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To have an online presence |
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In 2006, 78% of adults regularly accessed the internet and 28% of businesses used it to make purchases (source: Webworld Bureau of Statistics). Various estimates suggest there are over 300 million people worldwide with access to the web and this number is growing on a daily basis. If you are not tapping into the potential of the internet, it is likely your competitors are. |
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To open up wider geographical demand for your products and services |
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Of all the survey respondents who used their website to sell goods and services over the internet, 54% of them were selling (source: Sensis E-Business Report 2004).
The internet has increased the geographic reach of businesses - think of all the additional business you could be tapping into. This is especially relevant for regional businesses who have a limited demand in their local area. |
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To cut business operating costs |
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Instead of clients having to call in and ask questions about your business and its offerings, you can have them answered on your website, saving valuable staff time. |
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To increase your hours of operation |
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With a site that allows consumers to research and/or purchase products and services online, you are giving them the option of interacting with your business when it suits them, even if your store is not open. In this regard, the internet also enables you to sell across time zones and geographical boundaries (see point 2 above). |
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To cut marketing costs |
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Compared to many traditional forms of advertising and promotion (TV, radio, press etc), the web is a highly accountable way to promote your business. For the cost of professionally developed website and search engine marketing campaign, you can be targeting consumers exactly at the point when they are ready to buy. |
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To measure your return on marketing spend more closely |
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The structure of the internet allows you to track very closely the types of visitors your website is attracting, where from and when, and what pages they are looking at and for how long. This information allows you to measure the impact of online and offline campaigns (how much additional website traffic was generated the week you ran your radio ads) and can inform your total marketing strategy. |
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To release time sensitive or regularly changing information |
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With a professional content management system, you choose when you wish to make information available to your clients and prospects, as well as other stakeholders such as investors and the media. Unlike printed material that can quickly become out of date, your website can be updated in real time to ensure that everyone that needs to know can access the latest information. |
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Because your competitors are |
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In 2002, 33% of businesses with 5-19 employees, 51% of those with 20-99 employees and 80% of those with 100+ employees had a website (source: Webworld Bureau of Statistics). In any given year, approximately 15% of businesses are considering getting a website for the reasons listed on this page. If your competitors are there, you should be too! |
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To create credibility |
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Even if you are a small enterprise, a well designed website will demonstrate to prospects and your clients that you are a professional organisation willing to service an online clientele. It also allows you to compete with much larger organisations by expressing your goals and values with clarity and immediacy. |
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To inform your staff |
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Organisations with staff that work in remote locations or from home will benefit from the ease with which they can communicate with employees using their website. Public and private information can be accessed in real time and can often be the deciding factor during a sales presentation.
Your employees will also have a greater sense of job satisfaction when information is communicated regularly in this manner. |
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