News

New York, N.Y., November 7, 2007 – ThomasNet.com, the leading destination website for the industrial community, today announced the availability of a new white paper designed to educate suppliers about the importance of aligning websites with business goals. The white paper, titled "Aligning Your Online Marketing Strategy with Your Business Plan," provides tactics to help manufacturers immediately streamline marketing and sales efforts, and is available for download at www.promoteyourbusiness.thomasnet.com/dlwhitepaper.html.

"This new white paper is a resource for manufacturers looking to evolve beyond their first-generation websites," said Susan Orr, Director of Strategic Marketing for ThomasNet. "It will serve as a guide for members of the industrial community who want to effectively market their offerings in an increasingly competitive environment."

Key points outlined in the white paper include the need for industrial businesses to:

• Consider how the Internet has changed their buyers' habits. Over the last ten years, the Internet became the go-to source for purchasers, and as a result, changed the behavior of suppliers' target audiences.
• Create a website that is a 24/7 sales channel. According to an Enquiro survey, an industrial vendor's website is the primary factor in a buying decision. Industrial businesses need to create websites that answer every prospective buyer's questions.
• Manage websites as a strategic asset. The whitepaper proves the need for a designated person or team to align websites to companies' marketing campaigns.

The white paper includes tactics recommending industrial businesses incorporate metrics in marketing plans as well as provide website visitors with items they typically request, like specification sheets. An example of a website that aligns with a company's marketing and sales efforts is also included.

The "Aligning Your Online Marketing Strategy with Your Business Plan" white paper is free of charge.

About ThomasNetSM
ThomasNet (www.thomasnet.com) helps industrial sellers target their marketing investment to reach the most qualified industrial buyers online and convert them into customers. ThomasNet.com is where many buyers and engineers from Fortune 500 companies, the government, the military and more go to find suppliers.

Drawing from the company's experience in the industrial market, ThomasNet has helped thousands of clients create websites that incorporate online catalogs, CAD drawings and e-commerce capabilities. The result is a strong Internet presence that sets ThomasNet clients apart from the competition to increase sales from new and existing customers.

For industrial buyers, ThomasNet.com is where they go to find the exact product, service or supplier they need, when they're ready to buy. ThomasNet.com gives buyers immediate access to the detailed information they need to make a purchasing or specifying decision, including detailed product or service information, catalogs, CAD drawings, and more.

Sandra Kaplan
Porter Novelli
212-601-8416
Sandra.Kaplan@porternovelli.com