"The Internet's pace of growth in the early 1990s is specatcular, almost ferocious. It is spreading faster than cellular phones, faster than fax machines. Last year the Internet was growing at a rate of twenty percent a month. The number of "host" machines with direct connection to TCP/IP has been doubling every year since 1988. The Internet is moving out of its original base in military and research institutions, into elementary and high schools, as well as into public libraries and the commercial sector."

-Bruce Sterling

o matter where you turn you will confront the fact that the Internet is today's most valuable tool for businesses. It brings your clients to you with a matter of marketing. Include your business online, the whole store, make it available to those interested in it 24 hours a day. We all know that what is our most convenient time isn't necessarily someone else's. With doing so you just made life easier for someone else to purchase or research your product or services. The easier it is, the more people will respond. We believe a well-planned Web Site will be the key to your company's presence on the Internet. To begin planning your company's Web Site here are a few tips:

GET A DOMAIN NAME - NOW!!!
Domain names are simply addresses on the Internet. Some familiar names are www.disney.com or www.microsoft.com. These names are called "URL's". This is your company's name on the Internet. If you haven't reserved your domain name yet, chances are that it is already taken or will soon be reserved. Even if plans for web site development are months down the road, have you r name reserved now to insure that you will have it when you are ready to move forward with your web site. To reserve your domain the cost is $70.00 for the first two years paid directly to InterNIC, which is the organization that governs Domain Names.

Timing With Print
One of the best ways to advertise your Web Site is your own printed literature. This includes letterhead, catalogs, brochures, business cards and much more. Many companies are so busy preparing printed marketing materials that they postpone web site development until after the brochures or catalogs are printed. DON'T FALL INTO THIS TRAP!! Make sure you include your Internet address in all of your company's printed literature. Don't kick yourself for delaying a $2,500 web site development until you finish printing $25,000 in new catalogs that do not have an internet address for your customers.

Marketing
Remember the difference between a "popular" web site and a successful web site is MARKETING. Purple Heart Designs will help you leverage the popularity of the Internet to benefit your company's bottom line. The Internet community is full of instant-experts that have little basis for their claims. Beware of any company that tells you that they understand "Internet Marketing." Marketing is no different on the Internet than with any other mediu. Sound business decisions and the application of traditional marketing principles will make your web site a success.

At Purple Heart Designs, we strive to be more than other web site designers, home page programmers or "Internet Marketing Experts"... we are your personal business consultants. We will work with you to understand your business and determine how your company can leverage the power of the Internet for bottom-line results. We provide objective, professional and personal consulting tailored to your business needs. We will work with you to implement solutions taht are based upon sound marketing principles and fundamental business practices...not the latest fad.