You've made it! You have started your own business. You know what you want to accomplish with your business and you have the skills to provide excellent products or services through your business. You have also addressed the wide range of items that are necessary to successfully operate and sustain your business. These often include:

• Developing your marketing strategy
  
• Providing customer service and support
  
• Advertising your business and services
  
• Maintaining your referral network
  
• Establishing your business processes

You have probably thought about a Web site for your business. And, to a certain extent, you have already reached the conclusion that your business needs one. But, the reasons for a Web site and the real benefits that it can bring to your business may still be vague or unclear.

When considering those five business activities listed above, a Web site may appear to be "just more infrastructure" and expense. However, unlike those activities, a Web site can actually become an interactive part of your products and services. It can also be used as a tool to improve existing business processes. Through a Web site, those five activities can be enhanced with the following improvements:

Developing your marketing strategy. This includes the presentation of expanded, more in-depth information about your products and services on the Web site. Traditional communication and marketing activities are reinforced by using sounds, video clips, images, sample downloads, and other media that are often otherwise expensive and difficult to distribute.

Providing customer service and support. Your Web site includes Frequently Asked Questions, automatic email submission from the site, a download area, as well as a sign-up form for your new electronic newsletter. It provides customers with 24 hour first level support where information can be easily maintained and kept up-to-date.

Advertising your business and services. All of your traditional advertisements and business stationary now include your Web site address where customers and prospects can go to learn more about your products and services. Through the Web site, any potential customer can find more information at their convenience, on their terms, without obligation.

Maintaining your referral network. In addition to traditional advertising, you have also exchanged links with businesses that provide complimentary products and services. Similar to your existing referral network, visitors to their Web sites often come to your site through these links.

Establishing your business processes. Many business processes can be improved through the Web site. Your sales cycle can be shortened, your payment process enhanced, your outreach to returning customers expanded, and overall consumer confidence in your products and services improved.

In addition to these benefits, your image on the Internet has less to do with the size of your business or organization, and more to do with the quality of your products and services. On the Internet, small and large businesses have the same opportunity to reach out to the same audience.

Does your business need a Web site? With the proper planning and implementation, your Web site can fulfill these promises and more. This single addition to your business allows your existing investment of time, effort, and money to work harder for you. Regardless of whether your market is local, regional, or global your business can experience all of these benefits through your own Web site. Don't wait another minute to make the Web start working for you!

CDS Web Services, Inc. is a full service Web provider specializing in Web design, production, and hosting services for small businesses and organizations. Please send any questions or feedback about this article to feedback@cdswebinc.com.