The Use and Value of Web Sites

• 1Are you and/or your employees using the Internet for business-related activities?
• 2Do you use a computer in your business’s operation?
• 3Do you expect that you or your employees will use the Internet for business-related activities within the next year?
• 4Do you expect to have a Web site within the next year?
• 5Why don’t you expect to have your business on the Internet within the next year? Is it because you:?
• 6Do you expect to begin using a computer in your business within the next year?
• 7Why don’t you expect to have a computer in your business within the next year? Is it because:?
• 8A(business activity on the Internet) Use e-mail to communicate with customers or suppliers.
• 8B(business activity on the Internet) Purchase goods and/or services.
• 8C(business activity on the Internet) Conduct financial affairs, such as on-line banking.
• 8D(business activity on the Internet) Bid on contracts.
• 8E(business activity on the Internet) Gather business-related information, such as prices, new products and so forth.
• 9Does your business have a Web site?
• 10Do you sell goods or services directly over the Web site?
• 11A(reason for no Web site sales) The initial cost is too high.
• 11B(reason for no Web site sales) Your products and services don’t lend themselves to sale on the Internet.
• 11C(reason for no Web site sales) Of too much on-line competition.
• 11D(reason for no Web site sales) You haven’t gotten around to it yet.
• 11E(reason for no Web site sales) Of the amount of time it would take.
• 11F(reason for no Web site sales) The infrastructure is not yet available.
• 11G(reason for no Web site sales) You don’t know how to do it.
• 11H(reason for no Web site sales) You don’t see any benefit from it.
• 12A(reason for no Web site) The initial cost is too high.
• 12B(reason for no Web site) Your products and services don’t lend themselves to sale on the Internet.
• 12C(reason for no Web site) Of too much on-line competition.
• 12D(reason for no Web site) You haven’t gotten around to it yet.
• 12E(reason for no Web site) Of the amount of time it would take.
• 12F(reason for no Web site) The infrastructure is not yet available.
• 12G(reason for no Web site) You don’t know how to do it.
• 12H(reason for no Web site) You don’t see any benefit from one.
• 13Do you expect to have a Web site a year from now?
• 14How many months has your Web site been operating?
• 15A(income from Web site) Sales directly on the site.
• 15B(income from Web site) Sales stimulated by the site, but made over the telephone, fax, or e-mail.
• 15C(income from Web site) Sales stimulated by the site, but made in your place of business.
• 15D(income from Web site) Ads on your site.
• 15E(income from Web site) Paid subscriptions to the material on your site.
• 15F(income from Web site) Commissions for directing business to another site.
• 15G(income from Web site) Any other way.
• 16Over the last three to six months, have the revenues from your Web site been higher, lower, or about the same as the cost of operating and promoting the site?
• 17Approximately what percentage of your Internet sales are to other businesses?
• 18Approximately what percent of your CURRENT total sales do you make, directly or indirectly, as a result of your Web site?
• 19What do you think that percentage will be 12 months from now?
• 20What do you think that percentage will be five years from now?
• 21Sales tax is not required on most Internet sales transactions. Do you charge sales tax on all direct Internet sales, some sales, or no sales?
• 22Please estimate the DIRECT costs of building your Web site, including fees for outside consultants, or service providers?
• 23Please estimate the number of hours you and/or your employees put into building your Web site?
• 24What is the average MONTHLY cost of operating your Web site?
• 25What is the estimated number of employee hours put into operating your Web site per month?
• 26A(benefit of Web site) Increased your total sales.
• 26B(benefit of Web site) Brought you additional customers.
• 26C(benefit of Web site) Brought you new types of customers.
• 26D(benefit of Web site) Reduced your costs per unit sold.
• 26E(benefit of Web site) Increased business profits.
• 26F(benefit of Web site) Increased sales outside the United States.
• 26G(benefit of Web site) Improved your competitive position.
• 27Does your business have access to high-speed Internet service if you wish to use it, or don't you know?
• 28Do you believe access to high-speed Internet service gives your business a significant competitive advantage, a minor competitive advantage, no competitive advantage or are you unsure?
• 29Do you believe the LACK of high-speed Internet service creates a significant competitive disadvantage, a minor competitive disadvantage, or no competitive disadvantage for your firm, or are you unsure?

Volume 1, Issue 2, 2001
ISSN 1534-8326

William J. Dennis, Jr.
NFIB Research Foundation