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Today's web sites are no longer just a flashy electronic flyer, they play an important role in keeping your customers and employees up to date with the latest information. Time sensitive sites may require updating information on an hourly, daily or weekly basis, which can place a strain on limited staff.

Getting your web site up and running is great, but a solution for managing your site content should not be over looked, in fact, it should be part of the design strategy right from day one.

When deciding how to implement a content management solution, these are a few of things that should be considered;

1. How frequently will the content be changed and updated.
2. What type of content will be changed (text, image, media).
3. Can this be handled in house or should it be outsourced.
4. If in house, do we have the resources and qualified people.
5. Will there be more than 1 person handling the site changes and if so, how do we ensure that a standard consistency in look and feel is maintained.
6. Should all of the content be hardcoded into the web pages or would it be better to draw content from text files and / or a database.

A proper web management solution can save your company time and money, ensure that information is posted in a timely manner, improve communications with your customers and meet your future requirements.

Does your site require some custom scripting to interact with your visitors or to assist you with the administration of your site? If so, we can provide you with a script written to your specification. You can either install the script yourself or have us implement it for you.

Custom scripts are an excellent way to add some interest and interactivity to your site and are frequently used for;

• Dynamic navigation menus, such as the one at the top of this page.
• Accepting and submitting form information.
• Auto response email programs.
• Checking user input on forms and informing the user of the error.
• Updating the content of your site through a web browser.
• Sending or retrieving information to or from a database or text file.
• Tracking and reporting information about the visitors to your site.
• Slide shows.
• Changing the information on a page dependant on a user action.

Scripts may be as simple as a few lines or very complex and requiring a number of pages, whatever you require we can accommodate.

Database intergration with your web site opens up a whole new world of possibilities. From presenting truly dynamic content and collecting customer data to publishing easy to update catalogues, reducing site maintenance costs and enabling e-commerce transactions.

If your site is relatively static, undergoes only occasional changes of content and does not offer any form of e-commerce, then you probably do not require a database.

But for those sites that do not fit in the above category, a database is very advantageous for some of the following reasons.

1. A database is the foundation for every ecommerce site.
2. Present the appearance of a much larger web site, but actually using far less pages.
3. Reduce maintenance costs by using the database to dynamically update your web pages.
4. Customise content based on individual customer/user preferences.
5. Easily update site content from any computer with internet access.
6. Provide interactive content that keeps visitors returning to your site.
7. Track orders and customer data.

With the novelty of the dot com e-commerce explosion behind us, e-commerce sites are now getting serious and down to business. Most companies are over the initial excitement of having an online presence and are turning the focus to generating sales, customers, customer loyalty and improved customer support.

The research firm Forrester, has forecast that 2002 e-commerce sales will total nearly $80 billion in the U.S. -- a 54 percent increase over the $52 billion spent in 2001.

It is the dream of every business - generate income 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Why then, doesn't evey business that has goods and services that can be sold over the internet do so? And why have you heard stories about companies that were disappointed in the results they achieved when they did "open for business" on the web? The answer is simple, in order for your e-commerce site to be successful, you need a solid plan, a clear goal in mind and the dedication to make it work.

Setting up an e-commerce solution can present you with a whole new set of challenges and opportunities. But if there is a firm commitment to the project, you are sure to reap the benefits. A complete e-commerce application should provide your customer with the ability to easily search for products, product information and complete the transaction in a secure environment that they can trust.

Every part of your web site should reflect the core values of your brand. Intuitive navigation, speed and functionality all need to be balanced to create a positive user experience.

A well-designed web site effortlessly guides visitors into taking the action that pays-off for you and your business. This may be buying your product or service online with, signing-up for your mailing list or newsletter or having pre-qualified prospective clients contacting you about your services. The goal of your site may just be to provide your customer with "added value" by providing them easy access to information such as manuals, product specifications, shipment tracking or industry news.

If you currently have a web site that no longer fulfills your business goals, I can help. I specialize in remaking sites that are a critical part of your business success, making your site work the way your clientele need and expect it to work.

Web applications are not simply web sites, but rather a site where the pages interact with one another as well as other resources such as a database.

Most web applications fall into one or more of the following categories:

1. News and information site.
2. Transaction oriented site.
3. Service and communications site.

Users have access to data they require in a real-time environment. A web application can range from a simple guest book to a full blown e-commerce solution with back end administration. When first designing the application, you must determine the functionality that will be required for both current and future needs.

Some of the functionalities to consider are shopping carts, session managemanet, database interaction, personalized information and secure login areas. There are a number of "off-the-shelf" applications available that may serve some of your basic requirements, but custom applications are required for anything more than this.

Why force your business to meet the parameters of a canned solution, when the solution could be tailored to your needs. Web applications are not simply web sites, but rather a site where the pages interact with one another as well as other resources such as a database.