Chapter eighteen - Web Sites

Abstract

A company's online presence is a critical component of most organizations. And that online presence includes not only its face to the external world—it's Web site(s) for customers, potential clients, suppliers, etc.—but its face to its internal world, its intranet, for use by its employees. The Internet is a global network of computers—the “network of networks”—that connects companies, universities, and individuals all over the planet. Corporate Web sites are often the “faces” of corporations. Customers and the public may form opinions about a company simply based on the look of a company's Web site, how easy it is to navigate, how much information it provides, and how functional and helpful it is. It can be used to generate brand loyalty, product awareness, sales, and improve profits. A corporation's primary goal is to make a profit. And the Net can radically change the way companies try to achieve that goal. Company's use intranet sites, sometimes called portals, for many of the same reasons that they use an Internet site: for convenience, ease of use, enhanced offerings, and to reduce costs. Depending on the capabilities of the site, it can also help employees feel good about the company they work for. Creating a corporate Web site, has become a complex endeavor, be it an Internet- or intranet site. Now, the abilities of the software are so great, the standards for design and functionality are so high, and the expectations of the users are so large, that it's no longer possible to toss up an effective Website in spare time. This chapter closes with a brief description of e-commerce.