In This Chapter

Cozahost newsletter

Kasamba

grammarNOW!

geek/talk

The Small Business Advisor

LawGuru. com

Bizy Moms

Website Tips

Web Developer’s Journal

Siteowners. com

W e all need advice from time to time. Even if you’re terribly indepen -

Dent, as nearly self-sufficient as can be, there are times when you

Need to turn to others for assistance. Well, here are ten Web sites where you

In This Chapter

Using form makers

Setting up surveys

Ensuring privacy and security

W hen the Web first started, it was strictly a one-way street. You, as the

Web designer, put up information for others to view — and that was it.

Nowadays, feedback from site visitors is critical, and they expect you to pro -

Vide them with the capability to give it. Most Web sites use some type of form

To get information from visitors. This chapter shows you a few easy ways to

Use forms on your site.

In This Chapter

Using autoresponders

Distributing electronic newsletters

Spreading the word about new content on your Web site

W hen someone initially visits your site, you naturally want that person

To keep coming back. One of the natural ways to do that is to keep

In touch, let visitors know what’s new, and remind them that you’re there.

The problem is spam — no, not the canned meat — it’s Internet slang for

Unsolicited commercial e-mail. If you haven’t gotten plenty of it already,

In This Chapter

Choosing keywords wisely

Getting listed with search engines

Checking your search engine ranking

Trading links

Using banner ads

S earch sites (also called search engines) are a critical part of the World

Wide Web. Without them, it’s nearly impossible for most people to find

What they’re looking for. Therefore, if you’re serious about your Web site (and

I assume that you are because you’re reading this book), it’s important to

In This Chapter

Choosing a host

Finding free Web site providers

Picking and registering domain names

I f you don’t already have a Web site or if you’re not happy with your cur -

Rent Web space provider, you have several options. You can run your own

Web server, of course. With a DSL connection and Linux, it’s even possible to

Put together a creditable setup in your own home. But that’s a lot of work —

Ask network administrators just how much leisure time they have. And many

In This Chapter

Understanding payment plans

Finding the right match

Making a profit

Acquiring affiliates

W hatever you call them — affiliates, associates, independent agents —

Businesses that operate on the World Wide Web have turned in a big

Way to letting other people do their selling for them. Why should you care?

Because you can make money at it. They don’t just want you to plug their

Stuff; they’re willing to cut you in on a piece of the action.

In This Chapter

Becoming a merchant

Avoiding pitfalls

Using PayPal, e-cash, and phone checks

Converting currencies

I f you’re operating a regular store, taking in money from customers is a

Pretty easy matter. Cash, checks, credit cards, debit cards — you name it,

And some well-established process is in place to handle it. From night-deposit

Drops to armored car pickups, the bricks-and-mortar merchant is already

Well covered when it comes to getting paid.

In This Chapter

Finding your niche

Delivering the goods

Designing for orders

M ore pure bull hockey is floating around about Internet commerce than

About practically any other topic in the world. If you haven’t found

Thousands of e-commerce Web sites promising you the moon — and a moon

Made of gold and platinum at that — you aren’t looking.

According to these self-proclaimed gurus of e-commerce, all you need to do

Is put up a Web page — not even a site, just a page — and the money comes