This is going in the paper, but you heard it here first, un-edited

Web : Small Word, Big Opportunity
By Andy Chapman

In the lives of many Louisville residents, the word “web” is becoming common. The use of the internet and email is growing nationally and is growing locally as well. In the past two years, at least 20 local businesses have ventured online. Speedy Calvert, owner of Winston Furniture Company, didn’t have a computer a year ago. Now his daily routine includes adding items from his popular radio spot, Switch N Swap, to the online version of Switch ‘N Swap.

Local usage of internet access has grown with the advancement of technology. The Mud Jug now boasts of WIFI internet access. Visitors stopping in for a cup of coffee can bring their laptop, check their email, and browse the web for free.

So what does the internet do? How does it help?

John Taylor Paschal of Temtco Steel, Inc has had visitors from over 37 countries at his company’s web site in the past month. “The internet has opened up many new opportunities for us at Temtco. We keep updating our site constantly and have eliminated many of the brochures that we used to use. With 99% of our customers having internet access, we can easily communicate with them, letting them look at the site for information that doesn’t have to be faxed or mailed any more,” says Paschal.

The ultimate test for a business website is increased business. Paschal went on to say that they recently received a quarter of million dollar order from India from the recent modifications that they had implemented to their web site.

With names like Google, EBay and Yahoo becoming common place, people are starting to realize that they can find just about anything they want on the internet. Jobs are listed and searched; economic development activity is channeled. Gerald Mills, the head of Economic Development for Winston County, noted “Having an attractive, up-to-date web site has helped us as we recruit new companies to come here to Louisville. We use the internet to market available buildings, which is a critical part of economic development. Mills noted that every prospect has looked at the WinstonCounty.com web site before making initial contact. “If we aren’t in that mainstream technology, we are left out. If they can’t visit us via the internet, we miss opportunities,” said Mills.

Web sites can do many things for a company, including communicate information, display a listing (like a home for sale) or actually provide an outlet for commerce where items can be purchased and shipped from an online source. Al Porter of Porter Funeral Home is one of the most recent businesses in Winston County to venture on to the web. “I have been using email and internet access for a while, but having our arrangement information on the web has helped get the word out to people and has increased communication,” said Porter. Porter also noted that it’s fun to get photos of various hunting expeditions via email.

So what is the big deal about the internet? It can help people keep in touch with friends and relatives, it can help businesses communicate with one another, it can be a source of revenue, and it can be fun. So, the next time you hear someone talking about getting on the internet, maybe you should pay a little more attention to what they are doing. They just might be saving themselves time, or money, or even having some fun keeping up with friends. If you have any questions or would like to get your business online, please contact Andy Chapman at Big River Systems at 662-803-3282.

Andy Chapman is owner of Big River Systems, LLC a web development firm located in Downtown Louisville.