In today’s webinar, we started our HTML lesson with a discussion of browsers and how they read and render web pages. HTML pages are plain text documents containing tags that control the appearance of text and graphics in the page.

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) sets the standards for the appearance of text and behaviors in web pages so that there are common outcomes when a page is displayed. If for example, a tag is broken or missing, browers revert to the default appearance of text (usually Times Roman) in the specified font size.

Next we looked at the basic set of tags required for a page to display at all. Then we added simple heading and paragraph tags to give the text some structure. Taking advantage of attributes that the tags offer, we could change text alignment (left/center/right), as well as “text decoration” like bold or italics. We also tried creating hyperlinks and adding images using those tags.  The demonstration files for these activities can be downloaded from http://www.pcpowertips.com/webinar/20080305/index.html.

Next week we’re going to cover tables, which are used for positioning text and graphics.

Webinar Date: March 5, 2008

In today’s webinar we talked about the operational aspects of choosing a domain name, where to register a domain name and whether or not to use private registration. We learned how to look up the owner of a domain name (http://www.whois.net/ is one web site), and talked about establishing a PO Box or mailbox at a mailing center as the contact point for domain registry, to avoid using our home addresses.

We also talked about web hosts; the different types of plans, and how many domains could be hosted on a single server. I had a short list of features to shop for when choosing a web hosting plan:

• Registration types and cost	• Windows vs Unix/Linux hosting
• Monthly and Yearly Plans	• Single vs Multiple Domain plans
• Email Support	• PHP and MySQL Support
• Amount of storage space (in GB)	• Blog and Podcast Support
• Number of user accounts and access level	• Bandwidth allowances
• Type of Tech Support (email, phone, 24/7?)	• SSL Certificates
• Reputation (Visit their user forums to find out)

Dispute resolution is an important issue; will the web host shut your site down first and ask questions later? Or will they attempt to notify you first? You want to be sure that you can get a hold of someone if something goes wrong. Visit the user forums for your web host to see what other users are saying. Be sure you understand their privacy policy and dispute resolution procedures before you commit time and effort to a site on their servers.

Finally, we talked about the issue of control over your web site. When you’re deciding where to host your site, be sure you can set up accounts that allow your web designer access but not complete control over the site. You’re the one paying for it; you should be in control of it. If your designer refuses, then get another site over which YOU have control. You may choose to get another designer too, but that’s a separate decision. We’ll talk more about working with web professionals in our March 26th webinar.

Webinar Date: February 20, 2008

I’ve been working at my Internet marketing and publishing business now for over 4 years, and I’ve been observing a lot of very successful speakers and Internet Marketers during that time. I’ve decided to add a Books category to this blog because from time to time I come across books that truly shift my thinking, and I want to share them with you.

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Seldom does a book come along that so captures my attention that I turn around and give away copies en masse, but that was the case with Timothy Ferriss’ book “The 4-Hour Work Week.” Yes, you read that correctly, 4 Hours not 4 Days. You see why it got my attention initially.

When I designed my business, I had in mind a truly mobile lifestyle where I would operate off my laptop from exotic locations. I did that for the first 2 years, but I got sidetracked along the way. In May 2007, I picked up the audio book version of 4-Hour Work Week, and while listening to Tim’s words, that wonderful spark of wanderlust was rekindled. When I had the opportunity, I gave away a total of 10 copies of the book to fellow entrepreneurs, and challenged them to read and consider Tim’s example.

At first glance, his ideas may seem a bit extreme, but with the worldwide access and automated delivery that Internet-based businesses provide, it’s an entirely feasible lifestyle. I have different priorities than Tim does, but I do like the idea of concentrated periods of work (4-6 months) followed by shorter periods of rest/rejeuvenation (4-6 weeks). Personally, I think I could continue working and traveling happily into my 80s with a lifestyle balanced in this way.

Even if you don’t agree with the final premise of the book, I encourage you to read it to get the gist of it. The book provides the details of Tim’s businesses, providing one of the best case studies I have found of the freedom that Internet-based businesses can provide.

It was 4 years ago this month that I first signed up for Kickstart Cart, and I can truly say that this shopping cart system is the cornerstone of my online business. I was in Singapore at the time; it was Thanksgiving Day in the USA and Tom Antion had inadvertently scheduled a teleseminar about Kickstart on that day. I distinctly remember sitting in my hotel room early in the morning Singapore time, listening and taking notes. I was just about to publish my father’s book and sell it over the Internet, so I listened intently as Tom went over all the features that are built-in. I signed up at the Starter level, and I’ve since migrated to the Pro level so that I can sell my digital products online.

I’ve used Kickstart Cart continuously since then, first for my own products, then with my local National Speakers Association chapter, and then with a my web site clients. If you have any inkling that you might sell online in addition to communicating with your clients via email or newsletters, then I’d get signed up with Kickstart right away.

There is a learning curve to working with Kickstart Cart, as there is with any full-featured program. The curve isn’t so much about what goes where; if you’re curious, you’ll figure that out. What you’re really learning is how to communicate with people over the Internet: how to connect with them, how to establish trust, how to follow up,  and most of all, how NOT to annoy them!

Successful Internet marketing requires more than just creating products and taking credit card payments; it requires the ability to establish trust in another person without the opportunity to meet them in person. It takes writing ability; it takes a genuineness of spirit. The good news is that Kickstart Cart provides the infrastructure for communicating successfully with your customers: email broadcasting, newsletter management, shopping cart functionality, ad tracking, and more. The rest is up to you!