Welcome to our May newsletter. This feature focuses on how local businesses succeed online. If you find this newsletter useful please pass it on to friends and colleagues or encourage them to subscribe.

Local Businesses
Succeed Online

The web isn't just for reaching a global audience. Small businesses can achieve great things online too.

Businesses wanting to grow locally need an effective web strategy. Following a few simple steps will help to achieve this.

Highlight your location

Ensure that all the contents of your website and the way your website is optimized reflect the areas in which you want to do business. By being specific, the enquiries attracted will be more relevant and more likely to bring you new custom.

Here is an example of one business’s experiences. A cleaning company was able to effectively service customers in just one particular city. Through its website, the company was attracting enquiries from around the world. Following a review of the site’s content they changed to copy which stated explicitly that they service just one specific city. They also added location details to their customer testimonials. These changes resulted in better quality leads being received through their website, and the number of enquires increasing too.

Advertise locally

Online marketing can be focused on a specific location. Online directories that allow people to do local searches, such as Yell.com, can be an effective way to attract local visitors to your website. Make sure that you include a link-through to your website on the listing.

For some listings there is a cost involved, so you need to decide whether the benefits are worth the investment. The great thing about this kind of advertising however is that through your web statistics, you can measure the effectiveness. Research local websites and make an initial investigation as to whether you can get a free link. Then you can measure the results before paying for advertising.

Local public relations

To raise your profile locally, consider activities which will increase awareness of your business in the local community. A complementary health therapy centre undertook a local PR campaign and the centre’s website was able to convert the additional interest generated into paying customers: this was done by allowing visitors to the website to make booking requests online.

Summary

To attract local visitors to your website and to encourage them to make contact, you need to make certain that your marketing activities and website contents are relevant at a local level. If you want to grow your business locally, then it is the quality rather than quantity of visitors to your website that is important. You want visitors to your site that are potential customers after all.

Contact Zarr Internet Services for promoting your business locally online – 01788 820900 or email Hannah@zarr.com.

Internet Insider: Spam Solution for Under £3 Per Week How much time do you waste each day dealing with unwanted or SPAM emails? What is it like when you return from holiday to 200 plus emails, and have to wade through the SPAM to pick up that all important email with a new order? For less than £3 per week you and 4 colleagues could have all SPAM filtered. Using the latest anti-spam technology Zarr offers all hosted clients a complete SPAM filtering service at a cost of only £150 per annum for up to 5 email addresses. By global monitoring of all SPAM and email trends we detect all the latest viruses and SPAM campaigns – catching 98.2% of SPAM with almost zero levels of false positives, so virtually no genuine emails are deleted. If you need any further evidence take our own experience - prior to using the service we received 700 spam emails a day that’s 255,500 per year! Now we use the service we get less than 10 spam emails a day – and no viruses. If you are an existing Zarr client and would like us to switch on SPAM filtering for you simply contact Ursula on 01788 820900 or email Ursula@zarr.com If your email is hosted elsewhere but you are concerned about SPAM call 01788 820900 and ask to speak to Mark Reynolds.

STOP PRESS: Free Tickets

The Business Startup is the UK's largest and most interactive small business exhibition. Running a small business and starting a business can be a lonely and sometimes unrewarding experience, but just one day at the Business Startup show will help you make contacts, help your business run smoothly and most importantly: make you more money.

The event is taking place on June 2nd & 3rd 2006. Zarr is exhibiting and speaking at the event and if you would like free tickets please email Ursula@zarr.com giving your name, company name and address and the number of tickets you require.

Web firm adds that classic touch Zarr have helped a classic car company steer new customers worldwide onto its website. Austin Healey parts specialist AH Spares, in Southam, Warwickshire is the largest and longest established supplier and manufacturer of Austin Healey parts in the world, stocking more than 330,000 items, from accessories to performance parts. With online ordering from more than 4,900 stock lines an integral part of the business, it called upon Zarr’s expertise to revamp the website into a user-friendly catalogue system for customers all over the world. Hannah Reynolds, director of Zarr Internet Services, said: “We are delighted to have worked with AH Spares on a project that will reaffirm its position as one of the world’s leading Austin Healey specialists. The internet is an important tool for many businesses which supply niche products to a global client base. “Zarr is increasingly working with companies who want a comprehensive web solution for their business issues - to improve cash flow, to service international markets, to facilitate remote working. The web is no longer seen as a means to generate a few sales, it can help solve some of a business’ toughest challenges.”

Coming Soon
Zarr’s June Newsletter will feature why and when to Blog.

Contact Zarr
If you are interested in finding out how your business can benefit from the latest web technology or if you need help with your online business strategy contact Zarr Internet Services on 01788 820900.

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