1. Automate administrative business processes using your website
Most businesses have back end administrative processes that they
use to run their business. These processes often involve
customer input collected through registration forms, application
forms, surveys, and other tools. Use your website to automate
these processes by placing them online. By automating manual
administrative processes using your website, you'll reduce the
amount of time needed to manage this data, freeing you to focus
on more important things like sales and marketing.
2. Use your website to expand beyond your geography
The geographic reach of the internet is often overlooked. For
the first time, small businesses can compete nationally, even
globally, with much larger businesses. If your business is
geographically bound, you might think about offering a product
that is not. This can diversify your business and increase the
return on investment for your website.
3. Create and maintain a dialogue with your customer base
Take advantage of new communication tools the web provides like
forums, blogs and email marketing. Businesses that maintain a
dialogue with their customer base fare much better during
downturns. For example, you can use a company blog to share tips
and advice about running your business. By maintaining regular
contact with your customers, you remain on customers' minds
when they decide to buy again.
4. Take advantage of macro trends like "death of the phonebook"
These days, more people are using Google Maps to find local
services. Google Local (google.com/local/add) has the largest
reach. List your website with the local online directories. By
being listed on local directories, you can capture your share of
local searches at no charge and profit from the "death of the
phonebook."
5. Narrow your focus
If you are new to e-commerce, narrow your focus. Small business
owners often want to get all their products online and spend too
much initially getting started. Start with a small sampling of
your most profitable products. This will allow you to test the
waters for your product online. Once your website is producing
revenue, you can reinvest the profits to expand your website.
About Tem Balanco and OneWebHosting.com
Tem Balanco is co-founder and CEO of Sacramento, CA-based
OneWebHosting.com. Tem immigrated to the United States from South Africa in
1986. He has lived and worked in Sacramento, California, since that time.
In 1997, at the age of 25, Tem started UniqueWeb, offering custom web
design to Sacramento businesses. Although business was doing well, the
summer of 2001 brought the .com collapse and tighter budgets for design
clients. Tem joined forces with his brother, Tony Balanco, to found
OneWebHosting.com. They expanded the offerings of UniqueWeb by adding web
hosting services. And unlike other local web design companies that went out
of business that year, Tem and Tony quickly transitioned their focus and
continued and grew the business.
Today, OneWebHosting.com provides an all-inclusive solution for web design
and hosting. The company hosts over 10,000 small business customers
nationwide and in several countries including Mexico, Japan and the UK.
OneWebHosting.com is profitable, debt-free and focused on high-quality
customer service. All five of the company's employees and all servers and
equipment are located in OneWebHosting.com's Sacramento data center. More
information can be found at www.onewebhosting.com
Contact Information: Press Contact, only: Shana Graham Plat4orm PR, LLC Phone: 206.661.6336