Over the past 8 years, since the dotcom boom, Internet usage has grown in leaps and bounds in South Africa. Remember those days when users were paranoid about using Internet banking and performing an e-commerce transaction. Today everyone is happily clicking away and buying anything, including the kitchen sink, over the Internet. Apart from ecommerce; Internet banking is probably the killer application.
How can ordinary businesses benefit from the Internet?
According to Allie Khan, from ICT consultancy SMC Enterprise, most businesses require a web presence but not just any website.
"Think of your brand as being accessible to potential customers anywhere, anytime. For this reason your website should communicate your brand credibility and values."
10 tips shared by SMC Enterprise on your website strategy:
- Prepare a plan for your project before you start
- Use the best quality web design you can afford. Looks are important!
- Steer clear of vendors that use template based websites and designs
- Hire reputable service providers to provide implementation and support of your website.
- Register your website on search engines, especially Google.
- Advertise, advertise, and advertise on other websites and on your marketing material
- Track the users and hits to your website. Without this facility you can't track your return.
- Give your e-commerce clients the best service, with fast response times.
- Implement a phased approach to your project, e.g. first do your web site, then implement your e-commerce, and so on.
- Tap into web/ecommerce funding provided by DTI. The BBDSP and other DTI funds assist business in these kinds of projects.
If you are planning to embrace the Internet for your business, think it through carefully and implement the plan systematically. You can blow a lot of cash on your project, like others have done before, without the proper planning.
Like any other business your web/ecommerce initiative requires diligence and patience to make it successful.
Contacts:
SMC Enterprise (Pty) Ltd.
Junaid Osman
Business Development Manager
+ 27 (021) 418 0862
www.smcenterprise.co.za
info@smcenterprise.co.za
