Comprehensive eBusiness Tutorial

 

The five first steps to getting  your small business - home business up and running.

 

Identify Your Target Market - Your sales efforts must focus on a group of potential

customers with common problems and characteristics. Define your business' ideal customer in writing along with what makes the product or service valuable to them.

Most Appealing Sales Feature - What problem are you trying to solve? Why is your business' product or service the best solution? These are the sales points to stress.

An Offer That Motivates - Develop 2-3 offers to get attention. Special bonuses, free trials, discounted price, etc. to overcome buyer resistance. Test, compare, and refine these.

Promotion Goals - Define and prioritize the steps you'll take to promote your business. List detailed steps with cost and resources required and deadlines for each. The better the roadmap, the more likely you'll reach your goal.

Loyalty and Repeat Business - Few businesses can survive if every customer is new. Decide ahead of time how you'll overcome a dissatisfied customer, how you'll promote referrals, and how you'll follow up to encourage repeat business

WHY A WEBSITE

You're here, so you have probably arrived at your own conclusions on the necessity for a website for your small or home based business.  But, perhaps these reasons will reinforce your decision.

CHEAP ADVERTISING   Absolutely, an analogy is:  If you could have a sizeable poster in O'Hare International Airport for your business and only pay about $1 a day - would you do it?  Even realizing that your business may not be in Chicago and that almost everyone seeing it is in transit.  Of course, you would.

MORE THAN A COMPANY NAME   Wouldn't it be great if you could afford, and clients would be willing to accept, a 3-4 page full color brochure for your company instead of just a business card!  Your web site is that and more.

MARKETING SPEED AND EFFICIENCY    Getting a product/service to market with traditional methods can take an exhaustive amount of time and money.  And I do mean exhaustive - remember that the most often cited reason for business failure is under capitalization.  Even with deep pockets, few if any promotional opportunities offer the immense exposure that the Internet does.  And certainly you've heard horror stories of an innovative idea that was plagiarized (make that stolen!) before the rightful owner ever had a chance to market it and benefit..

THE LOCAL INTERNET   If you haven't noticed search engines and directories have started emphasizing local and regional listings of businesses in a huge effort to make content more relevant to the individuals.  There's probably a website sponsored by a major newspaper in your area that presents events, movie listings, and businesses and services in your region.  The major directories (as opposed to search engines) also started geographic targeting several years ago.   By the way, if you're not sure of the difference between search engines and directories you'll learn more later on.  Yahoo! is a directory and reportedly accounts for 43% of all "searches" performed on the Internet!

A PROSPECTING TOOL   Do not underestimate the second biggest advantage to having a SoHo  web presence.  Sure you want to get your business name before people - but don't you also want them to willingly add their name to your list of contacts?  Properly presented, interested potential clients will request to be contacted about questions they have, to be kept informed of changes to your website or products, or even subscribe to informative periodic newsletters you may offer.  Additionally, from your prospective, much of this process may be automated.  Names added automatically, material on specific subjects sent automatically, newsletters sent on an automated schedule.  Mail list handlers and autoresponders ease the task of prospecting.

PROMOTING YOUR BUSINESS RESPONSIBLY    This is closely related to statements above, but presented from a different point of view.  The days of "spamming" and bulk email distribution on the Internet are starting to die a natural death (hooray!).  Any reputable company that spams these days quickly becomes disreputable.  You should only consider emailing clients that have expressed a specific interest in your product or service.  This is called "opt-in" emailing.  And certainly lists are available for sale for whatever you are promoting of people that have opted to be included.   Generally, think twice before acquiring outside lists even if they are opt-in.  It is easy and expected that you will maximize the use of your own "in-house" permission granted lists.

A BIT OF PLANNING

Planning isn't much fun, but you have to admit it helps.  Here are some necessities.  Whether you design your own small business site or seek outside services you will need this same information.

ELEMENTS   Your first task is to jot down the major elements about your small office - home office business that you want to display within your website.   These may include: business profile, contact information, product descriptions, explanations of services, price lists, ordering information, etc. - just a top level list.   By all means, visit sites similar to yours to get ideas, but keep a skeptical eye.   Remember the majority of sites are not well done.  In fact, bookmark the best for future reference.  Order these elements in the sequence you feel they should be presented.  The essential point to remember is they should be presented in the order that is most convenient for the viewer.  Everything should be structured from his/her perspective.  Don't waste opening page space describing your small business history and goals before suggesting what you have to offer the viewer.  Don't turn your potential customer off before you have a chance to draw him into the specifics.

STARTING THE PITCH   Now, consider each point or fact within an element and and try to restate that point as an enticement or benefit to your viewer.  For example an insurance agent might describe his product line as term life insurance, whole life insurance, health insurance, etc.  Restate it as: insurance products to meet your every need - term, life, and health.  Undoubtedly, you know what your customers are looking for when shopping for your product or service or you wouldn't be in business.   Emphasize the benefit to the customer in every point.  Plain facts seldom sell - it's the benefit to the customer that's hidden in those facts that sell.  For example; giving the dimensions of a product is informative; saying it's the perfect portable size for carry on travel promotes a benefit.

KEYWORDS   Having developed your outline of elements and points within elements, make a list of keywords (actually keyword phrases) you've already used to describe your product or service.  This will be the basis of how web surfers might try to search for you on the internet.  While you are brainstorming add every alternate search word and short phrase you can think of.  The list should be all inclusive.  You'll use this list continually during your promotion efforts, adding and refining.  Your web page "copy" will be written specifically to incorporate these keywords liberally.  This is essential for submitting and promoting and getting good search engine placement - to have "body text" that is relevant and uses the keywords you'll submit.  Of course, you can see what keywords were used by those previously book marked sites by right clicking the page - and selecting "view source".  Don't use the same keywords- improve on them.

Our articles on search engines will further explain that keyword placement (headings, alt tags, first 250 or so characters, etc.) as well as prominence (beginning, middle, end of a section) also play a role in getting points with some search engines.  Tips on good keyword and meta tag construction are shown in the introduction to Meta Tags.

ENOUGH PLANNING  Congratulations!, you've now completed a good bit of the work necessary to design your own basic website!  The rest is all presentation.   You've gathered the ingredients and cooked the meal now all you have to do is serve it up.  Save your outline and keyword list  - these will provide the basis of your Site Info Sheet and Meta Tags . 

As mentioned, completing these steps is necessary even if you choose to have someone else design, submit and promote your website.  Any competent web design service will require you to put together this same information for them as a minimum.

TOOLS YOU'LL NEED TO CONQUER THE INTERNET

The internet provides lots of tools to develop your web site design, submission and promotion capabilities - most of them free.  This list is restricted to what we and contributors consider to be the "cream of the crop" tools and resources available for you to develop your own small office - home office website.

Internet Connection   First things first.  If you are going to use the internet extensively, you should make it enjoyable.  At a minimum, upgrade to a 56k V90 modem and a service that can take full advantage of it.  If available in your area, cable modems offer the highest available speed for the fewest dollars - about $40/mo (yes, they can be 100 times faster - when there aren't traffic jams).  ADSL and DSL are emerging phone line technologies that you might want to look into.

Search Tools   You'll be doing a lot of searching - make it easy.   Multi-threaded software can perform your search on the leading dozen or so search engines and directories at the same time!  Basic versions are FREE!  Copernic 99 is a huge timesaver and an easy add in. WebFerret   is similar.

Html editors   It's a bit tough to address which is best  - everyone has their own favorite software for designing web pages and developments are advancing monthly.  Our mainstream recommendation is MS Frontpage 98 .  Pros:  Inexpensive, readily available, easily upgradeable, lots of third party support.  Built in features for forms, scripting, java, hyperlink management, pre designed templates, simple animations, uploading and site maintenance.  Cons: A typical MS product - a bit bloated and quirky at times.  Requires that your web hosting service installs Frontpage "extensions" - you'll need to check that they are compliant.

Html Code Tutorials   Despite WYSIWYG claims of Html editors, ocaissionally you'll need an online reference source to "get into the code".  NCSA Beginners Guide and Hot Source HTML.   Excellent tag by tag descriptions at Index Dot HTML.

Text Editor  You will often need to deal with plain text - not word processing files.  This replacement for the built in notepad is essential.  NoteTab Lite  does so much and is so useful we can't praise it enough.  It's won every award imaginable and it's FREE. 

FTP Software   Most sites are maintained using the File Transfer Protocol for uploading and maintaining files.  There are dozens of very good FTP programs available, most offering basic versions FREE.  TuCows (under Network Tools) does a particularly good job of listing and evaluating these.   WS_FTP_Limited Edition is generally agreed to be one of the best free programs.

Cascading Style Sheets   An underused capability that allows you to provide a consistent look to your web pages.  Define font styles, sizes or layout parameters one time in one place for your entire site.  Changes instantly update everything.   More information at  Hot Source CSS and Index Dot HTML

Scripts - CGI and Java   Common Gateway Interfaces and JavaScripts are the workhorses of the internet.   Html webpages are simply text documents.  Cgi or Javascripts are necessary to do something - handle form responses, input or output to databases, count site visitors, etc.   CGI may be written in any of several scripting languages (most common is Pearl) and uploaded as a separate site file. JavaScripts are typically embedded in a page.   Many web hosts provide some basic scripts.  If you wish to use acquired cgi scripts your host must supports its language.   The best single source of all kinds of scripts is ScriptSearch .   A good cgi introduction is Beginners Guide to Cgi Scripting

Image/Graphics Software  Graphics are either static or animated.  For web use they will predominantly be in "gif" format or in some situations "jpg".  Adobe Photoshop has long been the industry leader in static graphics; but, don't overlook CorelPaint or an inexpensive favorite PaintShop Pro .  For designing animated graphics, we suggest ULead Gif Animator 3 .     

Gif Crunching   Properly reducing the size of graphic files is essential to speedy web page loading.  While software is available, two excellent online sites provide this service for FREE.  ULead Web Utilities site and Gif Cruncher .

Graphics Libraries   There are so many that offer FREE gifs, that it is hard to suggest just a few - but we promised  CoolArchive , Animation Library , ULead Gif Animations

Autoresponders  This tool demands special recognition.  Can you imagine automating responses to visitor inquiries?  And not just once, but follow up the required "seven exposures" at programmed intervals with different messages.  A must for e-commerce!  AWeber is the most acclaimed on the net and we recommend it.  We've provided additional information at AWeber AutoResponder

Site Tracking & Analysing   Knowing who, what, when, and where about your site's traffic is essential for success.  Counters are inadequate.  Three options:  Your web host has an automated log file that should be available to you, the problem is making sense of it.  Option 1, acquire a cgi script that you load on your site to interpret the log file into usable reports and statistics.   Option 2, use an online service that provides statistics on your site traffic for you either FREE in exchange for a displayed logo button on your site or for a small fee ($3-5/mo)  our recommendation - World 1000 Hitbox  and Extreme Tracking   Option 3, Acquire standalone software capable of analyzing many log formats for any website. 

Software Courses Online   If you feel you need to improve your software skills - whether for the internet, office, or personal interest - here are 2 great resources http://www.yahoo.com/education and ZDnet University

Site Promotion   Either you submit to the search engines yourself; or you pay to have your business promotion done.  One of the goals of Online SoHo is to provide you with the skills to develop your own keywords, meta tags, submission and promotion. This is such an important area that we've provided a special discussion on it at 

Site Position Checking   The last statistic we heard was 10,000 web pages a day submitted to search engines and directories.  You need to get and stay near the top of the list to be noticed - and that means followup.  See our special topic at 

Software Downloads   For general purposes, these are the leading freeware, shareware, demo, and program download sites we use.  ZDnet , Tucows , C/Net's Download.com

Accepting Payment  Of course you should provide fax and phone ordering options; but, resistance to online credit card ordering is pretty minimal these days.  Your hosting service should be able to provide  a secure server.  If you currently process credit cards then you are all set - gather the input with an online form and process the order normally.  If you don't have a merchant account, you have a couple of options.  Seek an account through your bank or a local service - very hard to get for a new online business.   Get a merchant account through a company specializing in online processing either real time or delayed.  Or, pay an online credit card processing service - higher fees but you don't need your own merchant account.  Real Time Commerce or  Electronic Card Service Affiliate are highly regarded for their services in both areas.  If you promote an inexpensive information based product Clickbank may be able to process your credit card orders.  Another payment option that is gaining in popularity is the ability to accept personal checks - online.  You gather the customer's bank transaction information much like a credit card purchase.  However, the customer doesn't send a check.  You print a bank draft using this software (Checknique or Checker 3.0, for example) and deposit the draft in your account as you would normally.  No merchant account or fees involved.  i-Check offers an online service for this.

FREE WEB HOSTS

Web hosts come in all shapes and sizes from free to high end dedicated servers.  And frankly most small office - home office owners don't know where to begin in anticipating their own business' needs for hosting nor how to assess the capabilities of potential hosts.  Well, we are here to help take the mystery out of the process of selecting a host.

 

Your first thoughts in approaching this decision may be that a free account sounds pretty good.  Well, need we say that "there's no free lunch".  If you want to publish a personal homepage, they are terrific - if you want to conduct business they are a poor choice.  Here are a few of the major disadvantages:

• Most offer a respectable amount of space - 10mg or so; but, daily transfers (amount of activity on your site) may be restricted.
• Large banner ads, or worse, separately opening window ads are generally placed on each page of your site (why do you think it's free!)
• Domain names are not available - one of the few ways to assess the credibility of a business on the internet - (a name "www.member.domain.com/~name" brands you as an amateur.)
• Non domain named sites have a much more difficult time being listed by major search engines.
• Transfer rates are generally slower - lines are clogged with thousands of homepages
• Most do not allow commerce on their sites (read the user agreement)
• Most do not allow banner or button ads on their sites
• They don't support advanced features - Frontpage extensions, cgi programs, shopping carts, databases, secure servers, autoresponders, etc.  Features you will need now or certainly later.
• Support is minimal or nonexistent.

We have nothing against free sites - most of us have at least one for personal use.   But, would you consider opening a storefront in a bad area, with no parking, with someone else's sign on the front, with an absentee landlord, lacking basic utility services, and a restriction of how many customers you can have - even if it was free?   And, then if you do persevere how much of your client base would you lose by moving to a new location?

However, we understand human nature - if you must satisfy your curiosity, check out Free Webpage Provider Review

FEATURES CHECKLIST

Here's our checklist of features that may be necessary for the typical small office - home office. We've included our expectations of what should be included and what might cost additional; and when a feature might be important to you.

 

Features

One time set up fee

Domain registration (other than Inter NIC)

Space (10MB minimum - 20-25 MB is better)

Free 24 hr tech support - (BOTH phone/email)

High transfer allowance- minimum 10 GB /mo

Email aliases - forwarding addresses (min 3)

Multiple T3 lines - lots of bandwidth

Full FTP Access

Full Server Backup (minimum weekly)

Unlimited use of CGI scripts

Language support - (minimum Perl, C++)

Standard activity logs, including referrer logs

Log analysis reporting program

Basic autoresponder

MS Frontpage Server Extensions available

Full Telnet Access

Library of CGI, javascripts, design add-ins

Manager - copy, edit delete files from browser

SSL for secure transactions

Shopping cart program

Multimedia support

Additional Space

Additional transfer allowance

WHAT SHOULD IT COST?   Prices have come down some; but we would expect to pay about $35 per month for a service that had everything shown as "included" above and no added services.  But there are additional considerations.  Like most any form of shopping, there are quality considerations and deal breakers.

By deal breakers, we mean that if we expect to process credit cards and the host can't provide a secure server even at an additional charge - then forget it.  If we happened to exceed the included transfer allowance we'd be willing to pay a surcharge - but not refuse transactions for the remainder of the month.  If the host provides user accessible logs, but they don't include referrer information - we're out of there.   (Note: referrer info allows you to tell where visitors have come from to get to your site - a tremendous piece of information to validate engine placement and ad campaigns)

Assessing quality of service of a host is more intangible.  Referrals are good - you may be able to get a current customer's name to talk to.  Try to find out how long they've been in business and whether they serve any large corporate customers.  What's your impression of their friendliness and helpfulness on their homepage or if you call. (not scientific, but let's face it that's how we often do business.)

AND FINALLY ...    We do have a recommendation for you.  A company that meets all of our requirements for excellent support, helpfulness, and features that far exceed the minimum "includes" shown above.  You can easily compare their features for yourself at Virtualis Systems .  It is rare when it doesn't cost more to go with the best - should you trust your livelihood to anything else?

CONTENT - CONTENT - CONTENT

You've undoubtedly heard "Content is King" - because it is true.  And, viewers are becoming more demanding that it be useful, relevant, up to date, and constantly evolving.  It's your principal competitive advantage over other websites. Undertaking a website is a continuing commitment - if you expect repeat visits.  But to be honest, not all websites expect repeat visits, their message is simple "We are here, here's what we do, and how you can reach us."   They're really nothing more than a yellow pages phonebook listing.  Unlike some, I feel there is a place for these on the Internet.

However, don't expect such a site to dramatically impact your bottom line.  The internet is an arena of competition.  Competition for viewer visits, time, and loyalty.  The good news is that once you've started with good viewer oriented content, it doesn't need to be too great a burden to keep the momentum up.  Here are some tips to make the task easier:

• Rotate information already contained within your site.  Highlight specials, embellish points, restate and reformat information.
• Seek contributions from others.  It's a network medium - use it.  Find similar websites and ask to be able to reprint articles and features of interest (always ask!).
• Do you attend "real" world conferences, conventions, trade shows?  Most speakers and presenters would be flattered to be represented on a quality site.
• For that matter, even printed materials - industry newsletters, magazines, etc.- provide a source to request contributions.
• Here's a searchable database of articles free for reprint - InfoBot
• Provide a discussion forum at your website.  It can be managed with very little input on your part.
• Services are evolving that provide content for you.  News services that can tailor content by industry, jokes of the day, cartoons, tips, puzzles can all enhance and draw repeat visits to your site.
• Hold a contest.  It may only be for some silly award - "Golden Goofy Award of the Week" - or a valuable prize drawing.  It will solicit participation - always a good thing.
• Provide an online service - online banner maker, life expectancy calculator, vehicle operating cost estimator, etc.  Scripts may be available free at ScriptSearch

Keep your website engaging.  Your site must contain keywords and metatags for search engine submission and promotion; but it must also attract and entertain your viewers.  It doesn't always have to be "Stictly Business".

WEBSITE DESIGN

An integral part of website design is site performance.  Site performance might be viewed from the stand point of loading fast; or, optimizing it for search engine ranking; or, from the stand point of whether it entices viewers.  We'll discuss and cross reference remarks on all three aspects of site design for your small office - home office.

DESIGN - LOADING TIMES     As a surfer yourself you no doubt have very little patience with slow loading pages.  While technology has brought faster transfer speeds, your job is to design to the lowest common denominator - namely the 28.8kps modem.  Twenty seconds is often quoted as the tolerable limit for a page load.  While true for inside pages, your main page should be considerably faster - more like 10 seconds not larger than appx 20 kb.  Speed tips:

• Number one is to simply minimize graphics use. Or, when used minimize their size.
• Generally the gif format should be used; occasionally, a large photo can be better represented using the jpeg format.
• All images even the smallest bullets should be compressed.  Reduce the number of pixels; and the number of colors required.   Higher quality monitors now dictate 96 pixels per inch.   Colors should be reduced to the bare minimum.  Some very good FREE gif crunching online services can be found at Ulead Web Utilities and Gif Cruncher
• It's best to use drawings rather than photographs when possible.  Photographs require subtle tonas and colors that require a larger color palettes.  The more colors used the less it can be compressed.
• Avoid blends and gradients - they often don't display well and require more colors
• Specify the size of each image in html code - it will open quicker.  This is also true of tables and applets.
• This doesn't speed things up - but is a common mistake.  Vertically ruled backgrounds should be made 1281 pixels wide to avoid repeating the rule in a text area at higher monitor resolutions.
• For an image used several times in your site (like an image mapped navigation gif) make sure it is the identical size throughout your site - so it doesn't have to reload.
• Avoid using animated banners or gifs - if required, minimize the number of frames and of course their size.
• Avoid over using java applets or other scripts, particularly on an opening page
• Gifs used in shared borders will be cached and load faster on the following page
• Frames require at least 3 files to be loaded and are slow on an opening page (although they may save time on subsequent site navigation.)
• If you capture user input in forms only do it once; don't put it in a server text file, a backup text file, and have it emailed to you too.

DESIGN - RANKING   We've provided separate topics on Meta Tags -You're It! and Search Engine Ranking  which are essential to promoting your small business website.  But to recap briefly:

• Always use properly constructed tags on each page, pay particular attention to the html title tag, meta description tag, and meta keyword tags before submitting.
• Focus page content by topic - keywords will have better relevancy.
• Each page should have its own customized title, description, and keywords tags - don't use the same throughout
• Determine if you have standalone topic pages that can be submitted as alternate site entry pages to engines
• Use all of the tips suggested for getting the most out of your keyword lists
• Use keywords frequently throughout your body text to insure relevancy.
• Use keywords at the beginning of your page, before tables, if possible
• Use keywords in headings, alt tags, and file names.
• Design and add specialized Doorway Pages tailored to each engine and keyword phrase
• Use multiple pages with good cross links
• Include external hyperlinks pages and solicit links of others to increase your "popularity"

DESIGN - HOLDING THE VIEWER   Unfortunately many site design features that are eye appealing to your viewers, waste their time by loading slowly.  Elaborate descriptions and detailed text may be informative but seldom hold a casual viewer's attention.  So what's a designer to do?  For eye appeal nothing beats a well thought out consistent font, color and layout scheme.  Huey HTML Color Generator a helpful free utility.  Now for some quick tips:

• Bold colors are good and generally can set the tone of a site.  But don't let them distract from your message
• Reverse color schemes - light text on dark backgrounds - are generally not considered businesslike for adult audiences.
• Use fonts and heading sizes and colors consistently.  Viewers will quickly interpret your web site's "style".  Don't confuse them visually.
• Always provide a full site navigation system so they can get anywhere on your site easily and know where they are at all times.  Viewers will not go through your site sequentially - if they get confused even a little, they leave quickly.
• Only use the 216 browser safe colors.  And don't use advanced layout features that aren't compatible almost all browser versions.  (We are a little guilty of this and have used some "table-style-border" and ".class" settings that don't display correctly in older browsers on these pages)

As for content, we have tried to offer advice in our discussion King Content on how to inform and perhaps entertain your visitors.  The most desirable attribute is still content that addresses their reason for visiting your site in the first place.  You have to satisfy them immediately - or CLICK, they're gone.  However, don't overwhelm your viewer.  Develop a presentation that informs "progressively".  Well defined chunks of info on successive pages that allow a viewer to follow a topic for progressively more information.   A rule of thumb is that no page should be more than a screen and a half long.   (Having written this I realize how badly we have violated it - we clearly are overdue to split some of this site's topics up again!)

ADD ON

These important little features can add interest and entertainment to your site.   They can provide a valuable service such as calculators or simply be fun.  The point is to encourage revisits and promote participation.

We've included a few here just for illustration purposes.  You wouldn't normally combine this many and lose performance.  Two excellent sources of scripts for this use are: ScriptSearch and ZDNet's DevHead Section.

Of course, many add ons can add functionality to your site, as well; including site search engines, shopping carts, and log viewing.

Of course, the following just represent a few possibilities for getting and holding your viewers' attention.  With a little searching you'll undoubtedly find just the right script to enhance your site.

SUBMIT SITES

Use the guide below in conjunction with the Site Info Sheet to kick start your small office - home office business promotion efforts.

• The bold listings are the largest search engines and should be submitted by hand last after you've refined your submission info.
• In some cases you will be taken directly to the appropriate "add url" form; in others you may reach the main page where there will be a "suggest a site" or "add url" button
• Follow each search engine/directory's instructions for submissions.  Pay close attention to character lengths allowed for input fields if specified.
• Most directories will require that you chose from among their existing categories or even go to the appropriate category first before entering your submission.  Consider categories carefully; sometimes you can submit to more than one.
• Never use all caps or html tagging in their input forms
• Many will take effect immediately, others will suggest when they will list, or instruct how you can check back.
• Some directories will email a confirmation. Make notes for follow-up purposes.

Free Software, Tools, and Services to make your web development, enhancement, promotion, and management tasks easier.  We've selected products and services that are genuinely free.  Not demos or limited use.  Some may be "lite" versions that we still feel are very useful.

WEB ENHANCEMENTS

Contest World : Free Service that you can add to your site.  Cut and past code for a banner that allows visitors to search their database of internet contests

Outback Library : An add on feature you can add to your site to allow visitors to search 1,200 reports on current business topics

Real Estate Cartoon : Free content to add a cartoon of the day to your site

Pinpoint : A free search engine service to allow visitors to search your website without installing cgi or server includes.

MediaFinder : Provide a hyperlink or paste html code to allow visitors to search for over 90,000 publications.

SOFTWARE

AgentWebRanking : Freeware (ad supported) that checks search engine placement.  Outperforms some software for sale.

URLMenu : Fantastic little bookmark manager and displayer for your system tray

Pegasus : One of the all time leading email and email management software programs available

FoxMail v2.1 : Email with ease, full-featured, freeware email client that rivals many of the most popular programs

Copernic 98 : Power-searching the Internet is quick and easy with Copernic 98. This well-documented freeware search agent is our favourite.

Spyglass HTML Validator :Unlike online validation services, the Spyglass HTML Validator is a standalone Windows 95 application, enabling document authors to check documents locally, without the need for connection to the Internet. It contains compiled versions of popular HTML DTDs, and checks a selection of documents for markup errors

NoteTab Light : Award winning notepad replacement, among other features makes it easy to count the number of text characters.  This free tool is so cool we can't live without it.

InfoLink : Freeware version of software to check your site's links

BusinessVue : Tool that uses the Internet to get valuable information about major companies. Track businesses and web pages.  It can alert you when the competition is in the news, when a vendor updates its pricing web page, and more

Huey HTML Color Generator : Hexadecimal color-conversion program with some terrific features to easily layout a web page color scheme

RCEdit v0.9.99 : Use a powerful, yet free HTML editor

FreeTel : Enables you to conduct real-time full-duplex voice conversations via the Internet

WS_FTP : Most widely-used freeFTP software

WebFerret : Great multithreaded search engine utility to retrieve web info quickly

Sitewide Guide : Search-and-replace utility that enables you to search for a single word or phrase in multiple files on your computer. Great for replacing html code

ICQ Chat : One of the world's most popular Internet communications tools. Lets you communicate directly (no IRC) with any other ICQ user on the Internet, either by direct messaging or in a text-based windowed interface

Windows tweaks and Cable modem tuning tips : Advice and utilities to make your system sing

ONLINE SERVICES

Clickbank : Accept credit card payments.  Restricted to information based, inexpensive products.  Free to sign up (there are per item fees).

Doctor HTML Validation : Web page analysis tool which retrieves an HTML page and reports on any problems that it finds

Dr. Watson: Free service to validate your web page on the Internet

ABS Meta Tag Analyzer : Service to analyze your sites tags for html, overuse, syntax

scorecheck.com : good resource for promotion info with free service to check engine placement

Rank This : Improved placement checking service but limits your choice of keywords

Web Monster.Net This page enables you to check your page in different monitor sizes

Net Mechanic : Search your site and inform you of broken links, bad HTML tags and rate your servers response time. One of the most comprehensive services

GifWizard Use this online service to check your images for file size and reduce them

WebSite Garage : A 5 point checkup to diagnose common mistakes in Web site maintenance and promotion

GifCruncher : Minimize   gif files with optional settings

KeywordCount : Count and analyze your sites use of keywords

Expose : Reciprocal links directory is a searchable database of web sites that accept reciprocal links with sites of similar interest

Missing Link : Browse the listings. Use the site listings to promote your own site by exchanging links

Zip Find : Service to find zip codes or cities or distances between

Virtual Free : This collective site is devoted to freebies and has special categories for web development and mastering.  It's kept current on a daily basis and is a great resource.

NCSA Beginners Guide :  Online html reference

Hot Source HTML: Another good reference source

Index Dot HTML: Great tag by tag explanations and CSS details

InfoBot : A searchable database of articles free for reprint. Good for web site or newsletter use.