Here are some hard business truths For Argyll had met before and had confirmed during the operation of the ForArgyll Awards.

• The majority of Argyll’s websites across the spectrum do not refresh their content regularly. Some do not refresh it at all, leaving obviously outdated information still speaking for them.
• Some websites do not publish an email contact and some hide it away far from easy discovery
• The majority of website owners do not regularly check incoming emails – and that includes some very major cultural and visitor attractions whose businesses rely on public accessibility and response.
• In some cases there is no evidence to indicate that incoming emails from site ‘Contact’ forms are checked at all.
• A worrying number do not respond to emails, even where it is clearly urgent or to their advantage to do so. This is damaging in business terms as well as being highly discourteous.
• Businesses, even major service operations, do not realise that holidays are for the individual not the business. It’s not difficult to set up an undemanding rota – but there must be someone checking and responding to incoming emails at least once a day – including weekends.
• The vast majority of Argyll & Bute Councillors do not respond to emails. One is not even listed as having an email address.

In today’s world, communications are what makes the difference and the only instant, serious and future-proofed communications medium is the internet. It provides:

• shop windows (websites)
• sales (e-commerce, e-advertising, online orders, order tracking and invoicing)
• promotion & information (websites, e-newsletters downloadable documents)
• marketing (websites, online surveys, polls and ‘push’ promotions)
• correspondence (email)
• phone calls (VOIP & Skype) and
• administration (notices of meetings, agendas, minutes, research and reports)
• conferencing (ichat or equivalent via webcams onboard or independent of computers)

Not every operation needs all of these tools but no business, association or activity today can afford to be without the two big basics:

• a good functional website that staff can quickly and easily update and add to themselves
• a straightforward email contact from the website – which is checked very regularly with incoming email responded to promptly

For Argyll’s experience of online operations in Argyll before and during the 2008 Awards was split.

We acquired absolute respect and admiration for many businesses, associations, communities, events and activities that were clearly energetically on the ball. These are Argyll’s best hope today.

We were quite shocked to discover how profoundly casual was the performance of some of Argyll’s major players in the public arena, some of which receive significant public subsidy.

And we were disappointed by several small businesses whose survival into the medium term depends on their responsiveness to and management of their online presence.

These are areas for immediate improvement – in attitude as much as in resources.