Internet Strategy - Web Presence Strategy
Stage 1 - Brochureware
In Stage 0, you have a Web Site (and email). You may or may not be completely "branded" to your domain. For example, your website domain name may not exactly match your company name or products. E.g, you run a catering business, but your domain name is the free domain from your ISP. (http://www.someisp.net/~i_cater)
In Stage 1, you are just getting started, and IF you have a website name (and matching email domain), then your content is not easily updated.For example, in order to update your menu's you need to update or re-upload all the files on your website.
In this stage, you are probably content that you have a presence, and to that point you are accurate - BUT, its a good practice to match the business that you are in with the domain name. Also, by branding your domain or email with your ISP, or not matching it with your domain name, will cause confusion among customers. (Who is this email ? Why doesn't it match the business? )
In this stage, you are "testing the water" and determining if this venture into uncharterd territory is paying off - but how? What metrics will you be using?
A few things to "note" about the internet and to understand with regards to Internet Strategies Business and Marketing.
- What is your goal of using the internet or web?
- How will the internet aid in my business?
- How do I validate its success or failure?
- Is the attempt fair? or is my attempt setting me up for failure ? (How are people going to find me? )
At Contraba Technologies, we will walk you through the technology, and we will partner with you until you are comfortable with the "technology". We will not pressure you into contracts, or high monthly expenses. We will not sell you something that is overkill or wil not address your concerns or provide the appropriate solution.
We will review your requirements, and will be honest with your expectations.
In response to the above concerns:
- Just send Contraba Technologies your contact information - we will contact you, and discuss what your expectations are, and determine the best fit for your direction. We will also try to help set your expectations realistically.
- Contraba Technologies, we beleive the internet (or web) can really give a boost to overall business improvements - but not in every case. Some examples of success-like situations would be those where a caterer could provide booking, pictures and menus. A mechanic can schedule appointments and basic do-it-your-self tips. A Painter can provide a portfolio of tips and success stories.
- In most cases, a web presence does help - But, to be a successful business planner, you need numbers or emprical data to prove or disprove a theory.Some examples, would be numbers on how frequent the caterer receives requests generated from the web, and what is the "quality" of those requests. Same would stand for the painter and mechanic.
- The way potential clients will find you are: a) Word of mouth b) Advertising C) Phone Book / Luck. If you want clients to find you, your website name should match your business. Advertising helps - if you properly target your potential client base. Phone book and luck - well, not much to say there. With regards to the Internet, clients will find you via word-of-mouth, advertising or through search engine query. Additionally, another reason to have the website name match your business, is when clients search using Google or Yahoo, to find your business, it will help if the name and/or business match (it helpls build reputability)!
Note: The extent of the commitment is very important - and this is HOW the users will find your website. By placing a sign on an untravelled road and counting the number of visitors is not a fair comparison. Fill out the Contraba Technologies contact information, so that we can "move" that sign from the untravelled road to a road that is well travelled.
We hope that we have answered some of your questions.
Please check out the rest of the stages of our Internet Strategy.
Also, fill out the Contact-Us form, so that we can connect, and discuss a strategy for you.
