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| Routine queries /
extensive details |
|
A website is a good vehicle for
providing information about products and
services that is routinely requested. After the initial investment in setting up a website, a large amount of
information can be continuously available on-line at minimal cost - and
with no further effort required by you. Compare this with a
brochure or catalogue, with the costs of
printing and mailing - and what to do with those
out-of-date brochures which get left over.
A website can effectively compliment a brochure,
and it may be practical to reduce the size of a
brochure or extend it's currency by putting
detailed or time critical information on the
website. |
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| Specialist goods
and services |
|
If your business provides
specialist goods and services then your
customers / clients are likely to be spread over
a wide geographic area. Since a website is
generally accessible from anywhere with internet
services, it can be a good way to ensure
potential clients are properly informed about
what you have to offer. (See also the page
on marketing your website.) |
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| Changing information |
|
Websites are ideal places to publicise information that
changes frequently. Some examples:
| * |
performing artists can
have an up-to-date tour schedule for their fans |
| * |
catalogues with stock
and prices that are prone to change. |
|
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| Cost effective
advertising |
|
A website can enable you to put small adverts in prestigious places which would have previously been too
expensive (eg. specialist journals, the Sunday
press, ..). Something as minimal as
a catchy slogan with your web address can lead a
large number of potential customers to a
site. Alternatively, a larger advert can
be supplemented by comprehensive details on your
website - eg. advertising employment
opportunities. |
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| Indexing / searching |
|
Websites can provide powerful
indexing and searching tools with which printed
material cannot compete. For example,
customers can search products by keyword or
price, books by author (if you're a bookseller),
or retail outlet by geographic area. |
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