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Table of Contents
What is the Internet ... ?The Internet is a world-wide network of tens of thousands of large computers, all connected to each other. Individuals and businesses get on the Internet by obtaining an Internet account through a local Internet Service Provider, offering access to e-mail (electronic mail) and the World Wide Web (an information access system). The "Web" allows potential customers to "visit" a business's storefront to the world, and view the company's on-line color brochure stored in "pages" or files which can be viewed in both text and pictures. Back to TopDoes my computer need to be on all the time ... ?No.You place your business's Web pages in your host computer's storage banks. The host computer needs to run 24 hours a day, not yours. There is no danger of hackers getting into your business computer. Back to TopWho pays for the long distance calls ... ?Your only telephone charge is the cost of a call to your Internet Service Provider (if out of a mian centre, many ISP provide Toll Free connection). Messages then are relayed to other large host computers via leased, high-speed phone lines and satellite systems. Their phone costs come out of your flat monthly Internet Service Provider fee. Back to TopHow do businesses use the Internet ... ?This form of advertising is used to build a company's image, provide customer support, make available technical and troubleshooting information, develop a prospect list, conduct customer surveys, offer products, and take orders. Back to TopWhat kinds of businesses benefit from the Internet ... ?Businesses with only a local market area don't benefit too much yet, though this is beginning to change. Regional and national businesses stand to gain the most. Up to 1/2 million New Zealanders on the Internet now become potential customers, and that number is growing by an estimated 20% each month. Back to TopHow do Web pages work ... ?The World Wide Web provides you with a way to introduce your business to the world in a series of "pages" connected by "links." When customers see something that interests them, say a catalogue of your product , they "click" their computer mouse on the "link," the blue highlighted words "Good Teacher magazine" and immediately they can view products in your on-line catalogue, or services list or in this case a magazine. An organization might have several "pages," all linked to their main menu page or "home page." These pages typically include information about the company and its history, products or services, technical support information, and an order or feedback form. Potential customers can view as little or as much as interests them, and business owners can update prices and products at any time. Back to TopHow do people find my business on the Internet?A dozen or so indexing systems are available on theWeb called "search engines," known by strange names such as Yahoo, Lycos, HotBot, AltaVista, and Web Crawler and specific New Zealand engines such as Acces New Zealand, Searchnz. With our help, you register your company's pages with these indexes. Then, when someone searches for key words such as "education," "magazine," or "curriculum" they find Good Teacher magazine listed with similar publications. They "click" on your company's name and immediately begin to view your Web pages. You can also send an e-mail press release to services which track "what's new" on the Internet, and make people aware of your company's Web site by means of Internet mailing lists and news groups. Back to TopHow do people pay for goods or services?Customers can order products directly typing their credit card number into an on-line form. However, they may be reluctant to do so unless the store owner offers what is known as a "SSL secure server" so that credit information can't be intercepted by hackers. PageSet Internet Services can provide this opportunity. Of course, businesses can still offer to take orders via fax, phone, or what Internet users call "snail mail." Back to TopHow does a business get started on the Internet?We can obtain your domain name (or host you on our site) design your pages, negotiate the best connection deal with an ISP (Internet Service Provider), promote your pages and generally take all the worry and hassle out of 'being connected.' Back to Top |
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