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SWeCS NEWSLETTER - 29 November 2004

In this issue...

- Sensis Results
- This Fortnight's Question
- Free .info Domains
- Life Before Computers
- Resources For Small Business

SENSIS RESULTS

You may remember a few months ago we told you about a new Pay Per Click search engine service available through Sensis.com.au.

We tested out the results of this new engine by placing about a dozen different advertising campaigns across a whole range of industries for a few months, to see what kind of traffic the listings produced.

Unfortunately, the results were extremely disappointing. Even with number 1 positions, the traffic was usually very low or even non-existent. The time taken to log in and administer the account simply wasn't worth the return we were getting in traffic.

We would be very interested to hear if anyone else has tried the Sensis Pay Per Click model and what kind of results they have received. We certainly aren't saying that our experience is what everyone else will experience too, or that things won't improve in the future. But having 12 campaigns not produce anything (yet produce great results through Google and Overture) convinces us that it's not worth pursuing.

Let us know if you find anything different.

THIS FORTNIGHT'S QUESTION

This fortnight's question comes from Sue:

"I've just got a new website. If I want to update it, do I have to pay the web designer each time, or is there another way? "

Generally speaking, once you've paid for the site, it's yours, so you can choose how to update it.

Updating websites requires technical training, but you have three major options available:

1. Pay the web designer each time you want to have the site updated
   
   
2. Learn how to update websites yourself. You can attend a course, or perhaps buy a book like our eBook on Building Your Own Website (www.southwestecommerce.com/ebook-websitecourse.htm).
   
   
3. Pay for some kind of self-editing system. We have one available at www.southwestecommerce.com/swecsedit.htm, which allows you to update your own website as if you were using a Word Processor.

The best option for you depends on how often you'll be wanting to update your own site.

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.

FREE .INFO DOMAINS

.info domains (eg. www.yourname.info) are a new top level domain for general purposes, whether it's for a business or personal website. They have very few restrictions, meaning that you can normally purchase .info domains for any name you like (assuming they haven't been purchased already).

We are currently offering a free .info domain for every .com.au domain purchased through our domains website at http://domains.southwestecommerce.net. Simply make your .com.au purchase online at our very low rates ($88 for two years), and you'll receive a free credit to purchase a .info domain name.

This promotion ends on 31 December 2004.

LIFE BEFORE COMPUTERS

An application was for employment
A program was a TV show
A cursor used profanity
A keyboard was a piano!

Memory was something that you lost with age
A CD was a bank account!
And if you had a broken disk,
It would hurt when you found out!

Compress was something you did to garbage
Not something you did to a file
And if you unzipped anything in public
You'd be in jail for awhile!

Log on was adding wood to a fire
Hard drive was a long trip on the road
A mouse pad was where a mouse lived
And a backup happened to your commode!

Cut--you did with a pocket knife
Paste you did with glue
A web was a spider's home
And a virus was the flu!

I guess I'll stick to my pad and paper
And the memory in my head
I hear nobody's been killed in a computer crash
But when it happens they wish they were dead!

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