How can small business benefit from the web?

[Travoli]

In another [webmasterworld.com] thread, william_dw brought up an excellent point.
When building a site for a small client, the client may not desire to check e-mail for orders/inquiries. A solution would be to set up a website with a form --> fax system. The client does not need to learn computers, e-mail, or the web at all. They simply receive web orders via their fax machine.

Web developers sometimes have a difficult time convincing small businesses that websites are valuable selling tools. What are some other creative website solutions for small business clients?

[Bradley]

Upon clicking submit on a web form, send the information to a person's pager........ Think of the possibilities with this. One of my potential (fingers crossed) clients is really excited about this!

[JamesR]

small businesses can also target regional and niche traffic fairly easily. They don't need thousands of hits, just some steady customers.

also, building a referral network with other small businesses can help.

[rogerd]

>>Upon clicking submit on a web form, send the information to a person's pager........ Think of the possibilities with this<<

Like 12-year olds submitting the form at 3 AM? ;)

[ggrot]

>> form --> fax system

Ok, I've never thought of that. How would one accomplish such a feat? Third party ASP or can this be set up directly on a server somehow?

[mivox]

Form --> Fax is usually run through some kind of email-to-fax system. Form output is sent to special email account... all messages to that email are routed to fax machine.

Not sure of the technicalities, but it's a great way for a local delivery-oriented business to make use of the web. Think ordering pizza or chinese take-out online from that little place across town... Your order pops out of a fax machine in the kitchen, they fix it up and deliver it.

Not really any more of a fraud risk than prank phone orders, especially if the order form includes the customer's phone number for order verification...

[brotherhood of LAN]

Ive been thinking about this one for a bit,

anyone seen those phone/fax/email phones with the old type spectrum games on them? They are £80.

I relate to the fact some clients may be reluctant to sit at a computer and check email, and alias the suggestion of email > fax is useful.

But if you all have them rolled in one on something the client can easily use and relate to, maybe this is just as good an alternative as the email > fax possibility (or the many similar possibilities)

[tedster]

The convergence possibilities we will see in the near future will be pretty nifty.

"Unified Messaging" will mean one location that can collect all your email, fax, and voice mail. And you can access that inbox with many devices - email clients, browsers, or phones - and set the account to page you for only certain kinds of messages. Or even fax you all or some of the messages.

The "talking email" service that's recently been advertised in the US is one step on the path. Recent advances in voice recognition and voice synthesis are fueling the progress. This could be a big help in handling small business communications.