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Technology for Bottom Line : Technology for Bottom Line Dr. Ralph D. Westfall California Small Business Roundtable September 25, 2005


Initial Constraints : Initial Constraints next slide has list of business problems or opportunities problems need to be solved inexpensively with very limited technical skill requirements


Some Business Problems : Some Business Problems communicate with people scattered over a wide area communicate better with local people use additional sales channels create a unique product or experience for customers get spouse a Valentine's day gift


Generalize from Examples : Generalize from Examples the following examples came from my experiences as an educator with non-profits and/or students specific aspects should still fit many business situations


Communicate Over a Wide Area : Communicate Over a Wide Area a previous student has adrenal cancer very rare so research funding is limited problems raise more money for research provide emotional support for others solutions web site entry, petition (limited traffic) Google AdWords campaign; guestbook


Communicate Better with Locals : Communicate Better with Locals thrift shop in Bellflower, CA problems reach more people help them find the store solutions Google: Local results, map improved search engine ranking


Additional Sales Channel : Additional Sales Channel thrift shop in Long Beach, CA problems merchandise arriving faster than selling selling some items for lot less than worth solution: eBay already has technology sales outlet source of pricing information


Unique Customer Experience : Unique Customer Experience my senior level classes at Cal Poly problems content needs to be up-to-date/relevant different skills need to work together solution: entrepreneurial projects E-Business and CIS classes work together attempt to sell projects at end


Conclusions : Conclusions can do a lot with a little on Internet don't need much technical skill because a (relatively) user-friendly infrastructure already exists use your imagination to figure out ways to use existing Internet capabilities for the benefit of your business


Epilogue : Epilogue thrift shop in Long Beach didn't have a good eBay person to keep it going Bellflower thrift shop already had a specialist maintenance web sites need to be kept up after students leave is there anything else?


Valentine's Present : Valentine's Present Mrs. Westfall's web page top search engine ranking additional advantage: can keep updating over time animation added two years later downside: animation requires more technical skills than traditional web site development