Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: How can you switch Java Script on in your browser if it is disabled? (It is on by default)
Q: What is the most important thing about a web site?
Q: What costs will I incur in the long term?
Q: Why is AboutIT better than FrontPage or Macromedia?
Q: Is AboutIT as reliable as Xtra or Clear?
Q: Do I need any other software?
Q: Can I do anything on my site?
Q: Can I use my own graphics?
Q: Can I post photographs?
Q: Who can see my site?
Q: Will search engines find my site?
Q: What is a Meta-tag?
Q: Why ask visitors to register?
Q: What is a ToC?
Q: What are FAQs?

How can you switch Java Script on in your browser if it is disabled?
A: In your MS IE browser, go to 'Tools' in the top menu, then 'Internet Options', 'Security', Custom Level, and then down at the bottom of that option window, you have three scripting options that you can enable or disable. To have Java Script working, you have to enable the first two options; 'Active Scripting' and 'Allow paste operations via scripting'. The third option, 'Scripting of Java Applets', is not necessary for this site.

What is the most important thing about a web site?
A: The most important thing about you web site is your message.
In marketing terms this is called a Value Proposition.
Why should some one reading your web site and particularly your HomePage bother to read on? It is because you have said something which is of value to them. You are offering something - it may be information - interesting amusing or of direct value - it may be goods and services which are better than competing goods and services - better because they are better quality - higher value for the price - cheaper - additional features - or you offer additional services.
Whatever your Value Proposition is, make sure that you are clear about it and that you can write it up clearly. Then place it prominently on your site.
Everything on your site - all the words - the images - the style and the colour-ways should be selected to reflect your Value Proposition.

What costs will I incur in the long term?
A: Initially you incur the set-up cost of your web-site - with AboutIT that is only $195 (inc GST).
We will support you for 3 months for that figure.
Within this figure you can create as many pages using our Upload and Edit pages as you wish.
You will incur more fees if you want to vary your site design.
We will charge you $20 per page or graphic you want to add or change.
You will need an ISP/email address. This is obtained through any large provider Xtra, Clear, KCBBS.
They will charge you a base figure and may charge more for traffic in excess of some limit.
After the initial 3 months we will also charge you a hosting fee:
This fee is $19.95 per month plus $0.25 per MB of traffic in excess of 50MB per month.
We can provide you will many additional services separately charged.

Why is AboutIT better than FrontPage or Macromedia?
A: AboutIT needs no other software on your PC.
This means that you can maintain your site from any PC anywhere in the world provided it has the normal Microsoft browser on it.
Our studies reveal that these other products have a substantial learning time and while they can do a lot they are hard to learn.
In AboutIT we have selected the features you need and given you a very simple set of tools. If you need to do more complex things we can do them for you and then embed them into the text that you can do yourself.
We do Table of Contents, FAQs and "What's New" automatically.
Finally, if you want to do something a little more complex then we can help you do that but there will continue to be no other charges for those things you can do yourself - in particular you can create and update text pages at no cost.

Is AboutIT as reliable as Xtra or Clear?
A: AboutIT uses highly proven software for all the general hosting options.
However AboutIT does not have security-designed premises, 7 x 24 security specialist staff or physical protection of its pipe to Telecoms.
AboutIT have a proven firewall technology.
All web hosts are vulnerable to Denial of Service attacks.
All web hosts are vulnerable to traffic accidents taking out phone lines, diggers cutting lines up and the other natural hazards of life!

Do I need any other software?
A: The short answer is No!
If you have a digital camera it will usually come with some software which will capture your pics and allow you to trim them and adjust them in various ways.

Can I do anything on my site?
A: Well, nearly!
Anything that you cannot do, just send in your request plus text and images and we will do it for you. Our normal charge for this will be $20 plus GST. And we will try to create the page in a form where you can still alter the text portions yourself.

Can I use my own graphics?
A: Yes! Any graphic can be used on any page.
The graphic can reside anywhere including on your machine.
It only makes sense to keep it on your machine if you are on-line at all times - your PC must be on-line and turned on at all times and you must have a connection which is "Always on". Note "Always On" means that you should have a fire-wall. The only reason to do this is if you want to be able to change your graphics at any time quickly.
Otherwise email them to us with a clear statement of where you want them positioned and whether you want any work done such as re-sizing or other reduction of total size.
Note: It is recommended that Homepages do not exceed 40KB in total (including all graphics) and other pages less than 25KB (Excluding graphics already downloaded from previous pages).

Can I post photographs?
A: Yes! Photographs are just graphics. We can post any form meaningful to a Microsoft browser.
If any manipulation is required only the following types can be handled: .psd, .tiff, .cdr, .png, .jpg, .gif, .ai, .fh10.

Who can see my site?
A: Anyone can see your site if they know the URL (sitename). Furthermore a few search engines will find your site and index it. Some search engines do this automatically without any action by you or us. Usually you will want lots of people to see your site and so you will endeavour to get your site indexed by many such engines. Sites can sometimes by found by guessing and of course by mistake.

Will search engines find my site?
A: We will submit your site using standard tools to many search engines when you say you are ready.Some search engines have people examine your site and classify it. Some search engines index only the "meta-tags" on the home page or on all pages. Many search engines take over 2 months to examine or re-examine every site in the world. Try using search engines to find your site using each meta-tag you have included.

What is a Meta-tag?
A: A meta-tag is a word or phrase (separated by a comma) entered onto each page of your site to help search engines index the page. Different search engines have different strategies. These strategies change as they are improved and changed to block ways of manipulating the results.
Some search engines only use the meta-tags on the homepage. Some search engines examine all your text. In general they do not inspect images. Therefore words that are technically images are not indexed. Put in tags for all the words that your customers may use when looking for products like yours. Put in phrases as well in this form "Beauty, Beauty Products, hair gel, moisturising cream".

Why ask visitors to register?
A: Ask visitors to register if you have an offer which makes it worthwhile for the customer.
You must overcome a reluctance to register because of concerns that they will get spam or advertising material from you or from others (because you may pass their address on to others) which is not in areas they are specifically interested in.
What is in it for them? Special deals, prizes, useful content newsletters - it has to have value!
You can then use emails to promote your services or products.

What is a ToC?
A: A "Table of Contents" (ToC) is a section at the top of a page with a list of all the subsequent sections. Each line in the ToC is actually a link to the content further down the page.
At the end of each section is a "Top" symbol which takes you back to the ToC.
This function is provided by the AboutIT Edit Page tool.

What are FAQs?
A: FAQs are Frequently Asked Questions.
They are a very powerful sales aid not only in the Information Giving phase but also in the Objection Removal phase. Every time you are asked a question think about whether this question might be cast in a form that many people may ask. Write a general answer that will satisfy at least 80% of people who may ask that question. Kept the language simple. Complex technical questions should route the technician to text written in technical language. Put the simple questions in an FAQ page.
This practice is now so common that it is usual to have an FAQ link on the home page. It is usual to provide a Table of Contents for these questions. This function is provided by the AboutIT Edit Page tool.