To be or not to be (online)

A. To be or not to be (online)...

Youve heard about online marketing and think it is all a hype. Your business is small. It is localized. It doesnt need a web site.

Well, think again!

Hype or not, the web is an important force in business. Commercial organization all over the world are going online at an incredible rate. Online revenues are increasing. Net commerce is having a big impact on many businesses, in particular book retailers, real estate and the travel industry.

Whether your business is suited to the web depends, not on its size but on its nature. Some products/services are more suited to net commerce than others.

You can get away without a web site if your business is very much localized and/or requires face-to-face contact with your customers. Some examples are: village green grocer, local hairdressing salon, pub, chip shop and market stall.

You will benefit from a web site if your business is not localized, offers non-perishable products, involves portraying an image (example Public Relations, advertising), involves networking.

You definitely need to go online if your product is information-based or your service can be carried out remotely as in consultancy and computer-related services such as programming and web design.

Once you have make the decision to go online, it is prudent to find out a bit more about the media and the users.What is net commerce all about ?

B. Net commerce

The Internet is one huge marketplace, with an estimate of 200 million users, and it continues to grow. It is used by a variety of people: young and old, male and female, of different creeds and persuasion. This makes it a fascinating marketplace.

Advertising on the Internet
There are some significant differences from traditional advertising :
Viewing is active- the user has to search or click on a link to get to and within your site;
Use of multimedia;
Global audience - this includes some social groups with great spending power;
Ratio of advertising cost to market audience is much lower;
Entry cost is low and entry is easy - a presence on the Internet is not just the prerogative of large, wealthy corporations.

Advantages of using the Internet marketing:
Publicize your business;
Reach a world-wide audience at a relatively low cost;
Get the message across effectively using a variety of media;
Get a feel for markets abroad;
Research trends,
Gain business intelligence;
Identify partners and potential customers;
Promoting an image.

The decision to go online is an important one, not because it costs a lot but because of the potential it brings to your business. The nature of this advertising and trading medium makes it possible for your small business to break into the global marketplace and expand in ways you do not think possible before.

wkm@jademultimedia.co.uk
www.jademultimedia.co.uk