Local businesses can get boost from LEDC website; breakfast on tap

Lampasas businesses can get additional promotion from a new website, developed by the Lampasas Economic Development Corp., to promote economic growth of the community.

The website offers business owners information on how to use the Internet as a sales tool.

City Manager Mike Stoldt and Director of Information Systems Matt Karcher are promoting the program and will be on hand for an LEDC breakfast Tuesday at 8 a.m. at the Keystone Room at Holiday Inn Express.

The website, www.ShopLampasas.com, offers a wide range of services, including Web and domain name hosting, e-mail, e-commerce and storage in an easy-to-use content management system, said Karcher.

The customer has complete control and management of the website, and can determine its content and layout.

The LEDC launched its foray into Internet service with a real estate website, and it has become very popular, said Stoldt.

"ShopLampasas.com will give small businesses another avenue to increase their exposure and provide business owners a resource for selling online," said the city manager. "We are not competing against local web-hosting services. The focus of ShopLampasas- .com is e-commerce, selling products online."

A link from the city's website to the business owner's website on ShopLampasas.com is provided at no charge. A variety of plans are available if a customer requires additional Internet services.

On Tuesday, Karcher and Stoldt will be at Holiday Inn, where Karcher will demonstrate a website with store inventory for sale, and he will show step by step how an actual transaction works.

Stoldt said those worried about credit card transactions online can be assured the site is secure. "And there is no selling or sharing of information," he said.

Karcher reiterated the ease of the plan. "There is no programming necessary. Business owners can type in the text and insert photos where they want them. We will provide the training. It's fairly simple."

To sign up for ShopLampasas.com, contact Karcher at 556-6831 or send an e-mail message to him at matt@shoplampasas.com.