Just as essential as the calling card of the past ” today, a well designed, up-to-date Web site has become the first impression by which many will judge a business or organization.
In response to this phenomenon, most businesses in Columbus have established or are in the process of designing a company Web site. An organization’s online presence can range from a simple electronic business card to full service e-commerce Web site depending on the need of the organization and its customers.
Bill Abbott, owner and operator of Pole Maintenance Company reports his Web site at www.pmcpole.com along with direct mail are the two methods he uses almost exclusively, to promote his company’s products and services.
“The Web site’s impact on our business has become very significant in that it has helped drive the growth of international sales of our products,” Abbott said. “The Web site provides an invaluable link for our customers to access information about our products and services.”
Abbott said the company’s Web site and the use of e-mail are the most important ways his customers stay in communication with each other. He said increased dependence on the site has made it an important tool.
“In the last 24 months almost all of our contact with customers with the exception of printing final contracts is accomplished through the site and e-mail.
So important has Abbott’s Web site become to the business that it has recently undergone a state of the art transformation that was expected to be migrated to his main domain name and launched during September.
“I never really expected to become an exporter in this business,” he said, “but with the Internet and the development of our Web site, we’ve become just that.”
John and Janet Meays, owners of Crackers to Caviar, inherited their company’s Web site with the purchase of their downtown gourmet coffee/Christian gift and bookstore. The site is an important part of the business they do each month and through the changing seasons.
“We actually do a lot of our gift and specialty basket business through the Web site,” Janet Meays said. “We also receive quite a few inquiries for our Nebraska Made Products through the Web site and we get a lot of e-mail asking us for help in finding books and other special items.”
Crackers to Caviar’s Web site offers links to access to its line of gourmet coffees and foods, gift baskets, Nebraska Made Products and corporate gifts.
Gift baskets that can be ordered with information provided at the site range from the Sunday Supper Basket to Sweet Sipper Mugs with many unique basket ideas in between. The Crackers to Caviar’s Web site can be accessed at www.megavision.net/ctoc.
Tammy Dolezal, of Joe & Al’s grocery is dedicated to advertising the locally owned grocery store’s Web site address with all of her print and radio advertising promotions.
Dolezal said the primary purpose of the site is to offer another way for customers to access the store’s weekly advertised specials.
“I’m not sure how much impact the site has on our business,” Dolezal said. “We really don’t have a good way to track that, but I do know of several of our customers who use it each week to view our weekly ad.”
Dolezal said the site is also advertised at each of the store’s checkout stands so that visitors and customers new to the community can learn more about it.
“Another way the Web site is helpful, I think, is that it shows the history and style of the store,” she said. “The Web site also shows the things that are important to us and the things that are unique about Joe & Al’s that set us apart from the other stores.”
Joe & Al’s weekly ad can be seen online each week at www.joeandals
grocery.com.
Connect Columbus Volunteer Center relies heavily on its Web site located online at www.volunteercolumbus.org and works hard to keep it up-to-date.
“The primary purpose of our site is to give area residents the opportunity to go in and view the many opportunities available for volunteering in the community,” said Denise Kollath, director of the Connect Columbus Volunteer Center. “The Web site has a big impact on our work here because every age group, from the very young to retirees are becoming more computer literate all the time.
“The Web site is a great tool to keep the information available to the public 24/7.
Kollath said the site functions as a clearing house for those seeking volunteer opportunities and the agencies and organizations with opportunities to offer.
“While the site is a great tool for the information we have to share, much of our initial contact with the volunteers and organizations is still done face to face,” Kollath said. “Once that initial contact is made the two methods of communication begin to work hand-in-hand.”
The Connect Columbus Volunteer Center Web site is an example of a site kept up-to-date regularly.
The volunteer organization’s Web site regularly features a volunteer spotlight, links to listings of volunteer agencies and volunteer opportunities, stories and links to related news stories and a listing of volunteer opportunities for kids. Additional links will take the visitor to information about how to become a disaster response volunteer or how to volunteer in the Columbus Public Schools.
“The Web site is a great way for people to find just the right opportunity to fit their skills and talents,” Kollath said.
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