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 Web Site Marketing Strategy Ezine
Mon 20th Nov '00
In this issue:
1. INTRODUCTION
==>More moving host, New domain extensions.
2. PLACES TO VISIT
==>Web sites for you to visit.
3. TOOLS AT NOW SELL!
==>Useful tools to make your life easier.
4. MARKETPLACE
==>Check out special offers and deals here.
5. FEATURE ARTICLE
==>"Can You Really Become a Marketing 'Genius'?"
By Marty Foley.
Scroll to the end for subscription details.
o-x-o-x-o-x-o-x-o-x-o-x-o-x-o-x-o-x-o-x-o-x-o-x-o-x-o-x-o-x-o-x-o
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X INTRODUCTION X
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Hello,
Yes, I know ... late again! In fact, I think this is the latest
I've ever been, and to be honest, I felt so exhausted I almost
didn't send anything! But in the end, I couldn't bring myself to
miss an edition entirely. :-)
If you read the last issue, you'll know that I'm moving
NowSell.com over to a new host, in tandem with redesigning the
site. It's been another very intense week as I wanted to have
everything more-or-less finished by weekend. Looks like I was a
little optimistic!
I told myself I wouldn't update any content at present; simply
revamp the site's appearance and layout. What a joke! Confronted
with numerous pages that I hadn't seen for six months or more, it
often proved impossible to resist making corrections and
including additional information.
I'll tell you something though ... I was amazed at how many pages
I came across containing spelling errors! Mistakes happen when
you're writing, but I thought I routinely used a spell checker.
Obviously I missed as many pages as I remembered to check! Based
on that, it might be an idea to double-check your own site.
Then there's the dilemma over whether to use my native British,
or US spelling. I prefer the former, but as the majority of my
audience are familiar with the latter - and I don't want them to
think I can't spell - I tend to follow that these days. However,
much of my content was originally written in British English, and
some suggestions thrown up by my US spell checker were somewhat
painful to accept! :-)
Most of the pages urgently requiring attention have been revamped
and are now online. Unfortunately, I'm still having a few
problems with CGI scripts. The scripts themselves are working,
although they appear not to be.
The problem is with the SSI calls incorporated to print out page
headers and footers. None of these includes are appearing, and
I've no idea why. They worked fine at my previous host, where all
pages were automatically parsed for SSI (Server Side Includes).
By default, WestHost only parse ".shtml" pages for includes.
However, they happily allowed me to modify my .htaccess file so
that my ".html" pages would be parsed. I presumed that this would
cover the CGI "Print" commands as well, but that appears not to
be so. Anyway, I've just sent a message to support, so no doubt
the problem will be sorted shortly.
If you plan to move an existing site, and are told you can only
use SSI if you change all your pages to the ".shtml" extension
(breaking ALL internal and external links), ask if you can modify
your .htaccess file instead. Go with a host that agrees. It will
save you hours of work setting up redirects to each page. In
addition, since search engines don't like them, all those
redirects will probably have an adverse effect on your listings
and link popularity.
This is what you need to add to your .htaccess file:
AddType text/html .html
AddHandler server-parsed .html
Or alternative syntax:
AddType text/x-server-parsed-html .html
[If you use the ".htm" extension, write that instead of ".html"]
Copy the code above and keep it somewhere safe. Since few know
about it, this information is not easy to find online.
Last week I promised I would have another article ready for this
issue (if you're a new subscriber, I like to try and write one
every two weeks or so). I'm ashamed to say I've had to let you
down again. I could have perhaps thrown it together today, but
that's what it would've been: Thrown together. I decided against
that! And hope you'll bear with me whilst I get the site into
working - if not perfect - order.
BB
On Thursday, ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and
Numbers) announced the selection of seven new TLD's (Top Level
Domains). They are:
.biz - only for businesses
.pro - for licensed professionals
.info - for any site
.name - for personal names
.museum - for museums
.aero - for aerospace industry
.coop - for business cooperatives
I don't know what all 44 suggestions submitted for consideration
were, but looking at the winners, I can't help but ask, "Is this
the best they can do?"
Those in favor of ICANN introducing the new TLD's - most notably
registrars, who stand to profit from new extensions - say
worldwide demand necessitates additional domains. That there
aren't enough dot-coms left.
Others say more TLD's are unnecessary, and will lead to
confusion. Plus, the trademark issue means that many names will
remain unavailable, whatever the suffix. And even if not
trademarked, many dot-coms will attempt to buy all versions of
their name, to prevent any loss of traffic to competitors.
However, unlike dot-com, dot-net and dot-org, most of the new
TLD's are restricted. Dot-biz domain names will only be available
to businesses, and not for personal use. Dot-pro is reserved for
registered professionals. Dot-museum for museums only, dot-aero
is for members of the aerospace industry and dot-coop for
registered cooperatives.
ICANN's decision means that for the first time, there will be
competition in the area of domain name registries. Although there
are resellers, currently, Network Solutions (now Verisign Global
Registry) handles all registry operations for dot-net, dot-com
and dot-org. The new TLD's will be operated by other companies,
including Tucows and Register.com amongst others.
Since it appears they won't be competing directly however, I
don't expect any great price benefits for end users. It would
perhaps be different if all registries handled all extensions.
Until the inevitable "you need this now" hype dies down, early
adopters can probably expect to pay more than current dot-com
rates.
Not so short-term, dot-biz domains will apparently cost $2,000 to
register and $150 a year to maintain! The argument is that such a
price tag adds prestige to a company: Only the serious will
register.
This cynic notes it's also an easy way to skim an awful lot of
money from the largest segment of the Internet, and that, unless
the average surfer is aware of such pricing, any prestige is
limited to the community of Web site owners. The fee is just low
enough that many smaller businesses may 'stretch' to afford it,
should the extension prove popular.
If dot-biz does take off, it may establish a new 'elite club'
businesses feel they need to be a part of to gain customer
confidence. Much depends on whether or not it's adopted by most
of the larger companies. If so, others will be quick to follow,
hoping to benefit from the association.
Personally however, I feel it will be difficult to displace
dot-com in the popular consciousness. The world over, media,
politicians, and the general public have become so used to using
'dot-com terminology' in relation to the Internet, that I can't
see things changing overnight.
Of course, once dot-biz name space is crowded with dot-com
owners, a new commercial suffix costing $5,000 could be created
for the super-elite! Takers for 'dot-rich' ... anybody?
BB
Tell me what YOU think! Send your feedback, comments, what you
like, what you hate, etc., to me at: mailto:azam-nowsell.com
TTFN
Azam
PS - Have you visited the Newbie Club yet? No matter how good you
THINK you are with Windows, this is a site you'll definitely
come away from having learnt something. Free guides, ebooks
and tutorials, all bursting with pictures to make everything
doubly clear.
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X PLACES TO VISIT X
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Last Modified: 12:46, Monday November 29, 2004. Copyright © 1999-2008 NowSell.com. All rights reserved.
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