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Tip 1: Filtering SPAM with Eudora Tip 2: NUA’s Survey of the Number of Web Users Tip 3: Results from the 8th GVU Internet Survey Tip 4: W3C Approves HTML 4.0 Specifications---T-H-E P-E-R-F-E-C-T C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S G-I-F-T---Topic 1: Evaluating Your Web SiteIt’s the end of the year—time to reflect on the events of 1997. While Internet-related magazines are focusing on the best web sites of the year, take a look at your web site and evaluate where you stand at the end of 1997. GoalsHave you met your goals for development, customer communications, traffic and lead generation?CompetitionAs in any business venture, know your competition and what they are doing. Revisit your competitors and study their approach. What are they doing well? What are they doing poorly? Is there a void where you can provide adjunct services to grow your business? Find your unique niche and capitalize on that strength. Learn from your competitor’s attempts. Have an impartial person who represents your target audience look at both your competitors’ sites and your site. Have them verbalize their thoughts as they review each site.Design* Good contrast between text and background * Unified design with a common theme * Purposeful graphics * Well-designed banner or logo * Easy-to-find contact information * Intuitive structure with good navigation * Easy-to-use forms that are international friendlyContent* Well thought out and organized * Free of spelling and grammar errors * Most easily sought after information is most accessible * Visitors can easily determine: * Who you are * What you do * What makes you unique * Why visitors should use your products and services * How the visitor benefits * What’s the next step * References and partnersTechnical* Page load time should be 30 seconds or less * Graphics should be as small as possible yet effective * Scripts, applets, counters, etc. should function properly * Technology should add value not just glitzMarketing* Address the needs of your target market * Reinforce your marketing goals and objectives * Include "Call-to-Action" statements * Provide extra value—a reason to visit and return * Collect the lead * Keep abreast of your competitionPromotability* Meta tags for description and keywords in the HTML code * Keywords should be part of your content * Indexable content is as close to the top of the HTML document as possible * Web site is positioned well in the top search engines and directoriesTopic 2: Evaluating Your ISPWhile you have your Website goals for next year handy, evaluate your current Internet Service Provider’s ability to provide the needed services in a cost-effective manner. As your web site grows and requires additional service, can your current ISP provide the services at a competitive price? If you are thinking about adding custom scripts, does your service provider allow access to the CGI-BIN or do they charge you to review your scripts before placing them on the server for you? If you want to sell a product over the Internet, do they offer a secure server and make a shopping cart program available. Many ISPs are providing shopping cart software on their server and allow you to directly tie into credit card verification programs. IMHO, while many ISPs are struggling to make money in a highly competitive market, it is the ISP that adds extra value through services that will prosper. The following is a list of criteria that you should consider. Some issues will be more relevant to your company depending on the goals for your Web site. 1. What is the size of the ISP's connection to the Internet? The smallest connection that you should consider is a T1 line which carries up to 1.5 mbps (megabits per second) of information. A T3 line, which carries 45 mbps is the preferred connection. 2. How many connections does the ISP have to the Internet and by which major backbone provider? Another way to ask this question is to ask whether they have "redundant" connections with multiple providers. A reliable ISP purchases connections from multiple providers to ensure that there is no interruption in service. If one Internet backbone provider loses service, the ISP's other providers should seamlessly carry the traffic. 3. Does the ISP offer virtual hostings or a virtual domain? If you are serious about a business Web site, a virtual domain is your best option. A virtual domain allows you to register a domain name (address for your company) and access your Web site using your unique company address:Optional Business Requirements12. A Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Web server for electronic commerce applications. If your long-term goal is to sell via a secure Web site, then be sure your hosting account offers this service reliably. When possible, start with the provider who offers the most services. Switching providers can cause interruptions in Web site access. 13. Anonymous FTP capability from your virtual domain for downloading data or programs. This is usually a requirement for software companies. Since all Internet users can not use a downloadable link due to the size of the file and their browser, anonymous FTP access is a must. 14. Mailing list management software such as Majordomo or LISTSERV for sending e-mail mailing lists and newsletters. This service can be run from a third- party provider for a fee if your ISP does not offer the service. 15. Autoresponders for automated replies to inquiries sent to designated e-mail addresses. Many third-party providers offer this service for a fee if your ISP does not.Topic 3: Misc. TipsTip 1: How to Filter Spam with Eudora 3.0 http://www.cs.nwu.edu/%7Ebeim/eudora/eudora-3-0-spam-filter.htmlTip 2: NUA’s Survey of How Many are online World Wide NUA’s Survey of How Many Are online WorldWide (86 Million) http://www.nua.ie/surveys/how_many_online.html Tip 3: Results from the 8th GVU Internet Study The results from the GVU (Graphics, Visualization, and Usability) Center's Eighth Survey are now available from: http://www.gvu.gatech.edu/user_surveys/survey-1997-10/ This survey included questions on: * general demographics * internet/web usage * data privacy * electronic commerce * cultural issues in web design * ...and more Results are available on the web to the public for free. A hardcopy report is available for $80 (see web page for details). Some analyses are still being conducted, but basic graphs are available for all questions asked. The datasets will be made available in mid-January from the above URL. Tip 4: W3C Approves HTML 4.0 Specifications The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) approved the specifications for HTML 4.0 standards on 18 Dec 1997. Check http://www.w3c.org/ for details. - - - A-B-O-U-T O-U-R S-P-O-N-S-O-R - - - Tech Direct provides professional Web Site Design, Web Site Marketing & Consulting, Newsletters and Marketing Communications services at an affordable price. Visit: http://www.techdirect.com HOUSE KEEPINGTo UN-Subscribe, remove-IBIZ@techdirect.com In the BODY of your message, type: remove firstname lastname email address To Subscribe, sub-IBIZ@techdirect.com In the BODY of your message, type: subscribe firstname lastname email address Web Site: http://www.techdirect.com/IBIZ Email comments: owner-IBIZ@techdirect.com Archives: http://www.techdirect.com/IBIZ/archives.htmlCopyright 1997-99, Tech Direct Inc. All Rights Reserved. This publication may be freely redistributed by e-mail in its entirety. The reprinting of portions of this publication or any other type of reprinting beyond forwarding issues to a friend is strictly prohibited without permission from Tech Direct, Inc. and shall be construed as a violation of applicable Copyright Laws. http://www.techdirect.com Marietta, GA (USA)
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