e-business presentation for virgin islands women's business center

9/4/2013 VSSCyberOffice.com 1

e-Business “The Importance of Online Business”

Presenter:

Victoria M. Parham, President & CTO

Virtual Support Services, LLC


Facts… The Survey Says

• 62.7 million women are online and 51% of the online population are women. (ComScore Media Metrix, 12/02)

• Thirty percent (30%) of women said they used the Internet 16 hours or more per week for business, compared to fewer than 10% who use it solely for personal purposes. (Simmons Graduate School of Management)

• Online sales in the U.S. are growing 30%-40% a year, whereas offline retail has been growing at about 4%. (“What went right,” 2002)



• Women business owners are more likely (57%) than

women employees (40%) to purchase online. (Center

for Women’s Business Research)

• Buying online is just the beginning for women. One-

third of working women who make purchases online

also conduct banking transactions (17%) and pay bills

online. (www.cyberatlas.internet.com)



• Women comprise 63% of online shoppers and are expected to account for $46 million of online buying in 2003. (The South Florida Business Journal, 2002)

Differences between men and women entrepreneurs:

• O 61% of women and 55% of men use the Internet for business

• O 50% of women-owned firms and 54% of men-owned firms have web sites

• O Most women- and men-owned firms are engaged in e-commerce; 75% of women and 74% of men go online to purchase goods and services for their business

• O 52% of women and 51% of men sell their products or services online

• O 57% of women business owners are much more likely than other working women to make personal purchases online. (Center for Women’s Business Research)


Women in Business and Technology

• Women-owned firms made approximately $50 million in

computer-related purchases during 2000. (Women in

Technology International)

• Thirty-nine percent (39%) of business influencers, defined as

those who are involved in the purchase of computers and

related products for their organizations, are women. This is a

universe of 9.2 million female business influencers. (Women in

Technology International)

• Twenty-two percent (22%) of women business owners say that

technology is one of the most important issues facing their

business. Fifteen percent (15%) say it is the most important.

(Center for Women’s Business Research)


Women in Business and Technology

• Women-owned businesses have an estimated investment of

$106 billion in computer hardware and software and are

planning substantial future investments. (Center for Women’s

Business Research)

Fifty-one percent (51%) of women-owned businesses surveyed have

Web sites, of those:

O 84% say their sites are not a main source of revenue

O 68% have had their site for less than three years

O 65% use it for information purposes only

O 15% have e-commerce capability

O 8% use it for online conferencing and forums

O 11% use it for all three purposes.

(Center for Women’s Business Research)


Benefits of Expanding

your Business into

CyberSpace


Benefits of Being Online

• 24 Hour Marketing to potential clients

• Tap new markets within US and overseas

• Go from local to Global

• Close sales faster by incorporating a merchant

account (offer clients various payment options,

credit cards, electronic check)

• 24 hour technical support via frequently asked

questions

• 24 hour client payment center

• Update inventory and company information quickly


Benefits of Being Online

• 24 Hour Marketing to potential clients

• Tap new markets within US and overseas

• Go from local to global

• Close sales faster by incorporating a merchant account (offer clients various payment options, credit cards, electronic check)

• 24 hour technical support via frequently asked questions

• 24 hour client payment center

• Update inventory and company information quickly

• Disseminate critical information to employees, alliances, vendors, suppliers, and partners quickly and cost effectively


Bring it Home – Why Go Online?

• In the new knowledge economy, an online

presence for your business is quickly becoming

a MUST

• Corporations and federal agencies are already

onboard

• Go online so that you won’t be left BEHIND….


Thank you…

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Victoria M. Parham, President & CTO

Virtual Support Services, LLC

[email protected]

To learn more about Starting, Growing,

and Managing an Online Business,

participate in our online

entrepreneurial seminar series:

www.vsscyberoffice.com/vlearning.htm