Put your web site to work

Just because it's hot here in North Carolina, don't let your web site get lazy!

While North Carolina swelters in an early June heat wave, many businesses close up early and head to one of the beautiful beaches along the NC coast. You may be one of those (I confess I am), but your web site still needs to work hard all day, everyday for your business.

What exactly do you want your web site to do for you, anyway? Here's a list I made and see if sparks any ideas for you:

• Generate leads


• Process and track orders


• Display products/services in a “catalog” format


• Allow visitors to request pricing/information via online forms


• Display animated images


• Provide audio and video feeds


• Provide a staff directory


• Profile the company


• Give directions


• List affiliated organizations, associations


• Show case histories, reference accounts


• Link to similar sites


• Educate the visitor via Frequently Asked Questions or other documents


• Send support requests


• Narrow the audience through the use of logins and passwords


• Compile email addresses for newsletters or promotions


• Present a complete online commerce site from order to payment to shipping


• Conduct online auctions


• Train the visitor


• Something I haven’t thought of yet

If you're web site is just sitting there like a seagull on an Ocracoke Island piling, you're wasting a great opportunity to build your business. Put it to work. Make your own list of what you want your web site to do and do it!