Visit our partners and sponsors:

SWeCS NEWSLETTER - 13 December 2004

Note: This will be the final SWeCS Newsletter for this year. The next one would be due on 27 December but we will be closed (see below). We want to take this opportunity to say thank you for your support during the year, have a most excellent Christmas and New Year, and we'll see you in the 2006.

In this issue...

- SWeCS Office Closed For Christmas
- This Fortnight's Question
- Cheap Software For Your Computer And Business
- For Those Who Can't Afford A Website
- Resources For Small Business

SWeCS OFFICE CLOSED FOR CHRISTMAS

The SWeCS Office will be closed while we go on a holiday over Christmas.

The office will be closed from 20 - 27 December 2004 (re-opening on 28 December 2004).

We will answer all phone messages and emails after we re-open.

Current SWeCS customers who may need to contact us urgently will be provided with a mobile phone number so they can call in case of an emergency.

Have a great Christmas, and don't forget the reason for the season.

THIS FORTNIGHT'S QUESTION

This fortnight's question comes from Murray:

"Are you able to guarantee that I can be on the first page of results for Google?"

Only if you pay the required advertising price with Google.

There are two areas of results when you do a search on Google - free results and paid results. The paid results are the Sponsored Matches at the very top and down the right hand side.

The other results are the free results. Understand that nobody can guarantee a first page placing in the Google free results. These results are decided by the Google system, and although you can work on increasing your ranking, and often get first page results after a lot of hard work, it can never be guaranteed.

With the paid results, you can be on the first page immediately (ie. right now). This is through Google Adwords (https://adwords.google.com.au/select/) which will let you list your site on the first page of results for free, and then you pay per click. Depending on the competition for your chosen keywords, the cost might be as little as $0.09 per click, to as much as $5.00 per click or more (most terms are well under $1.00 per click for the first page).

Got a question? Send it to us at admin@southwestecommerce.com and we'll do our best to answer it, as well as publish one every fortnight for everyone to see.

CHEAP SOFTWARE

We are now able to provide a range of cheap software that is useful for your business and your computer.

All software titles are only $14.85 including GST!

The titles we have available are:

• Link Evaluator
• Site Submitter
• Pop-Up Zapper
• Email Link Encryptor
• Traffic Wizard
• Password Manager
• Password Generator
• Picture Gallery Maker

Further information on all of these titles is available at www.southwestecommerce.com/software.htm, where you can also purchase online via credit card.

FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T AFFORD A WEBSITE

Many of you will have considered getting a website but think that the $500 or more to get one is too much for your business. And that may well be the case.

However, a much overlooked option for businesses is to sell their products via eBay.

The advantage of eBay is that within minutes you can have your products online, and available to millions of people, not just in Australia but even worldwide if you want them to.

They don't have to be used products, they can be new. And in some circumstances you don't even have to have an auction, you can just have a "Buy Now" figure.

It couldn't be easier.

Opening up an eBay account is free. Click here to get started.

RESOURCES FOR SMALL BUSINESS

Ecommerce Library

Browse through the SWeCS Ecommerce Library, full of FREE information about getting more out of the Internet. Sections include Web Site Development, Web Site Promotion & Internet Marketing, Online Commerce, Computer & Technical Issues, and Miscellaneous.

Newsletter Archives

The SWeCS Newsletter archives provides a wealth of FREE information on small business and the Internet. Browse through the main topics or search for your particular query.

SWeCS Affiliate Program

Start up another income stream, by earning commissions for each referral who signs up for one of our services.

Affiliate Directory

Browse through a list of reviewed Affiliate programs. Let us do the work of testing it out for you!

Do you know of a resource that should be added here? Email us and let us know. There is only one condition - it must be free.

OTHER EMAIL NEWSLETTERS

Here's some other email newsletters you might like:

www.southwestlife.com.au

www.dunsboroughbayvillageresort.com/news/newsindex.htm

www.west-oz.com/newsletter/newsletter.asp