Copyright ©
George Mann
Publications
2005
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Potential
The Internet has many benefits and, depending upon your business, you can utilise its potential to:
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Reach new clients: who are connected to the Internet – contact with whom would may be difficult or expensive otherwise.
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Reduce costs: Communication is fast and cost-effective. Your information is readily available, quickly and easily, reducing print and distribution costs.
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Satisfy your clients: clients can see your information, make contact, 24 hours a day, world-wide, when they want to – you never close! Keep information up-to-date and accurate – something your customers will appreciate.
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Improve productivity: client contact, via your pages, can be serviced quickly and directly, and with reduced overheads.
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Features
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The Internet is a powerful tool. It has two key components that can help your business: electronic mail (email); and the World Wide Web. Here are a few of its many features:
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Twenty-four hour presence: information on your Web site is available to users 24-hours a day, year-round. Thus you can operate and communicate across the world's time zones. User messages from your Web site can be sent to you, or your agent, as email allowing you, or perhaps an automated program, to reply in like fashion, cost-effectively.
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(Inter)National audience: the Internet is international in scope, allowing you to reach a worldwide audience. You have the opportunity to address your potential clients in their native language. You can also work with colleagues, partners, or contractors, on an international basis too.
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Extensive material: can be stored on your Web site, typically utilising text and graphics. There is also the potential for animation, sound and video. A wide range of material can be made available, from marketing to technical data sheets.
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Client interaction: is a key aspect of a Web site. This might include selecting and ordering products from your product display, or perhaps a prize quiz that aims to draw people to your site on a regular basis. It may be a sound clip from a new record album, to help promote sales.
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Application
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You can utilise information on the Internet’s World Wide Web in many ways – across the business spectrum. Here are just a few examples of business use:
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Marketing, product sales: your press releases, product information and announcements, can be made available for people to browse. Should you have a range of products that you sell mail-order then you could list items and prices (highlighting special offers from your product range). Your clients can order, or make contact, via your pages.
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Design, production: during a project you can use the Internet as a means of communication between your clients or partners, whether they be a continent apart, or situated a few miles away. Controlled access can be established to secure your data.
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Delivery, installation: in some cases you may be able to deliver certain data components, such as a program upgrade or documentation, electronically via the Internet. Data sheets, diagrams, and background information can be provided to assist users during product installations.
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Support, communications: if your products have supporting technical data then this can be made available for clients to view, retrieve, or print. This may save client calls to your staff. You might also reduce calls by listing the helpful hints, solutions to known problems, or late-breaking news that missed the publications deadline.
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