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Email
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Design
Web Site Hosting
& Maintenance
Domain Names
Internet Marketing
Internet Selling
Internet Research
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Ranking
ACT!™ Contact
Management
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Eudora Pro™
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Small builders don't need a full time
IT Department and a few hundred thousand in extra cash to have an effective Internet
presence and a customer relationship management system. In fact, there hasn't been
a better time than today to find affordable computer hardware, feature-rich, user-friendly
software, and inexpensive Internet access and Web hosting. With a small investment in
hardware, software, and a little know-how from a technology consultant who understands the
sales process, your company can be up and running with a Web site, email, and contact
database in a matter of a few weeks or less.Here are some of the keys to installing affordable technology based
selling systems that work:
1.) Use pre-packaged hardware and software
applications
2.) Outsource Internet Connection and Web
Hosting functions
3.) Incorporate computer based selling and
a Web site into your normal workflow
By using pre-packaged hardware and
software, you are getting products that have been tried and tested by thousands of other
users. A large user base usually means you get affordable technical support and product
upgrades, and you eliminate the possibility of dealing with costly custom solutions or
suppliers who may go out of business. Most importantly, you get products that are designed
to be easy to use, which is the number one factor when it comes down to the success of
your technology investment. Recommendations: Dell, Micron, or Gateway for equipment backed
by excellent support, Microsoft Office and FrontPage for compatibility with your
customers, your suppliers, across applications, and on the Web, ACT! for contact
management, and Eudora for email.
Outsource your Web hosting and Internet
services. Use a Web hosting company like Netnation for your Web site and email server. Let
them worry about connectivity, 24 hour a day service, and tech support. For Internet
access, outsource again to a reliable Internet Service Provider (ISP), such as AT&T
Worldnet. The ISP will take care of any system problems, keep you communicating, and give
your employees access to the Internet and email from multiple locations for a very low
price. Remember that most people connect at speeds of 56k or less, so if you do not need
to move very large amounts of data from place to place, a dial-up connection will work for
you too.
The final key is to incorporate computer
based selling and your Web site into your normal workflow. Microsoft FrontPage is
compatible with Microsoft Office applications and allows you the opportunity to manage
some or all of your Web site design and maintenance functions in-house. ACT! contact
manager is compatible with Microsoft Office and Eudora Email, so your Word documents can
be easily used on the Web in FrontPage, for mailing templates in ACT!, or in email
templates with Eudora. These programs are all designed for ease of use, but an advisor who
has done this before can save you some work and a few headaches. Be patient, it takes a
little training and analysis of procedures to get things moving in the right direction.
You will become more efficient as you gain experience with the new technology, and you
will begin to see new ways in which you can apply it to improve your bottom line. |
