| —by Bob Langdon |
HTML
HyperText Markup Language. HTML consists of universal "tags" that tell your browser how to display text and graphics on your monitor. If you go to your browser's menu and choose "View Source," you can see the HTML that makes up this page.
CGI
Computer Gateway Interface. CGI scripts are small programs that run on the host server and "push" information to your browser. They're usually written in programming languages like C or Perl. C programs need to be compiled after being uploaded to the server while Perl is an "interpreted" language. CGI scripts allow you to do things you can't do with straight HTML. Things like Guestbooks, Forums, and Shopping Carts would not be possible without CGI. Click Here to see a sample of what a cgi script looks like.
E-Mail Aliases
Maybe your real POP3 address is "owner@YourStore.com." You can set up several aliases that will also go to your mailbox, like "sales@YourStore.com," "info@YourStore.com," and "webmaster@YourStore.com."E-Mail Forwarding
Say, for example, you receive e-mail from several sources, like "sales@YourStore.com" and "info@Your Store.com," but you also have an account at AOL: "jdoe@aol.com." You can have all of your business e-mail forwarded to your ISP account ("jdoe@aol.com"). Then you only have one mailbox to check. It can make your life a lot simpler.ISP
Internet Service Providers provide dial-up access to the Internet. Most also provide e-mail and Usenet services and host Websites too. Unfortunately, between hosting sites, sending and receiving e-mail, and providing Usenet and dial-up access, their resources are spread too thin to do any one thing well. For hosting services, choose a company that specializes in hosting Websites. Since they do nothing else, they can dedicate 100 percent of their resources (human and machine) to doing that one thing well.FTP
File Transfer Protocol. Used for uploading and downloading files to and from your site. FTP can be anonymous (allowing anybody access to your account or to specific folders) or password-protected.
Frames
There are several advantages to using frames. One, is that they provide a consistency of form as visitors pass from one page of your website to the next. Another is that once graphics have loaded into those static (unchanging) frames, you don't have to wait for them to load over and over again as you move throughout the site. One disadvantage is that frames can cause your page(s) to load a bit more slowly. Some people, especially those with smaller monitors, don't like frames.Secure Server/SSL
Secure Socket Layer. One of the great myths of doing business on the Internet is that computer hackers are hiding around every corner waiting to snatch up your customers' credit card information. Regardless of whether that is or isn't so, that is the public PERCEPTION. And perceptions are everything. In order to sell over the Internet, you need to be able to boast that you're connected to a "Secure Server." Now the little blue key at the bottom of your customers' browser will flash (or the little padlock will close, depending on which browser they're using), and the customer will feel safe buying from you. Most service-oriented hosts offer secure servers as part of their regular service agreement, or for a small additional monthly fee.
Forms
Forms allow visitors to enter their names and e-mail addresses, check boxes, or select from pull-down menus. Then, when they push the "Submit" button, you get mail requesting more information.
Here's an example of a (non-funtional) Form:
Frameset Document
A frameset document defines the shape of your site, how many frames it has, what shape and size they are, and what documents/graphics should load into which frames.Autoresponder
Today's web surfers are a demanding bunch. They want it all, and they want it NOW. If they don't hear back from you within an hour or two after sending you e-mail, they'll go somewhere else (like to your competitor).
That's where autoresponders come into play. A visitor to your site sends an e-mail message requesting more information, and your autoresponder automatically sends the proper information—IMMEDIATELY, any time of day or night, 365 days a year. To see an autoresponder in action, you can request our website-development and hosting price list by sending a blank e-mail message to: info@dss-sites.com.. If your browser doesn't support the "mailto:" tag, Fill Out This Form instead.
Forum/Bulletin Board
Forums are a great way to interact with your customers. They can ask questions and voice opinions. They can talk amongst themselves. Your satisfied customers can tell your prospects what great people you are to do business with. You can visit our Forum here.
FAQ
A FAQ is a list of Frequently Asked Questions—and the answers. You might want to compile a list of frequently asked questions you and your salespeople hear all the time and post them on your Website. Your customers will appreciate the convenience. And you'll free up your staff to do other, more productive things. You can read our FAQ Here.
Guestbook
A guestbook is a simple cgi-based feature that allows visitors to your Website to "sign in" and leave a message for you and other visitors to read. They can also read messages left by other visitors.Java
An object-oriented programming language that allows client-side applications vs. server-side applications. That is, the program runs on the visitor's computer, not the host server. The advantage is that it doesn't slow down your server and the application may even run faster on the visitor's computer. The disadvantage is that many people are still using browsers that are not java-enabled. If you do use a java applet on your site, make sure you have an alternative for those visitors who cannot access it.
JavaScript
JavaScript is NOT the same as java. One major difference is that you cannot write standalone applications in JavaScript. JavaScript can only be executed by Web browsers. JavaScript can be used to accomplish many different effects, some simple, some fairly complicated.
JavaScript can make words scroll across the bottom of your screen. It can make your background change from one color to another and then back again. It can make buttons that seem to move when you pass the cursor over them.
JavaScript can also be used for more practical reasons, like preventing other Website owners from displaying your Website in their frames, and also to make sure your frames aren't loaded independently of your frameset document when called from a search engine.
As with java, you must take into consideration the fact that not everybody is using JavaScript-enabled browsers. There are also different flavors (Microsoft's JScript) and versions (1.0, 1.1, and 1.2) of JavaScript available, which only serves to muddy the picture further.
JavaScript can also do silly things like make text appear in the status bar at the bottom of your browser when you pass your mouse over a text or image link--JUST LIKE THIS (May not work in older browsers).
You can even use "image rollovers" to make "moving" buttons like this:
If you're using JavaScript on your Website, you need to make sure that non-JavaScript enabled visitors can still "see" your pages and navigate through them. One solution is to create an "invisible" page that will determine if a visitor is using a compatible browser or not, and then re-direct them to the correct page/Website—either JavaScript or no JavaScript. And they never even have to know that anything happened.
If you're viewing this page with Internet Explorer 4.0, pass the mouse over these words. Sorry, Netscape users.:-(
Animated Gifs
It's easy to get carried away with animated gifs. They're just so much darn fun! But they can really slow a Website down. One or two small animations can be okay, but give serious thought to how important they (and other "bells and whistles") really are to your business goals. Will animations help you attain your goals, or only serve to slow your page down and drive potential customers away? Here's a simple animated gif that illustrates out "lightning-fast" servers:
Shopping Cart
If you've ever bought a book from Amazon.com, you're familiar with the shopping cart concept. Shopping carts are complicated CGI scripts that allow visitors to digitally "mark" certain items they want to purchase (by putting them into a "virtual shopping cart"), and then go back to browsing your online catalog. When they're ready to "check out," the Cart software totals their orders for them, collects their credit card and shipping information, and sends them on their merry way. Moments later, the order arrives in your e-mail box. Some shopping carts cost thousands of dollars to install and setup. Some cost much less. For an example of a low-cost cart, visit the Retailer News Online Marketplace.Chat Rooms
Chat rooms are places where people with similar interests can get together and "chat" in "real time" by typing in their messages. There are two kinds of chat rooms: java and CGI-based. While almost anyone can access a CGI-based chat room, they are very CPU-intensive and often bog down a server to the point where it comes to a standstill. If you want to host a busy CGI-based chat room, you'll need your own dedicated server. Java-based chat rooms, on the other hand, are powered by the visitor's computer and don't use any server resources. The only problem, as mentioned above, is that not everybody can use them. You can visit our cgi-based chat room here.
Mailing List
An E-mail Mailing List is nothing at all like its traditional "snail-mail" counterpart. On the Internet, a "mailing list" is something that users subscribe to, either by signing up at your site or by mailing special commands to your mailing list server. Mailing lists can be used as customer newsletters to announce special events, sales, product-use tips, etc. Or you can take a more low-key approach to promoting your business by sponsoring a "discussion list." Here's how a discussion list works: when one subscriber sends a message to the list, it automatically gets distributed (via e-mail) to every other member on that list. Say, for example, you own a music store. You might publish a discussion list for band directors. When one director had a question, he could send it to the list where it would be read by all the other band directors on the list. Then someone with the answer would reply. Of course, as sponsor of the list, you get to include a two or three line advertising message at the top of each mailing. You can subscribe to our Retail Discussion List or the Weekly Retailer by clicking HERE.
There. Now you know almost everything you need to know to make a decision. The final question you need answered is...
How Do I Choose a Developer and a Host? (CLICK HERE to continue)
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