13 January 2010
General Advice to Business on an Internet Presence

Your Business Needs An Internet Presence

If you’re wondering or contemplating whether your business needs an “Internet Presence”, if you are struggling to understand or make sense of the various options available to you, don’t worry, you are not alone. Thousands of businesses are in the same situation. Hopefully after you have read this column it will help you understand the possibilities and make the right decision.

What Is An Internet Presence?

Many business people feel they need to get their business “on the Internet”. Often they aren’t sure exactly what this means, but think they should be doing it.

Being “on the Internet” or having an “Internet Presence” can be a bit vague and could and does mean many different things. I use the term “Internet Presence” to describe all or any of the possibilities, but more specifically, being “present” and visible on the Internet so that other people can find relevant
information about your business.
Here are some of the things your Internet presence might include:
• Access to the Internet
• E-mail address
• Website
• Listings in directories, search engines,
online phone books, etc
• Other communication tools

Do I Need An Internet Presence?

If you are in business of any kind, then I can guarantee you that some sort of Internet presence will benefit you and your business. It may be a full-blown e-commerce website, it may be a lower-cost alternative, it may be a simple listing in a directory or an email address, all of which can generate direct and indirect sales. In any case it makes sense to explore the options.

Can Using The Internet Save My Business Money?

Yes. The use of certain applications on the Internet such as email, which can generate cost savings on stationery, postage etc., telephony network applications, such as Skype which can result in high savings on telephone costs, and the use of Internet Marketing techniques, which are far more cost efficient than traditional marketing methods, can all contribute to lower operating costs for your business.

What if I Don’t Use the Internet?

You don’t necessarily need to be an Internet user to have an Internet presence, just as you don’t need to use the phone book to be listed in it. Just remember that most people now use the Internet as their main source of information for everything from telephone numbers to product sourcing. If you’re not there, you’re slowly becoming invisible if not invisible already.

Do I Need Email?

Do you need a postal address or a telephone? If not then maybe you don’t need an email address. Otherwise you certainly should consider it. Even if you’ve never needed an email address you may be surprised at how useful it can be.

Do I Need A Website?

There are many reasons to have a website, the most common being,
• To provide information about your business.

• You would like people to have a good chance of finding you on the Internet.

• You want your business to have a professional, credible and up to date image.

• You want to sell your product(s) or service(s) over the Internet.

• You would like to broaden your market place and reach new customers.

• You would like to compete with your competitors.

• Your customers expect it.

What Is A Website And What Is The World Wide Web?

A web page is a page or document normally written using a Markup Language containing formatting instructions which allow the correct and intended display of that page and its contents on a visitors computer. A website is a collection of connected or related web pages, addressed with a common domain name and hosted on a web server, enabling the website to be accessible via the Internet.

All publicly accessible websites collectively constitute the World Wide Web (WWW).

What's The Best Type Of Website For My Business?

In essence the type of website best suited to your business depends totally on your requirements. A website should not be defined by type but by your requirements and website objectives. The only restrictions or constraints on a website should be technology itself.

Some of the common primary objectives of a website include:
• Advertising your product(s) or service(s) online.

• Selling your product(s) or service(s) online.

• Providing online customer service and support.

• Providing online product, service or corporate information.

• Creating and establishing brand identity and brand awareness.

• Creating and establishing company identity and company awareness.

Your website objectives should fall under one or more, or even all of the above criteria. However, only you will know your requirements in full and may even have objectives or requirements that are not listed above and remember, the only restrictions or constraints on a website should be technology itself.

David Hanafin studied and qualified in computing, with the department of continuing education at the University of Oxford, in the Hilary Term of 2006, and is a member of the Irish Computer Society. He is a partner with Web Things - Web Designers Wexford