| I Offer These Ideas As A Business Website Owner | | | | later time or date.There is no limit to the number of |
| Who Uses ThemThink of this article as a letter from | | | | files that can be sent using this form. Additional |
| a friend who maintains a website for his own | | | | checkboxes only need to be added to the form, and |
| business, and wants to share with you some time | | | | the appropriate filenames included in the form |
| cost-saving methods he employs - at zero cost - to | | | | code.Similar Resource: File Mailer |
| get more value from his website.The Following Tools | | | | Source: Resource: Attachment Mailer |
| Methods Can Make Using Your Site Easier/Less | | | | Source: Get Your Target Audience Discussing On |
| ExpensiveIn considering the resources featured here, | | | | Your Site - Discussion Boards/WebLogsYou can install |
| you should keep in mind the fact that your ability to | | | | a discussion board(where people can register and |
| use them on your website may be determined to | | | | discuss various topics in "discussion forums") on your |
| some extent by the type of web hosting package | | | | website. You can also use it to provide first level user |
| functions you have purchased from your host. For | | | | support/problem solving services to customers.For |
| those whose web hosting packages do not permit | | | | instance an IT/Telecoms company can invite |
| the easy use of these tools, I describe the very | | | | customers to post questions or requests for help |
| useful alternative of Remotely Hosted CGI Scripts | | | | regarding problems they have with specific products |
| and Resources towards the end of this | | | | services supplied or supported. Answers will then be |
| article.DISCLAIMER: Please note that I provide | | | | provided by the appropriate personnel online saving |
| descriptions of the resources featured in this article | | | | time/cost of going out - until it becomes absolutely |
| for your information only. I cannot guarantee they will | | | | necessary to visit the client physically to resolve the |
| meet your requirements in any way.There are many | | | | problem.Some web hosts offer a discussion board as |
| other scripts that do similar work available on the net. | | | | part of their hosting package. Most of the popular |
| I have only described these ones because they are | | | | ones are however FREE to download/install, (being |
| the ones I use - or have used.If you choose to | | | | open source), two good examples being: PHPBB at |
| download and use them on your website, you will be | | | | and YaBB(Yet another Bulletin Board) at . I have |
| doing so at your own risk. I have however used | | | | successfully installed and used phpbb in the past, and |
| them all at least once, and currently use most of | | | | found it quite user-friendly.Web Logs: My website |
| them/have done so for over 2 years - which is why | | | | host offers an easy-to-install phpbb board in my |
| I can recommend them.1. Automated Website | | | | control panel, which I intend to install on my website |
| Membership Subscription ManagementResource: | | | | in future. I however do not currently use a discussion |
| Membership Manager LITE | | | | board on my website, due to my decision earlier this |
| Source: is a feature that allows visitors to your | | | | year to discontinue its use, in line with a modified |
| website become members by completing a simple | | | | strategy. In its stead, what I use is a web log. I like |
| registration web form. Registered visitors will | | | | to think of a Web LOG as a dynamic website which |
| subsequently be able log in to restricted areas of | | | | functions as an online diary allowing the owner make |
| your website using login details they would have | | | | postings on any subject of interest, which her visitors |
| specificed when signing up. You can even have two | | | | can in turn read, and post comments on/responses |
| or more levels of membership(for instance Free/Basic | | | | to.My personal web log facility is provided as part of |
| and Paid/Premium).Using this feature, you can enable | | | | my website hosting package. In hunting for a web |
| your website provide member specific content like | | | | host, you might look out for a similar feature, if you |
| special offers, articles, email newsletters, and other | | | | consider it relevant to your purpose. You can |
| interactive content. Offering membership on your | | | | however get a more or less equally functional but |
| website will definitely set it apart from many others | | | | FREE blog to use at Automated Business Marketing |
| which do not.One nifty CGI script I have found quite | | | | CDROM PromosCDROM promos are a one-time |
| useful to easily and securely offer membership on | | | | expense, and they cost a fraction of what a decent |
| my websites is called Membership Manager. This | | | | newspaper advert does, while offering more |
| programs uses HTACESS browser based login | | | | targeted impact to the "right" prospect for a longer |
| authentication(regarded as the most secure form of | | | | period. They are less expensive and you can mass |
| password protection on the Internet) to protect | | | | produce them. I personally recommend the use of |
| your restricted members-only directories from | | | | auto-run business marketing CD ROMs as an offline |
| unauthorised access.Membership Manager, comes in | | | | complement to other business marketing efforts |
| two variants - LITE(Free) and PRO.A. It allows the | | | | resources.You can get excellent software for |
| owner to use a control panel to administer user | | | | creating auto run business marketing CDROM |
| accounts of members (who will also be on their | | | | presentations from a variety of sources on the net. |
| automated newsletter mailing list).B. The members | | | | One that I have used, and can heartily recommend |
| have login ID and Password of their choice | | | | that you try is CRE:8 MULTIMEDIA. This software |
| automatically used in creating a website membership | | | | enables you to create very impressive auto-run |
| account for them when they signup.C. Paid | | | | business marketing CDROM presentations quickly and |
| Subscription Management is possible. If someone has | | | | easily. It has a very user-friendly visual interface, and |
| paid for one year access, you can setup a 1 year | | | | easy-to-understand HELP documentation that enables |
| member account access to a password restricted | | | | users begin producing professional looking |
| members area on your website where some | | | | presentations in minutes. You can download a FREE |
| premium content may be accessed.D. Also, the | | | | 21 day trial from Article SyndicationArticle syndication |
| system at the expiration of the 1 year subscription | | | | is an excellent way to attract new visitors to your |
| period, automatically disables the appropriate | | | | website, while at the same time boosting your |
| member's account - and notifies the member and the | | | | credibility as an authority in your area(s) of |
| owner.E. In the PRO version, members can | | | | expertise.One place you can post your articles and be |
| automatically retrieve lost passwords using a link | | | | reasonably sure(if they offer useful real-world |
| provided on the site.You can download the 30kb | | | | relevant information and are well written) of |
| zipped folder containing the LITE version of the script | | | | widespread syndication is options you can pursue of |
| from and follow the very useful installation | | | | course exist, such as visiting and manually posting |
| instructions provided in the accompanying "Setup | | | | articles to different websites offering related content |
| Instructions" HTML file.2. Dynamic Website Contact | | | | to yours or using automated article submission |
| FormsResource: All Purpose Form Handler | | | | services - some of which are FREE.You can also |
| Source: is an amazingly flexible/customisable script | | | | contact publishers of e-zines and online newsletters, |
| that allows a user to quickly implement HTML based | | | | who deal with target audiences similar to yours, |
| forms on different parts of a website. It is | | | | offering your FREE articles for publication in their |
| configured by information you provide in the form | | | | media or on their websites, in exchange for |
| itself, giving the user a unique advantage of making | | | | exposure.9. Website RSS FeedsRSS, stands for |
| the script handle data submitted in the web forms in | | | | "Really Simple Syndication" or "Rich Site Summary". It |
| a variety of ways without changing knowing ANY | | | | is an XML standard that is used by content |
| Perl programming or having to change the code | | | | owners(e.g. newsletter/website publishers) to |
| script.The following can be done in any combination | | | | distribute content to their target audience. Many |
| using forms that call the SAME script:A. Web form | | | | companies today have RSS feeds that announce |
| completed by the user submits an e-mail to a | | | | latest content updates made to their |
| specified person(s) - say the website owner - and | | | | websites.Visitors to your site can use either the |
| CC to say other employees(e.g. marketing manager), | | | | content aggregator built into their My Yahoo! Page, or |
| or even another email address used by the owner.B. | | | | other RSS news reader software to retrieve and |
| The EXACT text of the title that appears in the | | | | read the feeds.Important Notes About CGI/Perl |
| subject line of the email the script sends to the site | | | | ScriptsSome of the tools I have described in this |
| owner, can be specified in the code for the web | | | | article are third party CGI/Perl scripts(files with .cgi |
| form. This makes it very easy for you to know | | | | and .pl filename extensions), which you may need to |
| which contact form on your website was used to | | | | clear with your web host before using on their |
| send you EACH message you receive.C. The script | | | | servers. The installation of these scripts requires |
| sends the data submitted via the web form to a file | | | | some basic familiarity with server types, setting of |
| for easy import into a database program. You, the | | | | file permissions(via CHMOD'ING), Perl scripting among |
| owner will be able to locate the file(s) on your server | | | | others.CGI Scripts Installation : Usually, to run CGI/Perl |
| in the cgi-bin.D. The script automatically sends a | | | | scripts, all you need is any executable folder ( cgi-bin |
| response to the person who submitted the form. | | | | ). Some of the scripts can even run in any folder. I |
| The content of the response can be varied for each | | | | suggest however, for ease of management, that |
| web form. This is made possible by creating a text | | | | you use a cgi-bin.CGI Scripts Configuration : All the |
| file(given a unique filename extension) to contain your | | | | scripts require you to configure them before |
| message whose name you then place in the form | | | | uploading to your server, though some have |
| code, so it is used by the script.E. The order in which | | | | additional settings that will have to be specified |
| the data submitted via the web form appears in the | | | | AFTER uploading usually via a control/admin interface |
| email received by the website owner can be | | | | or panel. You can re-configure, re-upload and |
| specified in the code for EACH web form.F. The | | | | overwrite the scripts as may be necessary.Typically |
| completion of required fields can be enforced by | | | | you would open the script in a text editor(I use |
| specifying such fields in the code for individual | | | | notepad, and sometimes wordpad, when text |
| forms.G. To increase user-friendliness, code for each | | | | wrapping is a problem in the former). If an edit facility |
| form can be modified to call a unique "Thank you" or | | | | is provided in your web host's control panel/file |
| an "Oops!" page after the form is submitted.How I | | | | manager interface, you can also use this to make |
| Use It: I have found this script extremely useful in | | | | save changes you want online post-installation. This |
| determining quite accurately what people who visit | | | | latter option makes it unnecessary to re-upload the |
| my website are interested in. For instance, on my | | | | modified script.CGI Scripts Upload: If your host has |
| website, I created a separate contact form(all | | | | provided you a file manager interface in your control |
| outwardly similar) for EACH of the different services | | | | panel, you will be able to use that to upload the |
| I offer, providing links to each web form from the | | | | scripts. Alternatively there are a good number of |
| body of text/web copy where the service is | | | | nifty FTP - File Transfer Protocol - tools like |
| described. This way, I am able to quickly establish, | | | | CuteFTP( and SmartFTP ( FTP clients work in "auto" |
| from the title of the email sent by the script, exactly | | | | mode by default, making it unnecessary for you to |
| which service the enquirer was considering when s | | | | have to set them to upload your scripts in ASCII |
| he decided to contact me.3. Tell-A-Friend Automated | | | | mode, and your images or pre-complied programs in |
| Website Referral FormResource: BigNoseBird.com's | | | | Binary mode. I suggest you refrain from changing |
| Birdcast Site Recommendation Script | | | | their default settings except you know what you are |
| Source: is a very simple, yet powerful script that | | | | doing.Keep in mind however that whatever manner |
| you can use to help promote your site. Easy to | | | | of upload you employ, you will still need to set file |
| install, and to customize. It has a number of very | | | | permissions(via CHMOD'ING) for the scripts and the |
| useful features including the following:1. Name/Email | | | | files/folders they will be located in or working |
| Address fields that can be duplicated for an unlimited | | | | with.Find Someone To Do It - If NecessaryEven if |
| number of target recipients per recommended | | | | you cannot spare the time to learn to do it yourself, |
| page.2. A multi line text entry area for the user to | | | | you can easily find someone appropriately skilled to |
| send a personal note with the e-mail.3. Automatic | | | | do it for you. Also, your website host should be |
| page recognition (i.e. the script inserts the full url of | | | | willing to provide you any information you may be |
| the page being recommended in the e-mail that is | | | | required to verify/obtain in order to successfully |
| sent).4. Automatic Return to sending page (i.e. the | | | | install the scripts.Can't Run CGI/Perl Scripts On Your |
| script returns the user to the recommended page | | | | Site? Here's An Alternative That Works!Remotely |
| when upon successful submission of the form's | | | | hosted CGI scripts/resources(some of which are |
| contents.4. Domain validation. An editable line of code | | | | FREE) are available for those who may find they |
| in the script allows the website owner specify | | | | cannot use some of the tools described here directly |
| whether this feature is enabled or disabled on | | | | on their websites. One very good service, that I |
| installation. You would enable it to prevent it being | | | | used for over a year prior to purchasing a complete |
| used from any other website/domain other than | | | | hosting package, is offered by Black Fire Networks |
| yours i.e. protection against off-site abuse (Also | | | | at only do they provide you access to free, |
| available in the all purpose form handler script | | | | customisable, remotely hosted scripts, but they |
| described above).5. E-mail address and page capture | | | | actually do so with ZERO advertising. So, if you have |
| log. Once the script is in use, you will be able to | | | | designed you website, but lack access to a cgi-bin via |
| periodically check a log file of date/time, calling page | | | | your web hosting package, this service might just be |
| and e-mail information automatically generated and | | | | for you. Among other things, you will be able to |
| updated by the script on your server. This can be | | | | make your website dynamic, so it has a more |
| quite useful if you want to know who is referring | | | | professional"feel" to it, without spending any |
| what page on your site and to whom.4. Form For File | | | | additional money.Summary - Use A Combination Of |
| Upload From Web page To ServerResource: Upload | | | | Methods On Your New Or Existing WebsiteThe best |
| Lite | | | | part of all the tools, features and strategies/methods |
| Source: script works via a file upload form to allow | | | | described here is that you can have them integrated |
| anyone upload files to a folder on the website server. | | | | - at ZERO cost - into an existing site or added to a |
| When this happens, the owner of the site | | | | new site from the start. Either way, you get to |
| automatically gets an "Upload Notification" email with | | | | maximise the potential value you expect from the |
| a download link(s) which can be clicked to instantly | | | | website.To get the best results in today's marketing, |
| download the file(s). The website visitor, who | | | | one will often need to use a combination of methods. |
| uploaded the document is in turn taken to an upload | | | | Using your business website in conjunction with a well |
| success confirmation page that you can customise. | | | | thought out marketing strategy, facilitated in |
| For instance, on my website the confirmation page | | | | implementation by custom, value adding automation |
| displays a "Thank You - Your submission has been | | | | features will increase your chances of marketing |
| accepted" message.Possible uses: The owner can | | | | success, while ensuring you do not spend more than |
| invite job applicants to upload their applications and | | | | you need to.This article's recommendations can be |
| resumes using this form. A magazine publisher could | | | | summarised in form of the points outlined below. a. |
| have contributors/writers send in their write-ups(in | | | | Ensure "action-inducing"/"response-generating" web |
| various possible electronic formats(.pdf, .doc, .rtf etc) | | | | copy is written on your website, to effectively |
| from any location in the world so long as Internet | | | | communicate the unique benefits you offer.b. |
| PCs are available.How I Use It: On my Excel Heaven | | | | Develop and implement a web marketing strategy to |
| Custom Workbook Automation Mini-site, an upload | | | | ensure you maximize returns on your investment, by |
| form is provided to enable clients upload workbooks | | | | (i) making more of the right kinds of people visit your |
| they want me to automate for them using Excel | | | | site (ii) seamlessly integrating your offline and online |
| Visual Basic.5. File Mailing (Alternative to direct | | | | marketing efforts in such a way that they |
| downloading)Resource: MailFile | | | | complement one another.c. Make it easy to |
| Original Source: | | | | implement your web strategy for the long term, by |
| Latest Version Available At: lets you require visitors | | | | incorporating zero/low cost automation tools on your |
| to submit their name and email address in order to | | | | website, and adopting value-adding features/methods. |
| retrieve a file(s) from your site. It is a CGI script that | | | | Examples include email marketing, article syndication, |
| works via a form which allows visitors to choose(by | | | | and information product publishing(ebooks etc).Do the |
| clicking checkboxes) specific documents from your | | | | above, by adopting a suitable mix of the specific |
| site to be sent to the email address they specify in | | | | tools, methods and strategies featured in this article, |
| the email address field of the form.When the form is | | | | and you should be able to clearly achieve one or |
| submitted, the visitor is taken to a "File(s) sent!" page | | | | more of the following: INCREASED sales and/or |
| while the selected file(s) is sent to the visitor via the | | | | REDUCED expenses on marketing/advertising - which |
| email address s/he provided. Apart from the fact | | | | in turn will help you record reasonably stable or |
| that this method prevents third-party linking of your | | | | INCREASING profits.This article is one of |
| files, you also get to use the retained names/email | | | | twenty-five(25) contained in Tayo Solagbade's Ebook |
| addresses to build a mailing list with which you can | | | | titled "25 Articles/True Stories On Self-Development, |
| follow up visitors for possible sales.The script can also | | | | Entrepeneuring & Web Marketing To Help You |
| be useful when you want to give your busy visitors | | | | Succeed More Often".Self-Development/Performance |
| a time saving alternative to downloading.Corporate | | | | Enhancement Specialist - Tayo Solagbade - works as |
| visitors to your site, whose mails are stored on the | | | | a Multipreneur, helping individuals/businesses develop |
| company mail servers will find this particularly | | | | and implement strategies to achieve their goals, |
| useful.Here's why. Assume a busy executive - with | | | | faster and more profitably. Download your copy of |
| only 5 minutes left to attend an important meeting - | | | | his 25 Articles Ebook from You get full reprint rights |
| discovers your site's offering of five interesting PDF | | | | for each article.Visit Tayo's Creative Business |
| reports totaling 13 MB in size.S/he can easily choose | | | | Solutions(CB Solutions) mini-site - - to learn how you |
| to use the MailFile web form's checkboxes to select | | | | can get affordable Freelance Writing, Rapid Website |
| the files and click the "Send File(s) To Me" button. All | | | | Design/CGI Automation, Website Marketing Strategy |
| the selected files will be delivered to his/her mail box | | | | Development and Custom MS Excel VB Spreadsheet |
| on the company's servers, and s/he would be able to | | | | Automation Services. |
| return to view them without going back online at a | | | | |