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Cats, Sharks and Making it Online
Cynthia Petrovic did it. Frank Farris helps people do it every day. These people are succeeding in something that many think about doing, but often hesitate. We're talking about creating a business Web site, and joining the ever-growing online business community. With EarthLink Web hosting services, RedTango founder Petrovic took her Burbank, Calif.-based business online, and now shares her "arts and gifts with a twist" with a worldwide audience at www.tangoland.com. Farris, founder and CEO of Atlanta-based DeepBlue Digital uses and recommends EarthLink Web hosting services to help growing companies transform into lucrative e-businesses. Petrovic and Farris are living proof that whether you're an artist or a full-time Web consultant, EarthLink Web hosting services can be a significant starting point toward online success.
Petrovic wanted to create a Web site to share her original artwork with a larger audience. She didn't quit her job. She didn't take out a loan. She simply took a bit out of each paycheck from her day job as a cartoon director and used the money to print merchandise such as artsy T-shirts, note cards, and mouse pads, featuring her whimsical illustrations of cats. She then set up shop online with a free Web hosting provider. Petrovic soon realized, however, the value of investing in a unique domain name. "The domain name is like your calling card," says Petrovic. So she chose an EarthLink Web site package and moved into www.tangoland.com.
Farris knows from experience that a strong Web presence "qualifies you as a company that's worth doing business with. It opens doors." So it's no surprise that avid diver Farris chose the toothsome grin of a shark to grace his company logo and Web site. "A shark stands out from all the small fish in the sea," says Farris. His company, DeepBlue Digital, has helped many businesses stand out by developing strategic, brand-building Web sites. DeepBlue Digital clients include businesses from Toledo to Tokyo, from mom-and-pops to Fortune 500s, and Farris offers them all the same Web wisdom: "Presence is everything." For Web hosting services, Farris recommends EarthLink exclusively. In fact, DeepBlue Digital is now one of EarthLink's top value-added resellers.
So what are the advantages of EarthLink Web hosting? Both Petrovic and Farris have customer service at the top of their lists. "EarthLink across the board has the best customer service," says Farris, adding that he appreciates the "firsthand attention. Everybody at EarthLink is very, very quick to respond." Petrovic experienced EarthLink customer service firsthand when she discovered a technical glitch on her Web site. She called and spoke with an EarthLink technical support representative, who "answered all my questions, and I didn't have to wait on hold for 15 minutes to get through."
Petrovic and Farris also agree about the added value of EarthLink- provided Web tools, especially Urchin Web Stats for Web site visit statistics. "The fact that's it's free makes it very popular ... [it's a] very good way for people to know what the site's actually doing for them," says Farris. Petrovic checks her Urchin Web stats regularly, and has found her site attracts 50 to 100 visitors every day. "I can tell which people are repeating, which are regulars, how long they stay, and if I'm getting to the right kind of people," says Petrovic.
Through their online ventures, both Petrovic and Farris have experienced new opportunities for growth. Although Petrovic works with a Web designer to develop her site, she's learned to update images and links herself. In fact, Petrovic soon plans to expand her Web site with more pages and merchandise.
"A Web site is never really a finished product. It needs to grow as the company is growing," says Farris. Having gone through the process himself, Farris says "there's nothing better in the world than helping somebody get started."
About DeepBlue
Founded in 1999, DeepBlue (www.deepblue.com) provides Internet consulting, custom design and expert Web development and application services to customers worldwide. Its focus is on medium to enterprise-sized businesses seeking a true competitive advantage and long-term ROI by partnering with a technology & marketing firm that can deliver measurable results. DeepBlue is located in Atlanta, GA.
For more information, please call +1 770.673.0559
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