09.30.08
Sept 2008 newsletter- www.how is your presence on the internet.com
Even with the explosive growth of the internet the flooring industry has been somewhat slow to adopt the latest technologies. If you search flooring distribution websites you will find that the majority are limited to listing product lines, company history and contain out of date information. A few offer a portal to online ordering which can provide great advantages for the customer and the distributor.
A website does not have to be flashy, fancy or complex. It needs to look clean and be functional. It should be a place where customers can quickly access up to date product information, easily signup to receive promotions and information by email and where sales reps should feel comfortable sending their customers to the site. Some distributors make the decision to develop the website themselves or outsource it. There are challenges to both. Developing the site in house may be easier and less expensive but there may be limitations on what the site can offer due to limited knowledge of the internet and design programs. Outsourcing is sometimes difficult because the designer probably does not understand your core business and it can be a frustrating process to communicate what you want to accomplish.
Bob Eady of T&L Distributing recently told me as we redesigned www.tldistributing.com, “I want something that is functional, easily updated and someone who can expand it as needed.” Because of Boek Consulting Group’s distributing and technology background, we were able to provide the solution for Bob’s needs. We will continue to add access points for customers and reps that allow them to have the latest information at their finger tips.
I encourage you to evaluate your current internet presence and determine what you can do to increase the www initiatives at your company. See you online!
Brian Boek
