Archive for October, 2009
Is Your Business Being Left Behind in Cyber Dust?
Posted by: | CommentsLarge organizations have generally led the way in taking full advantage of using the internet and reap the benefits of establishing an online presence. The great news is that with the advances in technology it is becoming easier for small business to establish their own online presence. Small business is rapidly taking advantage and exposing their products and services to the worldwide online community.
Having a website and marketing your small business online has tremendous advantages. Every small business has an opportunity of competing on a level playing field with the larger corporations. For small businesses there are several advantages to having a website.
- A professional looking website can equally impress the website visitor as much as the larger company and can add credibility to your business.
- It can be an economical way to advertise your products especially when combined effectively with traditional advertising. There are many ways to promote you business online including audio and video presentations.
- Keep in contact with your customers. It has often been said that a potential customer will not do business until after the seventh contact. With the many auto responder systems out there generating customers by constant contact can be largely automated leaving you to run your business.
- Create surveys. By having a questionnaire or a poll in your website you can obtain the response of your customers and visitors about your new products or even about a product you are developing.
- Sell your products online. With over 350 million people worldwide shopping online, your business no longer caters to the local population. Small business easily has the ability to sell products to a large online community who have already demonstrated that they are willing to place orders online. There are many providers now that specialise in secure shopping systems. As they generally have a large customer base it is cost effective for the small business.
Your website will work for you, 24 hours a day. When you close your doors of your business your website can still provide information about your products and services generate leads and make sales. Imagine coming into your business and filling orders that had been generated while you were asleep.
The Internet is booming. People living thousands of miles away are now just a few clicks away. The younger generation is growing up downloading music, videos, chatting, selling in internet auctions and making online purchases. The older generation is starting to adapt to using the internet with many courses offered around the world to help use the internet effectively. Some of the older generation now believes that purchasing products online is a safer alternative to going out to shop alone.
A Small Business should capitalize on this and make its online presence felt thereby increasing its sales and profitability. Any business not having an online presence may spell disaster in the years to come.
Is Skype a Useful Communication Tool for Business?
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One of the great communication tools for business is Skype.
If you are not using Skype for your business then I hope I can persuade you to consider this great communication tool.
What is Skype?
Skype is basically another way to communicate by voice and video calls and instant messaging. It can be used in a variety of ways and there are several account options which can be changed at any time.
What do I need to start using Skype?
All that is needed to start using Skype is a computer with an internet connection and a microphone and speakers or a headset. If you want to make use of video calling then a webcam will be required. It is then a matter of setting up an account then downloading and installing Skype on your machine. Why use Skype in my business?
- Cost effective. Prices to use Skype range from free for computer to computer use to some very cost effective plans for calling both landline and mobile phones. Credit plans can be bought as a pay as you use option or for regular users there in the option to subscribe. Depending on your subscription plan you can call any landline in Australia or internationally for the one price. Here are the pricing details.
- Your business can easily look like an international enterprise. Even if you run a home based business it is easy to give it a global look and feel with the ability to purchase international phone numbers. A potential client based in England for example could call your UK number and you take the call wherever your home base would be. Imagine the international exposure that could give your business.
- You have the ability to connect with several people at once. Skype allows you to hold a conference call with several people. No bridge numbers, no expensive equipment – just add Skype contacts and phone numbers into a group call. You can even add someone to a call you are already on. Conference calling is free when it’s between Skype contacts, and charged at low Skype rates if it includes people on phones and mobiles.
- Instant Messaging. Like conference calling Skype allows you to send SMS Messages to groups of people at once.
- Record Conversations. Using Skype extensions such as Pamela or Pretty May conversations are able to be recorded. Of course this needs to be done in a lawful manner. Imagine the opportunities when you are able to do an interview with a supplier about a certain product or even to collect testimonials from clients. These can then be placed on your website as an audio file.
- It is a global contact tool. More and more people are harnessing the power of Skype whether for business or personal use. Skype gives you calling buttons that you can place on your site enabling people who are on Skype to contact you directly from their computer simply by clicking the link.
This is only a brief outline of the benefits of using Skype in your business but as it is free to start an account what is there to lose. Join the many businesses that currently use Skype as I do. Communication with the world is a click away.
Is small business aware of the internet.
Posted by: | CommentsRecently I had the opportunity to set up a Wordpress site for two small business clients who did not even know how to directly find a website or navigate a site let alone how to down load a document. What they did know was that they needed to establish an online presence even though they were unsure how it worked.
After their site had been set up, I had the task of not only helping them to update their site, but how to find it in the first place. I am happy to say that not only can they now use their browser but can also now update their site by adding copy and images. I will show them videos at a later stage.
At first I agonised at the difficulty of the task, but then came the pleasure of seeing these people who had been in business for a long time now moving to the next phase and embracing, even showing some excitement about what an online presence can do for them.
My specialty is to help small business to establish an online presence and coming from a traditional business background I can understand the apprehension of some business owners. However my experiences with the above mentioned small business people has shown me, that the need to establish an online presence is being recognized.
Even small business’s that don’t even vaguely understand the internet are aware of the importance of owning their piece of real estate in cyber space.
