Stihl Going Strong

Stihl's website, www.stihlusa.com, has all of the company and product information customers expect from equipment manufacturers. The unique part of the website lies under the Information link in the left-hand column. Loads of great tips, catalogs and training information are included here. Site visitors can also view safety and instructional videos, as well as Stihl's national TV commercials. Stihl fans can download screensavers and wallpaper images for their computers. A ringtone that sounds like a Stihl chain saw is also available for download. Kid equipment connoisseurs can download and print out coloring book pages. Under “Stihl at the Movies” visitors can view a list of movies that Stihl products have appeared in and e-mail the company to report Stihl movie sightings. Customer testimonials and pictures are available on the site, and customers send in their comments on the products. Other customer reports of having limbs and/or lives saved by protective gear are also included under the Testimonial link.

Capital Gains

You only get one chance to make a first impression, so make that first impression a good one. These days, it's easy for customers to click around on the Internet to find out information before making a purchase — and before renting an item. Impress potential customers who may stumble across your website in their search for rental centers. Capital Rentals, No. 80 on the RER 100, does its best to gain customers' confidence in its abilities. The site, at www.capitalrentals.com, allows visitors to enter either Equipment Rentals or Party Rentals. The phrase, “Every Tool For Every Project!” is emblazoned at the top of all of the site's pages. The company touts its services with confidence, and a running ticker that says, “We will help you start or finish your project with the right tool” helps customers believe that their almost-finished do-it-yourself project is on its way to completion. Visitors can also view the product catalog, enlarge pictures, and read detailed product descriptions and features. Simple and straightforward, the site is still effective.

Viva Las Volvo

Volvo Rents' website at www.volvorents.com gives visitors access to tons of information about the company's franchise opportunities and construction equipment. The unexpected bonus on the site is all of the extras hidden under the News & Media tab. The press releases give the most up-to-date information about the company, and the image gallery allows viewers to browse and download images of the equipment. Several videos are also available for viewing. True Volvo fans can even download screen savers and wallpaper for their computers. Web visitors can also subscribe to the company's monthly e-mail newsletter. And for those who always keep their eyes peeled for that “something special” to give as a gift, there's the Volvo Shop under the Merchandise link. Items such as Volvo apparel, die-cast equipment models, watches, and even duffel bags and golf putters are available for purchase.

An Extra Step

Puerto Rico's San Juan-based Compresores & Equipos, No. 65 on the RER 100, uses its website, www.compressores.com, to introduce its products and services, such as its 24-hour on-call service technician, available to assist customers with questions or equipment malfunctions. When site visitors click on Equipment for Rent, they are linked to a list of the company's equipment inventory. For each type of equipment, the company lists the various models available for rent. Under each equipment type, the company has included a short sentence about the uses for the machine and its benefits. That simple sentence is a great opportunity for the company to describe to the customer applications the product can accomplish. By taking the extra step to include that short addition, the product list becomes much more user friendly, rather than being just another list of boring specs.

Submit new technology, computer products and websites for consideration in Megabytes to Erin Whitehead at ewhitehead@rermag.com.