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 Interview with Wally Gross - Part 5
Consider the recent introduction by Infoseek of its directory. All sites are reviewed by humans — yes, real people with eyes, ears and opinions. Their index spidering has also changed. Similar scenarios are cropping up all over the Web. At Surfers Choice we don't need to change a thing; it's been that way since day one. Many of the so-called Gurus stated that 2000 will be the year of death for the portal. Well folks, I am not a guru (self-proclaimed or otherwise), but I will suggest to you that portals will grow and flourish in this year, and certainly for a while to come. Either these pundits don't understand what a portal is, or they simply don't understand the heartbeat of the Web. These days people want content and service at prices that don't require budget meetings. More and more companies (and yes even those of Fortune 500 fame) are asking employees to work from home, at least part of the time. Information must be near at hand and its delivery must be quick and accurate.
[IB] Obviously the makeup of a web site will determine its method of promotion. How should the business site act differently from the personal site, or from knowledge exchange sites? What about newsletters and other opt-in email programs? Will WAP turn everything upside down? [WG] A business site should act very personal in it's content delivery. That may seem simple, but all too many are missing on this one. Visit Internet Day and see my article on Web sites that shake hands. Think about the business sites that really impressed you. I'll bet they had a nice way of interacting and making you feel comfortable. When I am off hunting for information on the Web I am in a rush, isn't everyone, so when something reaches out and grabs me, I'm more likely to stick around. This applies mostly to sites that sell one, or a few services or products.
I think all sites, business and personal alike, should look at exchanging links. However, it must be an ordered and sensible approach. The days of getting volumes of hits to a site because we want to deliver ad impressions are over. We must look to getting qualified leads and interested visitors. Of course many sites have recognized this for quite some time now, but others are lagging behind. For example, if I sell widgets and you sell the bolt that holds them together, should we not be linking to each other's sites. I think so. Without any doubt newsletters and opt-in mail are the single most effective means of marketing. Both are e-mail related and that is the Web's most used service. Spamming is not an option, unless of course you want to shut down your on-line presence in one foul swipe. It is unfortunate that spammers are still allowed to operate on the Web. Honest folks are suffering for it, since people eventually will simply turn away all e-mail— even permission granted. It is paramount that they are stopped, so permission marketing and opt-in services are allowed to flourish.
As far as WAP (Wireless Application Protocol - the Web on your cellular phone
or Palm Pilot) is concerned, I only wish I was its inventor. I think it's a
boon to us all. It is always normal to fear change, but this is just another
piece in the puzzle that makes up the Web and it's evolution. It's just another tool in the box, yet another way to provide ease to our business lives, or even personal lives. But that's all it is. No technology out there can play a game of golf with you and tell stories over a beer later; or lean on your shoulder when your friendship is needed. It's just another tool in the box, that's all, nothing more. Continue Wally Gross Interview
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The Internet Brothers have implemented hierarchical menus for navigation. Easier done than said. The hierarchical menus were created using Peter Belesis' © Dynomat DHTML scripting tool from Webreference. Give them a visit, you'll like what you learn.
"Sites that present good content will be indexed, others will need to polish the furniture or simply sink in the hot lava."
"Information must be near at hand and its delivery must be quick and accurate."
"...when something reaches out and grabs me, I'm more likely to stick around." |
[WG] Last year I had a conversation with
Mel Strocen of the most excellent resource and directory,
Take a look at 
Doesn't it just drive you to the point of insanity when you are e-mailed crap
that says, "this is not spam, you are on our opt-in list?" Yup, sure loser, I
want to receive your garbage about buying a totally illegal decoder or a
University degree. Give me a break! Isn't there an isolated island somewhere,
or maybe a planet, where we can send these low-lifes? Of course as we send them
off, we'll let them know that they signed up voluntarily for this holiday in
hell and that the leathery-winged demons aren't real.
