Surfing the web shows that it is both a new distribution channel and a powerful new way of doing business.
Don't miss either part of that statement.
Think of the web only as a new channel - a different way of putting products and services in front of customers - and you miss the threat and the promise of the internet, which is that it will utterly change how you do business.
Reasons to Dot Com
Need convincing that the Web is the place for your business to be?
Here are 10 reasons why you have to be online:
It's cheap
There is no more inexpensive way to open a business than to launch a website.
While you could spend up to many millions of dollars to get started, low-budget websites remain viable businesses.
You cut your order fulfillment costs
Handling orders by phone is expensive.
Ditto for mail orders.
There's no more efficient, cheap, fast or accurate way to process orders than via a website.
Your catalogue is always current
A print catalog can cost big bucks, and nobody wants to order a reprint just to change one price or to correct a few typos.
A website can be updated in minutes.
High printing and mailing costs are history
Your customers can download any information you want them to have from your website.
Sure, you'll still want to print some materials, but lots can be distributed via the web.
You cut staffing costs
A website can be a low-manpower operation.
You can stay open 24 hours daily
And you'll still get your sleep because your site will be open even when your eyes are closed.
You're in front of a global audience
Watch your site log, and you'll see visitors streaming in from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, America, Europe - wherever there are computers and phone lines.
There are no city permits and no hassles
It could change, but in most parts of the country, small web businesses can be run without permits and with little government involvement.
As you expand and add employees, you'll start to bump into laws and regulations, but it's certainly nice to be able to kick off a business without first filling out reams of city and state forms.
There are no angry customers in your face
You can't ignore unhappy customers in any business; in fact, how well you deliver customer service will go far toward determining how successful you are.
But at least with a web business you'll never have to stand eyeball-to-eyeball with a screamer.
It's easy to get your message out
Between your website and your smart use of e-mail, you'll have complete control over when and how your message goes out.
You can't beat a website for its immediacy, and when a site is done well, it's hard to top its ability to grab and hold the attention of potential customers. B&BD
