Articles By Topic Alphabetical List of Articles		Business Opportunities on the Internet By David P. Kowal Will the Internet make some professions obsolete? Arguments have been put forth, for example, that on-line information about property for sale could make real estate agents unnecessary, because consumers will be able to obtain the information they need on line at no cost. This should be a wake-up call for those who are not yet on line. But it is a mistake to fear the Internet. Instead of being a threat to a anyone's livelihood, the Internet is an opportunity for those who are willing to embrace it. The Internet is an amorphous, ever-changing international network of computer networks. The World Wide Web is a system that links sites on the Internet. With a Web browser -- software such as Netscape or Microsoft Explorer -- users can view both graphics and text, and can jump between sites on the World Wide Web by clicking highlighted words. Web browsers are available to subscribers of on-line services. On-line connections can be made through nationally known services, such as America On Line, or through small regional Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Why should you care? Here are just a few reasons: 24-Hour-A-Day Access. Time is a crucial factor in distinguishing one service business from another. By having e-mail and a site on the World Wide Web, a company can be accessible to its clients 24-hours a day, regardless of the size of the firm. E-mail can not only eliminate the need for telephone tag, it can also be used to transmit documents electronically between two parties. Promotion of the firm. The Web has become popular because of its commercial potential. Establishing a site on the Web allows a firm to promote itself and its products or services electronically. A brochure for a firm can be established on a Web site for a lower cost than if the brochure were printed. An electronic brochure can be updated anytime and it can be linked to other web sites. Showing products. Visiting a Web site can be as valuable for a potential buyer as visiting a retail store. Suppose a real estate agent is selling a home. The Web site may include not only relevant information about the property, but graphics and even floor plans. It can also be hyperlinked to sites that will tell the potential buyer about the community where the property is located. Expanded Market. The Internet provides worldwide access to hundreds of millions of potential clients and customers. A Democratic Marketplace. On the Internet, no one knows whether you're a small firm or a large company. Size is irrelevant. A one-person firm with a properly developed web site can attract as much attention - or more attention - than a larger firm. Having a Web site is like owning a television station - you can decide exactly what information you want to broadcast to your audience. Provide the right information and promote the site, and visitors will come. An Affordable Medium. A web site can be established for less than the cost of a brochure, since there are no printing costs. To be effective and to attract repeat visitors, the site should be updated regularly, but it is much easier and cheaper to update a web site than it is to reprint a brochure. So will the Internet make your job obsolete? Only if you fail to take advantage of its potential.   David P. Kowal is President of Kowal Communications, Inc. of Northboro, Mass. He can be reached at kowal@kowal.com.  << back to article list   About KC. | .Free advice. | .Links. | .Contact us. | .Home ©1999 Kowal Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.   .