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Okanagan Business Magazine Article - April 1999
Professional Spin - Page 15 - Web Consultant, Hal Tipper
Question: Why use the Internet? What are the Benefits?
What communication tool currently serves your company the most efficiently? Your pen, the telephone, radio, television, paper advertising, your fax machine? Chances are, you bought
into these technologies because you made the decision that the cost justified the end result and they were going to improve your bottom line. The same is true for making an objective decision about whether or
not to use the Internet to supplement your existing marketing strategy. Ideally the decision should be based on a "why do I need it" value first and "how to" technology
second. It's currently being marketed the opposite way as a technical commodity we can't live without. This can be somewhat confusing in today's fast paced advertising world where our "impulse buy"
buttons are pushed before we even think about whether we really need an item. The Internet may not be for everyone in business, but the benefits it can provide over existing technologies and advertising, are worth
taking a look at.
If you look at the Internet subjectively, it can mean a lot of different things to different people. The objective bottom line: The Internet is a digital publishing medium and represents a
revolution in the distribution of information. For about the cost of a one quarter page ad for one day*
in a local newspaper, you can have a fairly sophisticated global web site that can offer the following interactive services. I'm going to outline what I feel are the 5 most important benefits the Internet currently offers and briefly describe how you can use this technology to improve your bottom line and expand your market reach. *Prices will vary.
1. - Email:
The Internets' #1 application - Practically free, almost instantaneous global communications with the ability to attach any computer
file for delivery.
2. - World Wide Web:
The sales and support team that never sleeps. Expand your market reach with a simple to use point and click interface
that will deliver full multimedia, and offers 24 hour a day, 7 days a week on demand sales and support information.
3. - Multimedia Broadcasting:
Want to be a global media mogul?
The Web can offer something that no two dimensional publishing medium
can ever hope to. Audio and Video on demand with interactivity! There is no secret why television is the biggest marketing tool on the planet. Wrapping audio and emotion around images and text is extremely
powerful. Make it available on demand to your users and you add another dimension of service and support.
4. - Information Resource:
On demand, self paced education and training.Find out what your competitors are doing, get instant feedback from your
customers or deliver your latest information to clients with full blown multi-media.
5. - To Sell or Buy Products or Services:
Shopping online and instant order gratification is the next step in commerce. The trend of
superstore shopping is knocking on the door of your living room through your telephone jack and cable connection. It will mean better selection and lower prices. If someone in Europe wants to buy your goods,
service or product at 3:30am our time, you can make the sale without leaving your dream state.
If any of these possibilities look like something that may help your business, do a little more digging. BUYER BEWARE:
When looking for and qualifying an Internet company to help you, do your due diligence and insist on seeing actual work they have done and also insist on talking with happy satisfied references. They should have a clear understanding of what the technology can do for you. As far as cost, you're looking at about $25 a month for basic dial up entry which gives you email (alone worth the cost of entry) and web browsing. About $40 a month for high bandwidth cable or dsl services. (Well worth the extra $15). A basic functional web site can cost as little as $1000 per year*. The Internet is only as good as your knowledge of how it can service your business and improve your bottom line.
*Prices will vary - Shop around!
Virtually Yours,
Hal Tipper
Vision Net Communications
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