Sun Newspapers
By Maryan Pelland Another local business, an international manufacturing firm, this week reported an increase in significant orders. They attribute that increase to their Website. Recent surveys relating to the online marketplace underline what our clients say.
Cyberdialogue, in association with C+C Data, Inc. completed the first intensive national study relating to Internet business. According to NUA Internet Consultancy, the survey found that, "more than a quarter of small businesses online today attribute sales increases to their online presence."
It's interesting to note that 37% of small businesses actually conduct business online (as opposed to just putting up a billboard-type Website). They take orders by E-mail, by snail mail, by phone and by interactive CGI programs that permit prospects to request products or information by clicking on hot spots on the Website.
Experts project that by year-end, the 2.6 million small businesses online will be joined by another million. Half of all U.S. small businesses will be cyber-selling. Is Internet commerce effective? Well, the Annual Technology Forecast by Price Waterhouse projects business online will earn $434 billion dollars for participants by the year 2002. Do the math. That isn't a long way off in terms of forecasting and planning. The same source says that "business to business trading online doubles every 3 to 4 months."
Those businesses using the Internet effectively, growing their businesses and creating solid revenue streams, are not just international traders. They are not just huge corporations, and they are not engaged in any one particular type of business. Their success is largely attributable to commitments of time, money, and personnel to work with trained experts in a long-term program to create a Web presence.
These same business owners, those trading online, are also using the Internet to find what they need and want. It goes like this-80% go on line when they need information on products and services, 65% use E mail daily, 53% use the Web daily, 38% purchase products and services on line.
Now here's a most interesting punchline. NUA says, "This month in a speech delivered at InternetWorld, Jerry Yang, the founder of Yahoo, Inc., speculated that the huge growth projected for Internet commerce this year will be predominantly fueled by women."
Consider this: The World Wide Web, according to all the experts, is not the same type of medium as traditional public information media (radio, television, newspapers). Using it to your best advantage requires new skills, new ways of thinking, and expert assistance, or you are doomed to fail. Shelley Taylor and Associates, a group in Palo Alto California says, "Marketing managers still don't get it--their responses show a fundamental lack of understanding of the available technologies."
The experts agree, for the savvy businessperson looking to move dynamically into the 21st century, it is time to bring the Internet off the "maybe someday" list of priorities to the "it's time to be aggressive" list.
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