why a small business needs to be online.  The following is a short list of these and some others:

1. People are more frequently searching the internet for information about products and services
2. Your competition is probably already online
3. People or more likely to inquire about your services if they feel that they wont have to speak to a sales person
4. Your business automatically becomes a 24/7 international operation
5. A website streamlines electronic communication

There are many more benefits to having an online presence.  These are all beyond the scope of this short article.  If you wish to learn more or if you are ready to take the next step for your business, contact me.