All small business, can benefit from being on the Internet IMHO. (In My Humble Opinion).
| Category: Business Development | Date: 2001-11-02 |
When I mention to a business owner that they should be on the Internet, I usually get one of three responses, and sometimes all three.
#1. I can't afford it.
#2. My clients are not on the net.
#3. I can't even use, or don't own a computer.
Let none of these reasons stand in your way. By the way (BTW), make sure you share this with your friends and associates who are business owners, especially those who do not have net access.
So lets talk about the first reason. I can't afford it. It should be, I can't afford not to be on the net. Most of the time when I hear this and probe further, this thought is from them reading or hearing about the larger companies loosing millions of dollars. Why, because that seems to be big news. You just don't often hear about the small companies using the net successfully, unless they suddenly boost profits by 1,000 percent.
I want you to listen in on one of my presentations.
Business Person: Okay, Kelvin, so how much will it cost for me to get started on the web.
Kelvin: Well, Mr./Ms. Business Person, it is actually possible to start for no money down and just an hour or so of your time.
Business Person: No way. I heard it cost thousands of dollars.
Kelvin: Well, it can cost thousands. But you could start by placing free ads on many existing websites, like Yahoo Classifieds, or free listings in web-based directories, like Google.com, BlackWebPortal.com, Yahoo.com.
Kelvin: You could start by placing paid ads in Internet directories and publications, like www.theblackmarket.com, for as little as $40.
Business Person: Well, Kelvin, you said that I should really have my own website. So, tell me, how much is it really going to cost.
Kelvin: Okay Mr. Person, first lets talk about how you would use the web, and what your budget might me. Is your business service or product oriented?
Business Person: Well, it's a little of both, I sell and service heating and air conditioning units.
Kelvin: What is your budget for the Internet. Keep in mind that most of your startup cost will be in design and setup. After that your monthly cost will usually just be for hosting. About $40 or less depending on your needs.
Business Person: Like I said my clients aren't even on net, so I don't want to spend a lot money. Maybe $400 to start and $30 a month.
Kelvin, thinking: Hmmm. This is a test. I know he can afford more, but he is still not sure about this net thing. So I am going to set his mind at ease.
Kelvin: Mr. Person, what is your skill level with a computer and on the Internet.
Business Person: Like I said, I can barely turn a computer on, but my teenage daughter, Karen, is always surfing the net.
Kelvin: Do you have any idea what you would use the website for?
Business Person: So I can tell people about my business. What I sale and service and how to find me.
Kelvin: Mr. Person, we are working with a small budget, but we can establish an Internet presence for you by the end of the week.
Business Person: You're kidding. Really. And you can do this for $400! Show me.
Kelvin: First let's review what you already use for print ads. Fliers, brochures, newspaper ads, etc. We are going to use your existing material to make a three page site for you. The first page will be about what you sell, service and where you are located. The second page will be a little history about you and the business, and the third page will be a FAQ (frequently asked questions) page, with a feedback form.
Wow! This article is getting longer than I intended. I hope you got this far. We are almost done.
Business Person: Tell me more about this, what did you call it, FAQ.
Kelvin: The FAQ could be your most valuable page. It could answer current customers questions, without them having to contact you personally. Saving you phone time and possibly even, on site, visits.
Kelvin: Okay, now we need to talk about registering a domain name for your business, you know, a dot com name.
Article getting way to long.
Lets say we choose the name. I collected at least 50% of the money up front. And delivered the website as promised.
Remember Karen, the daughter, well I asked him to have her email me. All I wanted to do was verify that she could check his email and report to him on a daily basis.
Two weeks later:
Business Person: Hey Kelvin, I did like you said and added my website address to my service contracts and voicemail system. I hardly ever get a call about how to change a filter, now. And Karen said she added me to a bunch of list. I don't know what she is talking about. But, I just wanted to say thanks. And you should be getting calls from a couple of my friends.
End of presentation.
I have had real presentations go this way. Some have less than $400 to work with. But usually after they become aware of the benefits of being on the net they find ways to increase their startup level.
If you have been trying to convince your friends to get a website, or even trying to sell them yourself, I hope this helps.
About the Author
Kelvin Brown
webmaster@followup101.com
http://www.shopdcmetro.com
http://www.blackwebhost.com
http://www.followup101.com
http://www.AfricanAmericanBusinessDirectory.com
Coming soon:
http://www.FullResellRights.com
Your Internet Marketing Library
:To contact see details below.
kelvin@domainsubmit.com
http://www.AfricanAmericanbusinessdirectory.com
#1. I can't afford it.
#2. My clients are not on the net.
#3. I can't even use, or don't own a computer.
Let none of these reasons stand in your way. By the way (BTW), make sure you share this with your friends and associates who are business owners, especially those who do not have net access.
So lets talk about the first reason. I can't afford it. It should be, I can't afford not to be on the net. Most of the time when I hear this and probe further, this thought is from them reading or hearing about the larger companies loosing millions of dollars. Why, because that seems to be big news. You just don't often hear about the small companies using the net successfully, unless they suddenly boost profits by 1,000 percent.
I want you to listen in on one of my presentations.
Business Person: Okay, Kelvin, so how much will it cost for me to get started on the web.
Kelvin: Well, Mr./Ms. Business Person, it is actually possible to start for no money down and just an hour or so of your time.
Business Person: No way. I heard it cost thousands of dollars.
Kelvin: Well, it can cost thousands. But you could start by placing free ads on many existing websites, like Yahoo Classifieds, or free listings in web-based directories, like Google.com, BlackWebPortal.com, Yahoo.com.
Kelvin: You could start by placing paid ads in Internet directories and publications, like www.theblackmarket.com, for as little as $40.
Business Person: Well, Kelvin, you said that I should really have my own website. So, tell me, how much is it really going to cost.
Kelvin: Okay Mr. Person, first lets talk about how you would use the web, and what your budget might me. Is your business service or product oriented?
Business Person: Well, it's a little of both, I sell and service heating and air conditioning units.
Kelvin: What is your budget for the Internet. Keep in mind that most of your startup cost will be in design and setup. After that your monthly cost will usually just be for hosting. About $40 or less depending on your needs.
Business Person: Like I said my clients aren't even on net, so I don't want to spend a lot money. Maybe $400 to start and $30 a month.
Kelvin, thinking: Hmmm. This is a test. I know he can afford more, but he is still not sure about this net thing. So I am going to set his mind at ease.
Kelvin: Mr. Person, what is your skill level with a computer and on the Internet.
Business Person: Like I said, I can barely turn a computer on, but my teenage daughter, Karen, is always surfing the net.
Kelvin: Do you have any idea what you would use the website for?
Business Person: So I can tell people about my business. What I sale and service and how to find me.
Kelvin: Mr. Person, we are working with a small budget, but we can establish an Internet presence for you by the end of the week.
Business Person: You're kidding. Really. And you can do this for $400! Show me.
Kelvin: First let's review what you already use for print ads. Fliers, brochures, newspaper ads, etc. We are going to use your existing material to make a three page site for you. The first page will be about what you sell, service and where you are located. The second page will be a little history about you and the business, and the third page will be a FAQ (frequently asked questions) page, with a feedback form.
Wow! This article is getting longer than I intended. I hope you got this far. We are almost done.
Business Person: Tell me more about this, what did you call it, FAQ.
Kelvin: The FAQ could be your most valuable page. It could answer current customers questions, without them having to contact you personally. Saving you phone time and possibly even, on site, visits.
Kelvin: Okay, now we need to talk about registering a domain name for your business, you know, a dot com name.
Article getting way to long.
Lets say we choose the name. I collected at least 50% of the money up front. And delivered the website as promised.
Remember Karen, the daughter, well I asked him to have her email me. All I wanted to do was verify that she could check his email and report to him on a daily basis.
Two weeks later:
Business Person: Hey Kelvin, I did like you said and added my website address to my service contracts and voicemail system. I hardly ever get a call about how to change a filter, now. And Karen said she added me to a bunch of list. I don't know what she is talking about. But, I just wanted to say thanks. And you should be getting calls from a couple of my friends.
End of presentation.
I have had real presentations go this way. Some have less than $400 to work with. But usually after they become aware of the benefits of being on the net they find ways to increase their startup level.
If you have been trying to convince your friends to get a website, or even trying to sell them yourself, I hope this helps.
About the Author
Kelvin Brown
webmaster@followup101.com
http://www.shopdcmetro.com
http://www.blackwebhost.com
http://www.followup101.com
http://www.AfricanAmericanBusinessDirectory.com
Coming soon:
http://www.FullResellRights.com
Your Internet Marketing Library
:To contact see details below.
kelvin@domainsubmit.com
http://www.AfricanAmericanbusinessdirectory.com
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