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First off, the
name. Shoestring Sites offers
personalized, one-on-one service to small
businesses and Mom & Pops who may not have the
resources to pay big bucks for a website (or may
not want to pay big bucks). We decided on
the name Shoestring Sites, to refer back to the
old saying "On a Shoestring Budget". While
nobody seems to know the phrase's exact origin,
Mavens' Word of the Day
offers an interesting theory. In the late 1800s
when a shoestring broke, the remaining one was
often used to bundle items. This thrifty gesture
may have contributed to the phrase's meaning and
popularity.
To some small businesses, the idea of having
a website is a little daunting. You are unsure
about how web presence can actually help your
business and sales. As the internet grows
and changes, technology is taking over a
paper-based world making us a society
constantly plugged into some sort of electronic
gadget. Having a web presence, or being
"online", is becoming a necessity to
keep our small businesses out there and visible
to all.
While we still need to advertise the old
way since some people still do read newspapers
and listen to the radio, those forms of
promoting your business are only going to get
you so many customers. Of course, there's
also the old-fashioned way,
good old word-of-mouth referral and
recommendations, which will garner a few more
customers. The rest
of your customers are going to find you
online, and that cross-section of people is
growing all the time.
The new family in your community is
going to be looking for a new hair stylist,
pizza place, children's clothing boutique, bike
shop, etc. The first place they will look?
The internet. And if you're not there...guess
what? Your competitors are getting the business.
Shoestring sites concentrates on just a few
clients at a time, in order to offer very
detailed and personalized service. I will
visit a local company to meet with you in
person, take pictures of your facility and your
staff if you'd like, and discuss your website
needs and wants. You will not be disappointed
with the end result. You will be delivered a
professional, dynamic website for at least 1/4
of the price you would pay elsewhere. Why?
Little guy helping little guy, and that's the
way it will stay. Could I do the same
thing and charge 3x as much? Yes, I think I
probably could. Personally, I like the
idea of small businesses thriving in this
country, and in order for that to continue, we
all need to be present on the internet. I'm here
to promote my small business and you need to be
too!
Of course it's up to you to perform your due
diligence and make sure you are getting the best
deal, and once you've done your homework, you
will find that you can't get a nicer, more
personalized website for the same low cost.
There are three main
benefits to having an online
presence:
- Increase
Sales – an
ecommerce site allows
you to sell products
online without
geographic borders as
your business is now
accessible to customers
worldwide.
- Open 24/7
– your web site is up
and running nonstop,
allowing potential
customers to view your
company and services
whenever and from
wherever.
- Increase
Customer Retention
– Your website will be a
professional and
trustworthy
representative of you
and your business
practices. A web site
can increase customer
retention by furthering
loyalty and customer
service.
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