In parts 1 and 2, We convinced you you?ve got to have a website, and we?ve shared some things to consider before having one designed, so now it?s time to think about how you can generate revenue 24 / 7.

You?ve worked hard to build a business but let?s face it, you?re limited in how much you can make because your business can only be open a certain number of hours a day. If you provide a service to consumers or B2B clients, you?re even more limited in your earning potential because there?s only so much of you to go around. It?s time to embrace the old clich? ?work smarter, not harder? or, as our Creative Director, Guy Richards, says ?leverage your time? so you maximize your earning potential.

Using the web to maximize revenue might be obvious to those folks who sell actual items (if you have a store, you can open a store front on the web through your website), but for those folks who provide a service, it can be a little challenging to figure out how to make this work.

Let?s say you run a spa and you?re in a resort like one of our colleagues. You can set up a website that allows clients to order products and book services online. They can buy gift certificates for themselves or friends. They can forward your web address to friends. You can create the concept of an online ?party? so a client can have all his / her friends buy things and get a small discount. You can keep in touch with them because they?ve given you their email address (this is the permission-based marketing we talked about in the previous issue), so you can educate them about taking care of themselves when they?re home.

Perhaps your company is a large, multi-site location that sells and installs carpet. People in your office are often on the phone giving basic information about things like how to get to the store nearest them, changing scheduled deliveries, and so on. You?re spending money on overtime because employees can?t get their work done if they?re always answering the phone. You could put this information on the website and that would gain these workers more time to get their work done. You could have articles or ?white papers? on topics like carpet color, other flooring options besides carpet, how to care for flooring. You can notify people about sales through email.

Your website should really be an extension of your business. It?s a 24 / 7 world and people want information when they want it. They also want to shop when they?re ready to shop. If they can?t get the information or products from you, they may decide that your competitor, who has the information and products available, is a better choice for them. You can?t afford not to have a website and you can?t afford not to maximize that site.

No matter what your product or service, whether you sell to consumers or other businesses, a website is a must.

We hope you?ve found this short series on web marketing helpful. The next few issues will address some individual topics we think are important as businesses grow and build their brand. But don?t be shy. Let us know what interests you or keeps you up at night about building a brand, growing a business, or marketing in general. Just hit reply and fire away. Your question could be the basis for an upcoming issue.

? 2006 Abiah Designs. Visit http://www.abiahdesigns.com for additional articles and information on building a brand that resonates with your target market and to view their portfolio.

Abiah Designs is a brand strategy / full-service marketing firm whose unique, proprietary research process creates and revitalizes brands that resonate with their target markets, leads to increased brand awareness, develops strong customer loyalty and improved market share.

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