[originaltext]W: Sam, let’s go out for dinner.M: Well, I would rather not come

W: Sam, let’s go out for dinner.
M: Well, I would rather not come. Maybe next time.
W: You look frustrated. What’s going on?
M: It’s about my business.
W: Why, what’s wrong with it?
M: [6]I don’t have enough customers. The number of our customers is decreasing. I don’t know what to do with it.
W: Are you advertising?
M: Yes, I’ve advertised with fliers, newspapers, magazines and billboards. I’ve tried many things, but I fail to see any obvious effect in boosting the sales.
W: Then have you posted anything about your business online?
M: No, I didn’t think that anyone would see my business on the Internet.
W: Come on! It’s been 21st Century already. People are surfing the Internet all the time. Definitely they would see it!
M: I thought most people use the Internet to talk to each other, to watch movies, to play games. I mean, mostly for the entertainment.
W: You must have been living under a rock for the last few years. [7]The Internet has become a very big market for e-commerce. Didn’t you notice that?
M: What is e-commerce?
W: E-commerce works like conventional commerce with the same process of selling and purchasing goods or services for a price. The difference is that goods and services in e-commerce are bought and sold over the Internet. [8]The good thing is, transactions can be done globally 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, so it helps you to reach many more customers.
M: Then how do I start?
W: First you should build a website for your business and later list the products and services on sale.
M: But I don’t know how to make a website.
W: That’s easy. [9]You can hire someone to do it for you, or you just download the software or application for website design and make it on your own. And you can also go to websites like eBay or Amazon to set up your online store there.
M: Just that simple?
W: Yeah, but you should know that the competition on the Internet is as fierce as that in conventional commerce. The difficult part of e-commerce is attracting customers to the website. So you really need to work hard on that part. What does your business sell?
M: My business sells clothes for children and babies.
W: [10]Then you can set up a website that attracts the mothers. Try to use colorful elements like cartoon figures, balloons, flowers, animals, etc. Apply things that can make your website look lovely.
M: That sounds wonderful. I’m really blown away. Thank you so much for this fantastic idea.
W: Anytime, my friend. Let me know if you get good news about your business.
M: Sure.
6. What problem does the man have in his business?
7. What does the woman think of the Internet?
8. What’s the advantage of e-commerce according to the woman?
9. How can the man make a website?
10. How can the man attract the customers when setting up a website?