By ANNABEL GIRARD

Staff Writer

Close to 200 Boyle County businesses have a presence on the Internet. Thanks to listings on the local and state tourism sites, all the businesses in one category -- bed and breakfasts -- have a Web presence.

Cyberspace has proven a good way to get customers, especially for those who have their own Web pages.

Sherron W. Moore is glad she and her husband used the Internet to market Ashhurst bed and breakfast. For now, Ashhurst is closed, although the thought of October's vice-presidential debate here has them reconsidering that move.

"The Internet provided us with the majority of our business," Moore said.

In addition to being listed on the Boyle County tourism site and under bed and breakfasts on the Kentucky Tourism site, Ashhurst had its own Web site. "I could not have guessed it would produce so well for us.

Key to a successful Web site are the links, Moore said. The Ashhurst site was linked to state and national bed and breakfast associations, state and local tourism sites and other sites specifically for bed and breakfasts.

"Without good links, a business is invisible and ineffective," Moore said.

There are more than a billion Web sites, Moore said, citing a news article she had read, and 85 percent of those are in English. "With that kind of traffic, you can't expect anyone to randomly find your Web site. You must rely on links to related sites," Moore said.

Old Crow Inn has had a Web page for its bed and breakfast since July. The inn is a family business, owned by Andre and Linda Brousseau, and managed by daughter, Mignon.

"We have been well pleased with the response so far," said Andre Brousseau. "People who call in or e-mail tell us that they really like it."

Brousseau estimates the site is getting about 15 looks (called hits) a month "mostly from people who are coming to Danville.

"In early January, we had two business men who stayed four days who had got all the info off the Web page. So, it is paying for itself."

Randolph House, owned by Georgie Heizer, has had over 2,700 hits since the page was posted in August 1998 on the Bed and Breakfast On-line site. "Fifty percent of the people we have say they found us on the Web," said son Roy Heizer, who helps manage the bed and breakfast.

Even without Web pages, other bed and breakfasts are benefiting from being listed on the local and state tourism sites. Amelia Nichols of The Empty Nest said the majority of bookings come from referrals, but guests have found the site from the Web. "I distinctly remember the first. It's definitely a help."

Diane Pasick, owner of Pasick's bed and breakfast, said she has had little feedback. "A couple of years ago, someone said they had gotten us off the Internet."

Not everyone is anxious to get on the Internet highway. Mary Joe Bowling, owner of Twin Hollies, said she has gotten some bookings through being on the sites of local and state tourism. "A few people say they found us on the Internet."

But Bowling gets most customers from the listing through AAA and from the telephone book. "We're looking for the ones that are high tech and want to rest," she laughed.

Rooms at Twin Hollies have no telephone, no television and there is not a computer in the house. Bowling also said that with just three rooms, keeping them filled isn't that difficult.

Janet Staton, owner of Magnolia Inn, said she relies primarily on referrals. "I feel some come from the Internet."

Chris Kubale hasn't gotten a lot of responses from the Internet, but was surprised when one man called about The Cottage.

She started to tell him what was offered when he told her, "I'm looking at your information on the Internet." A Web page is being developed for The Cottage.

Jeremy Leigh, owner of AskUs Computer Services in Danville, said anyone putting together a Web page needs to keep in mind that the main purpose of the site is to provide information, not just be filled with pictures. A bed and breakfast, for example, needs to show not only what the house and rooms look like but also provide information about the history of the house, information and history about the area, a map and links to area attractions.

"I'm big on information," Leigh said. "That's what draws people to a Web site, product information."

Communication also is important and that means that e-mail needs to be checked on a regular basis, that is, several times a day, Leigh said. "People are turned off by no response," he said. "Internet is like an instant thing. People expect instant answers."

AskUs Computers offers a variety of services, including designing Web pages and hosting those pages. Leigh said it would cost a business about $180 to have the site hosted for a year. Design averages $100 for the first page, he said, and $65 for each additional page. Most businesses average three to five pages, he said.

The local chamber also is paying close attention to the Internet. The Danville-Boyle County Chamber of Commerce has held one meeting on "The Internet and Your Business" and plans at least two more. Lyle McGlothlin, who coordinated the Feb. 15 meeting, said a list of 189 Danville and Boyle County links have been found on the Internet. McGlothlin is owner of McGlothlin Marketing.

As part of the first meeting, McGlothlin surveyed the 42 participants about their use of the Internet. While not a scientific survey, the participants showed that use of the Internet by local businesses is steadily growing. Eighty-five percent of those at the Feb. 15 seminar have an e-mail address and 81 percent said customers have asked for an e-mail address.

Half can order from suppliers online, and 56 percent said they had ordered a product on line. Sixty-seven percent said their customers can order from competitors online.

As far as using the Internet, 59 percent use it for advertising, 59 percent use it to find information, 50 percent check for news and 67 percent of the 42 people at the seminar have a Web page or site.

The chamber Web site: http://www.danville-ky.com/BoyleCounty/accomm.htm

The state site is:

http://www.state.ky.us/tour/bluegras/nbandb.htm#danville