Going Online - The Business Case

Thinking of going online?

The Internet has evolved into a powerful tool that allows companies to market and sell products to an online customer base which spans the globe. In the UK 70% of the population has access to the World Wide Web and worldwide this represents at 400 million plus audience.
If your business can tap into only a small percentage of this online community then the returns can be substantial. Businesses have two routes to achieve an online presence, get a professional web developer to produce a web site or use internal employees to build the site themselves.

The key to this decision is normally the cost involved, small companies may not be able to justify the initial investment in this, for them, unproven media. Even larger companies may balk at what they perceive as a large cost outlay for an indefinable return. The calculation for Return On Investment (ROI) is perhaps difficult to quantify when dealing  with a new advertising media or a new route to market.
Here are some questions that all businesses need to ask themselves.

• How much do we spend on advertising?
• How much do we spend on printed media? (Catalogues, brochures and leaflets)
• How many enquiries do our present marketing activities generate?
• What proportion of our sales are achieved by this marketing?

While we do not advocate that you replace all of your current marketing with an online approach, it is worth pointing out that a well thought out web presence can be the most cost effective method of finding new customers.

If you require specialist advice on any aspect of your offline marketing see our Marketing Advise section

What are the Benefits?

These can be defined as:

• An advert or online shop that is viewable or 'open' 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year.
• An incredibly large potential market.
• A platform that allows small companies to compete on a near level playing field with large corporations.
• A method for reducing ongoing operating costs. (Postage, phone bills and company time)
• A one off setup cost with small annual running costs.
• Better comunication routes with customers using email and online methods.

Using a Professional Developer

How to Choose a Developer

Choosing an ISP or Hosting Service