Jay
09-09-2008, 03:37 PM
PARKERSBURG - Internet Web sites are opening global markets to local businesses.
Web sites can give a potential customer a view of their business, make it easy to order merchandise and readily provide information and prices for goods and services, local businesses say.
The Blennerhassett Hotel on Market Street has had a Web site for a number of years and is on its second Web page concept, said Kate Swisher, director of sales and marketing for the hotel.
''This new Web site has really taken off,'' she said.
The hotel's site offers information on what is available at the hotel, including a schedule of special events going on at the hotel and around the area, restaurant menus, pricing for rooms and more. The site also includes pictures of the hotel and the different type of rooms available so potential guests can find what suits their needs. People can also make reservations through the website.
''The Web site has allowed a lot of people to find us,'' Swisher said. ''The hits to our site have really increased over the last year.
''Also, the number of people choosing special package deals, offered exclusively through the Web site, has increased.''
Web surfers can get an idea of what is at the hotel and what is going on around the community so they can plan their visits better, she said. More customers are making reservations through the site and the hotel has been linked to other Web sites, like sites for dog owners since the hotel is dog friendly, and that has increased their visibility, Swisher said.
''It has really worked out well for us,'' Swisher said.
J.P. Henry's restaurant on Emerson Avenue is changing and updating its Web site to reflect changes made to the menu as well as changes to the restaurant. The restaurant also is highlighting upcoming special events, owner Bre Hughes said.
''We are bringing it up to speed,'' she said. ''People still do check it out.''
Hughes said they are making their menu "more casual" with a selection of 20 gourmet burgers in addition to their continuing favorites of steak, chicken and pasta.
They are also working on a virtual tour of the restaurant so visitors to the Web site can see the layout of the restaurant and what they have available, including the number of television sets if they are planning to come on game day during the West Virginia University Mountaineers' sports seasons and what is available the rest of the week if people are planning an evening out.
''People will be able to come into the Web site and see what is here,'' Hughes said. ''I have always said 'seeing is believing.'
''As a business, you have to keep changing with the times and keeping things interesting to get people to keep coming back.''
Other businesses use their Web sites to stay in contact with their customers and handle certain business functions.
Winans Services on 29th Street has had a company Web site for 8-10 years, President Jim Winans III said.
''It has had a good impact on our business,'' he said.
The company uses their site to provide information about the company, their professionalism and the types of services they provide. They use it to recruit staff as well as place available job postings, Winans said. It also allows customers to custom order things directly from their supply division as well as allow them to pay for it.
''It has helped propel us into the modern world,'' he said.
Mother Earth Foods on 19th Street uses its Web site to provide information and education to the people who find them as well as other information which benefits their local customer base, owner Dave Hawkins said.
Their site features a variety of articles on health-related issues, natural foods, therapies and remedies, herbs and vitamins, natural foods, preparations and recipes and more.
There is also an event listing that tells their customers about special presentations they will be doing around the community, such as their Healthy Living Lecture Series.
''The most hits we have gotten has been on the events listings, the Healthy Living Series and the articles,'' Hawkins said, adding online shopping is not the primary function of the site, however people who have left the area regularly come online to shop.
People have regular found their way to Mother Earth Foods by doing research online about particular herbs and natural remedies in regards to health questions.
''We have been hit from all over the world,'' he said, adding in one day, they had gotten hits from people in Norway, the United Kingdom, France, India, Turkey, Pakistan and elsewhere. The business is also regularly e-mailed in regard to a wide range of topics.
People are regularly checking out the site's content to see what is new and changing.
They want people to have access to what they know, Hawkins said. By providing that information and strong content, people continually come back and want to do more with them.
''When people come to our Web site, it is like coming into our store,'' he said. ''It has really opened things up. It has been well worth it.''
Web sites can give a potential customer a view of their business, make it easy to order merchandise and readily provide information and prices for goods and services, local businesses say.
The Blennerhassett Hotel on Market Street has had a Web site for a number of years and is on its second Web page concept, said Kate Swisher, director of sales and marketing for the hotel.
''This new Web site has really taken off,'' she said.
The hotel's site offers information on what is available at the hotel, including a schedule of special events going on at the hotel and around the area, restaurant menus, pricing for rooms and more. The site also includes pictures of the hotel and the different type of rooms available so potential guests can find what suits their needs. People can also make reservations through the website.
''The Web site has allowed a lot of people to find us,'' Swisher said. ''The hits to our site have really increased over the last year.
''Also, the number of people choosing special package deals, offered exclusively through the Web site, has increased.''
Web surfers can get an idea of what is at the hotel and what is going on around the community so they can plan their visits better, she said. More customers are making reservations through the site and the hotel has been linked to other Web sites, like sites for dog owners since the hotel is dog friendly, and that has increased their visibility, Swisher said.
''It has really worked out well for us,'' Swisher said.
J.P. Henry's restaurant on Emerson Avenue is changing and updating its Web site to reflect changes made to the menu as well as changes to the restaurant. The restaurant also is highlighting upcoming special events, owner Bre Hughes said.
''We are bringing it up to speed,'' she said. ''People still do check it out.''
Hughes said they are making their menu "more casual" with a selection of 20 gourmet burgers in addition to their continuing favorites of steak, chicken and pasta.
They are also working on a virtual tour of the restaurant so visitors to the Web site can see the layout of the restaurant and what they have available, including the number of television sets if they are planning to come on game day during the West Virginia University Mountaineers' sports seasons and what is available the rest of the week if people are planning an evening out.
''People will be able to come into the Web site and see what is here,'' Hughes said. ''I have always said 'seeing is believing.'
''As a business, you have to keep changing with the times and keeping things interesting to get people to keep coming back.''
Other businesses use their Web sites to stay in contact with their customers and handle certain business functions.
Winans Services on 29th Street has had a company Web site for 8-10 years, President Jim Winans III said.
''It has had a good impact on our business,'' he said.
The company uses their site to provide information about the company, their professionalism and the types of services they provide. They use it to recruit staff as well as place available job postings, Winans said. It also allows customers to custom order things directly from their supply division as well as allow them to pay for it.
''It has helped propel us into the modern world,'' he said.
Mother Earth Foods on 19th Street uses its Web site to provide information and education to the people who find them as well as other information which benefits their local customer base, owner Dave Hawkins said.
Their site features a variety of articles on health-related issues, natural foods, therapies and remedies, herbs and vitamins, natural foods, preparations and recipes and more.
There is also an event listing that tells their customers about special presentations they will be doing around the community, such as their Healthy Living Lecture Series.
''The most hits we have gotten has been on the events listings, the Healthy Living Series and the articles,'' Hawkins said, adding online shopping is not the primary function of the site, however people who have left the area regularly come online to shop.
People have regular found their way to Mother Earth Foods by doing research online about particular herbs and natural remedies in regards to health questions.
''We have been hit from all over the world,'' he said, adding in one day, they had gotten hits from people in Norway, the United Kingdom, France, India, Turkey, Pakistan and elsewhere. The business is also regularly e-mailed in regard to a wide range of topics.
People are regularly checking out the site's content to see what is new and changing.
They want people to have access to what they know, Hawkins said. By providing that information and strong content, people continually come back and want to do more with them.
''When people come to our Web site, it is like coming into our store,'' he said. ''It has really opened things up. It has been well worth it.''