Recently over at MFG.com, a buyer in the manufacturing marketplace sent an interesting piece of feedback that all manufacturers should consider sage advice. The buyer - a prospect that uses MFG.com supplier profiles to conduct research to select suppliers - provided a list of "must haves" for their MFG.com profiles. He writes:
"... It would really behoove (you) to work very close with these new suppliers to make sure that the profile entered is as complete and detailed of as possible. I would think with the money that suppliers spend to participate in this fantastic program it would make them wise to the extreme benefits of having a detailed and complete profile. It should be (your) number one goal ... to help these suppliers develop there profiles."
The buyer's list shows what he looks for when comparing suppliers and choosing to initiate contact. It is based on deficiencies he's found with several profiles in the past:
- Pictures of their shop, both inside and outside (if they are proud and it is presentable, common sense would apply).
- Pictures of parts previously made that show their full capabilities.
- Detailed equipment lists of everything in their shop, all the way down to overhead cranes and forklifts.
- Links to their company’s website (if they have one, which they should invest in anyway).
- Any ISO 9001 or other certifications they may have from distinguished buyers.
- References from buyer
Not only does this list describe in detail what an active buying prospect looks for in an MFG.com profile, it also rings true for your own Web site. Your Web presence - all mentions of your company online - serve one primary purpose: to differentiate you from your competition. Thoroughness, accuracy and relevance are key to influencing these potential customers and partners that you are worth the time to investigate further.
If your MFG.com profile is incomplete, update it. If your Web site is incomplete, update it. If you don't, you're likely leaving money on the table and you won't even know it.
I agree, however it is so hard to come up with the time and creativity to build a website and work in this new environment. Many of the suplyers are not used to working in this environment and flounder in it. As I've said before buyers have been on the world stage much longer than most vendors. Even if they are a great suplyer otherwise, may have some difficulty in presenting themselves on the Web without making a mistake. Me, I found Making mistakes in my presence on the web can be both bad and good. A bad presence isn't allways all bad. It can give a reality of the situation. A concept of the real thing. My video machines isn't exactly hitting the top ten in good things right now however I think it is mostly my presentation of it.
Currently I'm building a huge web site with a mega amount of code, pages and complexity. I was hoping to roll it out today actually but its not yet ready. I've probably spent 20 hrs a day all week end on it so far and if I was a regular programmer it would be done. however It's just me a lowly tool maker trying to build this wonderfully creative presence on the web to atract people. This just proves that to get on the web in a realy big way either takes alot of money or alot of time. right now I got more time than money so I'm developing this whole new website which I'm betting you your self will want to be apart of. I'd rather not get into my concept and vision about the site right now however it will have alot to do with open sourcing and the marketability of opensourcing and a way to go global with open sourcing in a way that works for everyone. buyers and vendors.