KC News 2003

TABLE OF CONTENTS
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SHOW ME WHAT'S WRONG
ADVANCED GOOGLING
GOT TRAINING?
PAY BILLS ONLINE
SECRETS FOR A GREAT LOGO
I WANT PRIVACY
VA & VOA
FAKE DOMAIN NAME RENEWALS
MARKETING CHECK LIST
PROVERBS FOR THE MILLENNIUM

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Keyboard Shortcut Du Jour
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SHOW ME WHAT'S WRONG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There's probably ONE KEY on your keyboard that you've never used. It say PrtScn on it. It's the PRINT SCREEN key!

You can press the Print Screen key to capture a screen shot. Or use the Alt-PrtScn combination to capture only the currently ACTIVE WINDOW.

So what happens with the image that is captured? It's in the Windows clipboard waiting for you to paste it into a document. So open your word editor or image program and paste it into there. Then save it and print out a hard copy if you need it. Or if you are making a screen shot of an error message you can email it to tech support.

There are plenty of great ways to use this key - try it out and then email us and tell us your favorite way to use PRTSCN!

CUT YOUR PHONE BILLS
-------------------------------
Here's how to get great LONG DISTANCE RATES!

* 5¢ per minute USA, Canada, UK, HK, Singapore, Sweden
* 5.5¢ per minute Belgium, Germany, France, Spain

* Works worldwide (via web enabled CALLBACK)!
* No Monthly Fees! No Hidden Fees!

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HOUSEHOLD ITEM
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ADVANCED GOOGLING
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our household item of the month is GOOGLE. So what, you say, Google is JUST another search engine.... au contraire!

* MONEY-SAVING RANKINGS
Best sites for comparison shopping and reviews.
* "SWEET SPOT" SHOPPING LISTS
DESKTOPs and LAPTOPs. Best price-to-quality!
* GREEN PC Section
Helps you save energy.

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WORD OF THE MONTH
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GOT TRAINING?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our clients and regular readers know how much we promote COMPUTER TRAINING.

Especially you folks who feel confused by the ever-changing world of computers (well, that covers just about everyone).

COMPUTER CLASSES AT CIVIC CENTER LIBRARY
Demonstrations held every Tuesday, 1:00-2:00 p.m. on using the Internet.
Advance registration call 499-6058.

Hands-on classes offered every Wednesday, 10:00-11:00 a.m. on using specific Internet resources available through the library. Find magazine and newspaper articles, books to match individual reading interests, and business resources.

One-on-one tutoring in Microsoft Word is also offered.
To make an appointment, call 507-4049.

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SITES FOR SORE EYES
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PAY BILLS ONLINE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Manage your bills on the web? Yes, this year more and more of us are going to do just that.

Here is an article in INC magazine that shows you what to expect from this futuristic bill paying method and compares some of the available resources to do so:

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KC TIPS
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SECRETS FOR A GREAT LOGO
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Be simple. Some of the best logos are the simplest. One of the oldest is the mark used by the Bass brewery: a red triangle. Target has made a red circle with a red dot in the middle seem the very essence of affordable, hip practicality. Now H&R Block is trying to claim a green square. It will probably work. Simple things are easy to remember and tend not to become dated quickly.

2. Leave it open. Don't try to make a logo that will explain at a glance the complete nature of your company. A logo that raises a question and is open to interpretation is better than one that attempts to contain all the answers.

3. Be relentlessly consistent. Companies that have strong graphic identities have built them through years of use. Pick a typeface. Pick a color. Use them over and over and over again, on everything. Before long you'll find yourself with an identifiable look and feel. That's more valuable than a logo, and anyone can afford it.

4. Don't be embarrassed about design. Things like logos and colors can be considered "cosmetic," and hardheaded businesspeople sometimes avoid focusing on them. But most design-driven companies got to be that way thanks to a highly placed advocate, such as Thomas Watson at IBM in the 1960s or Steve Jobs at Apple today. For a design program to work, it needs to be seen as important to important people. Care about it.

5. Get good advice. You can go pretty far with common sense. But sooner or later, you'll need to hire a professional graphic designer for help. The American Institute of Graphic Arts is the largest professional organization for graphic designers. Its Web site (www.aiga.org) offers information about how to find and work with experienced professionals.

6. Don't expect miracles. Your company's image is the sum total of many factors. Sticking a clever logo on a stupid piece of communication gets you nowhere. Make sure that your company looks, sounds, and feels smart in every way, every time it goes out in public. That is actually much better than a logo.

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WinTips
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I WANT PRIVACY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We all like a little privacy now and then. Here are some tips for keeping your computer activities private.

GET YOUR PRIVACY BACK FROM MS IE
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The Microsoft Internet Explorer loves to keep track of your surfing habits. Here's how to undo that.

Technical difficulty: intermediate to advanced (must be familiar with DOS)
1) Shut your computer down, and turn it back on.
2) While your computer is booting keep pressing the [F8] key until you are given an option screen.
3) Choose "Command Prompt Only" (This will take you to true DOS mode.) Windows ME users must use a boot disk to get into real DOS mode.
4) When your computer is done booting, you will have a C:\> followed by a blinking cursor. Type this in, hitting enter after each line. (Obviously, don't type the comments in parentheses.)

C:\WINDOWS\SMARTDRV (Loads smartdrive to speed things up.)
CD\
DELTREE/Y TEMP (This line removes temporary files.)
CD WINDOWS
DELTREE/Y COOKIES (This line removes cookies.)
DELTREE/Y TEMP (This removes temporary files.)
DELTREE/Y HISTORY (This line removes your browsing history.)
DELTREE/Y TEMPOR~1 (This line removes your internet cache.)

(If this still does not work, and you are sure you are using MSIE 5.x, then please e-mail me. If you have profiles turned on, then it is likely located under \windows\profiles\%user%\, while older versions of MSIE keep them under \windows\content\.)

This last one will take a ridiculous amount of time to process. The reason it takes so incredibly long is because there is a ton of (semi-) useless cache stored on your hard drive.

5) Immediately stop using Microsoft Internet Explorer and go with any of the alternative browsers out there (e.g., Netscape from netscape.com, Mozilla from mozilla.org, or Opera from opera.com).

FYI, Windows re-creates the index.dat files automatically when you reboot your machine, so don't be surprised when you see them again. They should at least be cleared of your browsing history.

HOW TO REALLY GET RID OF FILES
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Microsoft Windows also likes to keep track of your work. Did you know that deleting files only deletes the REFERENCES to them?

They are in fact still there on your hard drive and can still be recovered by a knowledgeable person. Here's how to really delete files.

* Evidence Eliminator, BCWipe and Window Washer are programs that will clear these files.
* Both Norton Utilities and Norton System Works have a file wiping utility.
* If you are using PGP, there is a "Freespace Wipe" option under PGPtools.

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AOTM (Acronym of the Month)
=======================
VA & VOA
~~~~~~~~
VA and VOA - these acronyms now have some new meanings:

A personal assistant is not always feasible for a small business. A VA or VOA is a live virtual office assistant that is like a secretary, personal assistant, administrative assistant and web manager all in one.

VOAs are experienced, qualified professionals that work as independent contractors. So a small business does not have the burden of employee benefits, payroll taxes, office space, etc.

VOAs can handle a multitude of tasks that include:
- Message-handling, answering calls in your name
- Word processing, DTP, database entry
- Internet services, web maintenance
- General office support
- Event scheduling, time management

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!!Hoax & Virus Alert!!
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FAKE DOMAIN NAME RENEWALS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The latest racket of cyber-gangsters is sending out fake domain name renewal notices. This questionable business practice is becoming common in the domain industry and may result in you inadvertently transferring your domain name away from your current registrar.

The "renewal notices" and "invoices" may look authentic, but they are merely direct mail solicitations. The false domain expiration notices are designed so that it is not obvious that the notices are from a different registrar.

Our customers are receiving domain name renewal notices from companies falsely representing themselves as Network Solutions. These notices inform customers
that their domain name registration is due to expire and provides instructions on how to renew.

If you receive a renewal notice you do not believe is from Network Solutions or if you have an unauthorized vendor listed on your credit card statement for 'domain name renewal,' please contact us immediately at 1-888-642-9675 or locally at 703-742-0914 or email us at mailto:customerservice@networksolutions.com.

Remember kids, play it safe on the net. Don't trust internet fairy tales. Scan for virii and verify your emails here:
http://www.kahl.net/hoax/

KC WEB SERVICES
----------------
Kahl Consultants offers WEB SERVICES and HOSTING for small business.

* World Class HOSTING with personal service
* Online MARKETING Plans
* Website TRAFFIC Analysis
* Personal Attention

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NetTips
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MARKETING CHECK LIST
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Small businesses all need online and offline marketing. Even the "word-of-mouth" method can be improved on with a little effort.

1) Is your marketing done by someone that thinks and acts like they are a part of your company?
2) Is your marketer helping you spend your marketing budget efficiently?
3) Did your marketer discuss with you the optimization of your marketing budget and your marketing plan?
4) Do you even have a marketing plan - one that makes the most out of your website investment?

BASIC MARKETING:
* Add your URL and email address to ALL your print marketing (correspondence, stationary, business cards, brochure, etc.)
* Exchange links with other sites, such as those of business partners, and sites related to your site
* optimize your website meta tags and text to maximize search engine placement
* register with search engines and directories (international, national, industry specific)

INTERMEDIATE MARKETING:
* create an email database (the use of opt-in email marketing - not spam - is just as important as creating a good website)
* send out a newsletter to clients and prospective clients
* Create press releases and get industry journalists to write about your new website

ADVANCED MARKETING:
* analyze your site statistics and make regular improvements to site layout and content based on traffic analysis
* analyze your search engine placement and make regular improvement to site content and meta tags to improve placement

RULE OF THUMB: to maximize the return on your website investment your business should budget 50% of the total site design cost for marketing and site improvements in the first year.

BOTTOM LINE: maximize your investment in a new website by promoting it properly! Otherwise you just spent a few grand on an internet age status symbol.

Alex
Kahl Consultants
http://www.kahl.net
Technology. Use it appropriately. Put it in our hands.

THE PLUG
========
Is your small business or organization performing?
Want to enhance your net presence?
Our latest clients include:
DARK ELF MANILA
http://www.darkelfmanila.com/

If you got this far you obviously enjoyed KC News. Pass it on!
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THE PUNCH LINE
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PROVERBS FOR THE MILLENNIUM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Thanks Yolette!]

1. Home is where you hang your @.
2. The e-mail of the species is more deadly than the mail.
3. A journey of a thousand sites begins with a single click.
4. You can't teach a new mouse old clicks.
5. Great groups from little icons grow.
6. Speak softly and carry a cellular phone.
7. C:\ is the root of all directories.
8. Oh, what a tangled website we weave when first we practice.
9. Pentium wise, pen and paper foolish.
10. The modem is the message.
11. Too many clicks spoil the browse.
12. The geek shall inherit the earth.
13. There's no place like home.
14. Don't byte off more than you can view.
15. Fax is stranger than fiction.
16. What boots up must come down.
17. Windows will never cease.
18. Virtual reality is its own reward.
19. Modulation in all things.
20. Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; Teach him to use the Net and he won't bother you for weeks.

Kahl Consultants
P.O.Box 4284
San Rafael, CA 94903-4284
USA
Tel: +1-415-499 0838
Fax: +1-415-499 0833
www.kahl.net
Contact us

The award-winning Kahl Consultants. Helping small business in San Francisco Bay, Marin, Sonoma and globally.
Your comments?

Technology
Use it appropriately
Put it in our hands

KC News

KC News SPRING 2003 | BROWSER SPECIAL | Vol.5, No.3-4