Your customers are migrating to the web in droves. Now and in the future, they will be looking for information and products. Whether the Internet figures to play a small or a large part in your business plans, you need to be there. This section looks at what the small business must do to reserve a place at the largest market on the planet.

Chapter 10: Having your own web presence
Chapter 11: The Web site
Chapter 12: Marketing on the Internet

Section A: Connecting to the outside

Exploring the options for connecting the small office/home office to the outside world

Chapter 1: Smart connections for the SOHO business

The Telephone System Hierarchy Your business line If it rings, you’re in business
Tele-presence is more than a phone line
Finding the right package
All this at one, low price
Real life
Please leave a message at the tone … How many lines, how many numbers? One line, one number does it all
One line, two numbers
Juggling the telephone lines Why a landline at all? consider mobile The mobile phone takes your business on the road
Digital vs. analog cellular technology
A virtual office on the road
Selecting the right mobile phone service
Let’s make a deal!
If your budget is tight or your credit shaky, consider a prepaid
phone Instead of a mobile phone, consider a pager
Having it all on the road Unified messaging For the business that envisions a big future Your business is growing
Key system for multiple phones
PBX – you own it and you maintain it
Centrex – the telephone company owns and maintains it Chapter 2: High speed connections for the smart business What are your options for high speed connections?
Premium small business communications – ISDN ISDN - just the facts
So why don’t we all sign up for ISDN now?
ISDN is not without its wrinkles
Now a look at the other contenders - Cable, DSL and
Satellite Cable connections Cable - just the facts Digital subscriber line (DSL) DSL - just the facts Satellite access to the Internet Satellite - just the facts How to choose, how to choose
What about security and privacy?
Business vs. residential options and limitations Availability
Web hosting Mobile Access to the Internet Wireless connections to the Internet
Displays vary widely
Availability of content varies
And the price? Go to top of page Section B: Giving everyone inside, access to the outside

A hands-on primer for making the connections that allow everyone to find the resources they need

Chapter 3: The art of hooking computers together

Network hardware Ethernet
The Ethernet adapter – Just the facts
The Ethernet hub Wireless
Telephone wire networks (Phonenet)
Installing network adapters in your computers Internal Adapters
Plug-and-Play
Plug-and-Play – just the facts
Step by step procedure #1: Manual configuration External adapters- Install without opening the computer
Setting up the Hub Expanding the network using multiple hubs Cabling your office/home Step by step procedure #2: Installing the RJ45 connectors after you pull the UTP cable through the walls Chapter 4: Making the network come alive Configuring Windows 95/98 Step by step procedure #3:Configuring Network Software TCP/IP Addressing Dynamic addresses
The concept of private IP addresses Troubleshooting IP addresses Step by step procedure #4: Troubleshooting TCP/IP like the pros Chapter 5: Sharing The Fundamentals of Sharing
Making resources shareable Access levels in Windows 95/98
Password protection Step by step procedure #4: Sharing a folder
Step by step procedure #5: Sharing a printer
Using shared resources Network Neighborhood
Windows Explorer
Step by step procedure #6: Copying files from one computer to another
Moving files from one computer to another from within applications
Step by step procedure #7: Opening a remote file
Step by step procedure #8: Saving a file to a remote computer
Step by step procedure #9: Printing to a remote printer
Step by step procedure #10: Setting up a shortcut to a remote printer Chapter 6: Sharing Internet access How to find programs on the Internet Search engines
Download web sites
Before you download ISP can be source for two IP addresses
Broadband router Network Address Translation
Connecting the broadband router Proxy server How does the proxy server work?
Using the SOCKS function
Choosing a proxy server
Finding the proxy software
Step by step procedure #10: Shared access with Proxy+
Step by step procedure #11: Configuring the browser for the Proxy server Standard router
Go to top of page Section C: The pro’s toolbox of Internet services

Exploring programs and techniques that give the small businessperson access to Internet functions for communications and collaboration

Chapter 7: Making E-mail work for you

E-mail programs Store and forward E-mail programs and e-mail systems Corporate e-mail systems
Microsoft Exchange server and Outlook client
Lotus Domino
Novell’s GroupWise
Mail gateways The Internet mail system Accessing INTERNET E-mail
The traditional e-mail client
Dedicated e-mail clients
Combination programs (with office applications)
Combination programs (with Internet applications)
IMAP or POP3
Accessing e-mail with a Web browser
Web-based e-mail security
Multiple mail accounts Real world uses for e-mail features Attachments
Address books and mailing lists
Return receipts
E-mail security
Encryption
Proving identity
Finding a person’s e-mail address
Step by Step Procedure #13: Searching for a Person’s E-mail
Address through the E-mail program
Step by Step Procedure #14:Searching for a Person’s E-mail
Address on the Internet The e-mail IS A welcome mat to intruders Step by Step Procedure #15:Thre steps to protecting your systems E-mail etiquette Chapter 8: Interest groups and collaboration Being at the centre of your communications web Collaboration services Instant messaging
Sharing schedules, contacts and files among colleagues
Web video conferencing
Newsgroups
Program sharing and whiteboarding Chapter 9: More services for business people Internet Telephone Computer to computer
Computer to computer Internet telephone is not without its wrinkles
Internet Telephony Service Provider (ITSP) On-line banking On-line banking services offered by financial institutions
Yes, but is banking over the Internet safe? Small business portals On-line services offered by business portals Tools for gathering business intelligence Search services on WWW
Catalogues
Search engines
Unified Search Program
Go to top of page Section D: Internet Business

Chapter 10: Having your own web presence

The small business Internet presence A dynamic "yellow pages" listing
Brochureware
Outsourced e-commerce web site Your own domain name Which domain should you register in?
Can you register a suitable name?
Selecting the right domain
Checking for available names
What is a good name to register?
Rules for registering in the COM, ORG and NET domains
Rules for registering names in the CA domain
How to register a domain name
How much does it cost? Web hosting services from an ISP Outsourcing the Web Environment
What to look for in an ISP who offers web hosting
How much web hosting do you need?
A word about free web hosting Chapter 11: The Web site Creating web pages Formatting and linking
HTML editors
Templates
Using contract services
Step by Step Procedure #16:Working with a pro to develop your web site
How much will it cost? Making Your Site Successful Site-specific marketing techniques Chapter 12: Marketing on the Internet Making it easy for customers to find you Search engines
Registering with search engines and catalogues
Web promotion tools
Search engine tactics
Link and banner exchanges
Exchange networks Mailing lists Build your own mailing list
Renting mailing lists
Harvesting your own e-mail addresses
Bulk e-mailing
Successful e-mail campaigns
But bulk e-mail has its wrinkles Reverse look-ups Step by Step Procedure #17:Looking up people who live on your street
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