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UNTANGLE THE WEB
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Launching our new series about using the internet, CM calls on the expertise of Elton
Boocock to explain
the basics of making the World Wide Web work for you...
So what is the internet, why is everyone talking about it and why is it so important to be there? Or is it? These are some of the questions we intend to answer in this new column.
Elton Boocock has run an internet company for seven years, and is now the business development manager for uk-trucking.net, the haulage industry website. Starting from the ground up. he will be taking a very practical look at whether the internet is right for you or your company: whether you need a website. what should and should not be on it and, more importantly, how to make it profitable. In explaining how to write a brief for your site, he will not only save you time and money should you decide to build your own pages. hut he will also help to ensure the finished article is an asset to your business.
Before we start to talk about building websites,however,we will cover the basics of getting your computeconline.setting up e-mail and demystifying some of the internetrelated jargon.We will discuss modems, broadband,ISPs and domains. All of this will be backed up by online tutorials and your chance to 'ask the expert'. By the end, we will be looking at how to market your company using the internet.This will cover e-mail marketing, search engines and paid advertising.The series will discuss issues relevant to companies of all sizes.The unique opportunity that the internet presents to smaller operators is an equal playing field. Irrespective of location, fleet size or turnover, we will help you to bring out the hest of the internet opportunity.
Buzzwords !ere, we explain some of the buzzwords that surround the internet. Further terms will be explained in each issue, providing you with a well rounded understanding of internet terminology.
To start using the internet, you need an internet service provider (ISP).These are the people who provide you with access to the internet.This includes e-mail (electronic mail), a method of sending messages and computer files quickly to other e-mail accounts and to the Web (short name for the World Wide Web, as in www). The Web' refers to the collection of websites and web pages. The interne is often confused with the World Wide Web.The internet, short for inter-network, is the system of interconnected computers (referred to as servers, since their role is to serve files/pages to visitors) that is used for e-mail and web browsing (viewing).
When choosing an ISP, consider how fast you would like your access to be. In a later issue, we will discuss the benefits and costs of dial-up access, where your computer uses a modem (internal or external piece of hardware that connects to a standard phone line) to make a phone call, much like a fax: data (digital information) is passed over the phone line.
Broadband The alternative is broadband (which uses a broader bandwidth, enabling faster transfer of data) which is delivered most commonly through an ADSL, (asymmetric digital subscriber line) using a standard phone line or cable connection.
Having signed to an ISP, you will be able to use a web browser (program used to display web pages/sites) to surf (look around!) the net (internet). By accessing various URLs (uniform resource locators). otherwise known as web addresses, you will find lots of general resources for business and home. as well as pages specifically for the haulage industry.
One of the most efficient uses of the interne is to find portals (websites that collect information from lots of other sources) relevant to the subjects you are interested in. For example, uktrucking.net is a portal for the haulage industry. You can also use search engines (websites that allow you to search through the entire web for sites that may contain information on the keywords—words that you have asked the search engine to search for— that you are interested in). E-mail is als an important E now that y are online (connectei the internet).Wit you can send mei large or small, important or so important, but generally far quicker th posting or faxing.You may want to incluc an attachment (computer file such as a picture, report or invoice) with your e-mi and your mail program (simply the prop that you read and write e-mail in) will all you to do this.
Next time, we will discuss the differenc between broadband and dial-up interne access and help you to make an informec choice on your connection speed. •