For anyone who is interested in a great FREE graphics program, check out GIMP. I have recommended it to a few of my clients and they love it!
To download the program and to read more about it and its features, visit the GIMP website.
The Federal Trade Commission recently announced changes to the CAN-SPAM act. The CAN-SPAM act was first signed into law in 2003 by President Bush. This law imposed a series of requirements that marketers were to follow in order for their email to NOT be considered spam. At the same time, this law gave Federal civil and Criminal enforcement authorities new tools to combat commercial email that is unwanted (a.k.a. ’spam’.)
I ask you the question, “Do you spam your customers?” for a simple reason. Are you aware of the CAN-SPAM act and the requirements you are supposed to follow when you send out an email marketing campaign?
This list is a brief summary of the CAN-SPAM act and also discusses the new changes that just passed into law. (For those of you who want to read the full 109 page download, go to FTC website.)
Requirements of the CAN-SPAM act:
1. You cannot mislead or contain false “header” or From line information. — This is more specific to where the message is being sent from. When you view an email header, there is a more advanced view that allows you to really dig in to where the message originated from. This is in respects to that header, along with just blatantly misleading and saying your email is from some other person or company.
2. You cannot mislead or contain false information in the email Subject line.
3. You are required to insure that your email contain a functioning email address or similar Internet based opt-out method — in order for your customers to easily be able to stop your email communication if they so choose.
4. Prohibits you from sending a commercial email to an opt-out recipient more than 10 days after they opted out. — Meaning, once they opt-out, there is a 10 day grace period for you to remove them. If you send to them after that 10 day grace period, you are in violation of the CAN-SPAM act.
5. You are required to disclose in your commercial emailing the following three disclosures:
6. The Act authorizes the Commission to enforce violations of the Act in the same manner as an FTC trade regulation rule. – Basically this authorized Attorney Generals of States to enforce the law.
Some of the changes that have recently been implemented are:
1. During the Opt-out process, you must use a one-click method. You cannot require anything other than the email address.
2. You cannot require comments or reasons why, nor can you require a fee based opt-out method. Basically, make it a simple one step process to unsubscribe and do not require any additional information to unsubscribe other than the email address of the recipient, without any fees associated with the opt-out.
3. P.O. Boxes are accepted as valid physical postal addresses of the sender.
4. Can-Spam applies to businesses as well as individuals by defining a ‘person’.
5. For Commercial emails that are sponsored, written by or originated from multiple companies, the CAN-SPAM act now makes it more clear that ONE company is designated as the sender and has full responsibility to remove an email address.
Email marketing is an important part of any business. But before you send your next email marketing message, please insure that you follow the CAN-SPAM act requirements. Or your company could be in jeopardy of violating the Federal CAN-SPAM Act.
Ok, I admit it. Watch out Firefox! There’s a new browser that is turning my head. I love the new Opera browser (ver 9.5.1). It’s got a sleek look, excellent interface and is lightning fast! There are also many great fatures built into it that make your browsing fun and efficient. For anyone who wants to try it out….go to Opera’s website and download the latest version. You won’t be disappointed.
I have been criticized by other developers who love Flash technology because I have said that Flash is not very search engine friendly. Well, here we are hearing it straight from the horse’s mouth. Adobe’s very own have said there “has always been a bit of a tradeoff” when using Flash. “You get all the great graphics and experiences but you lose some search capability.”
Well, now Adobe is helping to change all of that. This, to me as a developer, is fantastic news! Adobe just announced that they are teaming up with Google and Yahoo to make Flash and other RIA (Rich Internet Applications) more searchable.
Even though I do applaud this move, I do want to point out still as a web user, that Flash can be over done. My advice is to use it sparingly and not to go wild with it. Remember, not everyone is a flash fan. I come across many people on a daily basis who say to me, “I hate those flash banners, they are so annoying and slow.” So…just keep the end user in mind when you are working on your website and adding flash.
As far as Adobe’s news though….that’s good news for developers and seo professionals alike.
What is CMS?
CMS has been getting a lot of buzz lately. It’s been around for a long time, but just recently became a trend setting web tool.
CMS means Content Management System. A content management system allows you to manage the content on your website without having to get your web design company involved. A CMS website offers you the ability to manage your own content at any time of the day, any day of the week.
In the early days of the web, you would pay a website company to put a website together for you. Then, every time you needed to add a paragraph to a page, or a couple of new images to your galleries, you would have to pay the website company to do this for you.
Now, with a CMS package, you can do your own updates all on your own. Without the help of your web company.
Custom Programmed CMS or Open Source CMS?
There are many different Open Source CMS software programs out there. Open source means the source code is open for developers and is free to use. These types of open source software products makes it very cost effective for you to own your own CMS, as they are normally less expensive than a custom programmed CMS website. At netmouser, we can handle the development of any of the open source programs, as well as our own custom programmed CMS packages.
How do I know what Content Management System is best for my website?
I normally consult with my customers or potential clients and find out what it is they do. How they want their website to function. What types of features they want. What we need to to do to make their website search engine friendly and to insure it operates at the optimal levels. All of these items come into play when you are searching for the best CMS package.
What are Custom Programmed CMS Packages?
Our CMS packages are custom php programmed with a mysql database. We have two packages to fit your budget. Our basic CMS Package allows you to have a custom designed website with up to 10 pages. All of which you control the content and images through your CMS Web Admin panel.
Our Advanced CMS package gives you the ability to have an unlimited amount of pages, all with the capabilities of managing your own copy and images through your web administration panel. The unlimited package is perfect for the website owner who knows they want to continually add new pages and links to their site with new information or services.
For the month of July, we are offering a 5% discount on our Custom Basic CMS and a 10% discount off our Custom Advanced CMS package. (Open Source CMS packages are excluded from the discount.)
Contact us with any inquiries and to set up your own website content management system.
