What can you do with a web site?

The following list is some of the things that you can do with a web site. It is in no way a complete list, but it should jump start your ideas and imagination!

• Reduce advertising costs. Think of your web site as a full-page interactive phone book ad without the outrageous monthly costs. A web site shouldn’t replace all your offline advertising, but it should work alongside it.
• Increase your customer base. With a web site, you aren’t limited to customer’s who live or work near your business.
• Be open 24/7. A web site can be there to answer customer questions or take orders 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
• Give customers the information they want when they want it. Customers don’t need to call and ask you the same questions over and over again if you’ve already answered them on your web site.
• Announce specials. No need for a rushed and expensive advertising campaign when you are running a special, just announce it on your web site.
• Offer coupons. Putting printable coupons on your web site for use in your shop increases sales and awareness of your web site and keeps local customers visiting your web site looking for more specials.
• Provide employees with what they need. Put employee manuals, documents, and forms in a private section of your web site and save time, money, and paper.
• Display your complete product line. Maybe your shop is too small to display every color, size, and shape of your product line but your web site can do that with only a few extra pictures.
• Find new industry contacts. Link to those you work with (distributors, warehouses, shippers, etc.) and you may find new business and new contacts by having them link back to you. Six degrees of separation isn’t just about Kevin Bacon!

If you have any ideas you think should be added to the list please drop us a line, or leave a comment. We want to hear your ideas!