Aaronz WebWorkz Weekly Newsletter

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Aaronz WebWorkz Weekly E-Zine
A Weekly Newsletter of Hints, Ideas, and Resources for
Friends and Customers of www.AaronzWebWorkz.com
Issue #23 April 26, 2002
Aaron Turpen, Editor, aaron@aaronzwebworkz.com
------------------------------------------------------------
By subscription only! Welcome to your next issue of the
Aaronz WebWorkz E-Zine. You are receiving this newsletter
because you requested a subscription. Unsubscribe instruct-
ions are at the end of this newsletter.
------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
------------------------------------------------------------

=> Feature Article:
Different Internet Connection Types & Their Pros
and Cons
=> From The Webmaster
=> SPOTLIGHT:
.Net Addendum
=> Readers Talk Back!
=> Guest Column:
Web Browser Choices
=> How to Be Featured as our Guest Columnist
=> Copyright and Reprint information
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information


------------------------------------------------------------
Different Internet Connection Types & Their Pros and Cons
By Aaron Turpen of Aaronz WebWorkz

------------------------------------------------------------

Several people have asked me since I started in business on
the Web what types of Internet connections are available and
whether this connection is better than that one. For a good
amount of time, broadband was the fastest-growing type of
telecomm service in the world and especially in the United
States.

As more and more companies started offering faster and
faster options for Internet logins and connections, the
average person wanting a faster-than-dialup connection was
faced with several choices, most of which were confusing.

Currently, the market has hit a plateau, though I don't think
this will last too long. Most companies are selling their
contracts and pulling out, consolidating their offerings, or
going under as their budgets (still geared towards a growth
trend) bottom out. Chances are, however, if you're with a
larger service provider, you won't lose your connection.

There are currently three major connection types available
to just about everyone in America who isn't in a completely
rural setting. The most common connection type right now is
cable, followed closely by DSL and finally by satellite.
We'll look at each option in that order.

Cable Modem Broadband
A connection through an ordinary coax cable through your
digital cable provider is the easiest and most common way to
connect to the Internet at high speeds. Most connections
average about 400K/second download and 128K upload. Cable's
largest advantage is its availability and ability to produce
multiple upstreams (when sending). The biggest downside to
a cable connection is the slow-downs you'll experience
during gluts of service when several people are sharing the
network. Expect to pay around $40 per month for this
service.

Digital Subscriber Link (DSL)
This is a connection using your phone line and a special
modem. You have to be within so many feet of a phone
station "hub" and your line has to be of a newer type to
qualify. Good portions of the population (especially in
urban areas) match these criteria and can get a DSL
connection. The modem uses a sound frequency well above the
human ear's limits and will not interfere with normal
telephone operation. Most connections average about 400-
650K per second in download (some are faster) while anywhere
from 128-256K in upload speed is available as well. The
biggest downside to this type of connection is the
availability. The biggest boon to this technology is its
reliability and that network slow-downs are less common than
with a cable connection.

Satellite (HST)
This is the most expensive alternative for getting a high-
speed connection to the Internet. If you live in a rural
area or a spot where other options are not available (as I
do), then this is probably your only hope for a high-speed
connection. These come in two varieties, 1-way and 2-way.
One-way satellites are like television receivers: they only
accept signals. You'll still have to use your modem to
connect for uploads. A 2-way connection, however, both
sends and receives and is telephone-free.

Average speeds for this type of connection are 600K and
higher for download and 128K for the upload. Averages tend
to be higher because there are far fewer users on the
network to slow things down. The biggest up side to this
technology is that it is available just about everywhere.
The biggest downside to this type of connection is two-fold:
price and reliability. Expect to spend $600 or more for the
equipment and another $50 or more a month for the
connection. You'll also experience down time (which will
not be reimbursed by the ISP) during severe weather (called
"rainouts"). Most satellite providers provide a dialup
backup service as a part of their plan.

If you have need of it, a high-speed connection is both
convenient and timesaving. If you spend a lot of time
online, you should probably look into getting a faster
connection to boost your productivity while online.
Otherwise, it may pay to wait a year or so and see if prices
come down as availability once again increases.

------------------------------------------------------------
From The Webmaster
by Aaron Turpen, Editor
------------------------------------------------------------

In reviewing last week's issue, I noticed that I missed a
key point in the .Net article. I have written an addendum
to rectify that and at the same time brought it up-to-date
with a new piece of news from Microsoft that was released
last week. These appear below in the "Spotlight" section.

If anyone is interested, I am also writing a newsletter for
the Online Auction Academy. You can sign up for their
newsletter for free at: http://www.auctiontrainer.com.
Follow the link on the bottom of the page. That newsletter
focuses on online auctions (eBay, Yahoo!, etc.) and those
who sell in them. Check it out!

As you may know, I read Yahoo! Internet Life monthly. They
always have cool links and articles in there to keep the
'Net interesting. One of those articles talked about a site
called Maporama (http://www.maporama.com). Unlike MapQuest,
this site is free and maps EVERY major city in the world
plus points between. Even if you've never been there, it's
neat to see a map of, say, Madrid, Spain.

As always, if you have any ideas, questions, or would like
to submit an article, please email me!

------------------------------------------------------------
SPOTLIGHT:
Addendum to .Net Article of Last Week
by Aaron Turpen of Aaronz WebWorkz
------------------------------------------------------------

Although no one pointed it out, I noticed that my article of
last week was missing a key point about .Net. Some breaking
news has also appeared, which has changed my view of this
technology somewhat.

I still believe that it will take some time for .Net to
really effect the current way we do things online. I did,
however, leave out one important piece of information about
the technology: it is a type of managed hosting. This
means that your website itself will probably not hold the
information that .Net uses, but will ask for the information
from another server or web host. At first, this was very
dubious since it appeared that only Microsoft would be the
host for this type of interchange.

That changed last week when Microsoft announced that it
would be licensing rights to anyone who wanted them. This
will open up the technology and allow consumers to have
better trust in the use of it. It also allows for
information diversity so that you won't have all of your
data in one place and won't lose it or be shut down temp-
orarily due to technical problems.

This technology will surely change the way many businesses
do things online. Smaller businesses and those who are
currently self-contained will probably not have a need for
it until they've grown too large for their current setups.

------------------------------------------------------------
Readers Talk Back!
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"Hey thanks for answering my question before I had even
asked! I had wondered about those commercials talking about
'1 degree of separation' and whatever and now I know!"
--Joe P. (no website listed)

"We moved because my wife made me."
--Dustin H. (no website listed)

I would also like to thank Rob K. for pointing out the one
flaw (outside of articles) in last week's issue. Did anyone
else find it?
--Aaron

------------------------------------------------------------
If you would like to send a comment or letter to the editor
for inclusion in this newsletter, please address it to:
mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com?subject=TalkBack!.
All are welcome to give their opinion, criticism, or kudos!

------------------------------------------------------------
Web Browser Choices
By Aaron Turpen of Aaronz WebWorkz

------------------------------------------------------------

Many people, after they've connected to the World Wide Web,
eventually find out that more than one way to look at it
exists. They begin to wonder which one is best. As a Web
professional, I deal with these differences daily and can
give you my own perspective on this issue.

Currently, there are really only three major web browsers
used to view the WWW. They are, in order of popularity,
Microsoft's Internet Explorer, Netscape's Navigator, and
Opera Software's Opera.

MS Internet Explorer
The latest version of this browser is 6.0, which was
released shortly before Windows XP hit the market. By far
the most popular of choices, this software comes standard
with all Windows-based PCs and a somewhat scaled-down
version comes with America Online as their built-in browser
- though this version is somewhat lacking in performance
when compared to the full version of IE.

Not only does this browser comply to almost every standard
set by the W3C (the WWW Consortium which sets standards for
web languages such as HTML, Cascading Style Sheets, and
others), but also comes with built-in support for most of
the major media types available on the Internet (Flash,
Media Player, and so on). It also includes Outlook Express
as an email client.

Netscape Navigator
The latest version of this browser is 6.2. For a few years,
Netscape dominated the market and was the most popular
browser available. However, their own non-compliance with
W3C standards and the increasing unwieldiness of their soft-
ware began to take its toll and lost that share of the
market for them. The release of version 6.0 did nothing to
assuage these problems, but the browser (since fixing many
of their problems with updates) is slowly making a comeback
among users. The current rumor is that America Online is
considering switching their proprietary browser from
Internet Explorer to Netscape. This would be a major boon
to Netscape's share of the market. Navigator also includes
an email client, which is fairly robust, but doesn't compare
to Outlook.

As any web designer will tell you, Netscape is the biggest
thorn in the side of development. Because of the amount of
market share it still holds and the number of those who
continue to use the older versions, most sites have to be
"down-played" in order to accommodate those users. Many
designers opt to create separate versions of their websites
as a way around this - one that loads in Netscape and one
that loads in all others.

Opera Software's Opera
The newest version of this browser was released as an
upgrade to function on Windows XP and is labeled 6.01.
Opera is the fastest loading and probably the most compliant
of the three browsers I've listed here. The interface is
clean, the software is reliable, and is the only one of the
two that runs reliably on a Linux operating system.

Most technically oriented people use this software to browse
the Internet. Opera also has the ability to "mimic" other
browsers (report itself as them to a web page) allowing you
to test a lot of things without switching browsers. Opera
has a lot of power in a small package.

Of these three browsers, I use Internet Explorer and Opera
most often. I use Netscape only for testing purposes and
really don't recommend it to anyone, especially as an
alternative to Internet Explorer. Each of these three
browsers is available for download free of charge from their
respective websites:

MS Internet Explorer:
http://www.microsoft.com

Netscape Navigator:
http://www.netscape.com

Opera Software's Opera Browser:
http://www.opera.com

Switching form one browser to the next is fairly painless
given that all three now include "import" or automatic-
update capabilities to allow for the transfer or import of
the others' bookmarks, favorites, and sometimes even
settings. If you're unhappy with your current browser or
would just like to see what other people see when they surf
the Internet, download a different browser and try it out!

------------------------------------------------------------
If you wish to send your own articles to be reviewed for
inclusion in this publication, please send them to:
mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com.
------------------------------------------------------------
Except where noted, this publication and all of its
contents are copyright (C)2002 by Aaronz WebWorkz, all
rights are reserved. To reprint an article, send an email
to mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com for permission.
------------------------------------------------------------
List Maintenance:
To subscribe
[mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com?subject:subscribe]

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This newsletter is produced by Aaronz WebWorkz, a complete
online services provider. To view information or to see
back issues of this publication, please go online to:
www.AaronzWebWorkz.com. Please direct all comments or
questions to the editor
(mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com).

------------------------------------------------------------
Aaronz WebWorkz Weekly E-Zine
A Weekly Newsletter of Hints, Ideas, and Resources for
Friends and Customers of www.AaronzWebWorkz.com
Issue #22 April 19, 2002
Aaron Turpen, Editor, aaron@aaronzwebworkz.com
------------------------------------------------------------
By subscription only! Welcome to your next issue of the
Aaronz WebWorkz E-Zine. You are receiving this newsletter
because you requested a subscription. Unsubscribe instruct-
ions are at the end of this newsletter.
------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
------------------------------------------------------------

=> Feature Article:
What Is .Net - An Overview
=> From The Webmaster
=> Readers Talk Back!
=> Guest Column:
Creating User-Friendly Email
=> How to Be Featured as our Guest Columnist
=> Copyright and Reprint information
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information


------------------------------------------------------------
What Is .Net - An Overview
By Aaron Turpen of Aaronz WebWorkz

Editor's Comments: This is obviously not a complete
accounting of what .Net really is, but should give the
layman a general idea of what to expect of it in the future.
------------------------------------------------------------

Microsoft has been heavily touting their new technology they
are calling ".Net" (pronounced "Dot Net"). Many people have
asked me what this is and how it will affect them as a small
business online. To be blunt, it won't affect you in the
near future. Like any new technology, it will take a little
time to catch on. Note, however, that it may catch on
faster than it would otherwise because it has the Microsoft
media machine backing it.

Logging on to Microsoft.com and click to the .Net Home site,
you'll find a lot of propaganda about this technology. Much
of the information contained there is meant for programmers,
developers, and other technical people. I'll try to
translate some of that jargon into layman's terms and
explain what this technology is in a nutshell.

.Net is not a single program or programming language. It is
really a set of protocols for connecting information between
people, systems, and devices. Compare it to the written
language. This article is written in American English,
which allows anyone who can read English to read it. The
language is a go-between that transfers my thoughts to
yours. Much like this, .Net will be a go-between for
information being transported between one piece of software
and another.

For an individual or business, this may have great
implications in the future. Currently, for one piece of
software to interact with another, both makers of each piece
of software have to agree on a medium or information type.
We have few standards in place for this type of inter-
activity. A good example of this sort of thing in practice,
from current technology, is the web browser. Whether you
use Netscape, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Opera, or any
other browser, web pages all basically look the same. This
is because pages are built using a standard called HTML
(HyperText Markup Language).

Another standard for information exchange appeared in the
mid-nineties and began realizing its potential quickly. XML
(eXtensible Markup Language) is the building block for
Microsoft's .Net technology.

Let's use a business example of how .Net may change the way
you do business online. Let's say you have a website with a
shopping cart, credit card gateway, and a merchant account.
Now lets assume that your credit card gateway has become too
big for their britches and has raised their transfer rates
to process credit cards for you. You're ready to switch,
but this could be a costly proposition: requiring you to
change shopping cart software, re-input your inventory, or
even rebuild your entire website.

Now put .Net in the picture. If the technology works as
promised and your website was using it, the changeover would
be easy. All you would have to do is find the gateway you
want to use, make sure they are ".Net Ready" and make a few
administrative changes to your current shopping cart. This
could mean the difference between spending a hundred and
spending a thousand dollars for a fix.

Although this example doesn't cover all of the intricacies
involved in this type of transaction, it should give you an
inkling of what .Net could do if it is implemented
correctly. A more expanded example is given on the
Microsoft .Net website. This example cites the use of a
handheld device, a PC, and a web server all working in
concert to distribute information between employees,
managers, and others.

Again, .Net will have to become widespread and commonly used
for this type of thing to realistically happen. Many
technologies that promised similar things in the past have
failed to do so - the WAP standard is a good example.
Despite this, one other technology which was similar in
scope to .Net and which has been called its number one
competitor is Java. If you look at it, .Net is really an
extension of other, existing technologies including Java
and XML. .Net, however, has the advantage of being backed
by Microsoft and because of this it will be an integral part
of most or all of Microsoft's current standards and
programming languages.

In short, .Net is a promising new technology that may be
useful down the road, but is not something that you need to
worry learning too much about in the near future. Leave
that to technophiles and programmers. You should be aware,
though, of its potential and that eventually your business
(and any business online) will be affected by it in some
way.

------------------------------------------------------------
From The Webmaster
by Aaron Turpen, Editor
------------------------------------------------------------

Hi, and welcome to another issue of the Aaronz WebWorkz
Newsletter. This newsletter has covered a myriad of
subjects since its inception 21 issues ago. I would like to
thank everyone who has sent in their feedback and
suggestions. Your input makes this newsletter something
more than just a plain weekly offering of information. With
your input, this newsletter acts as a weekly offering of
information that is timely and focused on issues you'd like
to receive information about. Please keep it up!

One of our readers, Brad, asked me about upgrading to
Windows XP which prompted the article in our last issues.
He has returned again with a further question, after having
upgraded, he wants to know which browser he should use
during his daily surfing.

Tracy, another user, asked a related question, wanting to
know which type of broadband connection to the Internet is
best for her.

I would like to thank Brad and Tracy for their questions.
Next week I will have two articles, one focusing on
connections to the Internet and the other on browsers for
the PC.

Thanks everyone and have a great week!

------------------------------------------------------------
Readers Talk Back!
------------------------------------------------------------

"Your article on the XP upgrade was excellent. I have
upgraded my work system from 98se to XP and purchased one
with XP already installed at the factory. The “native”
system works wonderfully. The one I upgraded does not and
it is mostly my fault – sort of. Being totally unfamiliar
with XP makes an upgrade the worst thing you can do. XP
takes the settings it finds in Windows 98 and tries to
emulate them in XP. The bad thing about this is that there
are lots of differences between the two. It’s not XP’s fault
but just the fact that it works differently. Knowing XP as
well as I do now I can think of several things I would have
changed before upgrading such as removing all the “extra”
users I had on my Win 98 system.

"One other cost you didn’t mention is the time to relearn
things that have changed. I am a programmer and had to go
to the help file just to find my dial-up networking settings
(the settings for my ISP dialup.) The interface is good and
comfortable once you learn it but there is a phase of “How
the heck do I do this – if it was my old system I’d just go
here.”

"Hope this helps someone."
--Jim Sewell (http://www.KingdomUnlimited.com)
Kingdom Unlimited Computing Services

Thanks for the note, Jim. You're right, I didn't cover
that portion of the upgrade question. I think that most
users of Windows 95 and better will find the Windows XP
interface to be intuiative and easy to adjust to. Some
things, however, take a little getting used to. The new
way of searching for things using Start>>Search takes a
bit of getting used to. I initially attempted to search
with the top entry bar, which is a web-bar as the searches
take place inside Internet Explorer.

Thanks again, Jim!

------------------------------------------------------------
If you would like to send a comment or letter to the editor
for inclusion in this newsletter, please address it to:
mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com?subject=TalkBack!.
All are welcome to give their opinion, criticism, or kudos!

------------------------------------------------------------
Creating User-Friendly Email

© Copyright 2002 All Rights Reserved. Myrtis Smith is a
personal coach. Her mission is to help people create their
preferred future and have fun doing it. Sign up for her
free newsletter Change Now! at www.premeditatedlife.com
.......because life doesn't just happen!


Editor's Comments: This is a good, simple article which
illustrates how the proper use of email can take it from a
means of communication to a powerful customer-relations
tool.
------------------------------------------------------------

For some people email is a blessing. It is now easier than
ever to communicate with counterparts all over the world at
the speed of light. You can collaborate on projects,
review memos, and send updates all in the stroke of a few
keys. For other people email is a horrible curse. As if
the paper tiger on your desk wasn't bad enough, many people
are drowning in hundreds of emails a day, all urgent, all
needing your immediate action. Here are 10 tips to make
sure the emails you send don't add to your recipient’s list
of headaches

1. Greet the recipient in the beginning of your message
and thank them at the end. This will set the tone of your
message. If you were to walk over to someone's cube, the
first thing out of your mouth would not be "Is the report
ready?" More than likely, you would say something like "Hi
Bill. Do you have that report ready?" Show the same
courtesy when you're sending a message.

2. Make the subject line of your message meaningful. The
average manager receives dozens of emails everyday. Make
the subject of your email as meaningful as possible so the
recipient will know if they need to open right away or if it
can wait until after lunch.

3. Mark your message urgent only if it is urgent. We live
in such a fast paced society; it feels like everything is
urgent. But if every email in your box was marked as urgent
how would you know what was really urgent? The last thing
you want is to be labeled as a person who marks all of their
messages as urgent (ever heard of the little boy who cried
wolf:). There are 2 things you can do if you are concerned
about your message being read in a timely basis.
a. If your email service as this capability, place a
return receipt on your message. This way you will
be notified when you letter is open.
b. Write in the subject when you need a response by.
This will help set expectations with your recipient.
Example: West Lake Report: Please Review by 1/27

4. If you have an attachment included in your email,
mention it during the message. This will ensure that your
recipient knows there is an attachment and they should
contact you if they didn't get it.

5. State the purpose of your email in the first couple of
sentences. When people open email, there is only one
thought going through their minds "Do I have to read this
now?" Answer that question for your recipient as early in
the message as possible.

6. Use bullets or numbering in your messages to make them
easier to read. Reading from a computer screen can be
difficult on the eyes. Make this task easier for your
recipient by making ample use of white space. Avoid long,
dense paragraphs.

7. Be wary of the formatting features you use (like bolds,
colors, and underlines), especially if you are sending the
message to someone outside of your company. Many email
systems strip messages down to plain text. If you've sent
a message with a lot of fancy formatting in it, your
recipient may end up with gibberish.

8. Highlight the specific action you want the recipient
to take at the end of your message. Few things are more
frustrating than reading a long email message only to get
to the end and not be clear on what the sender wants from
you.

9. Read your message out loud before you hit the send
button. Keep the tone of your message professional while
at the same time adding bits and pieces of your personality.

Given that deleted emails are never really deleted, never
put something in an email message that you would not want to
see on the Local News. Also, never say anything in an email
message that you would not say to the recipient's face. You
should not hide behind an email to deliver a difficult
message. Pick up the phone.

10. When all else fails, pick up the phone. If you find
yourself exchanging email with a person 3 or 4 times in
order to clear up a single issue, the time had come to pick
up the phone. Email is supposed to make communicating
easier, not more frustrating. It is amazing how a 10-minute
call can clear up the confusion that a 3-page email created.

Bonus Tip
If you have a short message to send, put it in the subject
line, this will completely eliminate the need for the
recipient to open the email.

Example 1: Reminder: Status reports due by 5:00 pm (EOM)
Here EOM means End of Message. Be sure you communicate
that abbreviation to your team before you start using it.
This format is ideal for quick reminders.

Example 2:
MARY // Thanks for the report. It was perfect! // SUE
In this example, the subject line contains the greeting, the
message, and the closing. It is self-contained and its
obvious to the receiver that your total message is in the
subject. This format is great for sending people a quick
Thank You note.

------------------------------------------------------------
If you wish to send your own articles to be reviewed for
inclusion in this publication, please send them to:
mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com.
------------------------------------------------------------
Except where noted, this publication and all of its
contents are copyright (C)2002 by Aaronz WebWorkz, all
rights are reserved. To reprint an article, send an email
to mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com for permission.
------------------------------------------------------------
List Maintenance:
To subscribe
[mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com?subject:subscribe]

To unsubscribe
[mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com?subject:unsubscribe]

This newsletter is produced by Aaronz WebWorkz, a complete
online services provider. To view information or to see
back issues of this publication, please go online to:
www.AaronzWebWorkz.com. Please direct all comments or
questions to the editor
(mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com).

------------------------------------------------------------
Aaronz WebWorkz Weekly E-Zine
A Weekly Newsletter of Hints, Ideas, and Resources for
Friends and Customers of www.AaronzWebWorkz.com
Issue #21 April 12, 2002
Aaron Turpen, Editor, aaron@aaronzwebworkz.com
------------------------------------------------------------
By subscription only! Welcome to your next issue of the
Aaronz WebWorkz E-Zine. You are receiving this newsletter
because you requested a subscription. Unsubscribe instruct-
ions are at the end of this newsletter.
------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
------------------------------------------------------------

=> Feature Article:
Upgrade or Not? The XP Question
=> From The Webmaster
=> Readers Talk Back!
=> Guest Column:
What the Taco Bell Manager Taught Me About Customer
Retention
=> How to Be Featured as our Guest Columnist
=> Copyright and Reprint information
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information


------------------------------------------------------------
Upgrade or Not? The XP Question
By Aaron Turpen of Aaronz WebWorkz

------------------------------------------------------------

Beyond the question of expense (Windows XP runs from $99 for
an upgrade to the Home version all the way to $300 for a
full version of Professional), the question of whether you
need to have the latest and greatest from Microsoft is a
big one. The operating system has been out for a few months
now and the press has had a field day with some of the
problems first encountered. One of the most common is the
story of someone who's installed XP or bought a computer
with it already installed, upgraded their system, and had to
spend hours on the phone with Microsoft's technical support
to "re-certify" their operating system. While this does
happen, many of the stories are overblown. As a test, I
made a call to Microsoft's 800 number on a Monday afternoon
at lunchtime, presumably the busiest time for a tech-
support company, and found that it took less than twenty
minutes to resolve my phantom problem and "re-certify" my
operating system.

No, the real question behind upgrading your computer's
operating system is whether you really need to go to the
time and trouble to do so. Truthfully, the average home
user who has little or no problems with their current system
has no reason to upgrade. You should also think twice if
you have older peripherals or software (scanners, printers,
CD burning tools, etc.) that you do not wish to replace
after the upgrade. Many items more than two years old will
not work and may not have a patch available to make them
work. Many companies such as Hewlett-Packard have announced
that they do not plan to make patches for older printers
because of the economics of the issue.

If, however, you have a buggy operating system such as
Windows Me, you have newer hardware, or you do a lot of
networking or file sharing with your system, you will want
to consider an upgrade. Windows XP is great for networking
and file sharing. As good as Windows 2000 is. That means
if you're already running Windows 2000, you may not need to
upgrade.

If you're planning to upgrade, you'd better sit down and
take note of what it will cost you in both money and time.
Prepare to have an entire day set aside for this task, even
if you're a "guru." You'll need to consider a few things:

How old is your computer and its current operating system?
The system requirements for Windows XP are fairly hefty in
comparison with older versions of Windows and if you have a
version of Windows 95 or older running, you will not be
able to "upgrade" but will instead have to do a full install
with a more expensive, full version of XP.

How old is each piece of hardware and each peripheral on
your computer? Check the vendor's websites to see if these
have drivers for XP or if the hardware will have to be
replaced.

Which version of Windows XP will you need? The Home version
is good for the average user, but if you need more options
and networking/sharing setup, you'll want to install
Professional instead.

Do you upgrade or start from scratch with a whole new
installation? This may seem like a simple question since if
you can upgrade…why pay the extra money for the full
version? Well, sometimes having a full version of the
operating system on hand is better, especially if you plan
to "dual boot" (have two operating systems on your computer
at once) or if you ever have a disaster and have to build
your computer up from scratch. Some people have also found
that a clean installation alleviates hardware
incompatibilities or problems that an upgrade caused. For
most people, though, an upgrade will be OK.

Lastly, what kinds of upgrades to your system do you plan to
make before replacing it entirely? This question is
crucial, because to save hassles, you may want to make these
upgrades to your computer BEFORE you upgrade the operating
system to XP. You'll also want to make sure that you have
all the latest drivers and updates for your existing items
(that you plan to keep) installed or ready to go before you
upgrade.

Finally, as a final note on upgrading, try to get a complete
backup of your system before you make the upgrade. This
could save you a lot of problems should anything go wrong.
The best way to do this is to buy a hard drive equivalent to
what you're using now (e.g. you have a 20 gigabyte drive now
and are using 14 of them, you will need at least 15
gigabytes for your backup drive) and install it into your
computer. Then make a complete "mirror" copy of your
current drive to the new drive (there is software to do
this, or you can do it by hand). Now remove the new hard
drive and proceed with your backup. If anything goes wrong,
you can plug the new drive in (using it to replace your old)
and your system will be back the way it was. That $150
drive you just purchased could save you days or weeks of
frustration and hundreds in technician bills. When things
are running smoothly, the new drive can also be used as a
continual backup device or as a new drive, doubling the
space on your system!

In all, expect to spend at least a working day for the
upgrade and between $200 and $500 in hardware and software
(including the Windows software itself).

------------------------------------------------------------
From The Webmaster
by Aaron Turpen, Editor
------------------------------------------------------------

Believe it or not, I don't have much to say this week.
Things have been busy, as usual.

------------------------------------------------------------
Readers Talk Back!
------------------------------------------------------------

I'd like to add one thing that your readers may have missed
in the article about Press Releases.

He mentions that you need to keep press releases relevant -
but he forgot the most important way to do that.

Don't bury people in press releases. Don't think that the
more releases you send out the more likely you'll get your
story published. Like the "Boy Who cried 'Wolf'", if you
keep screaming the same story to the same people every day -
people won't listen when you DO have a story worth hearing.

I like to think of the scene in "This is Spinal Tap" where
the band is waiting in a record store for their adoring fans
and no one's there. The PR guy comes in and the band asks
"Where are the fans?" He shrugs "It's my fault" and they ask
him - "Did you saturate?" "I oversaturated."

Be carefull that your methods or frequency don't obsure your
message. If your message is as important as you think it
is, treat it with the respect it deserves.

--Rob (no website listed)

------------------------------------------------------------
If you would like to send a comment or letter to the editor
for inclusion in this newsletter, please address it to:
mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com?subject=TalkBack!.
All are welcome to give their opinion, criticism, or kudos!

------------------------------------------------------------
What the Taco Bell Manager Taught Me About Customer
Retention

© 2002 Diane Hughes
Diane Hughes is an accomplished internet entrepreneur and
editor of the popular ProBizTips Newsletter. Subscribe to
her newsletter for more tips, tricks, and secrets of the
trade -- plus get HUNDREDS of eBooks, software and tools
just for subscribing! http://viralmarketzone.com/diane

Editor's Comments: This is a very good article along the
veign of customer service.
------------------------------------------------------------

I didn't plan to get a marketing lesson. I really just
wanted a steak chalupa! But as I went through the Taco Bell
ordering line, my day took an interesting twist.

I've always been one to give compliments when they were due.
So, after receiving repeatedly good service at this
location, I decided I'd sing the staff's praises. I asked
to see the manager. Fred came over and offered to help me.

I told him how pleased I was with the service, and that -
from my experience - not all Taco Bell's were created equal.
(I had gotten some pretty rotten service at other
restaurants.) Fred just smiled and said, "Well, I'm not
only the manager, but I own all the Taco Bell's in the city.
I bet I can tell you which stores left you unhappy."

I was surprised. I named one location that I'd visited
recently and Fred interrupted with, "The manager is not
personable and doesn't treat the employees well. I've been
trying to find a replacement but have had no luck so far."

I named another store to which Fred replied, "That area is
full of rich kids who are undependable and don't have any
work ethic."

For each location I named, Fred began to tell me how good
(or not so good) the employees were. Never once did he say,
"They can't make a taco to save their lives!" In fact,
there was no mention of the food at all. He didn't say,
"They pre-make their burritos and let them sit" or "I've
told them a hundred times they need to put more cheese on
that." It all revolved around people.

Next Fred made his point. "Ma'am, it all lies with the
employees. The food is the same all over, but some stores -
even in great locations - have lousy sales because the
people don't treat my customers well."

Fred is right on the money. Your products and services may
be the main reason a customer comes to you (I wanted a
chalupa). However, if they get unsatisfactory service, they
won't stay long at all. (I won't visit a few Taco Bell
locations in my city even though the food is all the same.)
There is simply too much competition out there for a
customer to tolerate impatience, rudeness or unprofessional
behavior.

Consider the fact that your customers pay your salary. They
have the money you are seeking to earn. They also have a
choice: whether to stay with you or move to your
competition who offers the same, or a similar, product as
your business.

Wise business people keep their customers in mind at every
turn. Making people feel welcome and appreciated is a sure
fire way to increase customer retention. In fact, in the
results of the 1996 White House Office of Consumer Affairs
Survey, a lack of attention and caring was the #1 reason
people stated for leaving a company.

Do your people matter? Absolutely! In fact, you and your
employees are the reason you have customers. You and your
employees are the reason your customers come back. It all
boils down to people.

Keep that fact in mind throughout all your marketing, sales
and support efforts and you'll see dramatic improvements in
your repeat sales - and ultimately your profits!

------------------------------------------------------------
If you wish to send your own articles to be reviewed for
inclusion in this publication, please send them to:
mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com.
------------------------------------------------------------
Except where noted, this publication and all of its
contents are copyright (C)2002 by Aaronz WebWorkz, all
rights are reserved. To reprint an article, send an email
to mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com for permission.
------------------------------------------------------------
List Maintenance:
To subscribe
[mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com?subject:subscribe]

To unsubscribe
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This newsletter is produced by Aaronz WebWorkz, a complete
online services provider. To view information or to see
back issues of this publication, please go online to:
www.AaronzWebWorkz.com. Please direct all comments or
questions to the editor
(mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com).

------------------------------------------------------------
Aaronz WebWorkz Weekly E-Zine
A Weekly Newsletter of Hints, Ideas, and Resources for
Friends and Customers of www.AaronzWebWorkz.com
Issue #20 April 5, 2002
Aaron Turpen, Editor, aaron@aaronzwebworkz.com
------------------------------------------------------------
By subscription only! Welcome to your next issue of the
Aaronz WebWorkz E-Zine. You are receiving this newsletter
because you requested a subscription. Unsubscribe instruct-
ions are at the end of this newsletter.
------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
------------------------------------------------------------

=> Feature Article:
An Auto Response System - Handling Names,
Newsletters, and Information
=> From The Webmaster
=> Readers Talk Back!
=> Spotlight Article:
Symbolically Speaking
=> Guest Column:
Smashing the Myth of the Press Release
=> How to Be Featured as our Guest Columnist
=> Copyright and Reprint information
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information


------------------------------------------------------------
An Auto Response System - Handling Names, Newsletters, and
Information
By Aaron Turpen of Aaronz WebWorkz

Editor's Comments: I have fielded the occasional question
about setting up, using, or purchasing an autoresponse
system for use in marketing. Recently I set one up for a
client who has since had great success with it. Hopefully
this article will help answer any questions some of you may
have about autoresponders.
------------------------------------------------------------

There are two ways of dealing with information, commonly
asked questions, and other repetitive communications via
email. They both can be called an "Auto Response System"
even though they aren't both automatic. The first is to
answer each email individually by either re-typing the
message each time or by cut-and-pasting it from a list or
file. The second is an automatic system that sends out
emails as soon as a customer requests that information.
Both of these systems have advantages depending on how
they're used.

The cut-and-paste system, obviously, is much slower and
more time-consuming for the person sending the information.
For some service-oriented businesses, however, this system
has great advantages as well. The customized responses
and personalization it affords can outweigh the time it
takes to do it. For most businesses, however, this is too
much to pay for the benefits gained. For one, the person
handling the emails isn't going to be available all day
every day and the responses won't always be uniform from
one to the next.

An automated system can rectify those problems as well as
handle a much larger workload of information. The most
common types of auto-response systems can receive emails or
queries through a website and send a response based on
those queries. Sometimes the query is as simple as
accepting an application to opt-in on a newsletter or other
mailing list. Sometimes it can be as complex as sending
out a five or six-part series of articles which are sent
once per day, week, etc. For many businesses, these auto-
response systems can greatly increase efficiency and
automation - which is what computers are made for!

Everyone knows that follow-up can make or break a sale.
For most businesses, especially those that are online or
home-based, this is paramount to success. Fast response,
good customer service, and willingness to do a little extra
are what set small businesses apart from their larger
competition.

Used correctly, an auto-response system can greatly enhance
these aspects of a business. Do you have informative
information that your customers might need? Do you have
questions that are asked repeatedly (also called FAQ or
Frequently Asked Questions) and are usually answered in the
same way? Do you have opt-in lists of customers interested
in a newsletter, product information, or other marketing
information? These are just some of the common reasons to
employ an auto-response system.

Phrases like "bulk email handling" and "auto-response" have
gained an ugly reputation lately because of their use by a
few unscrupulous multi-level marketers and get-rich-quick
schemers who use them to proliferate SPAM (Unsolicited
Email) to users on the Internet. The misguided values of
these few have threatened to ruin a perfectly valid and
highly productive way to do business online. Using an
auto-response system does not mean sending UCE or SPAM. It
means setting up a system that makes certain tasks
automatic (such as sending out a newsletter, responding to
common questions, etc.).

If you are in need of an auto-responder, and you probably
are, then you'll need to know what to look for before
choosing one. The criteria on which you focus will depend
on your intended use of the system. Some common uses and
the system's focus are:
Information Collection Capabilities
* If you need to collect more than just names and email
addresses, then this will be your focus criterion for
choosing a good auto-response system. You may need to
know the person's business, website address, mailing
address, needs, etc.
Follow-Up Emails, Multiple Messages, and Delivery Intervals
* If you require the ability to send multiple emails
daily, bi-weekly, or whatever, you'll need a system
that can handle this. A system that tracks
subscribers (opt-ins) and knows which email to send
which person on any given day is essential for this
type of follow-up marketing.
Personalization of Emails
* If you wish to personalize your emails with the
target's first, last, or business name, you will need
a system that can do this. The majority of the
software available can handle this easily and for most
uses, this is an essential part of keeping the
business from becoming just another faceless
corporation.

Most auto-response systems are either provided by the host,
installed by a web professional, or downloaded and
installed on your website by you. Whichever type you use,
though, you'll need to know how it works and what you need
to do to keep it maintained and in good working order.
Usually this involves nothing more than reading an email it
sends to you daily giving you a status report. Sometimes
you have to log in and check these. Some of the more
robust systems will require you to log in weekly or monthly
to do a few simple administrative tasks such as optimizing
the database, clearing out old records, or similar tasks -
these are all usually done with only one or two button
clicks in your browser.

An auto-response system can make a small business seem
larger than it is and can give time back to those who need
it most-the small business owner. If you haven't heard of
or considered an auto-response system, you might want to
look into it as a tool that can enhance your business and
give you time away from repetitive tasks.

------------------------------------------------------------
From The Webmaster
by Aaron Turpen, Editor
------------------------------------------------------------

What a week! The new site was installed on Monday. A few
problems were encountered as is usual in any new
installation, but things are running smoothly. Over time,
the database of information on the site will continue to
grow which will only build on its functionality.

For anyone technical in the audience, you may wish to know
that the new site is almost entirely database-driven using
a combination of XSSI, XML, and Perl. As the amount of
information contained on the site grew - including
everything from newsletter issues to "how-to" sheets to
answer common questions - the static HTML became too bulky
to handle properly and lacked a lot of the functionality
that should accompany a largely informational site.
Switching to the new way of doing things will allow for
easy growth, easy maintenance, and simpler navigation.

In the world at large, two new technologies that have
gotten a lot of hype and press lately are Microsoft's
Windows XP and .Net. Since many people have expressed
confusion over the upgrade issues involved with Windows XP
and since many people are unsure of what exactly .Net is,
I will be including articles on both subjects in upcoming
issues.

As always, if you have any questions, please email me and
I'll do my best to answer!

------------------------------------------------------------
SPOTLIGHT:
Symbolically Speaking

Written by Joe Bingham, Editor of the NetPlay Newsletters
Want MORE articles like this delivered REGULARLY?
Subscribe to 1 of 3 Quality NetPlay Ezines, See which one
fits you at: http://www.netplaynewsletters.com

Need To Publish Your Own Ezine?
I'll Write It For You and Show You How to Make It
Successful!
http://www.netplaynewsletters.com/publisher.html
------------------------------------------------------------

I guess I'm just a step behind the rest of the Internet
because it's taken me a while to figure out what all the
little symbols and abbreviations that people use are
supposed to mean.

You know, like LOL, ROFL, BTW, IMHO, : - ), and such.

I do think I've gotten them all figured out now, though,
and in fact, that is the purpose of this article. For me
to lay my theories on the line before you as readers so you
can tell me if I'm right or not. So here it goes. As far
as I can tell, this is what all of those commonly used
abbreviations and symbols mean.

LOL -- Low Oxygen Levels

Apparently when something makes you laugh so hard that you
can't breathe your supposed to type this back to the person
who wrote it. I get these all of the time. In fact, I got
an email from Carrie Holmes in response to one of my
articles the other day that had so many LOLs in it, I
immediately emailed her back to see if she was still alive.
I was even more worried when I realized her email also said
she had been reading the article at 5:30 in the morning!

People, this stuff is NOT meant to be read that early in
the morning unless you've STAYED up to that time! Never,
ever, read a one of my humor articles early on like that.
No wonder her oxygen levels were low.

ROFL -- I used to think this one meant Run Over For Loving
until I received it from a respectable gentleman I know.
At that time I KNEW I had to be mistaken so I thought about
it some more. Then, of course, I realized it's true
meaning -- Roast Ostrich For Lunch.

BTW -- This one I can't believe. It was easy to get, I
mean owning one is so many people's dream. However, I
still can't believe that absolutely everyone is still
misspelling this. They are called BMWs people not BTWs!
I mean, come on! Sheesh!

IMHO -- This one took me a while to figure out. That is,
until I realized it was actually NOT an abbreviation, but a
secret code. It stands for Internet Marketing Hoax
Organization. Anytime you see this one, you know the line
following contains a secret message for the band of
Internet outlaws that have got us all convinced that we
can make a fortune marketing online. You just watch out
when you see this one.

: - ) This one was real easy, of course. I mean we've all
seen the look before, right? You take your monkey to the
chiropractor, and when the doctor finally pops things the
right way, the little monkey lays his head down to the side
and smiles contentedly.

Although, I'm still not sure what the heck this has to do
with anything we talk about over the Internet.

Now, for a couple of the more subtly used abbreviations.

AOL -- Annoying, Obnoxious, Lame

YAHOO! -- You Are Here On Obligation!

COM -- Come On Money!

HTML -- Hard To Manage Language

CGI -- Curse and Gripe Indefinitely

URL -- Unregulated Random Link

HTTP -- Have To Type Perfect

and..

LOVE -- Largely Overrated Violent Emotion

And don't forget this one. It's extremely rare in use, but
as you can see it would be best to make sure you remember
it, just in case.

LO!TAHMBYWALSOYH! -- Look Out! There's A Hit Man
Behind You With A Laser Site On Your Head!

Oh, and BTW, IMHO, you should definitely LOL and ROFL as
much as possible from articles such as this because as you
know, it's all just BS anyway. : - )

------------------------------------------------------------
Readers Talk Back!
------------------------------------------------------------
"Hey, Aaron, the site is looking good! I just wanted to say
that the "Keeping Score" article was great. I read a
similar idea in a business accounting book and have been
doing that for a few months now. I have been in shock over
how asy it is to lose vision without the numbers right in
front of you!"

--Michelle P. (no website listed)

Editor: Thanks, Michelle. You're right, this is a great
thing to do. I use a similar system myself, though it's
not posted right in front of me. I keep my own books, so
in the log I keep a running total of numbers for different
aspects including the ROI on various ads I'm running.

"Joe Bingham is the best. keep sending those articles!!!"

--Louke F. (http://www.dragon-marketing.com)

------------------------------------------------------------
If you would like to send a comment or letter to the editor
for inclusion in this newsletter, please address it to:
mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com?subject=TalkBack!.
All are welcome to give their opinion, criticism, or kudos!

------------------------------------------------------------
Smashing the Myth of the Press Release

Bill Stoller is the founder and publisher of Free
Publicity, The Newsletter For PR Hungry Businesses. A
twenty year public relations veteran, Bill teaches
entrepreneurs and small businesses how achieve maximum
publicity with minimal investment. For free articles,
tips and insider secrets about getting publicity, visit
Bill's home on the web at
http://www.publicityinsider.com

Editor's Comments: This is a solid article which dispells a
lot of the hype that "marketing gurus" like to place on the
power of press releases.
------------------------------------------------------------

A musician spends years honing his craft. He writes world-
class songs and performs them in a manner that moves his
listeners to tears. He records a demo tape and sends it to
record labels. He gets a contract and becomes rich, famous
and adored.

The lesson: demo tapes are the secret of becoming a famous
musician.

Wait, you say, the demo tape was just a tool, just his way
of conveying his talent. It's his ability as a musician
that got him the contract and made him famous.

You're right, of course. He could have become just as
famous if a record executive saw him in person, or heard
about him from a friend, or as a result of a variety of
other events.

Which brings us to the press release.

Somehow, the press release has taken on a magical
reputation as the alpha and omega of publicity. Wanna
become rich? Send out a press release. Wanna become
famous? Press release. Wanna get on the cover of
Newsweek? Press release.

Publicity "gurus" are springing up all over the Internet
touting the press release as the answer to all marketing
ills. Just knock out a release, mass e-mail it to
journalists, sit back and wait for Oprah to call.

It's a cruel joke.

Here's the reality: the press release is no more important
to your potential of scoring free publicity than the demo
tape was to our musician friend. If he had no talent, if
his songs sounded like garbage, the best recorded demo
tape in the world wouldn't get him signed. Ditto for the
publicity seeker. If you don't have a story to tell, your
press release is utterly worthless.

I'm not knocking the press release -- it's an important
tool. But it's just that: a tool. It's not the first thing
you need to think about when it comes time to seek
publicity. In fact, it's one of the last. And it's not
even absolutely necessary (I've gotten plenty of publicity
with just a pitch letter, a quick e- mail or a phone call).

If you worship at the shrine of the press release, it's
time to rearrange your priorities. Here, then, are the
things that are MORE important than a press release in
generating publicity:

1. A newsworthy story. This is the equivalent of our
musician's talent. It's the very basis for your
publicity efforts. Without it, your press release means
nothing. To learn about how to develop a newsworthy story,
take a look at http://publicityinsider.com/questions.asp
and scroll down to "Is my company/website/life really
newsworthy?"

2. Learning to think like an editor. Oh, what an edge
you'll have in scoring publicity over all those press
release worshippers once you learn how to get inside the
head of an editor. Give an editor what he wants in the way
he wants it and you'll do great. I've got an entire
article on the subject at
http://publicityinsider.com/freesecret.asp Go there now and
absorb it all. Trust me, it will make a world of
difference.

3. Relevance. Tie in with a news event, make yourself part
of a trend, piggyback on a larger competitor's story, but,
by all means, make your story part of a picture that's
bigger than just your company. Stories that exist in a
vacuum quickly run out of oxygen.

4. Persistence. Sending out a press release and waiting
for results is lazy and ineffective. If you really believe
in your story, and you believe that it's right for a
particular media outlet, you need to fight to make it
happen. Call or e-mail the editor to pitch your story
BEFORE sending the release. If one editor says no, try
somebody else. If they all say no, come back at them with
a different story angle.

Getting publicity involves so much more than just sending
out a press release. Treat it as seriously and with as
much respect as our newly minted rock star treats his craft
and you'll be well on your way to success.

------------------------------------------------------------
If you wish to send your own articles to be reviewed for
inclusion in this publication, please send them to:
mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com.
------------------------------------------------------------
Except where noted, this publication and all of its
contents are copyright (C)2002 by Aaronz WebWorkz, all
rights are reserved. To reprint an article, send an email
to mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com for permission.
------------------------------------------------------------
List Maintenance:
To subscribe
[mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com?subject:subscribe]

To unsubscribe
[mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com?subject:unsubscribe]

This newsletter is produced by Aaronz WebWorkz, a complete
online services provider. To view information or to see
back issues of this publication, please go online to:
www.AaronzWebWorkz.com. Please direct all comments or
questions to the editor
(mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com).