WEB FACTS ...you should know    WHAT DO THESE COMPANIES KNOW THAT OTHERS DON'T? A recent study by IDC has found that small businesses (less than 100 employees) using the Internet are commanding average revenues of $3.79 million, compared to those offline whose average revenue is $2.72 million.  That's a 28% jump in revenue, yet only 30 percent consider the Web an important part of their business strategy! Alarmingly, most small businesses still do not understand the potential and the importance of the Internet as a means of increasing business reach, according to a report by the Yankee Group.  If your company falls into this percentage of small businesses, read on. IT'S ABOUT TIME... In today's busy world, time has become a precious commodity.  A recent survey conducted by Business Marketing shows that people are on a mission to find what they want quickly and conveniently.  These shoppers are focused!  They go to Web sites eager to be convinced and want facts, not hype.  They come with high hopes of finding what they are looking for and don't appreciate being disappointed by useless information. Of those surveyed, 98% said convenience is a prime motivation, while 84% said they also go online to save time. 93% say they look for specific information to help them decide which brand to buy and where to buy it. They compare service and pricing, and a healthy 64% said they made a high-ticket retail purchase based on online information. These web-driven retail purchases range from cars - 25% of new car buyers consult the net before deciding their purchase - to appliances and even real estate. Bells and whistles are nice, but simplicity is better.  This means easy navigation, quick downloads and information worth their visit.  They will take the time to read your site if it pertains to what they are researching. Other Pertinent Facts A Shop.org report shows that the US online retail market is growing at a rate of more than 200 percent per year. Seventy percent of Web surfers polled visit a travel related site.  If you're located in a tourist area, does your current advertising pull in customers from other areas? There are 150 MILLION PEOPLE ONLINE WORLDWIDE 87 MILLION ARE IN THE U.S. AND CANADA How big is your current customer base? The Web is a powerful way of getting word out to people locally, as well as internationally.  A properly designed site will augment your existing advertising to expand your customer base at a fraction of the cost of printed media by allowing you to publish more information in unique ways. · Home · Facts · Services · Portfolio · Inquiry · Directory · E-Mail · Copyright © 1996-2000 Melinda Young.  All Rights Reserved.