Presentation by Judy Yorimoto Copyright 1999

How can small business owners here in Hawaii expect to be visible when there are so many web sites now in existence?

Why, do I need a web site? Electronic not Paper! Electronic not Paper! Do business at the speed of light! Do business at the speed of light! Why the Internet? Why the Internet? It’s better, faster, and cheaper! It’s better, faster, and cheaper! It can save you $$ if you learn how to use it. It can save you $$ if you learn how to use it. It’s just like a tool. Its a utility. It’s just like a tool. Its a utility. “You don’t need to own a computer “You don’t need to own a computer –to benefit from the Internet.”

Identify your niche! Make building and maintaining your web site a priority! Select a domain name Choose a descriptive URL.

Register an easy to remember name. (URL) Register your domain name through Network Solutions. Register your domain name through Network Solutions. example: I also own I also own You can register.com or.net. You can also use.cc., etc. You can register.com or.net. You can also use.cc., etc. Register another catchy URL. Register another catchy URL. example: example:

10 Dynamic Components Strong identity Strong identity A professional look A professional look Obvious credibility Obvious credibility Superb graphic design Superb graphic design Easy clear text Easy clear text Ease of navigation Logical navigation Accurate information Working links Fast loading

What’s your hook? Keep adding new features, promise to keep them current. Keep adding new features, promise to keep them current. Web site usefulness Web site usefulness Value-added services Value-added services Special features Special features Unique appeal Unique appeal Keep it up to date. Keep it up to date. Ask them to bookmark it. Keep it creative. Start your own mailing list. Start an on-line newsletter. them your promotions

Get Active! Learn how to use your net tools Learn how to use your net tools Start checking out the net Start checking out the net Subscribe to on-line newsletters or newsgroups Subscribe to on-line newsletters or newsgroups Create your own unique ideas to keep your visitors coming back for more. Create your own unique ideas to keep your visitors coming back for more. – send out your URL address – send out your URL address Ask for referrals, ask them to recommend it! On-line Forms Auto responders Subscribe to On-line newsletters Search engines Use the best programs Use knowledgeable people Signatures

tips or advice tips or advice gift with purchase gift with purchase downloads / samples downloads / samples Try it for Try it for Buy one get one Buy one get one

Have a Grand Opening! Its similar to opening any new business. Its similar to opening any new business. Self promote! Advertise it! Self promote! Advertise it! Print your URL everywhere. Print your URL everywhere. Give out your URL to everybody. Give out your URL to everybody. A URL is better than a telephone number. A URL is better than a telephone number. Give them your address as well. Give them your address as well. Write a press release. Mail, fax or it. Write a press release. Mail, fax or it. Make your site newsworthy. Make your site newsworthy.

Don’t prejudge your customers. Build a relationship with your existing customers and new visitors. Build a relationship with your existing customers and new visitors. The secret to good customer relations: The secret to good customer relations: Try a direct mail campaign. Try a direct mail campaign. –Ask for feedback on your web site. Get your customer’s address. Get your customer’s address. Target your market. Target your market. Guarantee customer satisfaction. Guarantee customer satisfaction. Encourage your customers to give you referrals. Encourage your customers to give you referrals.

Direct Traffic To Your Web Site Meta Tags are what the majority of search engines use in order to find out what your site is about. Meta Tags are what the majority of search engines use in order to find out what your site is about. Goal: to be among the first ten results of any given search involving your keywords. Goal: to be among the first ten results of any given search involving your keywords. Choose relevant keywords. Choose relevant keywords. Check your competitor’s keywords. Check your competitor’s keywords. Use keyword phrases then fine tune them. Use keyword phrases then fine tune them. Submit and test your keywords. Submit and test your keywords. Submit Your Web Site to the Search Engines

Banner Advertising Can be expensive ( a hit!). Can be expensive ( a hit!). –Perhaps negotiate a banner exchange. Get other web sites to point a link to your web site. Get other web sites to point a link to your web site. Set up a link exchange or pay a linking fee. Set up a link exchange or pay a linking fee. *Get listed in the yellow pages INTERNET GUIDE

It’s about sites and pages linked together. The more links that connect to your web site, the more people will visit you, and the more successful you will become. Links to other information gives you credibility.

How can the average small business “mine” the Internet – use it as another means to attract business & or serve customers?

Think Globally Once connected to the Internet you have access to a world of ideas and information. Once connected to the Internet you have access to a world of ideas and information. And much of it is free!

Imagine Broadening Your Customer Base To include all outer islands, the US and then international customers as well. To include all outer islands, the US and then international customers as well. Open for business, 24 –7, everyday and holidays! Open for business, 24 –7, everyday and holidays! is the best and most inexpensive communication utility. is the best and most inexpensive communication utility.

Time is Valuable! Snail mail is a time robber. Snail mail is a time robber. Fax your order? Fax your order? Telephones cost $$$ Telephones cost $$$ Example: What if the products you sell are ordered from the mainland? Example: What if the products you sell are ordered from the mainland? Remember e not p! Remember e not p!

What if your vendors are on-line? An on-line company will have an on-line order form. –Example: the order will be ed directly to fulfillment its shipped ASAP. What if your company is on-line? –Perhaps your fulfillment house is at a different location. – saves time and money even off the rent. –Small office front, with a warehouse out back.

E-Commerce Payments are automatically deposited into your bank account. Payments are automatically deposited into your bank account. You get with confirmation of the order and the sale. You get with confirmation of the order and the sale. Save more time for you and your customer. Save more time for you and your customer. Serious about doing business on the net? Your web site will need a reliable on-line payment processing service.

Analyze Your Web Site Daily analysis of your web site traffic is the most important part in its regular maintenance but its also extremely valuable in promotion.

What advice do you have for the entrepreneur who is trying to decide if a web site is worth the time or expense for their business?

If You Plan To Do Business In The Year 2003 You need to be on-line ASAP! You need to be on-line ASAP! You must have a strong positive attitude and the desire to make it the best. You must have a strong positive attitude and the desire to make it the best. You need to learn how it can benefit you and your customers now. You need to learn how it can benefit you and your customers now. Your business will determine the shape of your web site. A simple web page or a virtual store, maybe even a mall. Your business will determine the shape of your web site. A simple web page or a virtual store, maybe even a mall.

What do I like about the Internet? It saves me time. It saves me time. It saves me money. It saves me money. LESS STRESS! LESS STRESS! It is improving the quality of my life! It is improving the quality of my life! New business opportunities. New business opportunities. New friends. New friends. Endless information available at my fingertips! Endless information available at my fingertips!

Remember To always back up your site! To always back up your site! You’re in control. You can always CLICK it off! You’re in control. You can always CLICK it off! You don’t have to design and manage your web site. You don’t have to design and manage your web site. A good webmaster will know how to do all these things…… A good webmaster will know how to do all these things…… a great one will teach you how! a great one will teach you how! Wallstreet Webmasters Wallstreet Webmasters Copyright 1999