InForm Does Websites

March 23rd, 2009

[InForm Business Systems has provided high quality printing, print services and promotional products for over 25 years. We now offer website development and promotions.]

I can’t say I helped Al Gore invent the internet (see who invented the World Wide Web here), but I was there when it happened. I got involved in PCs (and Macs) when they first appeared (ever heard of the Osborne?). I learned desktop publishing  and midi technology when they first appeared. I immersed myself in building websites when that first started. I don’t get involved in new technology just for the sake of doing the “latest thing.” These new technologies were ground-breaking and changed and created whole industries.

With that in mind, there is one truth that permeates every new technology that comes along: It’s not about the technology. It’s about people. Very few of my customers ask me what new feature is available. All of them ask me, “What can it do for me and my business?” When people ask me to build them a website, they don’t care if I’m using Javascript, PHP, ASP or TLC. They want to know how many people will come to the site. They want to know how many qualified leads I can bring.

Many things go into creating a functional and fruitful website: content, optimization for search engines, domain name selection to name a few. All should be geared towards one thing, bringing you customers.

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Stay in the Game

March 23rd, 2009

It has been clear to me for a while that, in order for a business to stay viable, that have to stay in the game. It may take a bigger effort and some creative thinking but you can survive.

Scott Latham, Business Policy and Strategy Professor at Bentley College in Waltham, suggests in a recent seminar given by Corridor Nine in Westborough, MA, that in order to survive the recession, you need to stay in the game. To do this, here are a few things he suggests:

1. Trade value, not price. Don’t lower your prices. People who buy on price will leave you the minute your price is not the lowest. Also, companies who cut on price have a slower recovery rate.

2. Increase (or maintain) great service. Focus on people and relationships.

3. Best to keep existing customers than go after new ones. You have an 80% chance of keeping existing customers versus a 20% chance of getting new ones. Do the math.

Mr. Latham predicts this recession will last 2 years as opposed to 8 months for the last recession. Companies that fail usually do so about one year after the recession ends. Companies that weather the recession storm in good shape usually do very well after the recovery starts.

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