What
can the web do?
If
you want to get on the Internet but don't know what type of site
you need, take a look here to see what things a web site can do,
and discover the possibilities for your business.
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Parts
and Possibilities
Get an
idea of all that a web site can be.
Web sites can have many purposes, and perform a variety of functions.
A site could range from simple information about your company to
a full electronic commerce site completely integrated with a company's
product, financial, and inventory databases. Take a look at some
of the possibilities for your web site below.
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Common Parts
There is some information that every good web site will have in
some form or another. Here are some of the parts required for even
the most basic web site:
- Home page
This is the first page that a visitor to your site will see.
It introduces the site and welcomes further exploration. It
should be attractive to keep their attention, however simple
enough to load quickly. The complexity of the home page will
vary with the goals of the site. The home page will also include
a simple way of navigating the major areas of the site.
- Navigation
If a visitor cannot easily find the desired information on
your site, they may just look for another company. It is essential
that the navigation of your site is easy to understand and meets
the particular goals of your site.
- Common colors and icons
A well-integrated web site needs to have a common look and
feel as a visitor navigates through it. Using consistent colors
and icons throughout the site achieves this. Picking colors
that work for your purpose is important to set the feel of
the site, whether it be a fun place, or a serious tool.
- Contact information
Your site should contain general information about your company,
including a brief history, and contact information (phone,
fax, mail, e-mail, etc.). This will show wary customers that
you are a real company, not just electrons in cyberspace.
- Main functionality
The main body of the site will contain the information for
the visitor. Again, this can be in many forms: a database,
a catalog, or a brochure. There are many possibilities, keep
reading to learn about some of them.
Optional Parts
There are many purposes a web site can have. Here are a few possibilities.
- Online Database
If you company has databases with information you want to share
with your customers, TREX can link them to your web site.
This will automatically keep your site information up to date.
The information can be linked to indices or can be searched.
If you need a new database for your site, we can set it up
so you can easily maintain it.
- General Information
Your site can contain general information about your company
and your products or services. It will add a new medium for
customers to find you, and learn about your business.
- Customer Support
If your business includes customer support, the Internet is
one of the best ways to provide it. All manuals can be put online
for easy downloading, reducing the need for phone support and
mailings. You can maintain your customer database and send product
updates or information via e-mail, spending less than traditional
mail. Your site will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
for customers to get information at their convenience.
- Online Catalog
Putting your catalog online allows customers to find your
products and information easily at their convenience. You
may attract customers from outside your local area that may
otherwise have not heard of your company.
- Electronic Commerce ( E-Commerce )
Once your catalog is online, you can sell your product online
using electronic commerce. Web technology is much more secure
than in the past, and consumer confidence is building. Getting
your product available online could open up markets that would
otherwise be closed to your local stores.
- Internal company communications
Not all web sites need to be available to the public. TREX
can develop a company Intranet that will only be available
to your company personnel. This will allow your employees
to share information electronically and maintain a current
copy of important company documentation. A company Intranet
can be integrated with databases and libraries. It can also
be used to distribute newsletters and other reports to save
on printing costs.
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