By Colby Horton
Shop Site of the Month
Suddeth Automotive Service - Columbia, S.C.
www.suddethautoservice.com
This site has a professional look with innovative graphics. Customers can schedule an appointment online and opt-in to the shop's e-mail specials. Visitors can also print coupons from the site. A comprehensive "Service" section not only conveys the capabilities of the shop, it provides information about maintenance and warranties. A well-written "About Us" section complements this site.
Web Wise
Domain Names Aren't Just for Web Sites Anymore
It chokes me up to say it, but not everyone wants to maintain a Web site. I understand that for busy shop owners, there is other business to occupy your time each day. But just because you're not planning on implementing a Web site for your business (yet!), it should not stop you from registering a domain name for your shop.
A domain name is like a parking spot for your shop on the Internet. It's the final destination for your shop on the Web. The domain name is the most important aspect of www.yourshop.com. It defines your business online. But a domain name is no longer just for a Web site anymore. Many businesses are registering domain names so they can provide a unique e-mail address to their customers.
This idea is not a new one, but it's quickly becoming more affordable to implement. Yahoo Small Business (smallbusiness.yahoo.com) currently promotes their domain name service for only $9.95 per year. That's a far cry from the $35 it once cost to register a personal domain name for your shop.
For those shops that don't have time to create and maintain personal Web sites for their businesses, some Internet hosting companies are offering e-mail hosting services. And like domain name registration, the e-mail-only hosting has become extremely affordable in the past year. Some companies offer e-mail hosting for about $10 a year. But because e-mail hosting accounts are less profitable than Web site hosting, you may have to search around for a company that offers the service.
ASA offers its members free e-mail accounts for their shops and personnel. Using sophisticated technology, ASA's e-mail accounts offer 10MB of disk space, address books, the ability to check other POP3 accounts and enhance SPAM protection. And since the e-mail accounts can only be acquired by ASA member shops, your shop's name is probably available as part of the e-mail address. And your new e-mail address incorporates the ASA name by allowing members to send e-mails with the suffix ASAgo.com. Using these e-mail addresses helps associate members with the world's most dedicated group of automotive professionals. To sign up for your free accounts, visit the Members Only area of ASA's Web site (www.asashop.org).
Bottom line: e-mail is being widely used as a preferred communication medium. It's important that your shop has a unique e-mail presence. Your first step is to purchase a name that reflects your business.
Net Numbers
In 2005, the ASA Web site has averaged 1.7 million hits a month and more than 150,000 visitors per month - the highest traffic the Web site has experienced since its inception in 1995.
Source: LiveStats
ASA Web Ways
Download ASA OnDemand
Last month, the Automotive Service Association launched a new software program designed specifically for ASA members. The software, ASA OnDemand, features an interactive, up-to-date membership directory, an electronic benefits portfolio, general ASA information and a comprehensive resource library. In addition, the software provides a gateway to several ASA Web sites. The new software can be downloaded from www.ASAOnDemand.com. The site also features a list of Frequently Asked Questions and contact information for technical support.
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Net Worth is written by Colby Horton, ASA's electronic communications manager. He can be reached at (800) 272-7467, ext. 234, or by e-mail at colbyh@asashop.org.
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