| How business can boom through internet - | | | | search-engine-friendly so that major search |
| Restaurant, an illustration | | | | engines like Google, Yahoo, and MSN pick up |
| | | | you website when visitors search for the |
| The internet has made a quantum leap since | | | | products and services offered by you. In a |
| the early days in the mid 90s. These days, a | | | | nutshell, the content should contain all the |
| typical user spends 4 hrs on an average | | | | necessary keywords that visitors usually type |
| browsing the internet as compared to zero a | | | | in the search box. |
| decade ago. Whether the business is big or | | | | |
| small, the importance of the internet in | | | | - Apart from putting up a good website, its |
| promoting the business can not be downplayed. | | | | promotion should also be taken care of. You |
| Despite this, it is really shocking to know | | | | can add links to directory services and other |
| that many businesses are still not using this | | | | websites to draw traffic to your website. |
| tool at all, and even though some are using | | | | Besides, you can submit articles related to |
| it but not effectively enough. The internet | | | | other websites and send regular newsletter. |
| has brought about a phenomenal change to the | | | | Just make sure that these articles are |
| landscape of advertising and become the most | | | | relevant to your products and services. This |
| sought-after medium of promotion in the | | | | is called link campaigning and it plays a |
| modern business. | | | | vital role in promoting your websites. It |
| | | | also builds and increases the loyalty among |
| Prudent businessmen always think in advance | | | | people which helps your business grow faster. |
| and keep up with the times in order to | | | | |
| sustain the momentum of the growth of their | | | | Don't be complacent if the going is great: |
| business. They keep track of the changes | | | | |
| happening in the internet landscape to remain | | | | There are many businessmen who are making |
| competitive. There are some points that the | | | | money at the present moment, but are |
| businessmen are supposed to be conversant | | | | undermining the importance of the internet as |
| with in order to feel at ease with this | | | | a potentially growing medium of |
| technology. They are as follows: | | | | advertisement. They must realize that there |
| | | | are hundreds of other companies coming up |
| Having a website is very inexpensive affair: | | | | every day with better service quality and |
| | | | cheaper price. So, what becomes crucial here |
| The cost of owning a website has become very | | | | is the way they promote their business in |
| affordable which costs anywhere from $300 and | | | | order to draw the customers. Hence, every |
| this is inclusive of domain name, emails etc. | | | | prudent businessman should understand the |
| The monthly hosting can cost anywhere from | | | | importance of internet marketing. |
| $10 and upwards depending on the type of | | | | |
| services. This, indeed, is very marginal as | | | | Although the above points are extremely |
| compared to putting and ad in the yellow | | | | crucial to the growth of your businesses, but |
| pages. | | | | the key is to find a vendor who is |
| | | | knowledgeable with ample designing experience |
| Let's say you are visiting a town and you are | | | | and savvy about Google, Yahoo and other major |
| looking for a local Chinese restaurant. You | | | | search engines. Make sure that the vendor is |
| have internet access in your hotel room and | | | | also able to meet your future needs such as |
| you do the natural thing and go to Google and | | | | customization of the website and help with |
| type 'Chinese restaurants in Minneapolis'. If | | | | online marketing as well as adding additional |
| your site is not listed on that page, you | | | | rich-features helpful to your site. |
| potentially lose a client and if you don't | | | | |
| have a website, you stand no chance. This is | | | | Ferdouse Khaleque is an IT Director & |
| just a simple example. | | | | Marketing Specialist for Semibase Inc. His |
| | | | company develops small individual websites to |
| If you have a website but it's not working: | | | | fully custom developed database driven |
| | | | websites. Some of Semibase services and |
| Remember - having a website is not enough. If | | | | products include the following; |
| it is not properly designed, it is just as | | | | |
| good as non-existent. Don't try to save money | | | | 1. - Full array of services - Web design, web |
| by putting up poorly-designed website by some | | | | hosting, custom design, online marketing, |
| novice web-developers. It might save you some | | | | ecommerce, online business development. |
| money for now, but it will cost you heavily | | | | |
| in the long-term. Consider the following | | | | 2. - Online directory of local restaurant |
| points while putting up your website: | | | | menus with full online ordering capability. |
| | | | |
| - The site should be easy to navigate and it | | | | 3. - Portal website for communities. |
| should contain all the essential information | | | | |
| you want to convey to your visitors. | | | | 4. Datingstage.com- Fully featured dating |
| | | | web-service with over 200K members. |
| - The content of the site should be | | | | |