INTERNET STRATEGIES FOR BUSINESS

 Notes taken from SBDC Seminar given by Thomas Industrial Network at Gannon 2004.  (Links updated by maggiesworld.com 2006.)

• Thomas Industrial Network, thomasnet.com  is the new name for Thomas Register that was the prior resource for industrial references.
• 90% of buyers visit the web and eliminate potential suppliers before they ever think of picking up the phone.
• HOW CAN BUSINESSES EFFECTIVELY USE THE INTERNET TO GROW THEIR BUSINESS? 
  1.  Internet/web  is NOW business, not future, or "when it can be worked in to the business plan."
  2.  DEVELOP A MARKET STRATEGY THAT:
       1.  GENERATES QUALIFIED TRAFFIC
       2.  CONVERTS TRAFFIC TO CUSTOMERS: BUSINESS VERSUS GAWKERS
  
• Assure that the web designer has the ability to convert
  1.  primary focus should not be to reduce cost by using family or friends
  2.  when asked about the status of their web sites, common answer was:
  being redesigned; being updated; thinking of working on it; existing web site made by employee or friend.
  3. content is the web site separator
      * web site must visually display your product message
      *all seminar web site examples showed the plant site, the owners or other's
        qualifications; need to show what is being sold.
      *On average, you have 5 to 8 seconds to captivate a visitor with the website; 
        after that they have moved on.
  4.  44% of buyers who don't find what they are looking for on a web site never come back to it.
  5.  several examples showed that: customers do not talk to their suppliers as much as previously;
  use the internet before the phone.
  6.  must use tracking software to measure results; readily available
• search engine optimization is not static: ranking use changes frequency, hits and web  site size
• Google/Yahoo/MSN are the most frequent used engines
  
  

INTERNET RESOURCES
 

*  Fed Stats: Regional Statistics - www.fedstats.gov 
    Information provided: demographic information for market research.

* U. S. Gazetteer - www.census.gov/cgi-bin/gazetteer
   Information provided:  demographic information for market research in individual cities

* Digital Daily Welcome - IRS    www.irs.gov 
  Information provided: tax forms and publications you can print and use

* American Express Small Business Exchange  www.americanexpress.com/smallbusiness
   Information provided: business planning, promotion, news, tax guide, etc.

* Inc. Magazine  www.inc.com 
  Information provided:  contains various articles dealing with small business issues

* Dun & Bradstreet  www.dnb.com/
  Information provided: small business services and marketing tips

*SOHO Guidebook  www.toolkit.cch.com
  Information provided:  business owner's tool kit containing information on starting a business,
  business planning, marketing tips, marketing a business, and tax information.

* Digital Women  www.digital-women.com   (added by maggiesworld.com - webmaster)
  Information provided: An online organization of women in business. Free resources and
  networking. Paid membership gives access to thousands more resources.