Area businessmen Todd Smith and Barry Smith have announced the launch of my.com, the first national Internet franchise business to specialize in website design, search engine optimization and Internet marketing, with an emphasis on local search.
Headquartered in Sarasota, Florida, my.com has created a turnkey business model to give America’s entrepreneurs interested in owning their own businesses an opportunity to capitalize on local, national and global online trends that underscore the importance of establishing a powerful Internet presence.
my.com franchisees will work one-on-one with the company’s target market: small- and medium-sized businesses and organizations within their local communities that do not have professionally designed websites. According to a study by The Kelsey Group/ConStat, Inc., 71 percent of small businesses have not yet established a presence on the Internet.
The Kelsey Group/ConStat, Inc., also reports that 70 percent of all U.S. households now use the Internet to conduct searches for local products and services. Consequently, a professional website has become a highly effective marketing tool that is critical to the success of nearly every business and organization.
As the franchising industry continues to experience phenomenal growth, my.com has developed a unique Internet business model that offers franchisees a turnkey system for all business operations, as well as extensive training, ongoing support and consulting services by industry experts.
After completing an all-inclusive, two-week training program at the company’s headquarters, my.com franchisees will partner with business owners and organization leaders in their own communities to produce professional, results-driven websites that achieve each company’s online goals and objectives.
Working from the creative centre at the company’s Sarasota design studio, my.com’s team of skilled, talented and experienced in-house Web designers will work with the franchisees to develop customized websites for my.com clients. my.com’s franchisees will then help their clients achieve optimal search-engine rankings in Google, Yahoo! and other search engines by utilizing my.com’s integrity-based standards and strategies in search engine optimization and Internet marketing.
As successful entrepreneurs, brothers Barry and Todd Smith know how difficult it can be to allot the time needed to oversee a website design project.
“Most business owners simply don’t have the time, expertise and personnel to create a professional website,” said Todd Smith, my.com’s president. “For this reason, my.com franchisees receive extensive training in guiding the entire project from conception to completion, with as little or as much time and input as each client is willing and able to provide.”
As more businesses recognize the value of having a professional online presence, the demand for reputable firms that offer high-quality and affordable Web design services has increased dramatically. my.com’s Chief Technology Officer Lamar Brantley said, “The demand for our services far exceeds the number of skilled professionals who are qualified to deliver those services.”
To meet this growing demand, the Smith brothers first purchased the my.com domain name, which is valued at $1 million. They then hired the nation’s leading franchise consulting firm to help in the development of their business plan. Earlier this year, my.com also acquired a leading Web design, development and hosting firm in Sarasota.
“We have acquired exceptional talent and created a dynamic team that is committed to developing my.com into a world-class company,” said CEO Barry Smith. “It is our vision to be the world leader in delivering results-driven websites to small– and medium-sized businesses and organizations.”
In addition to specializing in website design, search engine optimization and Internet marketing, my.com also provides Web-content writing, Web hosting, domain name registration, logo design, ecommerce solutions and website maintenance services.
“The initial response has exceeded our expectations,” said Richard Folsom, vice president of Franchise Support and Development. “Americans searching for a rewarding home based business with flexible hours and low overhead are quickly recognizing the freedom, independence and unlimited growth potential that a my.com franchise offers.”