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Your Website Strategy
1. The Business Benefits
You can reach new customers and improve communications with existing customers through a website. You can also sell online, use forums or blogs to solicit feedback and show the individuals behind your business.
1.1
Improve marketing to existing customers.
- Keep customers up-to-date about new products and special offers.
- Provide a forum for customer feedback.
- Publishing costs are low, so provide as much detail as you want. Organise information logically, so customers can find what they need.
1.2 Address new markets, national and global.
- You can reach potential buyers anywhere in the country, or anywhere in the world. You may wish to translate your website into other languages, or register domain names for other countries. Be aware of complications of law, delivery and payment when trading internationally.
- If you operate in a niche, potential customers from further afield will find you through search engines.
1.3
Cut costs by providing technical information and after-sales support online.
- Compile lists of frequently asked questions (FAQs) so that your customers themselves can find answers to many of their queries.
- List contact details for distributors or stockists.
- Give extra information to help customers order the right items first time.
- Allow customers to send you messages online, rather than calling you.
1.4 Protect existing revenue streams and generate new ones.
- Set up an online shop to sell your products or information services online (see 4.1).
- Carry advertisements which generate revenue when people click them (see 4.2).
1.5
Recruit people with specialised skills, knowledge and experience.
- Advertise job opportunities on your site.