posted
On the heels of my other (pet peeve) post another subject has come to mind. I know it has come up here before many times but the world is changing fast.
Is a web site worth the cost and effort? Has it proved to be an effective way to market your business?
More and more folks are using computers to source out suppliers all the time. Exponentially so.
I don't really care about casual surfers who come across our site... hit counts and traffic numbers don't concern me in the least. I'm concerned with how our site is accessed by people who are seeking suppliers and how our potential customers react to our information and pictures posted there.
For us, our web site is a valuable method of communicating information about our company and services we offer. It is our virtual brochure. Most of our customers are a distance from our physical location, most often hundreds or thousands of miles. Our customers arrive at our web site one of two ways....
One is through search engines. They type in key words and our site pops up. To get to the top of key word searches takes dilligence and knowledge. My son-in-law can take the credit on this one. He has spent considerable time to pull this off. I've seen the results and I'm a believer.
The other way our customers arrive at our site is from me sending them there. We get many referals from clients and the prospective customer phones or emails me and after a discussion (by phone) I send them to our site for information.
As our jobs and contracts are relatively large, the first "look" our prospective customers get of our company is absolutely critical. It is my first opportunity to prove to prospective clients that we can do what we say we can. And first impressions count for a lot.
I know that our web site is a cost effective way of marketing. We spend a couple of thousand dollars each year making it so. And it repays us a hundred times over.
In our experience, a web site which showcases a dynamic portfolio can be a great way to grow our business!
-dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8741 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
well now, this is a question that all good marketers would love to answer. Yes, a good website can make a diference. However it is not the all time definitive answer.
I use a marketing type web site for my business and a few others. I also use a measuring system to see who, what and where the web visitor looks at. Flying by the seat of the pants when it costs money is not smart. A good bizz person measures response and act accordingly.. Then I design a web page to match thier browsing.
It is good for an added percentage of customers who would not respond any other way, and it is used for informing (educating) potential clients too.
There are several catagories of web site. One is the vanity site and is self explained. You will notice this one by the words "welcome to" my website etc.
The next is the broshure site. Easily noticed by pictures and text and lots of flashy stuff..
There is a marketing site which can be very effective when the text is written correctly. (Rarely effective when done by the average web master)
Another is the web commerce site and is very expensive.
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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The address of my primary website have been messed up wiith by my IPS server change. the metatag was prety well positioned on search engines at that time ... now I have to start over i guest... anywayzz. A good metatag attract the search engines and a better attract more and more. You can rafine, target and try bring more specific peoples to visit your site.
My web site is from schatch and stuff starting around 1996 to 2003. I just adjusted the links...one is not yet working on the mustang page that I know.
It is in practical tool that clients and friends can use to visual. As a bonus, hits on an online-portfolio ... peoples browsing the web have become clients too!
Thanks for sharing your www thaughts
É
-------------------- Élaine Beauchemin scrip Lettrage Scripsit inc. St-Hubert, Quebec, Canada www.scripsit.net Posts: 1096 | From: Saint-Hubert, Québec, Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
From what I understand, is that our competition or a prospective employees hit the site more than clients. We do more of the trade show and associations route, be it themed entertainmaent shows, city trade shows, zoos, parks, shopping mall management, exhibits, architects, etc. The website enhances marketing, because most people do not want the sales pitch but the information. Everytime the company does a trade show, website traffic goes up. A full marketing effort takes more than a good website, geting out ther and hitting the streets and getting involved with associations involved with very large graphic projects seems to be where it works for us, we do our homework, and subscribe to just about every magazine looking for a chance to introduce ourselves. And we get and do work all over the world. Rick
-------------------- Rick Chavez Hemet, CA Posts: 1539 | From: Hemet,CA U.S.A. | Registered: Jun 2001
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Considering 99% (or more) of my work comes from my website, I'd say it's definitely worth it.
I can't even remember the last time I actually produced a job for a local, I'm sure it's been at least a year.
Of course, it's not all about hits and search engine results either, at least not like most people wish it was where it would allow them to sit back, do nothing, and let the orders roll in. It STILL takes marketing, ie: PROMOTION... networking.. building contacts and relationships. Every day I spend a few hours cruising truck related, car audio related and jetski related forums online (my hobbies, and also the markets I target).. Just like in real life, when you spend time talking with people on a "friend" level eventually they're going to find out what you do, and since everyone knows you now, they send their business your way as well as referring everyone else! I'm sure everyone here knows of the popular breakfast spot in their town - that place that looks like a dive but is always crowded - with the local moneymakers!! They arent there for breakfast, they're marketing!
Just like a local "bricks and mortar" business, your best web customers are also referrals! However, unlike a storefront location, the internet looky-loos and tire kickers are pretty interested in what you have to offer, otherwise they won't take the time to pick up the phone or email you. Don't blow those people off, they get offended when you don't answer their email!
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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Just since January of last year, one of our web sites brought us about $133,000 worth of business from existing and new clients. Not knowing the exact numbers, I think it would be fair to estimate that it cost us about 10% of that to develop it. So yes, a good web site can bring you good money And it doesn't have to look great, but it has to work correctly.
Havin' fun, Checkers
-------------------- a.k.a. Brian Born www.CheckersCustom.com Harrisburg, Pa Work Smart, Play Hard Posts: 3775 | From: Harrisburg, Pa. U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
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