Arrowsmith Websites Website Blog

The difference between email and website addresses

admin — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 06:37:31 +0000

I know people who have tried to send an email to a website address: www.example.com, or tried to visit the website of an email address: fred@example.com. The problem is not always evident to new computer users. So how can you tell an email address from a website address? The simplest way to tell the difference is an email address always contains the ‘at sign’ (@), and a website address never does.
Email addresses should be written in lower case eg. fredsmith@example.com. Sometimes you will see an email address written in mixed case (FredSmith@example.com) to improve readability.

Three website categories: Which one is right for your business?

admin — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 06:20:16 +0000

Business websites can be roughly categorised into three categories: brochure, ecommerce and hybrid.

1. Brochure website

This is for businesses operating in the ‘offline’ world, also referred to as ‘bricks and mortar’ businesses. They have a physical office or shop that they operate from, and they don’t sell goods or services through the internet.

A brochure website is simplest and most economical type of website; it can even be just a home page and nothing else. It’s an information source about your business - like a brochure that you would hand out to potential customers – that contains some sales and marketing copy and contact information.

A website for a restaurant could contain information about the style of food served, the location, operating hours, menus, how to contact or make a booking.

Increasingly, this is how people look for a business.

2. Hybrid Website

Businesses who operate a traditional ‘bricks and mortar’ business, but who also take advantage of the ecommerce possibilities the internet provides, are businesses that may have a hybrid website.

Diversifying your business to include an online component can ntroduce efficiencies and enable you to reach new markets.

Examples:

· retailer selling online
· banks
· newspapers

3. Pure ecommerce

With the explosion of internet use around the world, new business models have been appearing to take advantage of the new space.

Many businesses now operate purely in the online space, with no offline operations. This can be a very efficient way to conduct business, as ordering and fulfilment processes can be automated.

Examples:

· Google
· hotspotting.com.au
· eBay
· realestate.com.au

Social networking on the internet, is it good for business?

admin — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 06:15:49 +0000

One of the biggest trends on the Internet right now is Social Networking websites. Sites like MySpace, Facebook and LinkedIn are so popular that they regularly get mentioned in mainstream media. Heavily populated by Generation Y, the gaudy page designs of MySpace have become something of a phenomenon.

Politicians and pop stars alike have MySpace pages, in an attempt to stay in touch with the new connected generation. And advertisers love the demographic targeting afforded by such sites just as much.

When creating your profile on a social networking site, consider the privacy issue, everything you put on there is available for the world to see. In the future you may be applying for a job, or even just applying for a loan, and it’s possible that your online profiles will be scrutinised.

There’s no doubt that the synergy generated by such a large network is has enormous potential for productivity if used efficiently. But distractions are everywhere, there are so many gadgets to play around with, that it’s really easy to lose big chunks of time just exploring and playing and not really being productive. The time wasting factor is enough for some workplaces to ban the sites altogether.

So in order to reap the benefits of being so connected, but not wasting too much time, set limits or goals when using these sites. If you lose too much time, set yourself a time limit, or set a task that must be completed, such as introducing yourself to four people in your industry.

So, business productivity tools or time wasters? Both, depending on how they are used, but one thing is certain, they are here to stay, and they will continue to grow and diversify.

Get Found More: The Brochure Website Solution for Small Business

admin — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 06:14:21 +0000

Ten years ago, most people would look for goods and services in the Yellow Pages or newspaper classifieds. Today, people ‘Google’ the business they are seeking. A business with a professionally built website is more likely to be found near the top of the results for a relevant search.

The types of business that don’t need a website are diminishing as more and more people search for everything online. Five years ago, many categories of business didn’t need a website. Why would a motor mechanic need a website? Today if you are searching for a local motor mechanic on Google and the top result takes you to a well designed web page, you may well contact that business first. Especially if it provides details of the services provided, operating hours, pricing and contact information.

Consider a restaurant website for example, it could contain information about the style of food served, the location, operating hours, menus, how to contact or make a booking. This information would be very useful to the person looking for somewhere to eat out in the local area.

A brochure website is simplest and most economical type of website; it can even be a ‘one pager’ - just a home page and nothing else. It’s an information source about your business that is accessible to potential customers wherever they are located. As a minimum it will contain sales and marketing copy and contact information. It is for businesses operating in the ‘offline’ world - also referred to as ‘bricks and mortar’ businesses - which have a physical office or shop that they operate from, and they don’t sell goods or services through the internet.

As more and more people search for goods and services online, consider the advantage for your business of a professionally designed brochure website.