CEO View

Insight and inspiration from the CEO of Register.com

Larry Kutscher, CEO Register.com
Larry Kutscher joined Register.com as Chief Executive Officer on November 1, 2006. Throughout his career, Larry has a history of building and growing Internet-enabled businesses and supporting the needs of the small business community.

At Register.com we work with about 1 million small businesses and they have been telling us about how the market has changed over the past year. More challenging times are causing small businesses to take a closer look at how they spend their money and how they can best reach potential customers - and many have found the web is the answer. We have also found that our small business customers are turning to Register.com for more than purchasing product - they rely on us for the help and advice they need to thrive during these 'challenging' times.

The web is a great way for small businesses to flourish during difficult times - and as someone who has spent the majority of my career working with small businesses I'm happy to share some of what I've learned about making an impact online. Here are some simple tips to consider when you're thinking about creating or expanding your website:

• Maximize Your Brand's Potential - With a good, professional website your business can easily compete with the big guys in your industry. The power lies in the quality of your site - and it's not difficult to create a site that looks great and offers customers the information they need in a clear, easy to digest way. With a site like this, your online brand can make your customers see you in a whole new light.
• Develop an Internet Strategy - Regardless of your industry or the size of your business, you can leverage your website to find new customers, serve your existing customers and convert more leads to sales. When deciding to make the jump online, take time to choose the proper domain name, upload all necessary content and be prepared to keep the site fresh, with timely updates and deliverables.
• Utilize Search Engine Optimization - On the web, search engines are the best way for customers to find you. Companies that appear on the first page of search engine results greatly increase their chances of gaining new business. Two simple ways to maximize SEO are to identify and incorporate keywords into the text on your homepage and getting other websites to link back to you.
• Take Pride in Customer Service - No matter how big or small your company, the importance of good customer relations directly impacts success and the web offers some great new ways to provide great service to your customers. Some services to consider implementing include: dedicated service inquiries email, live online chat, and posting easily accessible FAQs on your site.
• Staying Competitive in Tough Economic Times - There are plenty of proactive and cost effective ways to manage your business during tough economic times. The cheapest and most effective way to reach your customers is through the Internet. Think about using your upcoming government tax credit to help optimize your website and be more competitive. More and more consumers are turning to the web for answers - so make sure you're out there!