(The Margie’s Travel Goes Online series tells the story of how Margie, John, Delores and their fictitious travel company use Microsoft Office Live Small Business to overcome everyday business challenges.)
As the only travel agency in the area, business has always been pretty steady for Margie’s Travel. But lately co-owners Margie and John have noticed a slowdown. Fewer customers have been coming in the door.
Talking about it over coffee one morning, Delores suggests that Margie’s Travel should have a Web site because people research travel offers on the Internet these days. Delores is John’s mother, who is 68-years-young and jogs from her house over to the agency several days a week to help out.
“You’re right Mom, we’re definitely behind-the-times,” John told her. “To be honest, I know computers, but I don’t know the first thing about putting together a Web site.”
“Wouldn’t we have to hire a Web designer and pay someone to host the site?” Margie asked. “I just wonder if we can really justify the time and expense.”
“I know just how you can do it,” Delores told them. “You know my friend Benji, who owns the teriyaki place the girls and I go to for lunch on Wednesdays?”
“I sure do. He works out at my club. He’s a great guy,” John said.
“Well,” Delores continued, “he just put up a Web site that lists his menu, delivery hours, phone number, even a map. He did the whole site himself – and he said it was free, if you can believe that!”
“That’s interesting,” Margie said. “He’s a small business that relies on local trade, just like we do. Yet he’s seeing value in having a Web presence.”
“He says the yellow pages don’t work for him like they used to. These days his customers prefer to go online, even if it’s just to look up his telephone number to call in an order,” Delores said.
Later that morning after checking out Benji’s Web site, John gave him a call. Benji was more than happy to talk to John about Microsoft Office Live Small Business, the free service he used to get his teriyaki restaurant on the Web. After he hung up the phone, John went into Margie’s office.
“You know, this Web thing might be a smart move for us,” he told her. “I just talked to Benji, and he confirmed everything Mom told us – including the free part. Plus he said you get easy-to-use tools to build your site with, and free e-mail accounts too.”
“Does his Web site look OK?”
“Yeah, it looks really professional. It’s only a couple of pages, because that’s all he really needs. But he gets lots of traffic. There’s a Reports tool he can use to see how many people visit in a given time period.”
“This is sounding good to me,” Margie said.
“I haven’t told you the best part. Benji says since he’s had his Web site, his take-out business is up almost 10 percent.”
“Are you serious?”
“I’m serious about signing us up for Office Live Small Business,” John said.
Next episode: Margie’s Travel gets a nice bump in travel inquiries—and bookings—after launching its Web site. Now see how the travel agency finds a way to use its Web site to sell Margie’s popular travel guides.
Margie’s Travel Goes Online series