| If you have a business and haven't got a | | | | construct your site, from the very simple to |
| website on the Internet, you're pretty much | | | | the quite elaborate. One point you might want |
| crazy. I don't want to sound judgmental but | | | | to notice is how each site is totally |
| you must be either really behind the times, | | | | individualistic. Websites are an opportunity |
| or just plain scared to get yourself onto the | | | | to express your unique cultural approach to |
| Web. If it is the latter, the fear is an | | | | your business. For example, you might want to |
| irrational one, having a website is only | | | | get the wealthier side of town to bring their |
| going to do great things for your life. Have | | | | pooches to your shop. What's going to attract |
| you seen how many computers there are in the | | | | them? An intelligent site with an elegant |
| world today? Look at how much they've now | | | | atmosphere could be a start. Maybe you'd use |
| been integrated into everyday human culture | | | | gold or maroon background colours, high |
| and society. Everywhere you go there are | | | | quality photos of super-clean dogs posing |
| Internet cafes and computer retailers, people | | | | next to Rolls Royce's and Ferraris, and have |
| with mini-computers on the train, or laptops | | | | text that gives elaborate detail as to how |
| at the local park (receiving wireless | | | | far you go when you groom an animal- E.G. |
| broadband Internet). If you can't see, hear, | | | | Doggie manicures and massage? |
| taste, smell, and feel the opportunity in | | | | |
| having a website for every one of your | | | | Maybe you want your site to be fun and |
| potential customers to visit, you must be | | | | friendly. You could put up lots of colourful |
| catatonic, drunk, or insane. If you truly do | | | | images, plus photos of laughing kids having |
| fall into one of these three categories, I'm | | | | fun spraying foamy soap on both the dogs and |
| really sorry, but if one day you do find a | | | | all over themselves. You could put up an |
| balanced state of life again, please check | | | | offer that if they mention your website when |
| out the Internet and see what it is doing for | | | | they visit in-person, both the dog and the |
| people all around the world. | | | | kids get a special treat (hopefully not the |
| | | | same one!). Are you getting the message |
| OK, let's give you an example of how this | | | | people? Having a website for your business |
| works. Say you own a small dog washing | | | | gives you an opportunity to share more of |
| business. You've got a good client-base built | | | | your self and your creativity with your |
| simply from an advertisement in the Yellow | | | | potential customer-base. It's a chance to |
| Pages and from people seeing your shopfront | | | | show them who you are, why you're different |
| on the street. You make a good living, so why | | | | from others, and why you're the best place to |
| would you want or need to get a website? | | | | go for that specific product. |
| First of all, there's nothing even remotely | | | | |
| technical about washing a dog. Humans have | | | | The other main reason and the most obvious |
| been washing stinky canines ever since they | | | | one to get a website is the fact that you'll |
| started to breed them into the wide range of | | | | be able to cover a massively wider sector of |
| freaks that exist today (you tell me that a | | | | human society than you currently get in |
| bulldog sitting next to a Chihuahua and a St. | | | | contact with. Anyone who has access to a |
| Bernard doesn't mess with your head). The | | | | computer and who is interested in your area |
| computer doesn't help you scrub, people, it | | | | of expertise can find you through a simple |
| helps you to get more dogs to scrub. You're | | | | search on the Internet. That's how it's done |
| probably thinking, 'I'd be the only idiot | | | | today, everything else is deemed |
| alive stupid enough to think that I'd get any | | | | old-fashioned. If we want to know more about |
| more customers by putting up a dog washing | | | | anything at all in life, we plug in and |
| website on the Internet.' Well, check these | | | | connect to that ultimate database of |
| out, they are but a few of the multitude | | | | information and communication. Two of the |
| around the world that came up when I typed | | | | main reasons people use the Web is to find |
| the words 'dog wash' into my search engine | | | | out about a business, or to advertise and |
| (Google): | | | | share their own business with those who are |
| | | | searching for a service or product. If your |
| You see, you're not crazy to think it might | | | | luggage shop isn't found online, let me tell |
| work. Put simply, it does. Why would so many | | | | you that there are droves of travellers who |
| different people have put their dog wash | | | | are flying by your shop for 'greener |
| businesses online? Check these sites out and | | | | pastures'. They simply don't know you exist |
| see what they look like. You can get a pretty | | | | anymore; they're going to the nearest shop |
| good idea of the many ways that you can | | | | with the coolest website. |