|
Source: Internet Info Society
http://info.isoc.org/infosvc/
alternate pic
Source: Matrix Information and Directory Services, Inc. (MIDS)
http://www.mids.org/index.html
Starting on the Internet
http://www.screen.com/
understand/start.nclk |
The Basics: A Review
The Internet: a network of computers
Built over 20 years ago by the academic and defense industries to allow for network communication independent of a central mainframe
Cross-platform communication: talk between Mac, PC, Unix and others
Language to "talk" called TCP/IP, information is passed through "routers" over a "backbone"
Internet is now global in nature, spans the globe
Access is through an Internet Service Provider (ISP) through a modem connection
Bandwidth, the size of the "pipe", determines access speed (14.4K, 28.8K modem, ISDN, T1)
Cost of access depends on bandwidth-average Vancouver cost $20/month
- Nobody owns the Internet, no one organization of "president" of the Internet .
- The Internet is not a closed "BBS" type service like CompuServe or America Online (AOL)
|
|
Introduction to the Internet
http://www.sils.umich.edu/
~fprefect/inet/intro.html |
Domains: Your Electronic Real Estate
- the Internet is split up into virtual Real Estate sections called "domains"
- top level domains include ".com", ".edu", ".gov", ".net", ".org"
- domains assist in the routing of information, used in both your email address and web address (URL). Eg: ernest@amgmedia.com for email; www.amgmedia.com for URL
- anyone can register their own sub-level domain with the central registry called INTERNIC
- strategic and marketing advantage to registering domains. Eg. Chocolate.com, security.com
|
| |
Getting Connected
Your computer
Personal PC (Mac or PC) with sufficient (12M RAM) memory
Mac LC475 min.
PC 486
Bandwidth
Options of 28.8K or 34.6K modem
Rush for new 56K modem, competing technologies
ISDN at home, Cable modems (Rogers Wave), and satellite options
An Internet Connection (ISP)
Approximate cost of $20/month (gets you 520 hours)
no long distance charges, only the price of a local call
|
|
Eudora Tips and Tricks
http://www.makinwaves.com/eudora/ |
Email
Send messages to anyone, around the world, on the Internet for the price of your local phone call
Message composed in simple text, or ASCII format
Allows for pictures, sound files, multimedia, etc. sent as binary attachments
Messages follow a "store and forward" model (DEMONSTRATION)
One message can be received by several by using mass emailing (often called Spamming if done incorrectly)
Messages improve communication, cost virtually nothing, are fast, can be used as a "to do list", work between companies
Your email address
Example: ernest@amgmedia.com
name attached to a domain
email addresses provided by Internet Access company
option of getting an email address "for life" through other providers (eg. www.iname.com)
Four values needed for every mail "client": POP3 server, login name and password, SMTP host for outgoing email.
Connecting your company
Register your domain and find a Web Service Provider (WSP) to host the domain
Set up both mailboxes and aliases (or "redirects"). Mailboxes can be checked from any point on the Internet given login name and password. Alias re-route email to other mailboxes
Examples include: info@amgmedia.com, sales@amgmedia.com, etc.
Cost approx. $5/box/month. Re-directs are free.
|
|
the W3C Consortium
http://www.w3.org/pub/WWW/
the origins of the World Wide Web
http://www.seas.upenn.edu/
~lzeltser/WWW/
Beginner's Guide to the Internet
http://www.ncsa.uiuc.edu/General/
Internet/WWW/HTMLPrimer.html
Web Development Guide
http://www-slis.lib.indiana.edu/
Internet/programmer-page.html |
The World Wide Web
HTML: the web language linking pages
Hyper-text mark-up language allows for unorganized pages to be linked together.
Simple mouse point and click interface using a "browser" (eg. Netscape or Microsoft Internet Explorer).
Browsers change quickly, look for versions 3.0 or greater
Next generation browsers will change the look and feel of your computer "desk-top".
Writing and editing HTML is much like the original markup language of earlier word processors
Software readily available on the Internet to design and edit your own pages
Learn HTML from other pages by using "view source"
Microsoft Office 97 Word does a fantastic job of converting to HTML.
|
|
Travel Related Newsgroups
news:rec.travel.air
news:rec.travel.misc
news:rec.travel.europe
|
Newsgroups
USENET discussion groups
USENET is the original form of world-wide propagated discussion groups.
over 18,000 topics imaginable from "alt.acting" to "sci.optics"
Most up to date activity, discussions usually from within the last five days
Excellent marketing opportunity if approached with care
Make good use of "signature" files to promote your service
All about building community and adding value to discussions.
Many discussion groups now mediated through a web-page-- not universally accessible unless access via the weblink
|
|
Search engine examples
www.altavista.digital.com
www.infoseek.com
www.webcrawler.com
www.excite.com
www.yahoo.com
www.hotbot.com
|
Finding Stuff on the Web
Search Engines
Search engines go out and index the keywords and topics for your website.
Many search engines available and each has their area of expertise or usefulness
Use both keywords, and phrases. Some allow for boolean searches
To have your site indexed, go to each search engine and submit your URL
Use meta tags to describe your pages and keywords
Some tricks to getting "to the top of the list", but search engines quickly respond to "engine spamming"
Don’t forget best source of links are other peoples "best of" pages which gives you a list of relevant links with editorial comments.
|
|
Check to see if your domain has been registered with Internic
http://rs.internic.net
Web Service Provider
www.webdirect.ca
Getting started with HTML
http://WWW.Stars.com/
Index of HTML commands
http://www.willcam.com/
cmat/html/crossref.html
|
Setting Up Your Website
Register Your Domain
Stake your piece of real-estate on the Internet by registering your domain.
Generally a $75 set up charge with US $50 paid to INTERNIC, the registration body in the United States
Most of the good ".com" names have already been taken
New domains ready to be released are: .firm, .store, .web, .arts, .rec, .info, and .nom
Trademark issues, new initiatives in place to give stronger protection to trademark owners
Find a Web Service Provider
Domain needs to be associated with an Internet Service Provider (ISP) or Web Service Provider (WSP)
Better strategy to go with WSP as it allows you to access different ISPs (as price dictates) without being locked into one company
Domains are fully transportable
Build Pages on your computer
Build some of the simple pages right on your own desktop computer. No server needed.
Become familiar with linking pages, adding graphics, and formatting concerns
Advance to tables, frames, Java scripts and CGI interactivity
Good idea to keep all names and links in lower case which helps with porting the webpages to a server. UNIX is case sensitive.
Remember that visitors will enter your website on any page. So, every page should have the necessary links to get back to the first page, when the page was last changed, and an email address for contact information.
Maintain a consistent "look and feel" or corporate identity on each page. Build brand identity.
FTP to the Server
Move your pages to the server using FTP or File Transfer Protocol.
You will need three things: server name (ie. uploads.webdirect.ca), login name and password.
Transfer files in ASCII and Binary format. ASCII for all text, cgi's and html pages, binary for all graphics and attachments.
Test pages and links. Check carefully for full names and directory structures.
|
|
Promotional resources
www.submit-it.com
www.yahoo.com/Computers
/World_Wide_Web/
Announcement_Services/
|
Promotions and Marketing
Seed all Search Engines
This is free and just takes time.
Prepare with a short description of keywords, contact names and addresses, associated URLs, and catchy title. Save in a simple text document and cut and paste into each form
Allow for six to eight weeks for many search engines.
Check engines often and re-submit as needed
Newsgroups
Participate first by listening in on conversations to find out if your content is relevant
Use www.dejanews.com to find out where your keywords are being discussed. Check out competitor's names.
Provide value and content and you will be rewarded
Other Related Pages
Look for competitors and related pages. They will often have done a lot of work for you which you can expand on.
Most of your traffic will come from word-of-mouth so get linked on other pages.
Provide reciprocal links on your website. If worried about losing traffic, use frames.
Maintain Mailing Lists
Keep your visitors informed with timely, concise emailed newsletters
Use the "bcc:" option on your email to prevent others from seeing everyone's email address (ie. don't use "cc:")
Provide a space on your website for visitors to sign up to your mailing list
Allow for an HTML option of email which includes live links to particular points on your site (so they don't have to waste time looking for the mentioned page).
Keep site fresh and relevant
Change content regularly and make it clear on the website when the changes have been made
Include a simple JavaScript which will show when the page was last saved
Average pages viewed per visit rarely go past 3 pages, so have as many links off the first page as possible
Respond to user needs
You are now working on Internet time and need to respond in internet time. Respond by email and within a day if possible.
Your viewers will give you the best ideas for changes and improvements on your pages. Capitalize on these.
|
