SITE SPECIFIC
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As CM's survey shows, some hauliers are now running web sites to boost business. But how do you get started? Simple, just follow our step-by-step guide.
• It makes sense to have a web site of your own so that when potential customers are searching they come across your business rather than the competition. Once the site has been designed, registration with search engines is easy enough. Each has a simpleto-follow set of instructions. But, without registering, no-one—unless they already have your site address—will ever find you.
HBuy equipment: Before you can get a web site onto the web, you'll need a computer with a modem which lets your computer talk to the outside world by telephone, and an account with an internet service provider. ISPs are akin to the likes of BT and they let you dial them up to send and receive e-mail and use the Internet as well as giving you 'free' web space for your own web site.
NChoose your ISP: Some are free WH Smiths, Waitrose and many other companies offer free Internet access. All you need to do is go to one of their stores, collect a free CD-ROM, go home and run the CD-ROM. On the other hand, for quality access and features or your own domain name (such as www.yourcompany.co.uk rather than www.freeserve. yourcompany.co.uk) you will need to pay. Easyspace (www.easyspace.co.uk) offers good value for money as well as a service where they e-mail you to tell you who has accessed your site. The downside with Easyspace is that support is only via email and fax—no phone number exists.
['Choose your software: To use the Internet you need a web browser. They're all free; the main two are either Netscape's Communicator or Internet Explorer from Microsoft. Both can be found on the CDs that you get on the front of computer magazines. Installation of these is easy enough—but configuration can be a little tricky for those new to computing. Helplines are available from the Internet service providers, but they may well ask you to dial on a premium rate number for their services. Before you sign up to an ISP—and before you publicise your web/email addresses—make sure that you can use your account for business.
'-' Think about content: At a minimum you need =
0 u.. your contact details including phone, fax, mobile t., and postal address—not everyone wants to send g you an e-mail. To make it easier for people to e-mail you, l.Tr configure a link on the web site that automatically generates a note to you. You could have a breakdown of the E.
=., services that you offer; it might have information on your customers—naturally with their permission. It could also have references for your services, together with pictures of your fleet, warehousing and key staff.
0 Be professional: You might want to have a link Lo the PHA website so that anyone who looks at your web-site and sees the RHA logo will be easily able to find out what it is and how it can help or protect them. it is also possible to make money from hotlinksoffer a link to a warehousing company or someone who has a complementary business to yours and they may give you a cut of any business you generate for them.
Design for success: You're probably worrying
about the design. Don't—software products such
as Microsoft Publisher (version 98 and later) will do virtually all of it for you. Publisher has a number of predesigned web pages that it uses, together with your feedback to certain questions, to produce the bare bones of a web site. From there you can easily tailor the site to meet your own needs. Alternatively, you can get a web designer (see Yellow Pages) to do the work for you; but this might not be a cheap option—expect to pay several thousand pounds! Compare that to buying Publisher for less than £50 and the cost of your time.
0 Check it works: Whether you DIY or hire in expertise, make sure that the finished product works well and is quick—Internet users have low
boredom thresholds. Have pages which are easy to low and well linked from one to the next.
Going live: After designing the site you'll nee upload it to the Internet. For this you'll need s ware like Microsoft's Web Publishing Wizard (' with Windows) which will do the work for you. Just the program and follow the instructions.
Further reading: If you need more infor don, most newsagents have useful magazii
There is also The Internet Rough Guide 2 Updated annually the guide costs £5 and will run through the terminology of the Internet, how it wo interesting web sites and Internet etiquette. Also loc Building A Website by Tim Worsley (Doffing Kindersl It costs £5 and assumes little technical knowledge.
10 For an example of a professional, well-desig site, don't forget to check out www.roadtn port.net which has a lot of information about ndustry and a stream of news sto from Commercial Motor its sister titles.