Jeff wrote:

> Lets say you are a small manufacturer or a service company that
> doesn't sell directly to the public.
>
> What reasons would you need for a website?
>
> Here is some I can think of. Please add or amend the list.
>
> 1) Contact information and directions
> 2) Provide literature (possibly PDFs) on your services or products.
> 3) Company News
> 4) About the company
> 5) Employment opportunities
>
> Surely there must be others.
>
> After collaborating with one party or another for the last decade,
> I'm on my own and am trying to clarify some concepts.

When it comes to the end consumer, "where to buy" (a list of certified
distributors/dealerships) or a list of companies that utilize your
product/services (don't forget to get a permission to use your
customers' names in this case). The latter works as a B2B sales point
(basically a portfolio), and a type of quality assurance for the end
consumer.

Companies such as Ford, GM (with the brands GMC, Cadillac, Buick,
Chevrolet, Hummer, etc), Chrysler, Toyota, BMW and Volvo (just to throw
a few examples on the table) don't sell *any* cars directly to
consumers or regular businesses, but only through dealerships. Even
though these are rather large corporations, they, too, manufacture
products that aren't sold directly to the public.

--
Kim André Akerø
- kimandre@NOSPAMbetadome.com
(remove NOSPAM to contact me directly)