An Introduction to the Internet.

Please note: This article was written several years ago, but is checked regularly to make sure the links work. The content is still valid however, though it's all very basic, and won't contain much of interest to you unless you're completely new to the Internet.

An introduction to the Internet.

Its not a single network
- Its a connection of networks throughout the world.
  Academic, military, governmental and commercial networks all combine to create the Internet.

Its both local and global
- The Internet isn't interested in locations.
  You can find the information that you need regardless of where you happen to be in the world; next door, next county, next country.

It isn't the same everywhere
- There is no such thing as 'The Internet'. Many ways of accessing it. Many reasons to access it.

Wide variety of hardware and softwares.
- Its not a single piece of software.
  Its not a single piece of hardware.
  Almost any computer using a wide variety of software can be linked into the Internet.

Its flexible
- In terms of the amount of money you spend to connect to it.
  In terms of the features that you decide to make use of.

Who's in charge?
- No-one 'owns' the Internet.
  Each person owns their own part of the Internet.
  As a result, you can do exactly what you want on the Internet. No-one can tell you what to do.

Its fast and effective
- The Internet is a fast and effective way to communicate.

Listservs or mailing lists.
- Email
  Moderated or Unmoderated
  Daily or Digest
  LIS-LINK LIS-IIS
  http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk for a list of UK listservs

Newsgroups
- 100,000+ groups
  Arranged within a hierarchy - alt. bio. comp. misc. news. soc. rec. talk.
  Special software is required to subscribe to or read them.
  Alternatively, they can be searched using a number of different searchengines.

Research and Support
- The Internet is a valuable tool for both of these.
  Support from individuals
  Research via libraries, through organisations, to single books.

Its not all hard work
- It isn't restricted to serious computer users.
  There are a huge number of resources covering all hobbies and interests.

Its not just for geeks
- Many computer buffs use the Internet, but its becoming easier.
  Many of the people who use it now are just like us!

Its not well organised
- Since no-one 'owns' the Internet, everyone can do what they like.
  This makes it difficult to find the information that you want.
  You'll find you go around in circles when you start.

Finding your way around
- Use a 'Browser' to get around the World Wide Web
  Use a variety of different search engines to find the information that you require.

Using the World Wide Web

What is the WWW?
- It was created by Sir Tim Berners-Lee at CERN
  It was designed to allow quick and effective use of the Internet
  Its growth has been phenomenal

Hypertext
- The WWW is based around hypertext to quickly allow you to link one document or site to another
  Its like having footnotes, annotations and an index all on the page in front of you

Getting around the WWW
- You require a 'browser' to view 'pages' of text and to move from one to another.
  Many of these exist, but the most common one is Netscape.

WWW Search Engines
- Wide variety of search engines
  .Many produced by commercial organisations
  Not very advanced.
  Free text searching with AltaVista
  Instead of free text searching, use an index to the Internet
  Yahoo is the best example of this; Menus and submenus finally link you to specific pages.

Things to remember!
- The Web is not the Internet.
  There is more than one way of browsing the Web.
  Authority!
  Graphics

Promoting your organisation on the Internet.

Summary.

Product announcement

Product flyers

Product specifications

Pricing information

Catalogues

Events/demos

Free software

Customer support

Promotional notices

Documentation

Multimedia

Surveys

Product Reviews

Customer service

Job information

Conversations

Better and cheaper communications.
- Both internally and externally.
  Data transmission

Mailing lists.
- Topica
  Moderated/Unmoderated
  Digest/As they come

Newsgroups.
- Be brief
  Remember you're talking to 1,000's of readers
  Keep your temper!
  Post once only; dont follow up your own message
  Label the post clearly
  Post relevant material
  Be careful of humour
  Keep your .signature short, to 4 lines or less

Greater publicity.
- FAQ's
  Questions and answers should be short and succinct
  Keep a summary at the top of the page
  Keep it current

New markets.
- Cybermalls.
  Exhibitions

Information resources.
- Up to the minute information.
  Obtain information and assistance from your peers.

Competitor information.
- Industry announcements are often posted to newsgroups

Customer support.

New members of staff.
- Recruitment agencies
  Posting vacancies

Disadvantages.

Staff time.
Costs.
Learning new ways of marketing.
Getting it wrong.

Letting People know that you are there.

. Traditional means.
- Business cards.
  Letterheads.
  Mail shots.
  Literature.
  Press releases.

Using the Internet.
- Usenet newsgroups.
  .sig files.
  Mailing lists.
  Whats new pages.

Using the World Wide Web.
- Creating a Web site.
  Naming your site.
  Informing catalogs and indexes.
  Keywords

Involving staff.
- Encourage staff to get involved with the Internet and post articles.
  Enrol other people and organisations in your enterprise.
  Write articles, talk at conferences.

Acceptable do's and don'ts.

Newsgroups and listservs.
- Do join appropriate newsgroups.
  Do take part in the conversations.
  Do include details of your organisation in your .sig.
  Do post a press release
  Do assist people
  Do not advertise in inappropriate groups (most of them).
  Do not cross post

Mailing.
- Do not send out unsolicited email.
  Do invite people to contact you or visit your site.

Be there.
- Presence, not advertising, is the key to success on the Internet.
  Do get involved.
  Dont post something and walk away.
  Do give information for free.
  Don't treat the Internet in the same way that you would treat other customers or markets.
  Do keep things current.
  Do keep looking for opportunities; online conferences, exhibitions etc.

Create relationships.
- In newsgroups, in listservs.
  Put links from your WWW page to other similiar organisations.

An Internet Business Plan.

Research.
- Who are your customers?
  Are they on the Internet?
  If not, are they going to be?
  And when?

What information is already available on the Internet?

What are your competitors doing?

Which is the best Internet Service Provider (ISP) to use?

Where is the best place to get a Web site?

First steps.

Take out a single user account with your ISP.
Discover appropriate newsgroups and listservs.
Join them and sit for a while 'lurking'.
Start to look around on the WWW.
Participate in discussions.

World Wide Web.

Create a page for the World Wide Web
Place it at a site.
Keep it updated.
Monitor feedback.

Staff.

Keep your staff informed and enrol them in the project.
Make a point of stating when you find material on the Internet.
Be clear on who is going to do what, particularly if you have a Web site.

Internet Marketing Tools.

Activity	Email	.sig	Listserv	FTP	Newsletter	Usenet	WWW

Product announcement	M	M	H	L	H	M	H
Product flyers	M	L	H	L	H	H	H
Product specificications	M	L	L	L	H	M	H
Pricing information	H	L	H	L	H	H	H
Catalogues	M	L	M	H	M	L	H
Events/demos	H	H	H	L	H	H	H
Free software	L	L	L	H	L	L	H
Customer support	H	L	M	M	M	L	M
Promotional notices	H	H	H	L	H	H	H

Activity	Email	.sig	Listserv	FTP	Newsletter	Usenet	WWW
Documentation	M	L	L	H	L	L	H
Multimedia	L	L	L	M	L	L	H
Surveys	M	L	H	L	H	L	M
Product Reviews	L	L	H	L	H	M	M
Customer service	H	L	H	L	H	M	L
Job information	L	L	H	L	H	H	L
Conversations	H	L	H	L	H	H	M

Evaluation.

Increase in email traffic

Growth over 2-3 months for information

Survey returns

Receipt of flames

Return on investments

Compare results with other organisations

Improve!

An Introduction to the Internet.