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Custom
Web
Site Development Services - Examples
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A Web Site is the
least expensive, most effective communication
method:
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Indicating a
SUBSTANTIVE Business / Organization,
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Providing
COST-EFFECTIVE Information and Updates,
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Directly
SUPPORTING CLIENTELE,
and
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FACILITATING
Direct
Interactions or Sales.
Many organizations need a Web Site that is entirely unique and fully integrated with their structure.
T-21 provides individualized Web Site design and development.
Following
are four T-21 examples of Custom Web Site
services:
INCREASING
SALES.
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Problem. The owner of a small, well-established Arts and Crafts shop told
T-21 that she did a brisk trade during the local tourist season, but had problems even meeting payroll during the off-season.
She wondered if there was anything we could do to help.
Action.
Her
T-21 Team Manager (TM) proposed a frequently updated Custom Web Site,
illustrating her complete inventory of current stock. Its ambiance and color scheme would coordinate with letterhead, advertisements, and other company media.
Repeat customers would appreciate information about new works coming
into the shop, even during the off-season. Plus, new customers could be introduced to the
shop.
She liked the idea and started working with her
TM to develop an affordable Internet presence for her
business. A Custom Web Team immediately
started construction of her new Web Site. She
approved their designs at each step and printed the new Web address on the shop window, sales slips, business cards, letterhead, and
in all advertising.
The T-21 Team established a courtesy e-Mail program, to inform
customers of new works, upon arrival. They
could then go on-line and view pictures of the new works. At the
owner's request, T-21
agreed to maintain and update the Web Site with new
items, and the owner would be responsible for photographing and
describing the new inventory.
Results. Over the next eighteen months, interest in her inventory grew and
off-season orders increased.
While the off-season is still slower than the tourist season -
making payroll, year around, is no longer a problem.
Total
annual sales are climbing at just over 11% per year.
Her investment was modest: just
a low-cost T-21 Custom Web Site and a small digital camera for inventory photography.
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Communicating with customers is time-consuming, expensive
and - if not done properly -
can be annoying to your clientele. Following is one
example of how T-21 can help:
CUSTOMER
COMMUNICATIONS IMPROVEMENT.
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Problem.
A Tier-1 custom parts manufacturer had difficulty with production scheduling, due to customers' shifting
project deadlines. Though the Plant Manager (PM) understood that this was the nature of the business, he also
fretted about the cost and confusion.
He contacted a T-21
Team Manager (TM), saying,
"The phones are ringing constantly and I've got two full-time people, who do nothing but relay our production schedules to our customers,
and negotiate changes between them and our Production Manager.
Then customers call me and complain about all the time they spend talking to us and about miscommunications."
Action.
After discussing the situation, his T-21 Team Manager recommended a specific type of
Custom Web Site: Each customer's current production schedule
would be posted on a separate and secure Web Page, accessible only
by that customer. They could then go
on-line at any time to view and print their latest schedule. The Web Site would
also contain a Schedule
Change Request section.
The proposed Web Site would allow
customers to study their current schedules at any time, decide on desired changes, and quickly request schedule changes or cancel orders.
Communications would be immeasurably improved and miscommunications almost entirely eliminated. The
PM said, "The light just went on in my head! I see how it'd
work. That's great!" He readily agreed to the
project and asked for an expedited implementation schedule.
The T-21 Team designed and constructed the Web Site, putting it online in
just over three weeks. The manger opted to have
T-21 operate and update the Web Site for them.
The design protocol stipulated that the company's staff would directly receive all customer communications from the Web Site.
All new / altered schedules
would be forwarded to T-21 by the company for posting on the secure
Internet site at the end of each working day.
Results. The improvements were dramatic.
Customers were happy, since they could confidentially see their complete schedule at any time and confirm that
their requests for changes were made properly.
Company scheduling time was reduced to just one-half of one person's
time - a large savings in expense and confusion. T-21
handled daily Web Site updates and site maintenance.
The PM commented that
the new Web Site had paid for itself in
less than 30
days and added, "I just wish we'd done this a long
time ago." After operating the new system for
six-months, the company elected to have T-21 continue to
fully manage the Web Site.
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It's a waste of time and money for employees to
give a succession of customers the same information - over and
over. Following is one example of the value of T-21's
help:
MARKETING
AUGMENTATION.
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Problem.
The Manager of a Communications store, selling a broad line of Mobile Telephones, was troubled
about the amount of sales-assistant time spent with each prospective customer, as well as the cost of advertising special offers.
He also fretted that his main concerns were somewhat at odds with each other:
- Staff had to take costly time, repeating the same facts to each
customer,
- Some prospective customers left the store when
the staff was busy with others,
- Some customers resisted coming
to the store, fearing sales pressure.
The Manager wanted
a way to quickly, completely, and efficiently get all of his product and
plan information to prospective
customers, without making them feel pressured or forced into a decision.
Action. When he contacted
T-21, his Team Manager (TM) recommended a Custom Web Site,
including all information about the store's Location, Products and Features, Plans, Prices, Warranties, and Policies.
The Manager asked T-21 to produce, manage, and update the Web Site for them,
as he didn't want to staff for an
entirely new function.
A T-21 Team designed a new Custom Web
Site, having simple, comprehensive explanations of the devices and plans available, as well as basic company information and policies.
It also featured a weekly "Special Offer" segment. The Web Site address was displayed in
store windows, all advertising, the local telephone directory, and
on all receipts, letterhead, and business cards.
Results. The new system worked.
"Business is up," the Manager later told his TM. "A lot of our customers come into the store after visiting our Web Site - so they already know exactly what they want.
We cut our per-customer sales time by 40% to 50%, I'd guess."
He went on to request help from T-21 in expanding the Web Site for direct on-line sales.
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Advertising is expensive.
A T-21 Web Site can help you to effectively utilize the Internet
to reach the most people at the lowest cost per contact. A
Web Site can tell a whole story far less expensively than any
other medium.
ADVERTISING
COST REDUCTION.
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Problem.
The Owner of a Produce and Health Food market contacted T-21, wondering if a Web Site would help his business.
He advertised weekly specials in the newspaper, with a one-day overlap on Wednesdays,
when both the current and previous weekly ads were honored. He also
mailed out flyers, but
complained about the total cost of advertising.
Action.
His T-21 Team Manager (TM) recommended a
Custom Web Site, kept to a modest level.
The owner agreed to try it, and his Web
Development Team found an easy-to-remember Web Address for
the new Web Site and quickly put it into operation.
The Web Site featured simple ads for the current
week. On Wednesdays, it also listed the items available
from the previous week. The Team located stock illustrations of food products and created
some custom images for the ads. Every week, the T-21 Team updated the Web Site from information sent by the owner.
The Owner displayed the Web Address prominently in the store window, posted it around the store,
and printed it on all advertisements, flyers, and cash register receipts.
With each sale, clerks handed-out flyers, advertising the new Web service.
Customers gradually began looking to the Web Site for a complete listing of the week's
specials and many said they liked browsing the Web Site before they received a newspaper ad.
Results. As the
Web Site gained popularity, advertising costs were reduced by over
30%. Now, they just forward each week's special offers to
T-21 and his Web Site is quickly updated. His store is steadily gaining revenue.
The Owner is quite happy with his new Web Site and has referred others to
T-21.
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