Online instructions & tutorials ...

From this page clients can access our variety of online procedures and instructions. They are all easy to follow and take no more than 5-10 minutes to complete each. The language is kept simple for computer novices, with topics covered including such things as uploading files using FTP, setting up Outlook Express to check web site email, and much more! You can use the quick links below to move to the appropriate document category:

	Client Setup Instructions
	General How-To's
	Web Development Tutorials
	System Tips 'n' Tricks

Many of the online tips and tutorials available from this page are also to download and print from the client documents page - those that are will be indicated by an asterisk (*). Please notify client support if you identify any errors or omissions within any of the following tutorials at support@whigwham.com.

	Client Setup Instructions ...	*
Miscellaneous Document      Who says stripes are more flattering?   or
	General How-To's ...
How Web Hosting works ...      What you need to do to get a site on the internet.   How To Acceept Credit Cards ...      What is normally required?
	HTML & Web Design Topics ...
OVERVIEW      Is it really necessary to learn HTML?   10 Key Marketing Mistakes      Common traps for beginner web developlers.   General Tips      Use these tips to make your site successful!   Marketing & Site Promotion      Draw in traffic and profits.
	System Tips 'n' Tricks ...
General System Topics      Optomise your computing environment.   Computer & Online Security Tips      Learn how to properly protect computer AND yourself online!

 CLIENT SETUP INSTRUCTIONS ...

 GENERAL HOW-TO'S ...

How Web Hosting Works ...

Every WhigWham design & hosting package comes with FREE .com/net/org.au domain name registration or renewal, PLUS bonus basic search engine submission!  (more)

When you type in any domainname.com, there is a process that has taken place in order to make this possible.

First, someone had to have decided to have their own domain name. Domain names can be purchased at any number of Domain name registrars.

Secondly, someone had to have the know-how to create the pages and publish them on the web. Web site creation can be very simple or extremely complicated. This depends on how complex you want your site to be.

Finally, somebody needs to have the necessary servers, server software and connection to the internet that is constant and "always on". This is where a web hosting company comes in. Our servers are connected to the Internet 24 hours a day. We have servers available using 2 different operating systems, Unix and Windows NT/2000. Unix is the most popular choice for web hosting because it is extremely stable. NT is used most often for its database capabilities (you can put your Microsoft Access database on the web pretty easily) and its familiarity to many users. The way it works is you design (or hire us or someone else to design) your web pages and save those files on your computer, then you send those files to our servers where it is immediately available for all to view on the internet under your own domain name. We are basically invisible to visitors of your pages.

Here are some recommended steps to take in order to get your own website on the internet:

1. Decide the overall goal of your site and choose a domain name. It is important to have a good idea of what you are wanting to do with your new website before going any further. Is it a business site? Will you eventually want to sell products online? How will you market your service?

2. Design and host the site. There are various ways to design your site. All web sites use a computer file format called HTML (HyperText Markup Language). You can learn about the HTML codes or you can use what is called a WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get) type of HTML editing program. They are similar in nature to Word processing software such as Word 2000 or WordPerfect. One of the easiest programs to use is Microsoft FrontPage. They require a web hosting company to have FrontPage extensions on their servers. We provide FrontPage extensions as a free option on all of our web hosting plans. We also provide the option of receiving a free single page site, customized with the information you provide. You can choose from 50 templates which include your company name, logo, header, and text that you provide when signing up. Your site can then be edited and expanded using a simple, web based, menu driven interface.

With 10-15,000 web hosting companies worldwide, choosing a web hosting company can be a challenging task. Our philosophy is based on the idea that if we can provide our customers with a multitude of features at the best price and still be able to offer quality customer support, we will stand out from the rest. We believe that we have achieved this based on our high customer retention rate and reviews from our current customer base. Click here for more on WhigWham's web site design & hosting services.

How To Accept Credit Cards ...

To accept credit cards on your site, there are three things that are generally required:

1. A merchant account:

A merchant account is used for depositing a customer's funds from their credit card/bank account into your checking account. There are various fees involved in this process. Visa and MasterCard have their fees, the banks involved have their fees and the processors have their fees. A merchant account provider combines all of these fees into one package. On an internet based business, fees are generally higher because of the increased risk of fraud when you do not physically see the person charging their credit card and usually do not have their signature. Usually, the fees are a percentage of your transaction called a discount rate (2.4%-5% or more), plus a per-transaction fee (usually 25-50 cents). There are often extra hidden fees for overseas credit cards, business credit cards, and unverified addresses (marginal to 1.5% or more). There is also a monthly billing fee (usually $10-$20) and a gateway fee (usually $10-$20) attached to many merchant accounts. If you already have a merchant account for your business and you are venturing online, you will need to contact your bank to be sure that the merchant account is set up for accepting internet transactions.

2. A terminal for validating and processing credit cards:

Unless you have the type of merchant account that only does 'real-time' internet gateway processing, a terminal will be necessary for validation of your customer's credit cards. You have probably seen them at your local supermarkets. In those types of businesses, you or the sales clerk swipes your card and the machine dials up a processor, verifies your card is legitimate, gives an approval number, and prints out a sales slip for you to sign. On the internet, the most popular choice is a "virtual terminal" that processes orders via the internet. Sometimes, a virtual terminal will be included with a merchant account.

3. A secure shopping cart or order page for organizing your items and facilitating online purchasing:

The type of shopping cart you will need depends much on the variety and type of products you are selling. If you are selling a low variety of products, you will not usually need a highly advanced shopping cart to do the job. For bigger stores, a more advanced shopping cart is likely to be required.

 HTML & WEB DESIGN TOPICS ...

Is it really necessary to learn HTML?

CHECK OUT  OUR GREAT FEATURES & PRICES! Click here.

Not always. There are a lot of good "point and click" WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get) software programs that are much like Word Processor programs. For about $200, Microsoft's FrontPage is a good program for beginners, especially if you are already familiar with Microsoft Word. Other similar styled software programs can be found at download.com and other software directories. These programs can also help you learn HTML because most of them will allow you to still edit the HTML code manually.

If you plan on doing an elaborate site with a lot of pages, it is highly recommended that you learn HTML. It will save you a great deal of frustration and time. Here are some links to powerful HTML tutorials:

Webdeveloper.com - An excellent site full of information on learning HTML, How-to's, Frequently asked Questions, software reviews and explanations on most every aspect of web site development.

HTML Writers Guild - Be a member and join their mailing lists, take classes and get support and answers to questions on web development.

The O'Reilly dictionary - A very helpful and quite complete dictionary of Internet/Web terms.

Basic HTML Tutorial - Written by Suzanne Cook, a good place to start.

NCSA Beginners guide to HTML - Very thorough and solid guide to HTML from the experts.

HTML: An Interactive Tutorial for Beginners - learn to write HTML by example.

HTML 4 Rookies Tutorial - a very basic html tutorial with a test lab to use at the end of each lesson.

Webmonkey - HTML Tutorial - reviews basic codes and leads on to advanced features

Web Communications HTML Tutorial - Forms - Teaches you how to create and setup your own forms on the web.

HTMLCompendium - A complete resource and explanation of all the HTML codes. It also tells you what browsers support what HTML codes.

Code Library - A good site from a fellow web developer who already did all the hard work gathering valuable, yet hard to find  information.

HTML Goodies - Free html tutorials from industry expert Dr. Joe Burns. 

10 Key Marketing Mistakes ...

1. The notion that "if you build it, they will come". You can have the most fantastic web site in the world, but unless there are others that know this site exists, it is useless.

2. Lack of a corporate looking presence. An unprofessional looking site (i.e. Microsoft FrontPage 2000 templates, odd colors, gadgets and general lack of artistic value). Customers are not eagerly waiting to send you money as soon as they find out about your site. They must have confidence and trust in you before they hand over their personal and financial information. 

3. Making it difficult for customers to buy your product. If you are expecting them to send a check in the mail, chances are it will not work unless you have a high cost product or service. Today's customers are impulsive and want things "now". The easier you make it for your customers to buy your product or service, and the faster they get it in their hands, the more sales you will make. 

4. Search engine misconceptions. It takes work and innovation to get visitors to your site via the search engines. Submitting your site to the search engines will not guarantee good placement. There are ways to get your site to the top of the search engines which will be discussed below.

5. Hidden contact information. An 800 number is invaluable in increasing your credibility as a business. Be sure to list it on every page along with your email address. This makes your website more personal and inviting because it shows that you aren't hiding from the public. 

6. Slow loading web pages. Not everyone has a DSL connection. In fact, the majority of internet users today are still connecting with standard analog modems. Pages that take over 30 seconds to load are more likely to meet the dreaded "back button". Also make sure your web page is readable in all resolutions, 640X480, 800X600 and 1280X 1024. Failure to consider these points will result in lost sales and/or less traffic.

7. No automation. Because the business owner spends all his time doing billing, paperwork, processing and shipping, there is no time for marketing. It is always best to automate as much of your business as you can. 

8. Falling for marketing schemes. Bulk Email will only get you into trouble and will get your site shutdown completely. Beware of pyramid marketing schemes which focus on raw traffic and not traffic that would be interested in your product or services. They rarely ever deliver on their promises. Look for solid, targeted traffic!

9. Lack of patience and resolve. It takes time for marketing strategies and techniques to take hold. You need to test different ideas to see what works and focus in on what works. Be patient enough for your business to grow. It takes work to start any business and make it successful. Some internet business owners spend 300 hours building their site, but then a couple hours a week on marketing it. This is a recipe for failure. Spend several hours a day on wise marketing and your site can be successful!

10. Limiting yourself to working the local markets. Local markets are often very difficult and oversold. There are a lot of places on the internet to market your product. Learn more about them in the below section.

General Tips ...

• If your product is very popular, try to find a site that has a directory of your specific kind of service (or even start your own!). For instance, in the Web Hosting industry, there are numerous searchable web host directories that list companies and their web hosting plans. 
   

• If you have a specialized product where there isn't a great deal of competition on the web (Example: handcrafted pianos), your chances of getting ranked higher on the search engines is much better. You would do well to concentrate on this area of marketing.
   

• Your goal is not just raw traffic, but targeted traffic. That is, visitors to your site who are looking for your particular type of product, service or information. 
   

• Avoid the temptation to trade too many URL links with other sites unless it will definitely not make you look desperate. Trading links can be a good way to get started if the link will not take away from your sales and if it is related to your product or service. Any link that take someone away from your site should open a new browser window so they really don't leave your site.
   

• Offer an unconditional money back guarantee. This will increase your credibility, and besides that---the laws in some countries require a 30 day guarantee if you send orders via postal mail.
   

• You must be able to accept credit cards online if you plan to do a solid volume of business on the web. The only exceptions would be if you have a big ticket item.
   

• Unless you know where your traffic is coming from, you have no way of knowing what is working and what is not working. Your referrer reports and web statistics services are the single most useful tool you can have. If you didn't choose the option when you signed up, click here to add it to your account.
   

• When doing marketing analysis, there are several figures that you will need to know. They are:

  • Number of visitors to your site

  • The number of sales made

  • Then determine the ratio between the number of visitors to your site and the sales made. 

  • Your average sale/profit margin

  This is important information that will help you determine how much you can safely pay for advertising. For instance, if you know that 1 out of 50 visitors coming to your site will buy, then you can determine what you are willing to pay to get a visitor to your site. Once you know that, you can best determine how to spend advertising dollars.
   

• To know how to properly spend advertising dollars, your goal when evaluating various advertising venues is determining what it is going to cost you 'per click'. For instance, let's say you are paying $50 for 5,000 banner ad impressions. Ask the advertiser what their average click-through is on that banner ad slot. If it is 2%, then if your banner effectiveness is average, you can estimate you will get 100 visitors from that site, which means you will be paying .50 cents a click/visitor. 
  

Marketing & Site Promotion...

  Common Search engines - you will be able to submit your site to be listed at each site manually:

• Yahoo! - portal providing a category-based Web directory.
   
• Excite - is a global media company offering consumers and advertisers comprehensive Internet navigation services with extensive personalization capabilities. Search services include the Excite and WebCrawler brands.
   
• Lycos - develops and provides online guides to locate and filter information on the Internet. Products enable users to accurately identify and select information of interest to them.
   
• Google - uses text-matching techniques to find pages that are both important and relevant to your search.
   
• AltaVista - web and newsgroup search engine.
   
• HotBot - offers users a point-and-click interface, pulldown menus, and the ability to use plain English terminology for constructing searches.
   
• ..more search engines and directories

Help with Search engine placement:

• Mass submit your site to over 1200 search engines and directories - Although this might be helpful for getting the word out about your site, it is not very effective at ensuring high placement in the search engine results. In fact, it can be counterproductive. Also, don't place an email on this page that you do not mind getting a ton of junk mail. When you introduce your site to the world, it is inevitable.
   
• WebPositionGold, software that will help you get listed higher on the major search engines (highly recommended).

Popular pay-per-click search engines:

• Overture.com - Most popular pay-per-click search engine. If you bid for the top three listings for your keyword, you will reaches 67% of all web searches on the internet. Because of this, Overture can be the most expensive to advertise. 
  
• Findwhat.com - Fairly popular search engine. Generally much cheaper than GoTo.com.
   
• Sprinks.com - An excellent place to market your products. It is relatively unknown, but since it is run by About.com, it receives a tremendous amount of traffic.
   
• Pay per click search engines reviewed and linked. Dozens of them, a very good site.
   
• Google - Google is a good place to start advertising and requires no hefty up front costs. 

Affiliate Programs:

Affiliate programs are growing in popularity. They are excellent ways to drive traffic to your site. http://www.onlinebusiness.com/ is a good place to start learning about them. 

Other sites are:

http://www.affiliateworld.com
http://www.cashpile.com
http://www.refer-it.com
http://www.associateprograms.com

Banner Advertising Resources:

• 14 proven laws of banner advertising - Banner advertising can be effective but internet users are slowly training their eyes to ignore banners.

 
Other Advertising Resources:

• Ebay - The Internet's most popular auction site. Sell goods and services to the highest bidder. Excellent for increasing sales and traffic to your site.

Other Places to help you market your site

• bCentral Digest - A mailing list of over 100,000 webmasters discussing how to get traffic to their site. Good for keeping up on the latest and greatest marketing techniques. 
  
• WebProNews - A very helpful newsletter that teaches you the ins and outs of Internet Business and web page building.
  
• Marketing Tips - An excellent site that teaches you effective marketing strategies. Be sure to sign up for their newsletter and look at the back issues. If you are new to Internet Marketing, we do recommend his Marketing Course.

It is important that new clients carefully read any documents specifically provided to them by us - not all the material available on this page may be relevant to you! However, if you continue to have difficulties after reviewing both our documentation and our Client FAQ's, please contact Client Support by email (preferred), or telephone Jeff or Matt directly using the contact numbers below from 9am to 9pm Australian Eastern Standard Time only:

We encourage the submission of constructive criticisms and/or compliments. Also, if you can think of any other resources you would like included within this section let us know and we will consider it next update ...