By now, you’re probably wondering how you ever managed to get by without broadband. But are you making the most of your high-speed connection? Could you do more? Find out how with our downloadable factsheet series below.
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Factsheet 1 – The benefit of using e-mail
Email is today second only to the telephone in terms of importance for business communications. It is a business-critical tool that is cheap, fast and easy to use. Increasingly, email is the preferred means of communication and in some organisations replacing traditional postal mail as means of message delivery. This factsheet outlines basic email communications, email marketing and email risks and legal issues to consider.
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Factsheet 2 - Best practice web design
First impressions count. Getting the design of your Web site right is crucial to the success of your online strategy. This factsheet cuts through the mystique of web design, provides an insight into current best practice and shows that good design owes as much to common sense and planning as it does to creative thinking.
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Factsheet 3 – Building a web site
Building a Web site can be a significant financial investment. Before starting a Web site, you should be clear about your goals. Create a Web site that suits your company’s needs and provides measurable returns. This factsheet considers the broad aspects of building a Web site. It looks at:
- Why you should build a Web site
- Drawing up a Web site specification
- Selecting a developer
- Managing the development project
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Factsheet 4 - Content management
Content management enables a Web site manager to control and update the content displayed on a Web site without needing specific web development skills. Control of the Web site can then be devolved from specialist staff and given to those responsible for marketing the organisation. Broadband makes Content Management Systems much more practical, helping to ensure your web site is kept up to date and the content regularly refreshed without having to rely on your web developer to fit updates into a busy work schedule.
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Factsheet 5 – Could your business be an e-business?
There is a sharp line between companies that are capable of using internet technologies and the web to spur innovation and those that are not. Do you have the desire, motivation and resources available to make e-business a reality?
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Factsheet 6 – Viral and email marketing
Viral and e-Mail Marketing is now by far the most dominant application for interactive marketing. Compared to traditional forms of direct marketing, marketing through e-mail is inexpensive, rapid, flexible, intrusive and highly accountable.
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Factsheet 7 – E-security
E-security can be defined as the use of ‘adequate precautions’ to protect your data and systems. Risks posed to your security include: loss of or damage to computer equipment; loss of power; loss of network connectivity; unauthorised access; movement/alteration/deletion of files; theft of data; denial of service; and virus attack.
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Factsheet 8 – Exporting and the internet
Exporting can have huge rewards but is seen as risky by many small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Many are dissuaded by the perceived barriers: finding agents/distributors; promoting internationally; travelling overseas; modifying products and services; completing export paperwork/documentation; understanding import/export legislation; finding skilled staff; and acquiring language skills. The Internet reduces the barriers and costs of exporting, allowing even the smallest of companies to sell internationally.
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Factsheet 9 – How to get your business connected to the internet
To access the Internet you will need the necessary computer equipment, a link (through a telephone line, wireless or satellite system) and a contract with an Internet Service Provider (ISP), who will connect you to the World Wide Web. This factsheet outlines:
- The equipment you need for connection to the internet
- Your connection options
- How to choose an ISP
- The risks to your computer(s) once connected
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Factsheet 10 – How to use search engines
Internet users often know the address of a Web site they wish to visit. This address is known as the domain name or Uniform Resource Locator (URL) e.g. www.hie.co.uk. Search engines (SEs) or directories are used to find Web sites when the URL is not known. Most people start their web research by entering keywords or search terms into the leading SEs. This factsheet explains how to access information on the internet to benefit your business.
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Factsheet 11 – Selecting a host
Hosting companies make Web sites or business applications available to the internet or other private networks. This factsheet explains the different types of hosting services available and arms you with questions to ensure that you get the service you need from suppliers.
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Factsheet 12 – The business case for e-commerce
E-commerce is a business transaction through electronic media (internet, e-mail, extranet, intranet, EDI), which supports the buying or selling of goods or services. More often it is known as ‘trading online’. This factsheet will help map out the business decision to be taken before getting into online trading.
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Factsheet 13 – Using remote software (ASP)
Remote software services (also known as Application Service Provision (ASP)) are applications provided to users over the internet without the user having to install any special hardware or software on their own machines. Instead, the applications are operate securely over the web and are maintained, upgraded and supported by the service provider. This can mean substantial savings on software licenses etc. as users pay a fee based on monthly usage.
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Factsheet 14 – What is the internet?
The Internet is a network of computers, all connected into one worldwide communication system to allow access to information. Developed for the US military, the internet became widely used for academic research but now impacts on all aspects of our business, social and private lives. Often called the ‘web’, it can be compared to a spider’s web of information and links.
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Factsheet 15 – Extranets
An extranet is a private network provided by an organisation to a specific community of users, e.g. suppliers or customers. It could be a secure area of your public Web site (requiring a login and password) or an extension of your company intranet. (See the ‘intranets’ factsheet) Your extranet might provide, for example, resellers with details about prices, new product releases and presentation and promotional materials, not otherwise available to the public. This factsheet will help you to understand the reasons for building an extranet and the key issues related to its use and implementation.
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Factsheet 16 – Intranets
An intranet is a ‘staff only’ computer network containing common electronic resources and information. A single, integrated system, it enables staff to share documents, view and post the latest information and work effectively across departments and geographical areas. It is a source of time and cost efficiencies, increased competitiveness, improved customer support and increased productivity.
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Factsheet 17 – Accounting and financial management software
Buying computer software can be a daunting prospect. With so many accounting and financial management packages available, deciding on the right package can be a difficult task. This factsheet outlines the key areas to be considered when purchasing accounting and financial management software. It discusses:
- generic software packages versus customised (or bespoke) solutions
- key criteria for choosing your accounting and financial software
- and leading accounting and financial providers by user group
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Factsheet 18 – Search engine optimisation
Search engine optimisation (SEO) ensures that a Web site can make good use of search engines as a marketing channel, i.e. that your site features within the first page of results across the major search engines. For a good ranking on the search engines, it is vital to select key search terms (terms customers use to find sites like yours) and to position them strategically within your site for maximum effect.
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Factsheet 19 – Web site linking strategies
Web site linking strategies involves getting the address of your Web site (or key pages of your Web site) on other related sites. Web site linking aids the marketing of your web site; it helps capture traffic from other sites, improves search engine ranking (on those search engines that factor Web site links into their measurement criteria) and increases brand awareness.
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Factsheet 20 – Web accessibility
On the web, you can never be certain how the end user will view your web pages. Accessible web site design, therefore, means designing for diversity. An accessible web site works on a variety of different web browsers and hardware platforms (old and new). Site content will be available to someone with a 21" screen using the latest Windows PC, to someone viewing with a handheld wireless device, or a disabled person accessing the internet through a speech-enabled device. It will be flexible enough to accommodate the access needs of the end user, e.g. a visually impaired user may need to enlarge text or change colours on the page.
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Factsheet 21 – Remote working
The term ‘remote working’ describes a range of variants on the traditional office-based, ‘nine-till-five’ work model. Remote working offers employees a degree of choice over their working hours and work location. And enables ‘road warriors’ can take the office with them. This factsheet considers:
- The importance of remote working
- The reasons for adopting remote working practices
- The need for a new way of working
- The role of technology in supporting remote working
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Factsheet 22 – Online payments
Online payment allows your customers to pay online for goods and services by credit and debit card. Being able to accept securely card payments is becoming an increasingly important service to offer your customers. Online payments involve collecting customers’ card details, authenticating the transaction and repatriating the funds to your bank account. This commonly requires the use of a merchant service from an acquiring bank and a Payment Service Provider. However, alternative options do exist.
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Factsheet 23 – Integrating web sites with business systems
Integrating websites with business systems describes the process of integrating existing information systems in a business with the internet, so that customers, business partners and employees have online access to the data and business processes supported by the systems. In simple terms, it means joining the web and back office functions together so that staff have access to the most up to date information.
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Factsheet 24 – Communication solutions for small companies
Businesses need to communicate in a number of different ways – by telephone, fax, e-mail and computer-to-computer on both internal and external networks. Communications are subject to fast-moving change and it is important that your business is able to take advantage of the benefits available. This factsheet presents an overview of communication solutions and illustrates how your decision will be dependent on budget and the availability of technology in your area.
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Factsheet 25 – E-procurement
E-procurement is the term used to describe electronic methods in every stage of the purchasing process from the identification of requirements through to payment, and potentially to contract management. This factsheet presents an overview of e-procurement and illustrates other aspects of electronic purchasing and supply. It also highlights tools and software solutions appropriate to each business area.
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