08-31-2001

Hosting, Gripping, and Internet Candy

Internal Web Hosting Bad for the Bottom Line

Companies that opt to host their web site internally may be missing the boat. According to a report from the technology analysis outfit Jupiter Media Metrix, companies with medium- or high-traffic sites can save $6 million to $12 million over three years by outsourcing hosting responsibilities. Figures compiled by Jupiter indicate 34 percent of companies still handle hosting responsibilities internally; another 24 percent manage their applications internally but outsource server management.

Says Jupiter's David Taylor: "Companies that continue to host their own sites will gain little competitive advantage and spend more money on staffing and technology than those that outsource those functions. There is a 30 to 40 percent cost savings to be realized by outsourcing hosting—and too many companies are overlooking this. Those that act and act now will be saving millions in the long run." Security concerns, control issues, knowledge protection and subpar service from outsource vendors are some of the reasons companies keep hosting duties in-house. To find a vendor worthy of assuming hosting responsibilities, Jupiter suggests evaluating such criteria as reliability, scalability, security, track record, accountability, response speed, customer service and of course, price. \

The Internet Tightens Its Grip

At this rate, not having Internet access could soon be akin to not owning a TV.

Fifty-eight percent of Americans now have Internet service in their homes, as compared to 52 percent a year ago and 39 percent in 1999, according to figures released in August by Nielsen/NetRatings. All told, the universe of U.S. homes with Internet access has expanded by 55% in just two years, from 106 million to 165 million. Web surfers also are on-line more often than ever, the Internet audience measurement service reports, with users averaging 10 hours, 19 minutes of Web time during July 2001, up 7% from the same period a year ago. The number of times the average surfer accessed the Web also jumped 11 percent. Still, it's a little soon to start making the no-Internet, no-TV comparison, cautions NetRatings VP Sean Kaldor. "While PC and Internet penetration have far exceeded many other types of consumer devices, there is still ample room to grow before reaching the 98% penetration levels of telephones and TVs." \0

Like Internet Candy—Visitors Have a Huge Appetite for Adobe Acrobat Materials

What's the best way to use your your web site to satisfy current or potential customers?

One of the easiest ways to "web enable" your business process is to make crucial documents and brochures—and the software to access them—available for download on your web site. Anything you leave behind following a meeting is a good candidate because, after all, a web visit can often BE a first meeting. If your company gets frequent requests for literature or specific forms, these should be turned into web-ready documents, too.

Why not wrap your entire web site into a single downloadable file for offline viewing and printing?

The enabling technology that makes all of these things possible is a product from Adobe Systems called Acrobat™.

In acronym-rich software lingo, Acrobat™ files are called "PDFs" (portable document files). That might just as aptly stand for People Demand Flexibility. Flexibility, accessibility and compatibility are major reasons demand for PDFs among web users is exploding. PDFs are simple to attach, send, receive and forward via e-mail, they preserve the original format and quality of a document when opened and printed, and anybody with Acrobat™ Reader can open, read or print them. Another reason PDFs have such allure is that they allow people to convert on-line content into something they can read off-line or carry with them and pass along in hard copy format.

Offer downloadable PDFs and an Acrobat™ download link on your site and people WILL use them. When Total Site reviews how visitors are using our clients' web sites Adobe Acrobat™ files are always among the most popular resources. The number of PDF downloads is usually very close to the number of unique visitors. What the thirst for PDFs indicates to us is that Acrobat™ files have an inherent value to site visitors. One Total Site client uses Adobe Acrobat™ files as an incentive to gather personal information from users. The "web candy" effect is so compelling that hundreds of users supply personal data every week just to get to the Acrobat™download.

Adobe won't charge you anything to post an Acrobat™ Reader download link on your web site. Once you've signed an end-user license/distribution agreement, they'll even throw in "Acrobat Reader" and "Adobe PDF" logos to post on your site. Go to www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/distribute.html. It's a simple process that takes only about 10 minutes.

Want to see Adobe Acrobat™ in action? Total Site's entire web site is available as an Adobe Acrobat™ file:

Just click HERE if you'd like a copy of this file (totalsite.pdf - 1.02mb)

The Internet Tightens Its Grip

At this rate, not having Internet access could soon be akin to not owning a TV. \

Total Site News

Total Site is pleased to announce two successful client web launches: a complete site redesign for network management software provider SilverBack Technologies of Billerica, Massachusetts, and another site redesign for the early stage venture capital firm Ventura, Inc. of Louisville, Colorado. \