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www.inns-and-outs.co.uk - Putting Pubs And Clubs Online
Getting Online
So why doesn’t your club have a web site yet? Can’t be bothered? Perhaps you don’t have enough time. Maybe you don't know where to begin? Hundreds, if not thousands, of pubs are already online. These licensees are clever business people who know that your future business success can really be harmed if you are not starting to put your club online now.
Can you imagine trying to operate in the 21st century without a telephone or fax machine? Your competitors are in the process of setting up their businesses online to get their information looked at by more and more of your customers. If your club does not have an Internet site, the only person benefiting is your competition - who does have one!
“The price of establishing and maintaining a web presence is by far the most cost effective means of promoting your business available”
There are numerous benefits in having your club online. You can save the club the cost of printing brochures, newsletters and flyers by just referring people to your web site. This is even easier if you have a unique and/or memorable web address. There is also a sense of prestige in having that special www.myclub.co.uk address. You can change the content on your site regularly, updating events, prices and details of visiting artistes. You cannot run out of printed materials on the Internet or be left with masses of waste printed material. Your web site will always be up to date and accurate. Highlighting special forthcoming attractions and community events encourages your customers to check your site regularly.
Your club details are available to the whole world for 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A web site gives your club credibility as a business. People used to find you in the yellow pages but this no longer tells them all they want to know. Those same people, your existing and potential customers, are now using the Internet listings to search for similar services. It is many times faster, far easier and much more informative.
Your club web site can be updated regularly to advertise your forthcoming visiting artistes or other special events.
A full colour, electronic brochure and source of information available to the whole world 24 hours a day for your club or pub sounds inviting, particularly when the price is just a fraction of traditional printed advertisements or newsletters.
Of course, draught beer or an evening’s club activities are not commodities that you can actually sell online. However, an ever-increasing number of people, particularly older people with free time (and higher than average disposable incomes!), are using the Internet to decide how and where to spend their leisure activities. Traditional advertising costs are increasing all the time, and printed advertising is an inefficient way of reaching people outside of your immediate area, whereas a web site allows potential customers to find you from anywhere in the world.
Your unique web address on letter headings and business cards will allow visitors to recommend your club, and of course its web site, to their friends. Additionally, an online map can be included that will allow people who do not know your location to find you easily. Online photographs can be added and you can widen your appeal by including local community information. Taking these steps will help to ensure that your club maintains its important position at the heart of the local community yet moves forward on a successful basis.
If you have a member, who is capable and willing to give of his time and resources buy him some beer and use him. Please be very aware of the so-called “Internet Consultants” who have been known to charge exorbitant fees for little more than a “Yellow Pages” entry!
The prices at inns-and-outs vary depending on the degree of complexity you need - roughly from around £180 for a static site up to around £300 plus with regular updating and several bells and whistles. Don’t forget that this price is for a full year on the Internet and that the inns-and-outs service includes your own www.myclub.co.uk web address.
As a final word, use your new address to promote your club on all of your adverts, business cards, letterheads and notices - it works a treat. If you are a little enterprising, you might even convince a local business to sponsor your site and get it for free!
Contact details for Geoff the webmaster at inns-and-outs e-mail info@inns-and-outs.co.uk You know you can trust him - he’s a webmaster.........
www.inns-and-outs.co.uk - Sheffield UK - Explore the Worldwide Community of Pubs and Clubs
