mal B ee Pk [ab Egy af MB hit a a iSaeeeh: it iY Gete wo A Qf Suki pdt thst $1 Notes)(': small Business Owners Claim Their Corner Of The Web (NAPSA)—One of the best ways for small businesses to raise their bottom lines is to put the Web to work. That’s the news from analysts who say that 70 percent of Americans have home Internet access, making small businesses without Web sites comparable to small businesses not listed in the phone book. If customers can’t find a companyonline, they explain, customers may not find that company at all. Yet studies show that a surprisingly large number of small businesses have no Web presence. Experts attribute that fact to causes ranging from a lack of technological knowledge to a lack of money. However, there are a number of ways by which small companies can develop Web sites without spending much time, effort or cash. For instance, companies such as Register.com let small businesses build their own professional Web sites with easy-to-use templates and instructions. Its WebSiteNOW! service provides 24/7 tech support by telephone, email or online chat, and it is specifically designed for small- business owners with very little computer knowledge. Just as important, though, the service is relatively inexpensive and costs a (G._ DRIVE TRAFFIC (aco 7 YOUR BUGIS Get your business online today! The Web cann help small businesses weave a network of new customers. considerable amount less than the average Webdesigner. Small businesses that use the service can also create professional e-mail addresses for their companies. The addresses tend to appear more reputable to consumers than do e-mails sent from public e-mail accounts such as Yahoo or Hotmail—and they can be a great way to reach out to current and prospective online customers. Perhaps the greatest benefit the Web gives to small businessis the ability to level the playing field. Small companies that are online can reach the same amount of customers as big businesses— and thanks to new Webservices, they won’t need an expensive IT departmentto do it. For more information, visit www.Register.com.
