Innovate or Stagnate

Less than half of small businesses have a website. And only 5% complete transactions online, according to Small Business Banker magazine. Perhaps they’re overly cautious. Over 70% have Internet access (up from 57% in 1999) and almost 40% have a website. But more than half say the web has not impacted their business, according to D&B.

SO? So, why are big businesses establishing entire Internet divisions? Because they see the trend. ($100 billion in online sales in 2003, according to Forrester.) If you don’t have a website, get one. But even more important, you need to get your distributors to get web-enabled. Because if they aren’t, a distributor in their area will be and they will get the sales. Your sales.

A good way to nudge your distributors onto the Internet is to help them. Give them web content they can customize. Link from your site to theirs. Offer to co-op hosting costs. Do whatever you can to get them online. Because their sales are your sales.

- Phil Sasso