Be Connected and Grow your Business
Do you have a website to promote your products? Do you use the internet
and email to connect with both customers and suppliers? If not - what
are you waiting for - new and existing customers are constantly seeking
new products and services over the internet. Whether you operate a large
commercial organic operation, sell at a farmers' market or operate a CSA,
being 'connected' should be part of your marketing plan to ensure future
growth in customers and sales.
Examples of unique web marketing:
- A CSA operator can email share subscribers weekly to inform them what
products will be in their weekly basket.
- Pick-Your-Own operations with 'webcams' out in the field to transmit
the stage of the crop and weather conditions to help consumers decide
when to visit.
- An internet blog that build customer loyalty and drives business.
Companies use e-business to…
- Communicate internally
- Organize their business
- Market their business
- Find business information
- Buy and sell products and services for customers or distributors online.
- Schedule shipments
- Bank online
- Access government programs and services
Fast Facts: Can you afford to overlook them?
- Statistics indicate a growing trend towards e-business.
- The majority of Canadians and Ontarians use the Internet.
- Of those Canadians using the Internet, many use it to find information
about products and services.
- Over half use it for online shopping.
- The vast majority of all firms in Canada have Internet access.
- About one-third of small firms and a large majority of medium-sized
firms have a website presence.
- Over one-third of small firms and the majority of medium-sized firms
purchase online.
- About ten percent of small and medium-sized firms sell their products
and services online.
- Canada is one of the most Internet-connected countries in the world,
but the small business sector lags behind the U.S. in e-business adoption.
Fast Facts Source: Industry Canada
The toolkit focuses an entire section on 'Creating a Web Presence'. The
following were sited as the five pitfalls to avoid when creating a website:
- A cluttered website.
- Not being able to find information
- Not having the right information
- Failing to highlight the benefits of your products and services
- Outdated information about your business and products
Once you have created your website, you need to market it. This can be
done by putting your website and email address on all your promotional
materials and products. Examples: business cards, brochures, flyers, signs,
media ads, vehicles, food packaging, etc. You can also submit your website
to search engines and on-line directories along with reciprocal links
with other businesses and associations. More recent marketing techniques
include using business blogs and social network sites.
The 'Creating a Web Presence' section of the toolkit concludes with 'Five
Secrets of Website Success':
- Your website is interesting and informative
- It is easy to find information on your website
- Your website meets your customers needs
- Keep your website current
- Market your website
To download a complete copy of the toolkit 'How you can profit from e-Business'
visit: www.sbe.gov.on.ca
