We recently submitted quote requests for the printing of a mid scale print job and naturally 'googled' some local options, as it was likely going to be more cost effective for our client to go with a printing method our preferred supplier does not offer.

One of the companies we requested a quote from had a mal-functioning quote request form on their website. It would not send the print relevant data that had been filled in over a couple of minutes and returned an error. So we reverted to contacting the company directly via email.

Messy – do your prints look the same?

While we had three competitive quotes in hand within 48 hours and have awarded the job, mentioned company stayed silent until an email came through eventually stating "website problems" – "unfortunately form data was not being submitted, contact and quote requests did not go through to the sales department. Could they still be of assistance?" 

Well – let's try put this in perspective.

You run a customer facing service business and while you have some signage up to mark your premises and can be found in the yellow pages and other directories, where you invested in some ads, your shop door is jammed and the intercom is not working reliably.

A prospective customer who has found you among hundreds of competitors is standing outside and speaks into the intercom which requests him to please state the full spec of service he requires so the relevant staff can assist. It beeps and buzzes and doesn't work.

He tries again, but no response.

He has come all the way and invested his time, so decides to leave a hand written note in your post box with a brief outline of the service he requires, but mostly to tell you he was there and could not get in – so you'd have a chance to do something about it and maybe do business with him after all.

Ten days later you respond through the intercom expecting the guy – formerly known as prospective client – to still stand there. "There were problems with the door and the intercom – we just checked the posts box and found a note. Could we still be of assistance."

"Of course! Thank you very much – in fact we will have the job printed twice to accommodate you. No, our client doesn't mind the extra cost and that it is 10 days late".

Unlikely.

'website problems' are en par with 'phone problems', 'intercom problems' a 'jammed door' or 'lights and lit signage not working' at a restaurant looking for dinner guests. In future even more so.

'website problems' cost you money and crucial opportunities for repeat business and referrals.

Fix them now.

Currently there are 6.5mil SA internet users – with more affordable technology and connectivity by 2020, 20mil South Africans will be online.

That is only 8 years from now!

Considering that an internet giant like youtube.com is only 6 years old and facebook.com was launched just 7 years ago, we are in for some exciting times and developments.

Google's interactive forums and tech days are always an inspirational hub for our industry in SA.

We attended G-South Africa on Friday 4th of November in Joburg – the event focused on Google Chrome, Android, Google Maps, AppEngine and Google Apps.

A nice opportunity to explore Google's open source technologies through tech talks, breakout sessions and codelabs run by engineers from across the globe.

Plastic Soldiers Jhb's Thomas Davies said: "While it was reassuring to know we are well on track with many of the Google Maps and Android developments, I thought Nelson Mattos, the keynote speaker was excellent.  It was also great to get an opportunity to chat to some of the google developers about their experiences in launching new services and products."

Some interesting facts and Mobile and Internet usage stats in South Africa and Africa have been shared and tweeted at the event. 

•  By 2013, there will be more search *queries* in South Africa from mobile devices, than from desktops
   
• A million views on YouTube translates into approx $3 million in advertising revenue according to Google
   
• Users research products online before they purchase offline
   
• One Third of South Africa’s top 100 advertisers do not advertise online
   
• Search for Jobs /Education in South Africa have grown 57% year on year over last 4 years
   
• YouTube will be available in Afrikaans and Zulu from today
   
• Africa will be the largest labour population in 2015. If Africa is going to be competitive, people need to be connected
   
• Approximately 925,000 smartphones are being activated every single day
   
• In South Africa 48 hours of video is uploaded every minute on YouTube
   
• Only 23% of South African YouTube users are under 24
   
• According to Google users go online for 1. Entertainment, 2. Enlightenment 3. Information
   
• 25% of searches done during the week come from mobile devices which increases to 65% over the weekend
   
• 70% of online South Africans find websites via search engines
   
• 60% of online South Africans believe search helps them find products they are looking for
   
• South African Google Search queries have increased by 5 times in the last 5 years
   
• There are currently 31 million Internet-capable phones in South Africa.
   
• By 2020 about 20 million South African will be internet users.
   
• Google’s Africa strategy is to improve access (infrastructure, cashing, education), make services relevant and sustainable.
   
• 27% of South African smartphone users are doing price and product comparisons
   
• There are more smartphone users in South African than DSTV subscribers
   
• Research show that a webpage that loads for more than 2 seconds causes a loss in sales
   
• There is a YouTube reach of 47% in South Africa