We’re all familiar with the websites of big businesses. But, the World Wide Web works for small businesses, too. Your small business can enjoy the same benefits that the big companies enjoy, helping you attract new customers and better serve the ones you have.
So why don’t more small business have websites? One reason many small businesses don’t have their own websites is that they’re afraid it will cost them a lot. This need not be the case, though.
One way to keep costs low is to work with an independent web developer, such as the Web Publishing Group. The Web Publishing Group is a “virtual company,” consisting of freelancers who come on board for a particular project and contribute only to that project. This helps us keep costs down, but since these freelancers are experienced professionals, the quality of their work is high. The result is that you get a lot of bang for your buck.
Another way we keep costs down is to use open-source software wherever possible. There is no charge for open-source software, and it can be as good or better than software that you’d have to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for. Since there is no charge for the basic software, we can put those funds to work on making it work better for your business.
A good example of open-source software is Phorum discussion group software. Discussion group, or bulletin board, software lets your customers communicate with one another or with your company via your website. This software is not only free for the asking, but also supported by dozens of developers and users around the world. We have it installed on several websites and find it to be both full-featured and solidly dependable.
Using low-cost or no-cost open-source software and professional freelancers allows us to keep costs low. You don’t have to worry about your website becoming a “black hole” into which you’ll pump funds with no payback. In addition, we’ll consult with you early on and help you determine what features will work for your business and what features won’t. That’s another way we help you keep costs down.
Features That Work for Your Business
So, what features should your business website have? It all depends on the type of business you have. For example, if your business is a consultancy, you probably don’t need shopping cart software. If you’re running a bookstore, however, a shopping cart may be essential. Below are some features that the Web Publishing Group can build into your website:
- Product and services catalog
- Online store
- Coupons
- Design portfolio
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ )
- Request for quote form
- Bulletin board
- Articles of interest
- Links to industry websites
- E-mail newsletter
- Newsroom
- Demonstration videos
Product and services catalog.
If you’re offering products or services, your website should include a catalog. If you have only a few products or services, a simple catalog built with static pages may be sufficient. If, however, you have a wide range of products, then a database-driven solution might be the best way to go.
Database-driven catalogs are easier to maintain than those built with static pages, and you can use the data in more ways, but the up-front costs are higher. The Web Publishing Group can help you choose the type of catalog that’s right for your business.
Online store.
If you sell directly to customers—or want to sell directly to them—then an online store could help you sell more. The online store will allow your customers to browse your product catalog and then order those products directly through your website. If you accept credit cards, the website will also verify the card and present you with all the relevant information. If you accept PayPal, your website will handle all the interactions with PayPal.
Coupons.
One way to attract customers to either your online store or your “bricks and mortars†store is to offer discounts coupons. Website visitors could print out the coupons and bring them in to your store, or if ordering online, type in a coupon code at an appropriate point in the checkout process. In either case, you get a new customer!
Design portfolio.
If you are a graphics designer, interior decorator, or home remodeler, then a design portfolio is a feature that your website should have. The design portfolio will allow you to show potential customers the work you have done for your existing customers, giving them the confidence that you can do the job for them, too. This section may also include testimonials from your existing customers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ ).
A list of frequently asked questions is a common website feature and is appropriate for any business. The FAQ list could include common questions about the products and services you offer, the hours that your retail store is open, how best to use the products you sell. The FAQ gives your customers easy access to the information they need, while saving you and your employees time you would normally spend answering the same questions over and over.
Request for quote form.
If you’re business is providing custom products or services, such as gardening services or furniture upholstering, then you might want to include a request for quote form on your website. This form will allow potential customers to quickly get quotes on your products or services. It would include spaces for all the information you need to properly quote a job as well as spaces for customer contact information.
Bulletin board.
This is a popular feature for those businesses that need to provide customer service after a sale. Customers can ask questions on the board, and other customers or your own support personnel can answer those questions. When used in this way, the bulletin serves as a knowledge base that both you and your customers can draw on. It will help your customers use your products better, as well as help you gain valuable information about your customers by interacting with them.
E-mail newsletter.
Another way to keep in touch with customers and potential customers is via an e-mail newsletter. The newsletter can include information about new products, applications of existing products, projects that your company has recently completed, and industry information. Newsletters can enhance the relationship your company has with its customers, making the relationship more valuable for both parties.
Articles of interest.
If your business relies on your expertise, you may want to write and publish a series of articles on current issues. For example, if you’re an intellectual property attorney, writing and publishing an article on the latest copyright law could help establish your credentials with prospective clients. If you’re a concrete contractor, an article describing the basics of paving will help educate and attract potential customers.
Also keep in mind that it’s possible to reprint articles from other sources, such as newspapers and trade magazines. You may have to pay a fee for this service, but often these fees are reasonable and do make your website attractive to potential clients and customers.
Links to industry websites.
This is another way to attract people to your website. Developing an interesting and useful set of links will help draw potential customers to your website and help educate them about the types of products and services you sell.
Newsroom.
In the newsroom, you would publish news and other information about your company. You would, for example, put press releases describing your new products in the newsroom. You would also include contact information for the person responsible for media relations. That way, when editors come looking for information about your company, it’s all in one easily accessible location.
Demonstration videos.
There are some messages that are better conveyed with a video than with text and pictures. For example, if you have a painting business, you may want to show prospective customers how you apply textured surfaces to walls. Sure, you could describe the process, but wouldn’t it be better to show them?
The Web Publishing Group can arrange not only to film your video, but to also adapt it for the Web. Visitors to your website will be able to download it and then play it in either the Real player or Microsoft Media Player.
WPG Offers Maintenance Services, Too
Finally, consider that a website is only as good as the information that it contains. Websites that are not maintained and updated regularly can quickly become public relations nightmares. That’s why the Web Publishing Group also offers website maintenance services.
By taking advantage of our maintenance services, you avoid the expense of having to train someone on your staff to do this work, and they can continue to do what they do best, be it accounting or marketing or engineering. Our maintenance services are professional and prompt because taking care of our customers is high on our priority list.
For More Information
For more information, and a free consultation on your website needs, call Dan Romanchik, Principal of the Web Publishing Group at 734-9390-6564, or send him an e-mail at danr@webpublishinggroup.com.