A recent US Department of Commerce survey reveals that "Approximately two million more people become Internet users every month and over half the population is now online." It concludes that "Our Nation has passed a significant milestone now that the majority of Americans use computers and the Internet for their daily activities."

Web sites offer benefits which could not be realized prior to the advent of the World Wide Web.  Here's just a few:

1. Web sites provide access to a huge market.  Site activity analysis reports indicate a considerable amount of activity between 9:00am and 5:00pm.  People are now likely to search for goods and services at any time of day.
2. Greatest area of coverage at lowest cost.  Businesses located in rural or remote areas can benefit greatly from establishing a presence on the Web.
3. Web site page content is virtually unlimited.  You can give your visitors a better understanding of the products or services you provide using as much detail as you feel is necessary to get your message across.
4. Web site Content is dynamic.  Changes can be applied as business needs change.  There's no need to wait until the next publication of the phone book.
5. Professionally designed Web sites are effective and affordable!  Web sites are an extremely cost effective means of advertising.  In many cases, this cost can be offset with savings realized by simplifying your telephone business directory ad.  (i.e. Remove some or all of the graphic images and replace them with your Web address. If you currently advertise in more than one directory and depending of course on the size of your ad, you can easily see how this savings can multiply.)

In summary, Web sites will not replace all other forms of advertisement, but should be the main focal point of your advertising campaign, since they provide the most cost effective means of broadcasting your entire message to an unlimited audience.  The public has grown to expect your presence on the Web.  Without it, your business is completely shut out of this huge and growing market.  Simply put, your business can't afford to be without a Web Domain in this day and age!

Local on-line directories should not be confused with proprietary Web sites.  Unless you have your own site to which viewers can be re-directed via a link (effectively re-directing their attention away from your competitors), then directories do little more for your business than serve as on-line telephone listings.  On the other hand, if your competitors' directory entries contain links to their own sites, the only way to level the playing field is to do the same.

Web sites should not be treated lightly.  There's a lot more involved in developing a Web site than tacking a sign "Eat at Joe's" on a telephone pole. The wise business person understands the purpose, functionality, value and importance of advertising and also understands the level of education, experience, maturity and effort required to present it intelligently and effectively.  If you want to present your business as a professional endeavor, it makes sense to delegate this responsibility to professionals.  Call us for a free analysis.  We know how to get results.

This choice is normally left to the web developer.  We regard the following as minimum requirements for a hosting company:

• The hosting company must be able to provide the recent versions of the software called for in the design. (Some companies, even the large ones, are lax when it comes to furnishing software upgrades.)
• The hosting company should have a good track record for ability to stay on-line without unscheduled interruptions.
• A quality technical service staff of live bodies with whom you can communicate verbally is also important.  (Some companies have outsourced their support operations, making it necessary for awkward, cumbersome and time-consuming keyboard communication rather than voice.)
• Finally, access to quality activity reports is an absolute must for the webmaster.

When Web site development is completed, that's when the Webmaster's job begins.  Web sites constantly evolve as business needs change.  You will need to rely on your webmaster to keep your site updated.  A vigilant Webmaster will

• Monitor site activity to determine where the improvements might be applied to improve effectiveness and increase the number of visitors and length of each visit.
• Keep your site current with changes you provide.
• Periodically give the site a fresh appearance to maintain public interest, the same way you would with a store window.  The webmaster can determine when this is necessary by interpreting the activity information he receives from the Hosting company.
• Resolve technical issues with visitors.
• Research related businesses to establish new links.
• He may also monitor the competition to keep his client advised of new business innovations.

Retaining DCA's professional Webmaster service is like adding a team member to your staff, but at a fraction of the cost of a part-timer.