By Gail Seymour
In this series, we’re looking at the Linux operating system (OS) as a Web hosting platform. In the series overview, we looked at how Linux was developed and its popularity. We’ve also looked at the scripting languages used on Linux OS distributions. Later we will look at the open source movement. In this article, we’re focusing on MySQL database software. (more…)
By Beth Hrusch
Are you thinking about launching your business blog? You're not alone. A recent study by GuideWireGroup revealed that approximately 89 percent of businesses polled use blogs as a way to communicate with their customers. In another survey, Burson-Marsteller found that 15% of Fortune 500 companies have blogs. A successful business blog can generate tens of thousands of dollars in revenue each year, with figures for large corporations typically much higher. (more…)
By Jen Brister
With the rising popularity of social networking sites, many small business owners are wondering if email marketing is dead. Most businesses that are Internet savvy already have a large list of client emails that they can use to promote new products, offer discounts and encourage purchases. However, many of those same businesses are wondering if they should be concentrating their marketing efforts on social networking. (more…)
By Samantha Gluck
Lifecycle email marketing involves promoting meaningful and relevant communication with customers throughout the business relationship cycle. Different from the old-fashioned methods known as "batch and blast," lifecycle email marketing takes a more modern and methodical approach to allow you to become more personal with your customers. (more…)
By Gail Seymour
In this series we’re looking at the Linux operating system (OS) as a Web hosting platform. In the series overview, we looked at how Linux was developed and its popularity. Later we will look at MySQL database software, and at the open source movement. In this article, we’re focusing on scripting languages used on Linux OS. (more…)
By Brad Egeland
As you maintain and grow your small business, it’s important to keep continued focus on some of the solid practices that helped get you to where you are today. This list is intended to help you do that. (more…)
By Gail Seymour
If you have a Web application that connects to a database or runs processor-heavy, server-side scripts, you will soon come to realize that spikes in demand can cause your site to become sluggish, or even worse, unavailable, just when you need it to function most. If your site has reached the stage where you need multiple servers to cope with user demand, it's time to think about load balancing. (more…)
By Simon Wright
From a consumer’s perspective, there’s nothing more frustrating than going to a Web site and finding that it is down, either due to a scheduled outage or due to a technical fault. However, such occurrences are even more galling for the business owner of the Web site. Not only do they miss out on that potential purchase but their consumer may choose to go to a rival to have their need fulfilled. This is why assurances around Web site uptime often feature prominently when a small business is choosing a Web hosting provider. (more…)
By Gail Seymour
When choosing a server for your Web site, one of the biggest decisions you have to make is which operating system (OS) to run it on. If you opt for a shared hosting plan, most hosts offer a choice between Windows and Linux. If you opt for a dedicated or virtual server, you can choose any platform that suits your needs. (more…)
By Winmark Business Solutions
The prevalence of display banners and text ads has made all but the most annoying online ads nearly transparent to online users. To stand out from the crowd, some marketers are turning to a simple, relevant and transparent advertising format: the text link. (more…)