E-Commerce -Marketing Your Business to the Government and Corporations Presented to: Candler County Industrial Development Authority EC Arthur L. Brown 770-732-9392 art@lescot.com LeScot’s Mission “To cost effectively build profitable organizations through a solid foundation of business, marketing and economic development expertise.” LeScot Enterprise Services EC Business Management and Technical Assistance Services Economic Development Training, Seminar and Other Communication Services Marketing Development Electronic Commerce Defined (EC) The electronic exchange of business/technical information using Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), Email, Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) and other similar technologies. Business Climate Now CHANGE Forever Why/Uses for E-Business? In order to sell goods and services Time-saving business communications To easily share necessary information with other staff members/businesses Why/Uses for E-Business? (cont’) To purchase required goods and services Create data once and use it many times To reduce costs of traditional operations Why/Uses for E-Business? (cont’) To be electronically linked to the rest of the business community (world-wide) Economic Forces Driving Electronic Commerce Cost of Labor Telecommunications Costs Computing Costs Research Your Market to Find Answers To: Who are my customers Where are they located What does/will make them by my product/services What is my optimum selling price What should my advertising/promotional message consist of How do I get to them Market Research Methods Primary Research Provide online surveys, questionnaires, online focus groups Study your traffic logs Example: http://www.zoomerang.com/login/ind ex.zgi http://www.surveymonkey.com/ http://info.zoomerang.com/ Start by Defining Your Business Classification North American Industrial Classification (NAICS) Code - http://www.census.gov/epcd/naics02/ Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code http://www.census.gov/epcd/naics02/ Federal Supply Classification (FSC) Code http://www.softshare.com/tables/pscs/ National Institute of Government Purchasing (NIGP) http://www.nigp.org/ Commercial and Governmental Entity (CAGE) Code http://www.dlis.dla.mil/cageserv.asp Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number http://www.dnb.com/US/ NAICS Codes of Attendees Janitorial/Custodial Services Emergency Medical Transportation Caterer Contractor (Single Family Contractor) Florist Home Improvement Apartment Rental 561720 621910 722320 236115 453110 236118 531110 www.nigp.org http://statepurchasing.doas.georgia.gov/02/doas/osp/home/0,2469,3 5226973,00.html www.dnb.com/US Market Research Methods (cont’) Secondary Research Sources Company Data Industry Sources/Associations Governmental Agencies Universities/Libraries Search Engines Trade Journals Investment Industry Analysis Internet Analysis http://www.census.gov/epcd/cbp/view/cbpview.html http://www.bea.gov/ Procurement Personnel Need to Know (Public Sector) Small and Disadvantaged Utilization Specialists (SADBUS Small Business Liaison Officer Users Contracting Officer Competition Advocate Program Manager http://www.osdbu.gov/Member_List.htm http://www.dodscrc.org/links.htm Procurement Personnel Need to Know (Private Sector) Buyers Purchasing/Procurement Supply Chain Managers Supplier Diversity Program Manager Who’s the Competition Who are your competitors Where are they located What are their strengths/weaknesses How does my product/service compare Marketing Strategy Development A marketing strategy is a target market and a related marketing mix A target market is a similar group (market segment) of customers to whom you wish to appeal A marketing mix consists of a group of controllable variables (product, place, promotion, price) which are put together to satisfy a target market Target Market Profile Parameters Demographic Geographic Cultural and ethnic groups Economic Power Industry Type Psychographic Values, attitudes, beliefs Lifestyles Target Market Segment Examples Homeowners with homes valued at $1million and over Professional athletes Colleges and Universities Families between the ages of 20 and 45 years of age Federal, state and local governments Sources to Identify Target Markets/Commercial Build/Existing Contact Database Access/Purchase Database Reference USA http://www.referenceusa.com/ Yellow Pages Yellowpages.com Thomas Register http://www.thomasnet.com/ Sources to Identify Target Markets/Government (cont’) U.S., State and Local Governments Federal http://www.fedbizopps.gov/ http://www.hq.usace.army.mil/cepr/ASFI.htm https://www.neco.navy.mil/ http://www.mbda.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=login.main &returnAddress=fuseaction%3Dpx2%2Ephx%5Fmain State and Local http://www.statelocalgov.net/index.cfm http://www.referenceusa.com/ Construction Contractors in Candler County Banks Located in Candler County Procurement Research Sources Historical Purchases E-Procurement Database – http://www.fpdsng.com/ Current Purchases Fedbizopps - http://www.fedbizopps.gov/ NECO https://www.neco.navy.mil/secure/register/register. cfm Army Single Face to Industry https://acquisition.army.mil/asfi/ Projections Agency Procurement Forecasts http://hqlnc.doe.gov/support/SmallBusUtil.nsf www.fpds.gov Purchases of NAICS 453110 for FY 07 http://www.fedbizopps.gov/ http://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/PRSapp/PR_index.jsp http://www.sba.gov/GC/cmr/gasubs.html Contracting Preference Programs Small Business SBA 8(a) Program Small Disadvantaged Business Woman Owned Firms Veteran Owned Veteran Owned Service Disabled GSA Schedule HUBZone Certified Controllable Variables-4Ps Product Promotion Place Price Product/Service Strategy What the customer gets to satisfy a need Most time spent in this area perfecting Giveaway for site visitors (not everything) Product/Service often misunderstood phenomenon Promotion Strategy (Advertising) Most applicable to e-commerce of the 4Ps E-Commerce has revolutionized how products/services are viewed (Ex: email) Internet Promotion Tactics Internal visitor registrations External website registrations Website Linking Advertising/Publicity Internal Visitor Registrations Generates contacts for your “contact” database Used to develop proactive marketing campaign Request permission to receive marketing material Specify on your page your privacy policy External Website Registrations Search engines extremely valuable in getting traffic to your website Corporate/Industrial sector primarily using Electronic Data Interchange as a tool for conducting business electronically Government and particularly, the Federal Government farther ahead in website registrations than the private/industry sector Must continue to be proactive in marketing efforts Web Site Registrations Central Contractor Registration Dynamic Small Business Search Kudzu.com Thomas Register www.ccr.gov Form Associations with Like Organizations Link to other web sites and request visitors to your site to add a link to their site Ask your visitors to bookmark your site Develop an affiliate/associate program Include your company in other industry/association group lists Place (Distribution) Strategy Process of getting the product/service to the customer Traditional distribution model – manufacturer/provider to wholesaler/distributor to retailer to end user With internet, target is manufacturer/provider to end user Can be a major factor in customer satisfaction Distribution Strategy Realities and Considerations Christmas 2000 was a major fiasco for some retailers Supply chain/Fulfillment must be continuously revisited Must make every effort to be customer “sentric” since limited customer interaction Customer Requirements Now Include: Forming Alliances Joint Ventures Partnering Teaming Pricing/Payment Strategy Electronic payments to include EDI, credit card payment/acceptance In the non-internet environment, pricing is quite speculative In the internet environment, a more open process Tends to be a negative for the business Auctions/Reverse Auctions becoming a trend Securing The Payment Business Concerns Security Considerations Credit Cards "Electronic Money" Internet Marketing Requires Another 4Ps Persistence Perseverance Patience People What lies behind us versus what lies before us are only tiny matters compared to what lies within us. …..Ralph Waldo Emerson