BASIC FUNDAMENTALS

Let’s start this report with some definitions of frequently used terms so that you’re clear as to what I’ll be talking about later on in the coming report. If you’re not familiar with computers and Internet, then read this section carefully. I’ll be explaining in simple English so I’ll strip off as much technical jargons as I can so that any ordinary person can understand complex and technical subjects.


Let’s begin, shall we?

•What exactly is the internet?

The Internet stands for Integrated Network. The Internet is a GLOBAL network of computers with hundreds of millions of computers all over the world all linked to each other. Your computer can easily access the Internet one of two ways:



•Through an Internet Service Provider (ISP). An ISP doesn’t provide any type of content; it just provides a connection to the Internet.



•Through an online service (e.g. America Online, Microsoft Network, Prodigy, and so on). An online service not only connects you to the Internet but also provides content such as daily news, stock quotes, football scores, and information resources.

Once you have an Internet Access account, to log on to the Internet you need to get your own PC (Personal Computer) with a modem. Most new computers come

ready with a built-in (internal) modem.


Then all you need to do to access the Internet is to connect your home phone line to the modem, and dial an Internet Access telephone number provided by your ISP. A program in your computer will enable you to access the Internet once you dial in. You can also have Cable internet access, which doesn't use phone lines, and is always connected to the internet.


When you are connected to the Internet, you can easily send digital files and information to another computer in the network within minutes. The faster your PC and Internet connection is, the faster you can send your files.

With your computer connected to the Internet, you can easily and efficiently share information with other users FROM AROUND THE WORLD within seconds or minutes. If you can share information easily and efficiently – you can easily market your products or services to others and make money in the process at a very low cost!

You can set up a system on the Internet to send marketing information to your prospects 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year, because the Internet doesn’t sleep, and its users are all over the world, each living in a different time zone! This system consists of primarily your Website and E-mail.



•What is a domain name?

Basically, your domain name is the internet address of your website, it looks something like this: www.yourname.com

Once the domain name has been selected and registered, no one else can register the same domain name just as there can never be two houses with the same address. Your domain name can also be your Internet Business name.



•What is a website?

A website can act as a brochure or sales letter but in electronic form, viewable only in your computer. A website can also act as your physical business premises.

Your website displays your products in the form of photos or illustrations and words that describe what it is. People can browse your website for the products you carry from any PC with an Internet Browser without having to go there in person to see them.

•What is a web browser?

An Internet Browser allows your visitors to view your website. Examples of a web browser are: Internet Explorer and Firefox.


•What is email?

An e-mail is mail in electronic format and hence, Electronic Mail. Instead of sending a letter to your friend by writing it on a piece of paper, putting it into an envelope and sticking a stamp on it before going to the post office to post it, you

compose an e-mail in your E-mail program and when you’re ready to send, you click on the button SEND.



•What is web hosting?

The host of your website is the server. Your website sits on the hard disk of a big computer called a server that is connected to the Internet 24 hours a day. The server can also host other websites simultaneously. In order to have a web site you will need web hosting. This can either be free or a small amount each month.



•What is an autoresponder?

An Autoresponder is a computer program that acts like your answering machine for e-mail messages from your friends. You can write out your message in advance, like the following:

“Thank you for visiting my site. Here is the information that I promised to give

you...”.

Once you’ve turned your Autoresponder on at your e-mail address, anyone sending e mail to your e-mail address will automatically receive your message above – without any need for you to send it manually.

And a sequential Autoresponder is a computer program that will automatically send out a number of pre-written messages in the order and at the frequency you set them up to send.? You can specify the interval between each pre-written message and set up as many e-mail messages as you wish.



•What is an FTP program?

FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. An FTP Program enables you to deliver digital files to your website’s host directly from your own computer through the Internet so that your website can be ready to be viewed by your visitors. This program also enables you to edit and delete existing web pages and images.