The Benefits of Online Business

The Internet has evolved into a powerful tool that allows companies to market and sell products to an online customer base which spans the globe. In the US 73% of the population, about 147 million adults (www.pewinternet.org) has access to the World Wide Web and worldwide this represents a 400 million plus audience.

If your business can tap into only a small percentage of this online community then the returns can be substantial. Businesses have two routes to achieve an online presence, get a professional web developer to produce a web site or use internal employees to build the site themselves.

How much do we spend on advertising?
How much do we spend on printed media? (Catalogues, brochures and leaflets)
How many enquiries do our present marketing activities generate?
What proportion of our sales are achieved by this marketing?

Now, I’m not saying replace all of your current marketing with an online approach, it is worth pointing out that a well thought out web presence can be the most cost effective method of finding new customers.

What are the Benefits?

An advertisement or online shop that is viewable or 'open' 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year.
An incredibly large potential market.
A platform that allows small companies to compete on a near level playing field with large corporations.
A method for reducing ongoing operating costs. (Postage, phone bills and company time)
A one time setup cost with small annual running costs.
Better comunication routes with customers using email and online methods.

Author Chris Kaminski is head web designer at Lone Bird Studio, an Asheville web design and SEO company located in North Carolina.