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How small organizations such as startups, non-profits and clubs can get a complete online presence without developers, an IT department or a budget. Covers domain names, registrars, DNS, web hosting, email and groupware hosting, CRM, content management systems to build web sites, e-commerce, SEO and online advertising.Presented to the UCLA Anderson School of Management's Entrepreneur Association.
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1
Getting your business online without developers, an IT department or a budget
www.wright.ru/dotcom
Dot Com in a Day
Slides and links:
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Inte
rnet
co
nfi
gu
rati
on
Domain names
Domain registrars
Domain Name Servers
DNS records
Har
dw
are
& h
ost
ing
All-in-one packages
Shared hosting
Virtual servers
Dedicated servers
Colocation Gro
up
war
e &
des
kto
p a
pp
s
Calendaring
Documents
CRM
Online backup
Other tools & resources
Web
co
nte
nt
& a
pp
lica
tio
ns
Content Management Systems
CMS plug-ins:- community
- e-commerce- forums etc.
SEO & advertising
Outsourcing
Getting your business online without developers, an IT department or a budget
Components of online presence
Dot Com in a Day
3
Introduction
• Multiple uses:
• Start-ups
• Non-profits
• Clubs
• Vanity domains
• Negligible technical skills needed:
• Technical basics are minimal – fundamentals covered today
• Many easy-to-use tools available
• Just requires knowledge and time
4
Introduction• Low budget:
• Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) e.g. Mozilla, Apache, Linux
• Free proprietary resources e.g. Google, DNS services etc.
• Community support
• Professional:
• FOSS serves over two thirds of web sites globally
• Many prominent sites use free software
• Other examples: Firefox, Ubuntu, OpenOffice.org
• No reliance on ‘security through obscurity’
• Adoption of open source by governments and agencies
5
Introduction• Many ways to achieve the same end results
• Future-proof your online presence:
don’t opt for ‘all-in-one’ basic solutions that tie you to one provider
• Today’s suggestions are relatively simple, yet powerful and scalable
• Using standard, popular FOSS packages also saves on hidden costs:
• Solutions are designed for non-technical users and have
comprehensive, clear documentation and extensive support
from community forums
• Open source means developers can get up to speed quickly
and extend software for your precise needs easily
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IntroductionYour interests:
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About Me• Business analyst, project manager, enthusiast
• In e-Commerce before – and during – the dot-com bust
• IT and Development Manager for a banking consultancy
• Designed and implemented many web sites/apps for all purposes:
• Personal
• Non-profits
• Clubs
• E-commerce and fashion
• Small businesses
• International banks
• But I’m not a developer
8
Internet Configuration• Domain names:
• Leased, not bought
• No domain squatting: must be for fair use
• Parts: host name(s), secondary domain, top level domain (TLD)
• Example format: hostname.domain.tld
• Top level domains: .com, .net, .org etc.
• Consider registering your domain name in multiple variants and
TLDs to avoid squatters, but don’t worry about obscure
TLDs
like .biz, .me and so on
• Don’t fall for email scams offering renewals or related domains for
a fee: always check availability with your trusted registrar
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Domain names
Domain registrars
Domain Name Servers
DNS records
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Internet Configuration• Domain registrars:
• Each TLD has a principal registrar (e.g. Verisign for. com)
appointed by ICANN, who then appoints retail registrars
• Many, many registrars but they differ on ease of use, customer
service and price: choose a good one
• Good .com registrars: GoDaddy.com, 1and1.com,
namecheap.com, omnis.com
• Bad (overpriced) registrars: Register.com, Network Solutions
• Consider opting for a private registration (free with some
registrars) to hide your personal details from spammers
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Domain names
Domain registrars
Domain Name Servers
DNS records
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Internet Configuration• Registering a domain:
• Example: namecheap.com
• Cheap and includes anonymous WhoIs registration
• Search for domain(s) and add to your cart – consider other TLDs
• At checkout, define four contacts (ICANN requirement):
• Registrant
• Administrative
• Technical
• Billing
• Can all be the same; different contacts get different
communications, e.g. DMCA complaints, renewal notices
etc.
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Domain Name Servers
DNS records
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Internet ConfigurationRegistering a domain contd.:
• You can turn on WhoisGuard at this point to protect your identity
from spammers
• Now define name servers (next topic) e.g. ns1.everydns.net,
ns2.everydns.net and so on
• Use external name servers for flexibility
• Do not choose any URL or email forwarding options
• Some registrars like GoDaddy will try to sell many additional
services; ignore these with possible exception of web
hosting
• A good registrar may not be a good web host – check the web
for unbiased reviews
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Domain Name Servers
DNS records
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Internet ConfigurationDomain Name Servers:
• Domain Name Servers translate a request from a domain
name into the IP address of the relevant server
• A domain name is easier to remember than 217.162.3.28
• Each host name within your domain and your mail servers can
be pointed to the same or differing servers as necessary
• You can use a registrar/web host’s provided DNS servers
or use an external service
• Recommendation: a free, reliable service like everydns.net
which is affiliated with OpenDNS to ensure rapid
propagation
of DNS record changes through the internet (cached
records)
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Domain registrars
Domain Name Servers
DNS records
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Internet ConfigurationDNS records:
• Example: everydns.net
• Register an account then choose the Add New Domain (basic)
option in the left menu (ignore the other options)
• Enter your domain name in the format domain.tld e.g. test.com
(don’t include www or anything else at this stage)
• Now click on your domain name in the left menu
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Internet ConfigurationDNS records contd.:
• Types of DNS record:
• A record
• Master record for each server, must exist
• Points to the server’s IP address
• CNAME record
• Alias pointing to an A record’s name (not IP address)
• Simple example:
• A: londonbound.info 72.55.186.8
• CNAME: www.londonbound.info londonbound.info
• MX: londonbound.info 72.55.186.8 with MX value 1
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Internet ConfigurationDNS records contd.:
• Types of DNS record contd.:
• CNAME records are used for hosts within the domain
e.g. www, mail, anderson(.ucla.edu)
• CNAMEs can point to other servers when relevant, e.g.
ghs.google.com for Google mail/calendar hosting
• MX records point to mail servers; as many as you have,
in order (MX values, lowest number for main server)
• Ignore AAAA (IPv6) and NS (name server) record types
• For a new domain, add an A record for domain.tld, a CNAME
for www.domain.tld and an MX for the mail server
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Internet ConfigurationDNS records contd.:
• Adding DNS records:
• For an A record:
• Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN): domain.tld
• Record Type: A
• Record Value: IP address of server
• Leave MX Value blank
• For a CNAME record:
• FQDN: hostname.domain.tld (e.g. www.hostname.tld)
• Record Type: CNAME
• Record Value: hostname.tld
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Internet ConfigurationDNS records contd.:
• Adding DNS records contd.:
• For an MX record:
• FQDN: domain.tld
• Record Type: MX
• Record Value: domain.tld OR IP address
• MX Value: any numbers, in ascending order for each
server (lowest number for main mail server,
other
records for failover mail servers)
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Internet ConfigurationDNS records contd.:
• DNS record examples: tutees.co.uk – points of note:
• There is a CNAME record for mail.tutees.co.uk – do not
confuse with the MX record – this CNAME is for
a webmail application (Google Apps in this case)
at the URL http://mail.tutees.co.uk
• There are several MX records which all point to Google Apps
mail servers (Google hosts mail for this domain, but
not the main web site – hosted elsewhere)
• googleccb434ca6d800bb9.tutees.co.uk is a dummy record
used by Google Apps to ensure domain ownership
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Domain Name Servers
DNS records
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Hardware & hostingH
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All-in-one packages
Shared hosting
Virtual servers
Dedicated servers
Colocation
Web hosting:
• You need a server with a constant internet connection to host
your files, web pages and web applications
• While you can use any computer and use a home/office
broadband connection, upload speeds may not be
good
and you need a static IP address (not usually given to
home/office users)
• Simplest option: buy an all-in-one package when you buy
your domain name
• Potential downside: just a form of shared hosting; performance,
capabilities and email accounts/features may be
limited
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Hardware & hostingH
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All-in-one packages
Shared hosting
Virtual servers
Dedicated servers
Colocation
Shared hosting:
• The most common option for small sites with no great
demands on server resources (memory and
processor)
• Look for latest unbiased reviews before choosing e.g. at
www.webhostingtalk.com
• Can start here and upgrade later
• Reputable hosting companies:
• www.webhostingpad.com (+ free domain name)
• www.bluehost.com (+ free domain name)
• www.inmotionhosting.com
• Look for a cloud-based/automatic failover service
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Shared hosting
Virtual servers
Dedicated servers
Colocation
Shared hosting contd.:
• Two options: Windows and Linux hosting
• Linux is the default and is usually best:
• Cheaper
• More flexible (more software available)
• Don’t be put off: no scary command lines to tackle
• Everything is done through a web-based control panel
• Windows is only needed for Microsoft-specific services
• Shared hosting will include use of the host’s mail server and
will probably include webmail, virus scanning, spam
filter
• Control panel will have built-in analytics, one-click installs etc.
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Hardware & hostingH
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All-in-one packages
Shared hosting
Virtual servers
Dedicated servers
Colocation
Shared hosting contd.:
• Take backups of your data
• At least daily if you have a dynamic (database) site
• Control panel will have a backup management option –
USE IT!
• Quick look at a typical control panel at my host: iWeb
• File Manager
• One-click installs (Fantastico) – great if no customizations
• Web usage stats
• Backups
• Database creation and administration
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Hardware & hostingH
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All-in-one packages
Shared hosting
Virtual servers
Dedicated servers
Colocation
More robust hosting options:
• Virtual servers
• Quarter or half of resources of a physical server
• Command line access, full control over parameters
• Use control panel to get performance without hassle
• Dedicated servers
• Managed option: connectivity included, hardware
monitored, full access, remote management etc.
• Colocation
• Rent rack space, install and manage own servers
• Negotiate contracts with ISPs
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Groupware & desktop appsGroupware:
• Generally, tools used widely across a group or that aid
information exchange within a group
• Includes email (shared address books), calendaring (free/busy,
shared resource calendaring), CRM, knowledge
databases
• Why groupware and not standalone?
• Access Control Lists (ACL)
• Delegation
• Centralized administration (IT support)
• Share information geographically
• Improve coordination, ensure business continuity
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Groupware & desktop appsEmail:
• Several free/open source options (no Microsoft Exchange)
• Google Apps Standard Edition is a great, free starting point:
50 users, no admin/hardware, but limits control
• Advanced Commercial Open Source solutions: Zimbra, Scalix
• Free (limited, community supported) and paid versions
• Hosted or self-installed
• Zimbra is owned by VMWare (previously by Yahoo!)
• See www.zimbra.com/products/product_editions.html and
www.scalix.com/community/communityedition
/othereditions.php
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Groupware & desktop appsEmail contd.:
• Why is Google Apps a good choice?
• Free for 50 users, 7GB mail storage each
• Hosted solution: no hardware or software maintenance
• Cheap upgrade to Premier Edition for more storage
• Google high availability and quality of software
• Industry-leading spam filtering
• Includes options that cost extra with Zimbra & Scalix:
attachment previews, mobile synchronization etc.
• Intuitive administration through control panel
• Limitation: data access control for sites, but not for email yet
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Groupware & desktop appsEmail contd.:
• Read more and sign up for Google Apps Standard Edition at
www.google.com/apps/intl/en/group/index.html
• Google partners with GoDaddy for domain registration
• If using an existing domain name, set up DNS records like
we saw earlier
• Quick example: managing settings and accounts for wright.ru
• Users can download installer to put shortcuts on desktop (using
Google’s fast Chrome browser)
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Groupware & desktop appsCalendaring:
• Quick meeting time arranger: doodle.com
• Google Apps uses the familiar Google Calendar
• Combine multiple calendars in one view (resources,
colleagues, business and private calendars)
• Standard Edition does not allow resource calendaring
(rooms, projectors etc.) but can be worked around with
regular accounts or public viewable calendars
controlled
by administrators
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Groupware & desktop appsUsing Mozilla Thunderbird and Lightning as Google Apps clients:
• Mozilla Thunderbird is a free, open source desktop mail client
similar in features to Microsoft Outlook
• Install Mozilla Lightning for an integrated calendar
• Convenience and speed of desktop apps, offline access
(e.g. while traveling), avoid Google’s contextual advertising
• Performance (particularly search) is better than Outlook
• Downloads at www.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/thunderbird/
and www.mozilla.org/projects/calendar/lightning/
• Full setup instructions at www.wright.ru/dotcom/thunderbird.rtf
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Groupware & desktop appsOffline Google Apps access:
• See the Offline links in Mail and Calendar to copy data to
your hard disk using Google Gears
Synchronize/access Google Apps on your mobile device:
• Click the Sync links in Mail and Calendar for options to use
on Windows Mobile, iPhone, Nokia and Blackberry
devices
• See www.google.com/mobile/ for details
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Groupware & desktop appsDocuments:
• More Google: Google Docs (as part of Google Apps)
• Intranet: Google Sites, Wikis (see Fantastico options)
• OpenOffice.org is a free, cross-platform, compatible alternative
to Microsoft Office made by Sun (aka StarOffice)
• Familiar interface and tasks:
• Writer = Word
• Calc = Excel
• Impress = PowerPoint
• Draw = Visio
• Base = Access
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Groupware & desktop appsCustomer Relationship Management:
• Essential business tool: sales, marketing, knowledge transfer
• Central repository of information; retain when staff leave
• Access anywhere: no office-bound rolodexes or spreadsheets
• Aids/imposes workflow: teams, pipelines, targets, reporting
• Great as an email marketing campaign tool with tracking
• Integrate with web site for prospect registration
• Salesforce.com is the best-known option and has no up-front
costs but can get expensive ($65/user/month)
• Open source contender: www.sugarcrm.com
• Commercial and self-install (free) options
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Groupware & desktop appsCustomer Relationship Management contd.:
• See www.sugarcrm.com/crm/community/sugarcrm-
community.html for details of free self-install option
• Many community-contributed extensions at
www.sugarforge.org
• Installation follows typical pattern (similar to CMS – see later)
• Integrate with mail clients for instant archiving of client emails
• Example: installation used for e-commerce email marketingGro
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Groupware & desktop appsOnline backup services:
• Great way to handle offsite backups without inconvenience
of discs, tapes, rotation & replacement etc.
• Microsoft Skydrive gives 25GB of storage for free (drag/drop)
• Unlimited storage and automated backup options:
• Mozy: www.mozy.com (2GB storage free or $5/month)
• Asus Web Storage: www.asuswebstorage.com ($40/year,
backup 3 computers on one account)
• Backup web servers, or send local backups to a file server/
network disk (NAS) using a file synchronization tool
like
PureSync (free) so only one backup account is
needed
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Groupware & desktop appsOther tools and resources:
• Graphics: Inkscape (Illustrator), Paint.NET (Photoshop)
• PDF tools: CutePDF Writer, Foxit PDF Editor & Creator
• Open source ERP: Compiere, Openbravo
• Reporting: Jasper Reports and front-ends/derivatives
like iReport (desktop) and OpenReports (web-based)
• Chat/communications: Skype, Google Talk etc., Asterisk PBX
• Web conferencing: VNC (multi-OS remote desktop app),
Skype, Mikogo, DimDim and VMukti (WebEx alternatives)
• Operating systems: Ubuntu and other Linux variations
• Almost anything! See SourceForge, HotScripts, Force.com etc.
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Web content & applicationsContent Management Systems:
• Engines for creating web sites easily with no coding
• Framework providing many common reusable functions like
templates, menus, contacts, user registration,
permissions
• The most popular CMSs have hundreds of extensions
for every conceivable purpose: e-commerce,
classifieds, forums, customer service, chat, real estate
listings, videos, photo galleries….
• Popular CMSs include WordPress, Drupal and Joomla
• Joomla is simpler and does a lot; Drupal is the ‘pro’ option
• Joomla examples: londonbound.info, thomasmurray.com
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SEO & advertising
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Web content & applicationsContent Management Systems contd.:
• Potential disadvantages of CMSs:
• CMSs can be very large and hard to locate/fix bugs for
non-programmers
• They impose a narrow range of ways of doing things:
sites can look ‘samey’ (design, interface)
• Can be hard to find/develop original, distinct designs
to wrap around content
• ‘Jack of all trades’: consider your requirements first,
then decide if a CMS is a good fit for them or
if custom development would be better
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Web content & applicationsContent Management Systems contd.:
• Installing Joomla:
• Use Fantastico for automated install/upgrade (note:
custom alterations can cause upgrades to break)
• Download latest package from joomla.org in a zip, upload
to web host, unzip and visit site to run automated
installation/configuration wizard
• Play with templates and content in admin back end
• Test drive basic Joomla features at demo.joomla.org:
create an account and try the public front end
and administrator back end
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Web content & applicationsContent Management Systems contd.:
• Adding content is simple using the three-tiered structure
in the administration back-end: section category
item
• Joomla extensions directory: extensions.joomla.org
• Currently has 4206 add-ons and an active support forum
• Community Builder extends Joomla’s basic user accounts to
add extra user profile fields, links between users,
avatar
images etc. and acts as a framework for other
extensions
such as newsletters, blogs, forums and others –
www.joomlapolis.com
• Example: www.aboynelodge.org
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Web content & applicationsContent Management Systems contd.:
• Forum software:
• Standalone (can usually ‘bridge’ to CMS):
• phpBB: www.phpbb.com – advanced, most popular
• Vanilla: www.vanillaforums.org – lightweight, simple
• For Joomla: several; try the powerful and stable Agora
or install a standalone forum and use a ‘bridge’
extension to link them
• Drupal: built-in forum module
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Web content & applicationsContent Management Systems contd.:
• Mobile clients (e.g. iPhone, Blackberry):
• Template systems can be used to reformat content
for mobile devices (single column, low graphics)
• 2 approaches: multi-site or multi-client
• Multi-site: direct users to a different URL with mobile
template on same back-end, e.g. mobile.test.com
• Multi-client: site has code which determines the client
and delivers the content in appropriate template
• Look for mobile templates for common CMSs/apps e.g.
PDA-plugin + template for Joomla (multi-client)
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Web content & applicationsE-commerce packages:
• A complicated field with many different requirements
• Make a list of features you need in advance, e.g. physical
goods vs digital download, internationalization etc.
• Evaluate software on several criteria: simplicity, scalability,
design flexibility, payment options, tax rules engine,
promotions and coupons, shipping options and price
calculations, documentation and support
• Very simplest option: a basic hosted (but paid) package like
Shopify (www.shopify.com) or Yahoo! Store
• Free, simple Joomla extension: VirtueMart, www.virtuemart.net
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Web content & applicationsE-commerce packages contd.:
• Advanced extension for Drupal: Ubercart – www.ubercart.org
• Newer standalone packages challenging commercial engines:
• PrestaShop: www.prestashop.com – free, advanced
features, impressive AJAX interface, templating
system based on popular Smarty standard
• Magento: www.magentocommerce.com – heavyweight
option used by many high-profile companies but
can be downloaded and used for free; complex,
requires developers and powerful server (not
shared hosting); an emerging standard
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Web content & applicationsE-commerce packages contd.:
• Obviously there is a lot more to starting an e-commerce
business than just the web site/technology
• I have a checklist of many of the other aspects that also need
to be considered; it is UK-specific but I can share it
with
anybody who is interested
• Considerations include: merchant accounts, fraud rules,
accounting, customer service, returns processing,
logistics,
company administration etc.
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Web content & applicationsSearch Engine Optimization:
• SEO boosts organic search results; tricky, but very cost
effective compared to paid placement/advertising and
not subject to click fraud – in your control
• The goal: higher ranking more clicks higher ranking
• Achieve by keeping control of SEO to focus on readable
content, or select an ‘ethical’ SEO company
• Main concepts: content should be fresh, relevant and
trusted by others – aim for domain expertise/thought
leadership
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Web content & applicationsSearch Engine Optimization contd.:
• Things to do:
• Update content regularly, e.g. with a blog or white papers
• Consider allowing (spam-moderated) user comments
to get feedback and add user-generated content
• Divide content into short pages covering discrete topics
• Put your keywords in the page title/HTML title tag and use
accurate meta-tags (description and keywords)
• Use relevant text for links, not just ‘click here’
• Use a clean design template and cut down on JavaScript
to keep keywords high up on page/in HTML
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Content Management Systems
CMS plug-ins:- community- e-commerce- forums etc.
SEO & advertising
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47
Web content & applicationsSearch Engine Optimization contd.:
• Things to do contd.:
• Repeat key phrases regularly without overdoing it
(keyword density)
• Use search-engine friendly (SEF) URLs like
www.mysite.com/interesting-article/ instead of
www.mysite.com?articleid=237 (CMS function)
• Use a robots.txt file on the server to tell spiders how to
crawl your site; see robotstxt.org
• Help others link to you with social bookmarking e.g. Digg,
Twitter, Facebook etc. – can use a CMS module
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CMS plug-ins:- community- e-commerce- forums etc.
SEO & advertising
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48
Web content & applicationsSearch Engine Optimization contd.:
• Things to avoid:
• Do not ‘hide’ content from search engines:
• Behind login functions, unless necessary
• In graphics (use ‘alt’ text to describe images)
• In Flash content
• In frames or iframes
• No keyword spamming, hidden text (e.g. white on white)
or ‘cloaked’ landing pages only for search engines
• Do not use link exchanges or paid links
• In short, keep it readable and honest
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Content Management Systems
CMS plug-ins:- community- e-commerce- forums etc.
SEO & advertising
Outsourcing
49
Web content & applicationsSearch Engine Optimization contd.:
• Tools and resources:
• Web log analysis to see how people attempt to/find you
using reports like AWStats, Webalizer, Analog
• Google Analytics visit stats – www.google.com/analytics
• For popular sites and comparisons, use Alexa (alexa.org)
to check rank, trends, and keywords
• Install Google Toolbar to check PageRank (0-10): a
measure of site importance – links as ‘votes’
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CMS plug-ins:- community- e-commerce- forums etc.
SEO & advertising
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50
Web content & applicationsSearch Engine Optimization contd.:
• Tools and resources contd.:
• Submit to the Open Directory Project, www.dmoz.org –
human editors; used by Google and others
• Google Webmaster Tools: google.com/webmasters/tools
• Sitemaps: a standard used by MSN, Yahoo, Google
• See sitemaps.org, Google Webmaster Tools
and generators at xml-sitemaps.com and
various tools for CMS sitemap generation
and submission e.g. JCrawler for Joomla
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SEO & advertising
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51
Web content & applicationsSearch Engine Optimization contd.:
• Further reading:
• Google’s SEO guidelines: www.google.com/support/
webmasters/bin/answer.py?answer=35291
• Google SEO starter guide:
www.google.com/webmasters/docs/search-
engine-optimization-starter-guide.pdf
• Yahoo’s SEO guidelines: help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/
search/ranking/ranking-02.html
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Content Management Systems
CMS plug-ins:- community- e-commerce- forums etc.
SEO & advertising
Outsourcing
52
Web content & applicationsOnline advertising:
• Top providers in descending order of reach:
• Google AdWords and AdSense (inc. AOL, Ask.com,
NYTimes.com) – adwords.google.com
• DoubleClick (now owned by Google) – doubleclick.com
• Yahoo (formerly Overture) – searchmarketing.yahoo.com
• Microsoft/MSN – advertising.microsoft.com
• Benefits: targetable, trackable, broad reach
• Pitfalls: click fraud (10-20%?), trademark infringement
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SEO & advertising
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53
Web content & applicationsOnline advertising contd.:
• Most common option is Pay Per Click (usually auctioned)
• Response rates can vary hugely: constant monitoring and
adjustment is crucial; altering just one or two words
can
make a huge difference to both costs and results
• Target extremely carefully to avoid wasted clicks: by sites
visited (interests, behavior), geography (by IP or zip)
etc.
• Set clear objectives and use tools to predict response, and tie
budget to goals in order not to let expenditure run
away
• Landing pages must engage and ‘sell’ as much as the adverts:
don’t link to a standard home page and hope for sales
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Content Management Systems
CMS plug-ins:- community- e-commerce- forums etc.
SEO & advertising
Outsourcing
54
Web content & applicationsOnline advertising contd.:
• Consider both reach and frequency (over- and under-exposure)
• Users should respond after a few exposures (<10); try not to
hit the same people over and over again e.g. by
limiting
impressions per site in AdSense or by using cookie
tracking
• Spread advert placement over many sites and content
categories to improve reach, not just one site
• Multimedia adverts capture attention/clicks better than static
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SEO & advertising
Outsourcing
55
Web content & applicationsOnline advertising contd.:
• A closer look at Google AdWords and AdSense:
• Short, text-based (and more recently graphical)
• AdWords – shows adverts alongside search results
• AdSense – places adverts on relevant web sites
• Access both programs through adwords.google.com
• Sign up safely without fear of being charged – you have
full control and can estimate campaign expenses
and set budget limits in advance
• Starter Edition: a single product or business; text only
• Standard Edition has more targeting and tracking options
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SEO & advertising
Outsourcing
56
Web content & applicationsOnline advertising contd.:
• Create advert groups (based on keyword groups) and
campaigns (based on target locations and languages)
• Define a budget per campaign (daily/monthly)
• Set cost-per-click per advert based on Google’s placement
predictions
• Higher relevancy quality can reduce cost per click: pay
close attention; small adjustments can slash costs
as well as affecting advert placement
• Define advert placement to display in AdSense, select
or exclude specific web sites etc.
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SEO & advertising
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57
Web content & applicationsOnline advertising contd.:
• Useful tools:
• AdWords has a built-in keyword suggestion tool that
predicts impressions, clicks, and suggests bids
• Google’s Search-Based Keyword Tool scans your site
for suggested keywords and gives more data:
www.google.com/sktool/
• Further reading:
• Perry Marshall, AdWords guru: perrymarshall.com
• www.doubleclick.com/insight/research/ – reports on
click fraud, campaign optimization and more
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Content Management Systems
CMS plug-ins:- community- e-commerce- forums etc.
SEO & advertising
Outsourcing
58
Web content & applicationsOutsourcing:
• Where to find outsourced developers/workers:
• www.elance.com – huge site but charges both sides
• www.odesk.com – better vetting/visibility of experience &
project management tools to track progress and cost
• Others: guru.com, rentacoder.com
• Think quality: requirements, contracts, communication, results
• Problem: difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff
• A few precautions can aid success (common sense but easier
said than done)
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59
Web content & applicationsOutsourcing contd.:
• Specify requirements very clearly in contract; consider hiring a
business analyst/project manager to define and oversee
• Inspect code for good comments: even the original
developer will have trouble maintaining or extending
his
code later without this, and you are unlikely to get the
same
developer anyway
• Beware of scope creep: get version 1 finished and in use; avoid
detail overload; understand the product you’re paying
for
• Allow extra budget for scope creep/unanticipated hitches
anyway: they won’t be in the original quote
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Web content & applicationsOutsourcing contd.:
• Select developers based on experience, references, cover
letter and understanding of project, not just cost:
don’t underestimate the cost of wasted time (esp.
yours)
• Make sure you can communicate well, particularly with a
language barrier: no ‘lost in translation’
• Consider hiring a trusted expert to review code: cheaper than
employing them to do the whole job, and can save
money
overall; don’t need perfection, just avoid a mess
• Beware of licensing restrictions: copyright theft, contravention
of open source licenses (return to community if
required)
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61
Dot Com in a DayQuestions for offline follow-up:
• Virtualization technologies: outside my expertise, although I can talk in general
terms about hardware and software virtualization and available solutions
• Software (and platform) as a service:
• Salesforce’s Force platform, Google Apps, SAP Business ByDesign
• Many more at www.saas-showplace.com
• Web and user interface design:
• Don’t Make Me Think! A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability
(Steve Krug, New Riders, 2000) + his website www.sensible.com
• Designing Web Usability (Jakob Nielsen, Peachpit Press, 1999)
+ his website/newsletter www.useit.com
62
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Other tools & resources
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Contact: Andrew Wright [email protected]
QUESTIONS?
Dot Com in a Day