Archive for May, 2008
I Am a Small Business Owner, So I Don’t Need a Web site
Posted on May 4, 2008 10:21:00 PM
[NOTE: This article was written in response to actual conversations between small business owners and our Web design and development firm.]
Hello. My name is Mr. Smallbiz Owner, and I own A Small Company in a smallville town USA. My shop has been in business for a number of years, at least since the 1990s. I have recently been approached by many representatives of Web design and development firms, trying to sell me on all the reasons as to why I, the small business owner of one shop in my local region, really needs a Web site in this day and age of the 21st century and how my small business cannot possibly survive any longer without a business Web site.
I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss the top 10 reasons why I as a small business owner do not need a Web site for my small business. Here are my simple explanations for why I feel the way that I do.
1. First, I have a solid client/customer base with good business relationships.
I don’t really need any more work; heck, I can’t even handle any more customers and I don’t want my business to grow in revenue anymore. My current customers provide me with all the work I will ever need. They aren’t going anywhere.
Besides, my current customers will never look at my Web site anyways; they know all there is know about me and my small business. All of them know we are here in smallville town USA. I don’t need anybody calling me because they saw my Web site online. I have more than enough residual income for my family to last one good year.
2. A Small Company will never be challenged by other competitors in my smallville town.
My small business is unique and nobody else does the same thing in this industry just like I do. Because A Small Company has been in this local area for so many years, we are known as the experts in our field and will always be known as the experts in the industry. We don’t need to learn anything new in our industry, because our industry hardly ever changes at all. Our customers will never go elsewhere to find other small businesses like us; they will always continue to go to us for their needs in this smallville town.
3. Word of mouth and referrals has always worked the best for me.
Our customers constantly refer their friends, relatives and colleagues over to us, and the potential customers that call me don’t even bother to ask me if I have a Web site. They usually ask me to mail them a brochure and a business card instead.
4. I am still in business today even though I do not own a Web site.
I am very confident I will continue to be in business for many years to come. No other competitors will move in or near me, and my nearest competitors are too far away for my customers to drive, so they would rather come shop with me, Mr. SmallBiz Owner, at A Small Company. My current customer base will always continue to shop at my small business only; they will never move away, never grow old and will never be without the need of my products or services.
5. I belong to several local professional business and networking organizations.
I am a member of my local chamber of commerce and the local Better Business Bureau and other business networking groups. All of the organizations I belong to provide me with enough leads on a daily or weekly basis, even though I have to pay an annual fee to remain a member of these groups. As a result of these memberships and affiliations, I will never have a need for a business Web site design. These organizations even help me with finding additional potential partnerships and professional alignments on a continual basis.
6. Most intelligent older people never look at Web sites anyways.
They are just too busy and could care less of the contents and images available on my Web site. They simply aren’t curious and the majority of people in the United States don’t own computers in their homes or offices to look A Small Company up online. They would rather spend the time out of their hectic lives to jump into a car, weave in and out of heavy traffic trying to find my small business in smallville town, look through the hundreds of similar products in my store, stand in our long lines to cash out when purchasing these products with their screaming kids by their sides and get back in their cars to head back home in equally heavy traffic. What if I don’t have what they need? Oh well. Let them just get back in their cars and spend more time driving around looking for that product elsewhere in smallville town. I don’t care about their business.
7. I already have a brochure I developed 5 years ago.
I still have plenty of other brochures left on my shelf at A Small Company, and it is still fairly up to date. In order to save myself money on advertising and marketing costs, I will first use these brochures up on my existing customers whenever they come into my store. When I eventually run out of brochures, I can always just use my printer to print our weekly specials in black and white ink; my customers don’t care about the presentation of my marketing materials anyways. Why would they care about my Web site presentation either?
8. Web design and development is just another way companies try to grab your hard-earned dollars.
Web design and development firms don’t care about me, Mr. SmallBiz Owner or my small business in smallville town. They are just trying to sell me a Web site by pushing false information about my local competitors and my industry, and using scare tactics to get me to buy into the whole Web site design concept. They keep trying to tell me what my prospects and customers need and expect out of me and A Small Company. I just chuckle and laugh it all off. To think that they know more about my customers than I do is absolutely absurd!
9. I am very visible in my local target market.
Everybody with whom I want to do business knows about me and A Small Company located in smallville town USA. They can easily find me through any of the millions of local yellow pages I pay a monthly fee for, because everybody who is anybody solely looks for any products and services in their local yellow pages. It is the latest and greatest piece of marketing and advertising ever created. It has a very high level return on investment, it is very affordable and I can easily track who finds me through the yellow pages.
10. Lastly, Web sites are strictly for large corporations that provide services and products throughout the United States or worldwide.
I only own one small business store in smallville town America; therefore, a Web site has too broad of a reach. Besides, why would I care about reaching potential customers across the United States? The local customers I have now will definitely provide me with more than enough income to support my family for many years to come. Should I ever decide to market to potential customers across America, I can always pay for classified ads in newspapers in all 50 states. Because I never surf the Internet, I am very confident my customers don’t either. The Internet is only comprised of kids and teenagers, and they are not my target market for my small business.
Holidays In Orlando Florida
Posted on May 4, 2008 10:13:01 PM
A little known citrus farming center called Orlando was paid a visit the 1960s by a gentleman called Walt Disney who started buying land on the outskirts of the town.
The remainder of that story is now history and by 1971, that land had become Walt Disney World. Today, Orlando has a resident population of approximately 200,000 people and visitor numbers swell that figure into the many millions.
The words “Orlando, Florida” immediately conjure up images of fairy tale palaces, thrill rides, theme parks and Disney characters loved the world over. The combination of the “big 3″ Orlando entertainment parks of Walt Disney World, Sea World and Universal Studios have no equal anywhere else in the world.
Located on the the outskirts of Orlando, the towns of Lake Buena Vista and Kissimmee are home to most of the major entertainment park attractions. It’s no surprise that the accommodation industry generates a major portion of the Orlando economy and that it employs a high percentage of the local population.
The nearby towns of Winter Haven and Altamonte Springs offer a change of pace from the hustle and bustle of Orlando and the parks. Their quiet rural charm and sedate pace provides a glimpse back to the time before the area became the home of the world’s best known entertainment parks.
** Orlando Hotels And Resorts
Orlando has more beds to service the tourist industry than any other USA city except for Las Vegas. Orlando is the fifth most popular USA city for travelers visiting from overseas. It is not surprising that the accommodation industry represents a major portion of the Orlando economy and employs a high percentage of the local population.
Visitors are spoiled for choice when it comes to Orlando accommodation and every taste is catered for in every price range. From themed luxury hotels, fantasy resorts, exclusive golf resorts, condominiums, vacation rentals, bed and breakfasts, backpacker hostels to luxury villas, it’s all available in and around Orlando.
The parks have several entrances which can be separated from each other by quite a distance, so selecting accommodation near the best gate for you can be an important consideration. Orlando accommodation is often named for proximity to a particular theme park (Universal) or a particular gate (main gate east etc)
** Orlando Transport
At least 35 airlines and just as many charter operators fly into Orlando International Airport with the bulk of these flights being Delta which accounts for around 25% of the flights that originate in approximately 160 different cities.
Other airlines serving Orlando are America West, American, Air Canada, British Airways, Continental, Northwest and US Airways. The Orlando Airport website provides and excellent page about airport shuttle services and city transport.
Amtrak is the USA rail service and it operates to and from Orlando with connections to many of the surrounding towns such as Kissimmee, Sebring, Winter Haven, Sanford and Ocala.
The I Ride trolley service is an excellent way to get around the International Drive Resort precinct. The LYNX bus service covers the downtown Orlando metropolitan area and surrounding cities.
The main highway through Orlando is I4, running directly from downtown Orlando to the Disney area. If you plan on driving in Orlando, be prepared for traffic, especially at rush hour.
Build Web Page Which Is Effective
Posted on May 4, 2008 10:00:39 PM
There are a few critical places in building a web page (http://www.buildyoursite.com/) where you must make the right decision, or you’ll have to repeat this task again and again until you get it right. The better you grasp these essential points, the better your web page will work and the happier camper you’ll be.
As a website builder, make sure you know what the project can do for you. If you are the owner of a business, you want to maximize your business opportunities. But if you are an employee who just has to get the job done, you may want to stick to something basic that will please the boss and not cause any headaches. And if your a volunteer, you may want to use this as a chance to increase your skills and do a good deed.
Make sure the needs of the business or organization are met when you build web page (http://www.buildyoursite.com/). Develop a brand identity and help potential clients and customers to find out who you are and what you do. An online brochure is a good way to start.
You’re trying to enhance your brand or organization image. But this is very legitimate for some kinds of companies, especially local businesses or organizations that aren’t trying to conduct national or international commerce. You want people to know who you are, what you do, where to find you, and how to contact you.
A good strategy is to provide product information that will improve local sales of your goods and services. Car sites are a good example. Car companies don’t often sell their cars through the internet, but they guide people to local dealers. You can also sell advertising, but right now, there is more space than ads to fill it.
Though the industry is improving, internet advertising is rather under-priced. Sites that are portals for many other sites may be able to sell some advertising space, but this should not be a counted on form of revenue. Instead, view the revenue from advertisement space sales as a bonus.
Construct a web page and become an Internet direct seller of products or services. You want to engage in e-commerce and sell to a domestic or worldwide market. You will have a system for ordering one or more products, or maybe you will feature an in-depth online catalog. Your online service may offer delivery over the Internet, or it may be initiated online.
Build web page (http://www.buildyoursite.com/) and earn affiliate commissions for sales and leads generated through links on your web page. Savvy marketers are building micro sites designed to generate search engine traffic for a particular hot product or service. When a visitor clicks on one of their links, he is referred to an e-commerce site, and, if a sale results, the affiliate gets a commission. Perhaps a form on your site generates leads or subscriptions for another company.
What You Need To Know For Finding a Designer Handbag
Posted on May 4, 2008 09:51:24 PM
If you’re a fashionista (aka - fashion victim) who’s constantly keeping up with the up-to-the-minute trends, chances are you have a designer handbag or two. But, if you’re a fashion admirer on a budget, it might be somewhat challenging to find handbags that you can afford. Here are some sites and stores you’ll want to investigate, as well as some tips for shopping if you are hoping to find the best deals.
The internet destination Exluxury has an excellent selection for you to select from if you’re looking for upscale designer handbag brands. You’ll find designs from Versace, Louis Vuitton, and Dior, as well as an excellent shoe and fragrance selection. The site has everything you require in order to stand out in a crowd and produce your own personal fashion statement, and you’ll even be capable of choosing a signature scent–which all fashionistas should have.
Additional Handbag Resources
If you’re looking for a large designer handbag selection, you’ll also want to check out the internet destination Handbagcrew. There are a great deal of styles to select from, and you can even find wallets for men on the site. Brands like Marc Jacobs, Burberry, Prada, and Fendi are featured, and you will probably save money by shopping on the site, because the prices are more affordable than in most department stores.
There are even Prada messenger bags that you can use for work or school, and the designer book bags from Prada are fashionable and convenient as well. There are also gift certificates available on the site if you wish to give a loved one the chance to shop at this place, but aren’t quite certain which item(s) to purchase for them.
Mixing and Matching
When you’re trying to locate a designer handbag, it’s best to buy one that will go with just about everything in your closet. Black or brown bags are ordinarily best, because you can wear them with anything from a business suit, to a t-shirt and jeans. In addition, you want to make sure that you buy a bag that is large enough to fit all the items in it that you will need for the day. Small bags are generally used for evening wear, and despite the fact that you are buying a designer handbag, you want to make sure that it will work for you and your lifestyle.
The eBay stores also have excellent handbags for you to browse online. Brands like Isabella Fiore and Chanel are featured at some online stores, and you can name your price, which actually means you are less likely to squander your money. If you want to buy more than one handbag at a time, you might also wish to check out the internet destination Handbagwholesalelist for a wholesale designer handbag list. Happy shopping!
Getting Started In Online Freelance Writing
Posted on May 4, 2008 09:37:01 PM
The online market is as robust as it has ever been. And this time around, unlike the late 90’s, companies are actually putting money in their web sites.
In 2004 Google had 4.28 billion pages in its database .The real figure of the number of web pages on the internet is predicted to be closer to 14 billion pages. Can you estimate how many writers would be needed to write this colossal amount of information?
On the Internet “Content is king”. The whole internet economy functions on content. There are informational websites, websites selling products , news portals, blogs , forums and the basis of all of them are words….that’s where writers come in.
As of March 2007, approximately 1,114,274,426 people worldwide use the Internet, according to Internet World Statistics. This number is expected to grow much more. As of 2006 only 15.6 % of the world population had access to the internet.
Fasten your seat belts: You are at the right place at the right time! The future of freelance writing is on the Internet and in company Websites.
The best thing that ever happened to freelance writers may be the demise of the typewriter. As typewriters died - and computer keyboards and the Internet thrived - a world of opportunity opened for people who write for a living, says Peter Bowerman, an Atlanta-based author of The Well-Fed Writer: Financial Self-Sufficiency as a Freelance Writer in Six Months or Less.
Back in 1991 a published author once remarked that you could expect an average 70 rejections when you could write something and send it for publishing, whether you are a newbie or a seasoned pro.
Using traditional methods such as direct mail, cold calling, networking… all took a lot of time and drastically reduced the income. The Internet made the freelancer’s life much easier. You can communicate with your client sitting in your pajamas.
Most of the freelance writers who make great money at it these days have diversified their client bases away from print media and toward the world of ecommerce. As a result, when you’re just getting started, the best place to collect a writing paycheck is online.
The freelance industry is literally booming. Sixty billion dollars of work is now outsourced to specialists worldwide. According to the US Department of Labor, “35 million Americans class themselves as independent professionals.”
In the past three years, companies have increased their outsourcing by 22%. A survey conducted predicted that companies using freelance services will more than double from 20% to 50%. Being part of a $120 billion industry won’t be bad!
Freelance writing is a competitive field as it is today. There are many people joining hands from around the globe and this means, services given away for competitive prices. Employers or buyers (as they are commonly known) prefer outsourcing their writing jobs because it is a way of reducing the employee tax they ought to bear and other responsibilities they’d have towards formal employees.
Here’s a prediction.With the ways things are moving the freelance industry will only increase in size and scope. Keep on the lookout where you can make your mark!
Hello world!
Posted on May 3, 2008 12:09:15 AM
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