Why Establish Internet Presence?

Posted by bknapik 23:28 | Permalink | comments (1) | Trackbacks (0) | E-Commerce

“If your company is not changing as fast as the world outside, then the end of your company is near.” Five years ago there were no instant credit card authorizations, broadband Internet, and online shipping. Companies adopted these technologies to obtain a competitive advantage. Today, small businesses must have a website to gain market share.

Having an online store has several unique advantages that cannot be gained through other mediums such as print, television, radio, mass mailing and telephone. One advantage of an online business is it has world presence verses being local and regional only. Another advantage is online advertising is cheaper compared to other mediums. Furthermore, a website can coordinate other marketing efforts in the mediums previously mentioned. Finally, the biggest benefit is the customer's ability to shop or access information about your business at their leisure.

Some small business owners believe that running a website is complicated, expensive and that there is little room to compete. This is hardly the case. Only 35% of small businesses in the US have a website (about 700,000 small businesses.) There has never been a better time to get involved online. Operation costs are now affordable, a person with basic computer skills may operate an e-commerce site, competition is low, and the market will continue to grow. In 2004 holiday shoppers spent 22.3 billion online, a 25% increase from 2003, and this figure is likely to grow for many years to come.