Effective websites for small and medium‐sized enterprises

Abstract

In the UK millions are now online and many are prepared to use the Internet to make and influence purchasing decisions. Businesses should, therefore, consider Management and policy implications• There is a large online population in the UK, probably over ten million have used the web, and many are prepared to use it to at least influence their purchasing decisions. It is, therefore, apparent that businesses of all sizes should consider having a web site.• The design of a web site needs to be viewed primarily as a business task, not a technical task. The web site design needs to be appropriate to the needs of the company and should focus on supporting business goals.• Business managers need to exercise quality control over a web site designed for them by their IT technician or an external web design company because the evidence shows that a majority of sites are substandard.• Managers, to fulfil their quality control role, need to understand that simply having a home page on the web does not mean that anybody will visit the site, this depends upon appropriate site design and registration in search engines.1 Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 7(2), 149-159, (2000) Page 2• Small businesses should consider placing immediate responsibility for the site with the person that is also responsible for marketing, rather than an IT expert.• Simple mainly non-technical tests need to be carried out on any web site designed, including checking how easy it will be for potential customers to find it by typing relevant key words into major search engines.• If using an external agency to design a web site, other sites designed by the agency should be evaluated, using the same tests, before it is hired.• The large number of sites not registered with search engines is causing the potential of the web to be unrealised. Businesses with an existing web site may need to redesign it and reassess the potential of the web once the results of this can be seen.

Critical analysis of policy measures for the advancement of the level of computerization of SMEs

“…Second, owning specific hardware is not an indication of its effective use. SMEs often use standard solutions offered by vendors or providers because they cannot afford to invest in specific profound knowledge to optimally utilize ICT (Thelwall, 2000;Peet, Brindley, & Ritchie, 2000).…”

A Preliminary Investigation of Islamic Websites’ Design Features that Influence Use: A Proposed Model

“…Website accessibility means providing all the functions needed by the visitor to find information (Loiacono, 2002). Therefore, a well presented and usable website promotes online presence and increases the number of visitors (Thelwall, 2001). However, for a website to attract more visitors it must portray good quality design features that are appealing to prospective users.…”

Ecommerce Website Value Model for Smes

“…In addition, such a website serves as a communication channel for bidirectional information transfer and communication, a platform for transacting, an interface for providing customer service, and a Ahmad Ghandour 207 facilitator for marketing initiatives. However, creating a website according to Thelwall 31 is a business issue rather than a technical task.…”

“…An otherwise excellent website may be completely ignored because few potential customers ever find it 31 . Visitors can be directed to a website through offline advertising 34,43,55,56,57,58 or by following a link from another site 34,43,56,59 .…”

“…Businesses should be involved with activities such as informing visitors of the site in order to increase users' experiences. Marketing activities by the business are required to make their website visible, usable, and maintained 31,34 . This is how businesses leverage their investment in their website to create unique online resources 22 .…”