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Internet Disregarded by Most Small Businesses!

The small business majority is standing on the sidelines as

internet growth rushes by. Most small business owners have not

engaged a business web hosting company to provide them an online

presence, even though the internet has reached a record growth

rate.

The internet has expanded more in 2005, than any year in

history. A Netcraft survey reported in October 2005, that more

web sites were added to the internet in 2005 than ever before,

even more than the original big boom of the year 2000. The

survey was conducted Jan. through Sept. 2005. The growth out

reached the entire year of 2000 by 1.5 million sites.1

The internet is growing faster than ever before yet it was

estimated in early 2005 sixty to sixty-five percent of small

businesses did not have a web site.2 In other words nearly two

businesses in three provide no manifestation of the business on

the web. There is no avenue for an interested party online to

access information directly from nearly two thirds of the

businesses in the United States!

Why would a major portion of small businesses not be a part of

such a visible phenomenon as the internet? The question has many

answers, but for purposes here the one following will be

addressed. Many business owners have not fully realized how

influential the internet could and will be on their particular

business.

This series of articles is addressed to the people in charge of

those businesses.

Supply the Need or Lose!

Business in its simplest form is still "find a need and fill

it". Give the customers what they want. The undeniable fact is

the internet is changing what customers want and need from

companies they do business with. Several aspects will be

considered concerning this subject, but here is a personal

example that encapsulates the main point.

Ten months ago I started banking online. This was a totally new

experience though after my initial apprehension I began to be at

ease with the service. Now I am used to it. It has simplified

the bill paying process and saves me time. I wouldn't be a

customer of a bank that doesn't offer this service. I have been

a banking customer for over thirty-five years and in only ten

months I have drastically altered my criteria for banking

service.

A second factor is that now I also want the businesses I pay

monthly to be accessible through online banking, so I don't have

to write them a check. My demands as a customer have changed

just over these last months to the point that I would switch to

a new company if the original one doesn't meet my current needs.

The internet has directly affected the expectations I have as a

customer.

Businesses must be willing to change and meet such customer

requirements or suffer attrition. Just as time marches on and

waits for no man, so does the internet and waits for no

business. The internet is changing the way we live, and more to

the point, it is changing the way business is conducted.

These realities are nothing new. Many business owners will find

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them redundant. Still almost two of three businesses do not have

a company website. As was mentioned above the premise here is

that these business owners have not personalized the effects the

internet is having on their individual situation. These issues

haven't hit home yet.

The purpose of this article and others to come is to shed light

on how the internet has, is, and will affect small business. The

hope is to connect those who do not have a web presence with

information revealing business benefits the internet can

provide. Conversely there will be advantages derived from

exploring the affects of not engaging the internet.

Business owners are urged to keep an open mind and seriously

consider the future role the internet will play in our economy

and more specifically the role it is playing and will play in

their business. The articles to follow will highlight areas

where the internet can be beneficial. Weigh the gravity of this

phenomenon. Serious introspection is suggested. The stakes are

too high to be ignored.

1

http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2005/10/04/october_2005_web_ser

ver_survey.html

2 http://www.access-ecom.info/article.cfm?id=27&xid=MN

About the author:

Author: Henry Vo Management Coordinator E-Insites.com

http://e-insites.com Henry Vo has a B.S. in Business and has

been a small business owner for over 25 years and more recently

became involved in the web hosting industry.