Growing Your Business via the Internet:
Avoiding the "me-too syndrome".
Sylvia L. Edwards
MIT(Res),DipLib(RMIT),AALIA
Queensland University of Technology
Contact: s.edwards@qut.edu.au http://www/fit.qut.edu.au/~sylvia
Paper Presented at SEGRA '99. Third National Conference Sustainable Economic Growth for Regional Australia (SEGRA), Novotel Twin Waters, Sunshine Coast, Qld., 15-17 Sept., 1999.
Abstract:
There is little dispute that in the information age there is virtually immediate access to an abundance of electronic information. Obviously for business this means more than just abundant information, it also means wider choices for communication, more avenues for marketing and a move into electronic commerce transactions. However, amidst the hype about the Internet, there is a need for a reality check before deciding to enter the race to build a WebSite for your company.
The Internet can open up new opportunities for business operation, with potentially the whole global marketplace at your fingertips, but there are some traps that should be avoided. This paper aims to define the scope of a WebSite, give you some valid reasons for being on line, and help you avoid "the me too syndrome". Issues to consider include good WebSite design, simple marketing tips for the Net, and the challenges now being faced by business when using the Internet for e-commerce.