eOneNet
to dotcom local business
Jaring Internet, August, 2001
Fione Tan has turned one-year-old dotcom marketing consultancy
firm, eOneNet.com Sdn Bhd (wwv.eOneNet.com)
into the shelter of profitability. Even in these lean times, business
is still good. Together with Harrace Lau, eOneNet's co- founder,
they have ploughed RM300, 000 into the dotcom. Despite the signs
of profitability, both are constantly keeping an eye on their
purse strings to ensure that their monthly burn rate is kept well
below the RM30, 000-mark.
Tan is quite happy in her spacious office, nestled in Megan Phileo
Promenade, Kuala Lumpur. Between sips of piping hot tea, she speaks
of her desire to make eOneNet a favourite pick of brick- and-mortar
companies who wish to get online.
And about the shortage of time. (She spends most of her time with
her customers and co - workers, instead of shopping or bonding
with friends.) The momentum appears to be building, and according
to her, the time is ripe for local businesses to experiment with
the Internet. 'Our businesses won't have time to experiment with
the Internet when the economy recovers. There's a slack now, which
is an opportunity - and presents the time - for local businesses
to consider the Internet option', she explains. The slowdown in
local business pace gives room to try small-scale Internet strategies
and pick the winner, rather than have no strategy or experience
with the Internet at all.
As such, eOneNet is bending backwards to aid local small-and-
medium sized fires get acquainted with the Internet, beginning
with a hands-on approach to creating a Web page. With this emphasis,
Tan and her team have developed Web Creator 2000, an interactive
and user-friendly tool, specifically designed for use by a non
- technic person. 'I've had a 50 - year - old businessman who
could only type with no finger, didn't even know how to use an
email, create his own site in less than three hours after completing
our workshop," said Tan The emphasis is again on time as she explained
that participants especially those from the non internet generation
usually begin to warn up to the internet once their 'work' is
uploaded to the Internet.
"Their morale is boosted. They fell encouraged." After all, their
work is on line after 'experimenting' with the Internet in just
three hours, she indicated. The current version of Web Creator
2000 has more than 100,000 templates, to help any layperson create
smashing Web pages quickly. The pages can also be equipped with
shopping carts and Internet commerce capabilities. And even if
the Internet commerce component is not utilised, Tan reckons it's
still a great way for local small firms to showcase their products
and services. Asides Web Creator, eOneNet also provide consultancy
services ranging from RM1, 280 per annum to RM2,830.
For the absolute IT illiterate, eOneNet currently offer three-
hour workshops on Web designing using Web Creator 2000 at its
premises. 'We tell our participants the prerequisite and the necessary
material to bring beforehand. At each workshop, we help scan any
pictures they bring and would like to use it when they create
their site. All our workshop sessions are kept small because we
want to give personalised one - to - one attention,' said Tan.
The dotcom also provides free advertising via is online Primer
Global Business Directory. The listings are created online and
appear in eOneNet's site at the category and country of choice
section. The business can even update and make changes to the
business details anytime, anywhere by logging in with their ID
and password. Other services included search engine submissions
and tips on Internet marketing. On the latter, Tan and Lau also
organise non-technical Internet seminars to educate the general
public about the Internet, the trends and online marketing and
promotion tips..
"Some local companies have sites but we've observed that there
is hardly any value to these sites. Hence her initiatives to conduct
seminars, which bear themes, like "Increasing Customers and Multiplying
Sales Online" and "10 Deadly Dotcom Sins and How to avoid them".
Recognising the important of Tan's pitch, the National Chamber
of Commerce and Industry Malaysia has recently collaborated with
eOneNet to organise a three - day conference and workshop (July
31 to August 2), targeted at top - level executive. The event
is part of the 2nd Annual e-Business Ownership Campaign 2001 (eBOC
2001).
Speakers included nine top local and international experts like
MSC Ventures Corp's chief executive officer Sarina Karim and Search
King, Inc (www.SearchKing.com)
chief executive officer Bob Massa. Tan reckons, at
23 - years old, that she will be the youngest speaker during the
conference. But that has not bothered her. It's time, she's worried
about.
"eOneNet to dotcom Local Business -
Jaring Internet"
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