Web Department

Online presence and visibility have dramatically changed the way we do business over the last decade. It has become increasingly necessary for mid-sized and growing enterprises to strategize their online initiatives so they can more efficiently interact with customers. Traditionally, web presence has been dealt with in an ad hoc manner, where actions are delegated to a few experts or a small IT department; this model has been proven costly and ineffective. The Web Department Model allows strategic objectives to become integrated within the company, and focuses on product management, enabling your business to enjoy a more productive web presence, without the financial drain.

The facts stating that effective web content is crucial to success are hard to miss:

• According to a survey, a hardware retailer found that 48% of its site's visitors bought from competitors due to missing critical site features. (source)
• 83% of online visitors are likely to leave a web site if it takes too many clicks to find what they're looking for. (Arthur Andersen)
• Forrester Research claims that when faced with usability problems on a website, 58% of customers will not return to the site. (Forrester Research)
• $25 billion is lost every year due to web site usability issues. (Zona Research)

What is causing these problems? In the past, decision makers have dealt with web operations as a secondary department, either hiring a new organization to manage their online content, or by delegating the job to a small IT department. Some companies allow their web properties to go years without being updated, giving the customer outdated and misleading information which could potentially make the company liable for lawsuits.

It is increasingly necessary for businesses to adopt a comprehensive strategy in establishing and maintaining a strong web presence. With traditional approaches proving expensive and ineffective, decision makers need to turn to a more innovative approach to integrating their online presence. The Web Department Model is a new and unique way to efficiently manage a company's web properties, without draining financial resources. The Web Department Model uses a more integrated and active approach to online business instead of the reactive approach of traditional methods, focusing on Search Engine Optimization to fuel website hits and increase conversion rates, and improving the dynamics of management personnel. In fact, the average e-commerce site could increase its sales by an astonishing 79% with a usability redesign (Jakob Nielsen).

This model also enables us to work collaboratively with your business, so that we know and understand your company's mission and concerns. The Web Department Model works in the following ways:

• The model is agile and adaptive, which allows companies to alter the strategies of their website and visitor tracking to fit their specific needs, and the model can change as the company itself changes.
• A team of web management experts are assigned to the company case, allowing them to become acquainted with your company's operations and needs.
• By paying an ongoing monthly fee instead of a large down payment, businesses can significantly reduce payroll expenses by only paying for the services they need, when needed.
• By focusing on Customer Relationship Management, the model helps you to understand your customers' needs and opinions, priming your site for more effective marketing and lead capture.
• The model enables us to fully manage and support your web presence, giving you access to our account and project managers, and 24/7 access to project and case status.
• Finally, your web presence is constantly monitored for functionality errors, browser compatibility issues, usability issues, and malware detection and removal.

Studies show that after a successful experience on your site, users are 87% more likely to buy from you and three times more likely to recommend your site. Looking at these numbers, it's no small wonder that a comprehensive, up to date web presence is crucial to the success of your business.