With a market of millions of people currently online (and that number is growing at a very rapid rate), the World Wide Web is much more than just another form of advertisement, it is a marketing tool. Having a company web site is like having business cards for your company, in fact, it's becoming just as common. Have you noticed that most television advertisements  --  even the mail order "not available in stores" companies  --  have a URL listed in their advertisements? You may have also noticed an E-MAIL address and a URL on many of the business cards you've collected lately.

As a consumer, you know the convenience of being able to jump to a companies Web Site and get detailed product information (much more information than can be shared in a 30 second television ad.) or order products or services on-line. In fact, on-line ordering is often much faster than ordering by phone as you don't get put on hold! Don't you think your customers will enjoy this convenience, too?

Your company can use a Web presence to do any of the following:

• Generate immediate orders -- even while you sleep!
• Provide instant access to company information and catalogs
• Allow your customers to interact with your company.  Give customers access to time sensitive information such as updated catalogs, new products or limited offers.  Control access to certain information, while making the rest public
• Provide helpful information to prospective or existing customers
• Use as an inexpensive form of market research
• Save money on binding, printing and mailing costs
• Offer convenience to your customers

The bottom line is that a Web presence is a key ingredient to a successful company. It is becoming as common a tool as brochures, business cards, toll free numbers and fax machines.