Return to Previous Page

Maybe I'm wrong. I have a twisted view of the internet and web sites mainly because "that's what I do." But, the logic seems to say "it would work."

Then, I wondered, "How many of these stores and businesses actually have a web site?" The major mega-chain stores obviously do. The local, small business owner? I figure that if it doesn't inspire ME to look, what are the chances that someone else would even have the thought to Google a particular store? On the other hand, if I were to drive by a sign on the way to work and that sign listed the store/business web site...

That was all this morning. This is - now - this evening. Words without actions are dead. So, here's the deal. If you have a business with a street-side (or road-visible) sign, get a piece of (preferably) white cardboard, get out a jumbo magic marker (or equivalent writing utensil - paint and brush?) and display your ".com" on it. Leave the sign out for a week or so. Monitor your site traffic and see if there's any difference.

"Hey, I know it's not something you have on the To Do List this week" but it's worth the minimal investment. I would think it would be especially effective for the smaller businesses that people "always want to stop in someday" but never get the time to actually walk into. I know - for myself - that includes nearly all of Rte.7.

It's a way of bringing your store to potential clients. Maybe, just maybe, it can be the introduction to your business that tweaks them enough to actually stop in. Knowing something about a business or store ahead of time tends to make "going to it" that much more likely.

For anyone that doesn't have a web site, send an email or give a call. I'm in the business of creating web sites. I know there are a lot of folks out there that "can make it without the internet." I hear it all the time. I'm a realist. I don't hard sell. On the otherhand, I know the advantages of web sites and what clients do with them. For the un-initiated: "You're missing out." But, it's your choice.

Making it a package. I always, "make it a package." Just the way I work, I suppose. So, here it is. If you already have a web site - try promoting it on your business sign. If you have the time, let me know if you see any significant increase in site traffic from the time you put the information out there for the drivers to see. I am honestly interested, and would enjoy hearing how it worked out.

If you don't have a web site, I'll create a simple site for you, for… let's say $125. That would include the domain registration and web forwarding (to save on initial server-hosting costs) and three pages of layout. If it works out you can expand it with regular domain hosting, e-mail accounts and the whole ball of wax (for about an additional $50/yr). But, for now - just give it a try. At $125 how can you go wrong? It costs more than that for a simple newspaper advertisement. But, with "this advertising" you'll put your web site URL out on your business/store sign, and have people read and see exactly what you would like to present to them, in the comfort of their own home on your web site.

If you have any questions, feel free to call or email. Options? There are a ton of them. But, I don't cold call, and I don't know your web site to contact you by email. If you had a sign outside your business showing your web site maybe I would.

02.16.08 So there I am - driving home from the Department of Motor Vehicles [DMV] in Danbury. I had expected that I would still be sitting there. Had earlier condemned myself (on the way down) for not picking up a newspaper or bringing my notebook. I took the day off from work simply to handle the situation.

The DMV took less than five minutes.

I had gone to the counter. Charlie took my check for $66 and my old license, "Just have a seat behind the blue screen, we'll be with you in a minute."

Sure enough. About a minute later I hear the lady that takes the pictures say my name. Two minutes later, I'm in the car. On the way home. Renewed license in my wallet.

It didn't seem right. It was like a fast food place. I couldn't help smiling. Well, I was smiling. Diana Ross singing "My Life Is Empty Without You Babe," on the radio. The DJ from WPKN celebrating Black History Month in his own way - playing old Motown singles from the Sixties. I'm thinking about my youth and the jukebox at Ten Pin Alley (Stamford CT, circa 1972). Life is good.

So there I am - drivng back from the Department of Motor Vehicles. I figure, "What the heck! It's early. I'll take Rte. 7 home and see how the construction is going."

I'm so seldom "over the bridge" (besides going to Big Y and Blockbuster) that it's a novelty for me to see what's going on "down South" - roughly meaning anything from Southworths to the four corners in Brookfield. Danbury itself? Chances are I'll make it to New York City just as often in a year's time. An adventerous life? Mine is not. But, I'm not complaining.

Anyway. I have Diana singing the refrain, I'm on Rte. 7 slowly inching by a backhoe digging up "who-knows-what" on the road. Waiting for the flagman to wave me along. And... I realize there are a zillion signs along the road. Maybe not a zillion, but quite a few. [I won't mention specifics, but "you know what they are."] And, being my usual self, I realize that there isn't a "www" mention on a one of them. Not one! Or, at least not one that I noticed…

The backhoe unloads another bucketful of soil and the flagman waves for me to go. Diana's done singing and another tune is on.

I'm driving down Rte. 7 with the digital camera on video. Without the notebook I'm using what's available. Sign after sign - the gentle few miles from Brookfield to the Veteran's Bridge.

The ton of bricks. " Wouldn't it make sense to list your web site right on your store front sign?" A few thousand cars pass each of those signs each and every day. You'd have to attract someone's attention to the URL for your web site. The statistics, logistics… the "everything involved" - would seem to make it a hands down bumper-to-bumper attention getter. And, yet… not a single sign even hints that the business it represents even has a web site.

Business-as-usual. Even if you took a sturdy piece of cardboard and used a magic marker to write your website name on it, hung it from your sign… chances are you'd attract at least a few visitors to your site.

---