This Edition's Features:
Search Engines
Email - AGAIN
Prepared jointly by QRAMA QRAMA Web Additions

 & Quality Matters Pty Ltd

 October, 2001
This edition of E-News concentrates once again on the important issues relating to your Web site.
                       
We would also like to thank those members who responded to our last E-News with kind comments about the efforts we have made to make QRAMA's Web site informative and useful.
                                        
Can we also remind you again to advise Di O'Shea on qm@infm.com if you experience any problems when using or accessing documents provided in our on-line Library.  Please note: Some members may experience a problem when moving between a Word Document and your Browser.  This problem can occur if the software or Versions, installed on your computer, are not totally compatible. 
       
Search Engines 
Regardless of all the other effective methods you use to promote your Web site, many of your future guests will use a Web based Search Engine to find you.  But will they find you?
             
Take 10 minutes and go into 6 of the most popular Search Engines (links below) and try to find your Web site.  In each Search Engine, try all of these searches:
  • your name eg sunshine apartments
  • accommodation queensland
  • accommodation your tourism region eg gold coast, sunshine coast 
  • accommodation your town eg cairns, caloundra
   Search Engines:  www.yahoo.com 
      www.altavista.com 
      www.msn.com 
      www.google.com 
      www.lycos.com 
      www.excite.com 
             
Usually, you will not get a high ranking on the more general searches eg "accommodation queensland".  These positions are often taken by organisations who have paid to be listed and generally, they will be Directories.  However, a link to your Web site may be in these Directories - if so, you have made a good investment - just check.
                   
You can also get different results by using different syntax rules, which may be different in each Search Engine.  However, you will get an idea from this test.
                   
If you are not happy with your findings, do something to correct the situation.  If you have difficulty finding yourself, there is little likelihood that anyone else will - and your Web Site is too valuable to be invisible.  It can be difficult to get high rankings (for all possible search criteria) but it is worth investigating.
              
Web Content: 
Before you do anything about improving your Search Engine positions, please check the content and navigation of your Web site.  If you find a mistake or a problem, fix it NOW.  It is not uncommon for a Web Developer to make "minor" changes to a Web site, which ultimately result in significant problems that can go undetected.  Always do a thorough check of your site following any change.  This includes text, graphics LINKS (to email addresses, pages within your site and to external sites) and on-line forms.
                      
Directories:
We strongly recommend that you also check the content of your Directory listings - regularly.  We have previously discussed the importance of knowing about all listings and ensuring that all details are current and accurate.  We can't stress strongly enough just how important this is.  Do the Search procedure (described above) on your name in the main Search Engines.  Many listings may appear that do not relate to you but persevere through the whole list, identifying and checking all published details.  Things do change - not only at your instigation.
                           
Email:
At the risk of being accused that we are repeating ourselves, we think it is important to repeat the message about effective use of your email system.  In May, we introduced you to Email Stationery, then in June, we provided a report from Quality Matters which identified the main areas of misunderstanding  of Email systems by many small businesses.  Di O'Shea (Quality Matters) has again reported back that some members are still having problems utilising their email systems to the best advantage.  She says that most members are using Outlook Express, which is an excellent system with extensive capabilities and simple, easy to use functions.  However, many members are unaware of the functions and are missing many opportunities to build and work with a potentially rewarding database of contacts.  On the other hand, some members have taken Di's advice and are building quite an extensive database of contacts - but not always in the most effective way.  In some cases, members are only "saving" incoming emails.  While this is a step in the right direction, it will create a very time consuming job for someone to convert all of those emails into a database of email addresses (ie Address Book).
                
The solution, and this is Di's Tip of the Month, is to "Add Sender to Address Book" as soon as an email is received.  The following instructions are for Outlook Express users only.  Anyone using a different email system should check their Help file for the appropriate steps.  There are 2 options: Either - 
  • highlight the incoming message in your Inbox;
  • click on Tools (on the main tool bar);
  • click on Add Sender to Address Book (from drop down menu)
 OR
  • open the incoming message;
  • click on Tools (on the main tool bar);
  • highlight Add to Address Book  (from drop down menu);
  • click on Sender (from drop down menu)
In both cases, the system will tell you if the Sender is already in the Address Book.  It will not duplicate an address, so you are automatically safeguarded from multiple entries for the same Sender.
                    
QRAMA Web Additions:
We have added an icon to the Home Page of www.qrama.com.au for Current News and Interesting Articles.  This section will provide you with links to published information that may be of importance or have an impact on you.  We encourage you to advise us of any articles you read, that you feel would benefit other members, so that we can add them to the site.  The first article has been written by Les Elborne, an REIQ Agency Practice Advisor, and is titled "Selling Managed Units".
                    
We have also added graphical explanation of how the Internet works - and basically where you fit within it.  You can find that on the Training page. 
                    
QRAMA - Sunshine Coast  ~  Gold Coast  ~  Port Douglas
Ph: 07 5448 8739  Fax: 07 5448 8525
Email: secretary@qrama.com.au 
PO Box 311, Maroochydore. Q. 4558
                    
Quality Matters Pty Ltd - qm@infm.com