Company news

Web Site Security - Injection

unknown — 2010-06-01T15:53:08.1

Many web-sites include a form to facilitate email subscriptions or information requests. Regardless of the type of form, if incorrectly implemented, attackers can use it to attack the web site. Attackers may attempt to steal data, damage or disable the site, or re-direct visitors to another site; typically promoting pornography or counterfeit pharmaceutical products etc. A growing threat is the use of compromised sites to plant malicious code or ‘malware’ onto the visiting computer; which will then attempt to steal personal data from that machine. Google search has been highlighted as a favourite hacker tool used to identify potentially vulnerable sites.

Injection attacks typically start by entering segments of program code into a field requesting data such as the user’s name. This will expose poorly coded forms that do not validate and restrict improper (malicious) entries. Injection attacks can prove extremely sophisticated, potentially re-writing the web site database to destroy or steal data from a company. This may have significant implications under Data Protection legislation and required compliance standards for Credit Card processing etc.

To protect your business, your web-site must be coded to verify or sanitise data entered into a web form. Being aware of the threat and qualifying that your developer has taken steps to protect against an injection attack is an important 1^st step. Once completed, it may be advisable to have your site security assessed by an independent 3^rd party who is not involved in the design/development process – before it goes live.

AndreasH — 2010-08-26T08:35:37.697

Our December newsletter highlights major new contracts for our MIGTurbo software and our selection as finalists in the 2006 IOM Newspapers “Awards for Excellence”.

Read our December 2006 Newsletter here

Web Site Security - Cross Site Scripting

unknown — 2010-06-03T17:20:34.05

Increasing interactivity with web-sites often requires collection and storage of data from users. A compromised web-site could leave a business with an embarrassing and costly liability.

In last week’s piece about Injection, we learned that an attacker may use forms on a web site requesting information such as the user’s name and address to “inject” program code into a web-site. Using this method, an attacker can inject program code into a form and have it saved into the database which if displayed by the web-site, can execute on the user’s own machine. This is known as Cross Site Scripting (XSS).

As the injected program code runs on the user’s own machine, this has the effect of making the user’s machine act as the source of further attacks, such as stealing users data, installing key-loggers or attacking other web-sites or machines. This was seen on a recent edition of the BBC Click programme, which showed that an unsuspecting user can be used to attack millions of other users, with no visible effects to betray the activity.

Web-site owners can check with the developers of their web-site to reduce their liability. End-users of computers can also help protect themselves by keeping up to date with their system updates, browser patches and anti-virus software which will prevent or detect the secondary attacks.

How to promote your website

AndreasH — 2010-10-08T14:30:36.69

Six e-marketing Tips

You have put a great deal of time and effort into building your website but you don't have many visitors - what's gone wrong?

"Build it and they will come" is one of the biggest internet myths. There are millions of web sites on the internet. The popular search engine, Google indexes over three billion web pages. The internet is vast and the chances of potential customers stumbling across your website are tiny unless it is properly promoted. Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to promote your web site and your business.

1. Search Engines

The single most important thing is to make sure you are registered with all the popular search engines. The vast majority of web site visits are generated from search engines. Just four search engines make up 93% of all global search referrals for e-retailers.(www.websitestory.com). Many sites let you submit your site manually - Google for instance. However, be aware that it can take several weeks for your site to be indexed and to appear in search results. With some - such as Yahoo, it can take several months. There are also several software packages available that automate web site submission and if you have the cash - many web design companies offer search engine optimization as a service.

2. Metatags

Metatags are information inserted into the "head" area of your web pages. If you are using Internet Explorer - you can easily view Metatag data on a page by selecting View - Source from the menu bar. Other than the Title tag, information in the head area of your web pages is invisible to those viewing your pages in a browser. The most valuable feature they offer the web site owner is the ability to control how their web pages are described by search engines. The Title Tag, Meta Description tag, and the Meta Keywords tag are the most widely used metatags.

3. Publish your URL on all company literature

A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is basically a technical term for your web site address. Your web site address should be on every piece of literature that your company produces. Make sure that your URL appears on your business cards, brochures, letterheads, faxes, invoices, other company stationery and newspaper adverts. In print, it is common practise to leave off http:// and show only the www.yourbusinessname.com portion.

4. E-mail Signatures

Microsoft Outlook and many other email programs allow you to add an email signature to e-mails. This is a very useful feature that many people neglect to use. Ensure that your company name, phone and fax numbers, URL and email address appear on your signature. Putting a URL on your signature makes it very easy for people to find your web site as once you have sent them an email all they have to do is click on the link at the bottom of the email.

5. Directory links

Many companies belong to professional or trade associations that feature a directory of member sites on the association's web site. Make sure you ask them to display a link to your site.

6. E-Mail Newsletter

An e-mail newsletter is a very good and cost effective way of keeping in touch with your client base. E-mail campaigns enjoy a higher response rate than traditional printed media and most organisations have a huge unused resource in terms of customer e-mail addresses. One word of warning if you do use email newsletters - always give the customer the option of 'opting out' of future e-newsletters etc. otherwise you may be accused of spamming.

New Year launch for Island Web Works

AndreasH — 2010-10-08T14:45:46.267

A new company is set to make a name for itself during 2002 as it targets the local web site design market whilst at the same time making a niche for itself in the creation of web-based software products.

Island Web Works has been in operation since May 2001 but chose to leave the announcement of its official launch until the start of 2002. Based in an office suite in Mona Street, Douglas, Island Web Works has, in fact, already had an impact on the market, winning contracts with a number of well known local companies, encompassing the banking, trust, manufacturing and legal markets.

"We have been operating for several months but felt it was crucial that we had the right team in place and that the company was up and running smoothly", said Charles Douthwaite, Island Web Works managing director. "The start of 2002 is an ideal time for the official launch of the company".

Charles is well known in the Isle of Man's IT industry, having worked in senior positions for two major Manx IT companies.

"Taking the leap of faith to form a start up company was a big decision but I was ready for a new challenge and this has long been an area that interested me both in terms of the technical challenges and business opportunities it presents. The opportunity to run a small innovative company with closer control over the quality of service played a major part in my decision", he said. "It was also evident that there was an opening in the market for a company to provide top quality business solutions that could be tailored for the individual needs of each client.

"The Internet has made the world a very small place. The global nature of the Web means your marketplace can now be wherever you want it to be. However, this also means that prospective clients will judge an organisation upon its web site. A poor web site equals a poor organisation. No company will tolerate low quality letterheads or business cards and yet the design of many web sites is still very mediocre and sometimes quite poor. The interface between a web site and the visitor is crucial as this determines how easily the visitor can find the information they seek. A web site may look stunning, graphically speaking, but if it is slow to access and difficult to navigate it will lose you business.

"We are acutely aware that in order to succeed we must deliver quality, value for money solutions. We achieve this by talking to our clients and understanding their specific business needs. The result is that we are winning new business and building a strong portfolio of web sites. Additionally, we have a major bank running our browser-based CRM product in a live environment. We have already achieved a tremendous amount in 2001 and have great expectations for 2002."

Creative Communications

AndreasH — 2010-08-26T08:42:20.09

Word of mouth is the oldest PR tool in business, and undoubtedly remains one of the most powerful. The most extravagant hype cannot compete with the stealth effect of an old-fashioned recommendation. This has always been particularly pertinent in the Isle of Man, where the social engines of a close-knit community can single-handedly launch businesses, or slowly suffocate them.

But this informal network is a deceptive comfort zone which can trick businesses into complacency and blunt their competitive edge. Reliance on a familiar, loyal client base should not distract businesses from seeking to strengthen that base by winning new business.

Furthermore, today’s business environment is faster, harder and relentlessly competitive, even in the Isle of Man. In the clamour of the marketplace, there are more and more voices struggling to be heard; the successful business is not necessarily the one which shouts the loudest, but the one which pitches their voice, and the content of their speech, to the right people.
Of course, a thriving organisation is too busy to stand around shouting; that’s where the communications industry comes in. As business becomes more competitive, the means by which people get their message through have become increasingly sophisticated. The communications industry also thrives on strong internal competition, which has naturally increased in direct proportion to modern business pressures.

Marketing the message of your organisation means more than simply placing a weekly or monthly advertisement in the local newspaper. It requires a co-ordinated strategy which draws all the promotional possibilities of a company together in one cohesive direction.

A subtle, single mission statement should run through all verbal, visual and written presentation like letters through a stick of rock, forming the backbone of the the company’s USP, or ‘unique selling point’.

In other words, successful communication begins and ends with the creation of a brand identity. A successful brand identity should act as a universal shorthand symbol for who you are, what you do, and why you should be everybody’s first choice.

The most successful brands insinuate themselves into our lives without us realising they are brands. Every day, we are targeted as consumers, directly or indirectly, by the TV, radio, billboards, newspapers, magazines, billboards, posters, flyers and computer pop-ups.

Amidst this saturation, we form loyalties which may appear, at a casual glance, as impulsive, illogical, based on sentiment or personal financial straits. This, however, is only half the story. Behind every successful brand is a mighty weight of marketing research which has probed our lifestyles, tastes, aspirations and spending habits.

This priceless information is distilled into the stealthy arsenal of advertising which seduces us into our selection and ultimately wins our loyalties. At its most cunning (and appealing), good marketing simultaneously strikes a chord with who we are; shows us who we would like to be; and then presents us with the means to get there.

The techniques, if not the aims, are no different in the business world. If you are confident in your brand identity, the consumer feels confident too. To create that confidence and breathe life into your brand identity, you should consider a comprehensive marketing campaign which engages as many media as possible and utilises the specialist skills of professionals working in the communications field.

It’s time to discard the preconceived notion that this amounts to hype and spin. At grass roots level, printers, painters, signwriters, and graphic designers all have a crucial role to play in conveying your message. A logo, strapline or design concept is ineffectual unless it is well thought out, well executed and distributed.

Advertising agencies and promotional specialists are also undoubtedly key players in co-ordinating your campaign, advising on strategy and connecting you to your optimum audience. Increasingly, such organisations offer a ‘one stop shop’ which handles all your marketing requirements from one central point of contact. A good one should work exhaustively to know your business in order to understand the fine detail of your requirements and deliver a cost-effective solution.

Behind the scenes technology is one crucial element of this planning. Web designers and IT technicians provide invaluable back-up in establishing online channels of business and maintaining your computer systems in a healthy state.

If you are going to explore the option of public forums – launches, conferences, symposiums – then invest in events organisers with an excellent reputation who you can rely on to deliver impressive results. Remember that if you intend to entice people from their hectic working schedules – and commit to the expenses of a presentation – that the show should be nothing short of show-stopping!

Finally, of course, there’s also the matter of internal communication. An irresistible business message is nothing without a committed, enthusiastic team to deliver it. Before you can conquer your market, you need to display conviction throughout your team. Poor communication undermines the best efforts of individuals, and will raise a question mark over your company’s ability.

Training and development is a boom industry which has progressed light years in recent times. It is an increasingly popular approach to explore ways of maximising individual and team strengths, with the end result of driving your company’s performance from merely good to competitively excellent. Psychometric testing and team-building courses are only a couple of intelligent ways to make the most of your human resources, which are, after all, the heart of your business.

On the Isle of Man, there is an increasingly strong network of skilled professionals who can not only deliver your message but take your brand to new levels of opportunity. Recruit the right assistance and be confident that the voice of your business will carry to the best destinations!

Web site re-launch

AndreasH — 2010-08-26T08:34:18.613

As you have probably noticed, we have re-launched our web site.

We have done this to focus on the three service areas we specialise within. These form the constituent elements of our eVolve programme and consists of the integration of web site design, e-marketing and crm/bpr.

Please refer to our case studies to find out how many leading organisations on the island are using our award winning eVolve approach to improve their business processes.

ACTMaster 2.0 launched

AndreasH — 2010-10-08T14:39:34.007

Publish articles within minutes
Update your web site from anywhere
No web design skills necessary
From £795

With ACTMaster you can easily manage a wide range of web based information on your site, from news articles, product information and recruitment to file downloads and links.

Updating made easy..
By drastically simplifying the Web publishing process, ACTMaster eliminates the need for costly site maintenance and empowers business users to manage their own web site.

World wide access
ACTMaster allows you to update your site from a web browser anywhere in the world. Whenever you need to add new content, remove pages, upload images, or change the formatting, this software lets you do it quickly and easily.

Automatic formatting
ACTMaster will automatically format the layout for you, position the graphics and place any captions, as well as adding links to web pages or email addresses.

Total support
As a locally based company, Island Web Works is able to provide total support for its products to Isle of Man companies.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

AndreasH — 2010-08-26T09:19:00.883

As we approach the end of our third year of business, may we take this opportunity to wish all our clients and visitors a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

We look forward to working with you in 2004.

Happy New Year 2006

AndreasH — 2010-08-26T08:41:36.893

As we start our sixth year, may we take this opportunity to thank all of our clients for their continued support and wish you a very happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

If you haven't already signed up for our newsletter, please do so here.

This will allow us to keep you informed on developments within Island Web Works, such as our forthcoming office move, on a regular basis.

Promoting your business using Google Maps

AndreasH — 2010-08-25T16:31:02.63

Millions of people search Google every day and businesses spend a great deal of time and effort optimising their web site to appear high in the Google search results.

However, there is a free and relatively underused tool that will automatically place your business high on the first page of the search results. Using Google’s Local Business Centre to create a free listing on Google Maps makes it easy for customers to find you. They literally see your business pinpointed on a map and can get directions by foot or by car right to your door. You can even embed the Google Map in your company web site. It is a fantastic free resource and the best thing is that no technical skills are required.

When potential customers search Google Maps for local information, they'll find your business: your address, hours of operation, even photos of your storefront or products. It's easy, free, and you don't even need a website of your own for it to work.

Go to www.google.co.uk and type in “Isle of Man Coffee” for an example.

The Google Maps listing is usually in the top four results on the page. It comes up in its own section with a map and a listing of up to ten businesses in the same category. However, it is amazing how many categories are not fully utilised. Try “Isle of Man Trust Company” or “Isle of Man pizza” as examples.

To register your business on Google Maps:-

Set up an account on the Google Local Business centre (this is free). Follow the online steps to register your business. Once you enter the address and post code, your business will appear on a map on the page. If the location pin isn’t in exactly the right place, you can move it around on the map until it is correct. You then add up to five business categories – consider these carefully as these are used for the search terms. You can also add opening hours, payment methods, photos and even Youtube videos.

Finally, you need to be able to validate your listing. The easiest way to do this is by SMS message. Once you have done this, a PIN code is sent to your mobile phone and you use this to confirm your listing is that it appears on Google. That’s it. Please note that it can 3 – 6 weeks for your listing to appear.

Mobile Internet - Should I be interested?

AndreasH — 2010-08-25T16:38:54.473

If you own a mobile phone then the answer is probably yes!

If you have ever been in a situation where you needed to know when the next train was leaving, wanted to check the weather, find out who won a particular game etc., then you will probably recognise how useful it would be to log onto the internet and find out. The cost of such a frivolous task? Probably less than the cost of sending a text message or making a phone call!

The amount you pay is normally related to the amount of information you ‘download’. However, if you are using a mobile to access sites that have not been designed for mobile phones, the volume of data, images and text etc., is likely to be significantly higher and therefore more expensive. It is for this reason you will probably want to identify the mobile friendly sites before you start using your mobile in anger.

If you subscribe to one of the numerous social networking sites such as Facebook or MySpace etc., then you may be aware of their services specifically designed for mobile handsets. Another example of the growing popularity of mobile internet is the site m.twitter.com. Launched in March 2006 twitter has around 200,000 unique users who post 20,000 messages or tweets each day. Rather than developing a standard blogging site which lets users write lengthy posts, twitter only permits short mobile-friendly messages of up to 140 characters.

'Mobile Internet - Should I be interested?' is one in a series of short articles focused on accessing the internet via a mobile phone. Published in the Isle of Man Examiner 11th March 2008. Next weeks article is 'What do I need to use it'

10th birthday, and a double celebration for Island Web Works

andreash — 2011-05-03T16:12:09.9

Island Web Works are having a double celebration, 10 years within the local web site design and software development market and the launch of a new Business Intelligence division called Circle².

Charles Douthwaite, managing director of Island Web Works recalls how "Taking the leap of faith to form a start up company in 2001 was a big decision. The opportunity to run a small innovative company with closer control over the quality of service played a major part in that decision. As we started just after the dot com bubble burst and have come through the worse recession since the 1920’s - our focus on quality service and advice appears to have been proven right.

"Whilst we now have a comprehensive client base, we are still acutely aware that our success is built upon delivery of relevant, quality, value for money solutions. The result is that we are now 10 years old and still growing. We are also extremely grateful to all our clients for their support during this time."

Mobile Internet - Why provide content for mobiles?

AndreasH — 2010-08-25T16:35:55.14

In a word: demand! In the first half of 2007 5.7m UK consumers accessed the internet each month via a mobile handset. If these UK consumers had a choice between visiting a site that hasn’t been optimised for mobile access or a site that has, you can guess where they will go!

Making content available for mobile access does not require a complete re-design of your web site. Simply providing a specific subset of your web site data could provide a real benefit to both your business and web site visitors. For example, if you were a travel company, publishing departure times or changes to schedules in a mobile ready format would enable people en-route to check for updates whilst travelling. Alerts could be sent via SMS with a link to the changes. However, if these visitors reach your site and have to download a page of information designed for a computer with broadband, the experience will not reflect well on your company. Convenience is often borne of necessity, and if a customer cannot get what they want from your business they will look elsewhere.

In cost terms, providing information in a format that meets your customer’s needs would probably save you money. If a customer knows they can access key information on-line, this will potentially save your business the cost of staffing telephones and helpdesks to provide the same information.

'Mobile Internet - Why provide content for mobiles?' is one in a series of short articles focused on accessing the internet via a mobile phone. Published in the Isle of Man Examiner 1st April 2008.

Christmas Hours 2010

charlesdouthwaite — 2010-12-29T17:08:47.947

Our offices will be closed from the 20th December 2010 to the 4th January 2011 for the Christmas holiday period.

Calls will be diverted until the 25th December and an answerphone service will be operational from the 25th December to the 4th January.

Emails will be monitored over this holiday period.

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a healthy & prosperous New Year.

Make Your Own Christmas Card

AndreasH — 2010-08-25T16:43:28.213

This festive season we have constructed a fun way for you to keep in touch with family and friends.

Follow the link to our web site where you can create your own unique electronic Christmas card. There are six themes to choose from and an unlimited number of design possibilities. Have fun!

Click here to create your Christmas card

Appointment of Creative Director

AndreasH — 2010-10-08T14:43:45.103

Island Web Works Limited has announced the appointment of Swedish-born Andreas Heinakroon as Creative Director. Andreas, 33, arrives on the Island with an extensive background in lecturing on web production and from a commercial role with a leading Finnish web production company.

A graduate of Stockholm and Umeå Universities in Sweden, Andreas gained a BSc at the Swedish Museum of Natural History before joining the Capital School of Multimedia in 1997 where he concentrated on web and CD-Rom production.

Initially a research assistant and later a science teacher, Andreas was appointed Web Production Teacher at Sweden`s Capital School of Multimedia, in 1998 and later worked with Farleden.com concentrating on web production and advertising before joining Island Web Works.

"This is a really important appointment for Island Web Works" said managing director Charles Douthwaite. "Andreas has extensive web production and graphic design skills which perfectly suit the design ethos we wish to create. He is also very experienced in a wide range of web development software and has already displayed the skills required to produce the highest quality web site design whilst, at the same time, understanding the vital aspect of interface functionality. I am delighted to welcome Andreas to the team at Island Web Works."

Andreas added: "It is very interesting to have joined the company at this stage in its development. I am also very pleased to see that there are specific aims not only linked to design, but also to ensure that a web site is functional. If you log onto a site and then cannot figure out where to go and how to get there within three seconds the interface is badly designed; it is as simple as that. There is a major difference between interface design and graphic design: a web site can look really great at first glance, but prove to be an interface disaster once you get into it. A professionally designed web site should always be a fine balance of functionality and appearance. I was very pleased to see that we share very similar ideas and aims at Island Web Works. I am really enjoying life in the Isle of Man and look forward to an interesting future here".

Two New Faces

AndreasH — 2010-08-25T16:34:46.99

We are delighted to welcome Nathan Pledger and Carol Kerins to our team.

Nathan Pledger joins us from Duke Marketing to take the role of Senior Software Developer. A Chartered IT Professional with a BSc(Hons) in Computer Science and Information Systems, Nathan brings several years commercial development experience utilising various development tools including C#, VISUAL BASIC 6, .NET FRAMEWORK, ASP.NET, XHTML and JAVASCRIPT technologies. Nathan is also an active Member of the British Computer Society interested in Social Marketing, ethical web development and Microsoft technologies.

In recognition of the growing importance of KYC/CDD within business today, Carol Kerins has joined us to develop compliance orientated workflows within our MIGTurbo software and manage our training programmes. Carol has a Master's degree from the University of Limerick and has worked in senior compliance roles on the island with GAM and CMI.

The rapid growth of Customer Relationship Management and Business Process re-engineering type projects we are involved in has necessitated the recruitment of two such experienced professionals and adds tremendous value to the projects we undertake.

Browser Wars II

AndreasH — 2010-08-26T08:54:44.837

Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser has been the de facto browser for Internet users since the late '90s, when Microsoft squashed Netscape. Up until very recently, Internet Explorer (IE) was used by more than 95% of internet users with a tiny minority of internet users using alternative browsers such as Opera or Safari. However, for the first time in several years, Internet Explorer is facing some real competition.

When Netscape finally lost the browser war, it transferred development of it's browser to an open-source project. This led to the development of the well known Mozilla browser. However, over the years Mozilla evolved into a huge piece of bloatware. The new browser on the block – Firefox – is basically a stripped down, streamlined rebuild of Mozilla.

From the very beginning (with Firefox) you will notice a faster, cleaner feel to your browsing. Even the size of the Firefox installation file is small at a mere 4.7 MB. More than 50 Million internet users have downloaded the Firefox browser, and for the first time, Internet Explorer’s share of the browser market has fallen. The lesson here is that you can never sit on your laurels. Microsoft left Internet Explorer sitting on Version 6 for the last couple of years and they left a gap for someone else to fill and that is exactly what Firefox intends to do.

One of the biggest advantages of Firefox is that it isn't perceived to have all the security holes prevalent in Internet Explorer, and because it is a fairly new entrant, it isn’t such a juicy target for hackers. Some of the nicer features include:

Tabbed browsing: If you've never used it before – you will wonder how you lived without it. Web pages are loaded in "tabs" within the same browser window, making it easy to switch back and forth among multiple web pages. Tabbed browsing is perfect for reading the news or sifting through search results.
Pop-Up Control is a feature of Firefox. Annoying Pop-up ads are easily blocked in Firefox while allowing you to easily unblock Pop-ups for individual sites that require it.

Searching via Google is built right into the upper right hand corner
Live bookmarks - If you're a smart Web user, you know how much RSS feeds (Short for Rich Site Summary, an XML format for syndicating Web content) can cut down on time spent checking sites you read regularly. When Firefox encounters a site with an RSS feed, an orange tag lights up in the lower right hand corner of the browser window. Click it to give you a new bookmark that will change as the content of that site changes. Dragging down to that "live bookmark" leads to a menu of headlines of new stories. Selecting one takes you straight to that story without having to go to the site Home Page. You can try this on the BBC web site.

Internet Explorer and Firefox will live happily alongside each other on the same PC and the vast majority of general web sites work equally well with Firefox, however, web sites and applications that have been written specifically with the Microsoft browser in mind probably won't. You can download Firefox for free at www.getfirefox.com

Giants struggle to dominate the web

AndreasH — 2010-08-26T08:39:09.603

WITH high-speed internet connections now the norm in many households, the focus of the major internet companies has suddenly shifted towards how TV shows, movies and music can be delivered to mobile devices, car stereos and devices in the home.

After years of hostility between the two camps, 2005 was the year that the barrier between the so called 'old media' (movies studios and TV networks) and the 'new media' companies like Google and Yahoo finally began to break down.

The convergence of computers and media has been an unrealized dream for years, but wireless devices and broadband internet access have finally started to make it a reality.

Apple became the trendsetter when its iTunes service pioneered the sale of songs, music videos and television shows over the internet.

The other major players in the industry are now desperately trying to catch up with Google and Yahoo recently announcing competing services. Yahoo has even commissioned video content exclusively for the web.

With sales of MP3 music players in the US expected to top $4 billion this year, it is obvious that downloading is the way that most media will be delivered in the future.

This is going to cause very dramatic shifts in the entire media industry and it is a case of adapt or die.

For many companies in the media industry, the results will be very traumatic as online distribution threatens to completely bypass traditional media distributors.

Television networks in the US are already suffering a drop in advertising revenue from the introduction of digital video recording services, which allows viewers to record shows and automatically skip advertisements.

A similar situation applies to US cinema chains, which in 2005 suffered their worst decline in 20 years.

Competition between the key internet players is only likely to intensify.

Google recently escalated its long running battle with Microsoft when it announced an alliance of Microsoft rivals known as Google Pack.

The Google Pack alliance brings together software from Google and other Microsoft competitors that users will be able to download and install on their computers.

The software includes the RealNetworks RealPlayer multimedia software and the Firefox browser. Google Pack will also include Google's desktop search software and Google Talk, its instant-messaging program.

In turn, Microsoft announced a tie-up with Sky, the British satellite broadcaster that will make Sky content available through Microsoft's Windows software.

The Chinese have an old curse – 'May you live in interesting times'. It certainly seems many in the internet industry are living through those times at the moment.

Link to IOM Online Business Columns

Why consider web site security?

unknown — 2010-04-28T17:44:48.863

For the majority of businesses, the web is now an essential part of doing business. Regardless of whether you have a full e-commerce facility or just a page of information about your organisation, maintaining web site security should be at the top of your action plan.

If you provide an online shop, you may be focused on safety of credit card details, however, whilst important - this is only one of many issues requiring consideration. In the digital age, information is currency. The growth of identity theft means your client’s personal data is just as important as their credit card details.

Even if your web site does not request or collect this type of information, if not secure, it may be compromised and used to facilitate attacks on your customer’s computers. A technique called ‘drive by hijacking’ is used to infect visitor’s machines by installing malicious software via a compromised web page. This software or ‘malware’ then harvests personal data such as banking information etc., directly from the victim’s computer and send it back to the software author via the internet. This type of compromise can prove a costly liability and have a damaging effect on brand loyalty.

Merry Christmas from all at Island Web Works

AndreasH — 2010-08-25T16:33:40.287

This year we have produced a Sledge Race to provide some festive fun. For the more competitive of you, the scores shown are the overall 10 best scores to date, so let see how good you can get!

Opening Hours:

Our offices will be closed from the 19th December until the 5th January. If there are any urgent matters that cannot wait, please contact Charles Douthwaite on 07624 463074 or email: charles@island-webworks.net.

We shall be sending out a news letter in January to bring you up to date on new developments at Island Web Works and would like to thank everyone for their support in 2008.

The team @ Island Web Works wish you all a very happy Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year.

Click here to play the Santa's Sledge Race game

Island Web Works launch new site

AndreasH — 2010-08-26T09:27:46.163

Recent visitors to our web site will have noticed the revamped design.

Although our new site has been expanded considerably, much care has been taken to preserve our brand image and retain the ease of navigation and speed of access, which characterised the old site.

We have now added a testimonial section, so that you can read what some of our clients have to say about our services.

Who is accessing personal data on your computer?

AndreasH — 2010-08-26T09:23:56.76

Whilst most computer users are aware of the threat posed by software viruses, very few seem to be aware of an equally dangerous and sinister threat; Spyware. Spyware is a generic term for software used to collect demographic and usage information from your computer albeit usually for advertising purposes. The term spyware is also applied to software that loads itself onto your computer to perform activities, which are hidden to you, the user.

Spyware applications are usually 'acquired' as a hidden component in certain "freeware" and "shareware" applications downloaded from the Internet. However, there is also a technique used called 'Drive By' that automatically installs software (spyware) onto your computer when you visit certain web sites. If you use a computer at home or at work that has access to the internet, then you probably already have spyware active on it. A recent report from research firm GartnerG2, estimates more than 20 million people have installed adware applications (adware being a type of spyware that reports back on a subject's activities to serve up targeted advertising) which, by itself, only accounts for a portion of the spyware on the loose.

Spyware is almost always installed secretly, indicating that spyware companies fully appreciate how users would feel about knowingly installing such software.

Whilst a lot of spyware programmes simply record and report on your usage preferences, they have the potential to do much more. Spyware exists as an independent executable program on your system with the potential to do almost anything, including monitor keystrokes, scan files on your hard drive, snoop on other applications such as word-processors and chat programs, read your cookies, change your default web browser settings and re-direct you to web sites you have not requested such as porn or gambling sites etc. Spyware will "phone home" periodically to present this information to the spyware's author who can then use it for marketing purposes, or sell it to other companies for a profit. In short, spyware can track and report on any aspect of your computer usage and is not limited in the way web sites are when it comes to gathering personal data. Whilst web sites can gather demographic and statistical data via the web browser and cookies set by its own domain, spyware can obtain full "behind the scenes" access to any information that your computer can access.

What can you do? The first line of defence is to recognise that spyware exists. The second is to check your computer and remove any installed spyware. As spyware can re-infect your computer when you log back onto the internet, it would be sensible to protect yourself against re-infection. Fortunately, there are some very good solutions available.

SpyBot's Search & Destroy is a powerful spyware removal tool, which can be downloaded free from spybot.safer-networking.de. Whilst SpyBot's Search and Destroy is extremely effective in removing installed spyware, it only offers limited protection against re-infection. Therefore, if you wish to take a more pro-active role against the spyware onslaught, software such as SpywareBlaster can provide an effective defence against re-infection. SpywareBlaster can be downloaded from http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/
spywareblaster.html.

Users who are justly paranoid/concerned about their privacy on-line, may also wish to consider implementing a personal firewall. Personal Firewalls can offer an added level of protection by allowing you to approve any communication a software application may request prior to accessing the internet. Many software programmes offer an auto update feature, which synchronises with the software author to establish what updates and bug fixes may be available. However, as with spyware, these programmes have the potential to pass additional and personal information, which you may not wish to disclose. Zone Alarm is a popular Firewall software that can be downloaded from www.zonelabs.com . Whilst earlier versions of this software are available free of charge, the latest version retails for around $40.

Macintosh users may wish to consider Norton Personal Firewall for Macintosh.

Further information on specific spyware threats can be found at www.doxdesk.com/parasite/

Published in Isle of Man Examiner

Mobile Internet - What can I use it for?

AndreasH — 2010-08-25T16:37:06.257

There are many uses for the mobile internet; the following are just a few examples.

Find that perfect job - Gone are the days of staying late or nipping to an internet cafe in your lunch hour. Search for jobs directly from your mobile phone.
E-Bay fans can keep an eye on their bids and use their phone to place that all important final offer.
Shop-a-holics can track down those rare trainers, or buy tickets for the cinema or latest gigs etc.
Keep in touch with friends and contacts via social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace or Bebo.
Instantly share images and video clips directly from your mobile via photo sharing sites such as Flickr and YouTube.
E-mail; you may ask - why send an e-mail instead of SMS or MMS? One example is capacity. Whilst picture messaging is a great way to send pictures from your mobile; poor quality displays and low resolution images are a limitation. Sending images or clips from your mobile by email enables you to send higher quality images and clips that can be viewed on a PC display and easily printed.

There are many uses for mobile internet. Whilst most of the above benefit individual’s, business benefits include secure access to company information and resources such as email and CRM directly from a users handset.

Whatever your purpose, affordability and convenience has made the mobile internet a possibility for everyone.

'Mobile Internet - What can I use it for?' is one in a series of short articles focused on accessing the internet via a mobile phone. Published in the Isle of Man Examiner 25th March 2008. Next weeks article is 'Why provide web content for mobiles'

Island Web Works becomes a DTI-approved consultant

AndreasH — 2010-10-08T14:42:34.78

The Government's continuing emphasis on the importance of e-commerce in the future growth of the Manx economy has been stressed again with a new approved consultancy to the Department of Trade and Industry's Business Support Scheme. The Department has given its approval to the Web Design and Intranet Solutions company Island Webworks Limited as one of the local companies recognised for its expertise in Web Design and associated internet/intranet technologies.

33 Isle of Man companies have been approved to provide consultancy services under the Governments Advisory Service scheme which was established in 1992. The newly revised Business Support Service covers a cross section of industries but with increasing emphasis on e-commerce. "The Department has been increasing its focus on e-commerce for some time," said Brian Hammond, E-Commerce Development Officer for the DTI. "It is clearly very important that the Isle of Man maintains its position as a leader in this new technology and we need expertise in specific fields so that companies can take advantage of the opportunities created by government initiatives. Consequently, we are very pleased to welcome a company such as Island Webworks to the list of approved consultants who bring expertise in web site and interface design with a clear focus on the practical application of the associated technologies."

The DTI's scheme provides for assistance in eleven different management disciplines including E-commerce applications. Working in conjunction with Salford Universityâ€™s Academic Enterprise unit, who are project managers for the scheme, the DTI assesses a company's ability to meet a series of quality measures and levels of expertise and experience in the appropriate discipline.

Latest Newsletter

AndreasH — 2010-08-26T08:30:42.057

Our Spring newsletter highlights a recent eVolve project with OSA as well as the latest updates for our MIGTurbo CRM software.

You can read out latest newsletter here.

How to market your web site, e-Business Seminar

AndreasH — 2010-08-26T09:23:10.08

We would like to thank everybody who attended our "How to market your web site" presentation arranged by the DTI and held at the Mount Murray Hotel on Saturday 20th.

The seminar was well attended and the feedback very positive.

For further information on this topic or any of the services available from Island Web Works please email us at enquiries@island-webworks.net or telephone Charles Douthwaite on 610606.

Click here to obtain your copy of our six e-marketing tips document (PDF format).

Money Media: Change of focus at Island Web Works

unknown — 2010-06-02T14:06:58.01

Island Web Works (IWW) was set up in 2001 and has since produced websites and web based software for many of the island’s leading companies. It also develops the successful MIGTurbo CRM software, used by companies on the island and in the UK.

Money Media spoke to Island Web Works M.D, Charles Douthwaite, about his experiences and to get his feedback on current developments:-

How did IWW get started?
We set up the company because we saw a gap in the local market. This was just after the dot com bubble burst. At the time, I wondered about the timing but looking back, those experiences instilled a discipline that has served us well.

How have things changed since then?
Today, businesses still want the web site, but they also want integration with their internal systems. Five years ago, IWW was almost exclusively a web site design company. However, over time our focus has shifted to process automation – we still do web sites, although now we find that clients often ask us to link from the web site through to their internal systems.

We have found that internet technologies are applicable to processes within the business, not just for web sites. The software development cycle also tends to be much shorter using web based technologies. Typically, we aim to go from concept to live system in three months.

Can you give me some examples?
We have a number of recruitment companies with their web sites directly linked to a ‘back office’ recruitment database. We have also completed a major project for a specialist finance company where we have developed a back office loan book system and web site which is linked into it to facilitate client requests and repayments etc. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What is your experience of the economic downturn?
Typically clients find they need to do more with less and turn to companies like ours to help. One way to achieve that goal is by automating and improving the efficiency of key business processes. We are seeing an increased demand for process automation to deliver business efficiencies. This is now a major part of our business and over the last year, we have increased staff numbers by 60% to deliver client projects in this area.

What is mobile internet?

AndreasH — 2010-08-25T16:40:21.147

In simplest terms, mobile internet is about accessing the internet from your mobile phone. Recent advances in mobile technology and more realistic pricing strategies have made access to the internet via a mobile phone a daily reality for many. Whilst cramped screens, tiny keypads and slow download speeds do not lend themselves to the rich multimedia experience offered by a P.C. they appear to be doing little to deter mobile users from logging on. In the first half of last year the number of UK consumers accessing the internet via a mobile handset was exceeding 5.7m monthly.

Is this a youth technology? I suspect not, whilst it may be a younger audience that is adopting the technology, this is probably more to do with the fact that many web sites do not make provision for access via a mobile phone; which in turn makes the navigation of such sites fiddly and cumbersome.

Many businesses have adopted mobile technologies to improve communications and drive down costs. A good example are courier companies who use mobile technology to track goods from point of dispatch to delivery. Once delivered goods have been signed for the ‘system’ is updated immediately to reflect this.

‘Mobile Internet’ is one in a series of short articles focused on accessing the internet via a mobile phone. Published in the Isle of Man Examiner 4th March 2008. Next weeks article is 'Should I be interested'

Happy New Year 2005

AndreasH — 2010-08-26T09:05:04.117

As we start our fifth year, may we take this opportunity to thank all our clients for their continued support and wish you all a very happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

We look forward to working with you in 2005.

Mobile Internet - What do I need to use it?

AndreasH — 2010-08-25T16:38:04.373

A mobile phone and a browser. Both Pay as You Go and contract phones offer internet access as standard. The biggest problem you will probably face is getting your mobile to connect to the internet. Both of the local mobile carriers have a very useful configuration facility on their web sites which will send the configuration settings directly to your phone via SMS. This will take a lot of the frustration out of this necessary task. Please ensure you go to the correct site i.e. www.manxtelecom.com for Pronto or www.surecw.com for Sure.

If after switching the phone off and back on you cannot get an internet connection, pop into one of the phone shops and ask for assistance. They will be happy to assist you.

Typically, any mobile that is less than four years old should have a basic browser installed, however, it is probably very basic in terms of functionality. Whilst there are a number of mobile browsers available, Opera is probably one of the most compatible and functional. If you go to the www.operamini.comweb site you will find instructions on how to obtain a copy. There is also a very useful SMS function which enables you to SMS the necessary link directly to your mobile. Downloading the Opera browser to your mobile will only take a couple of minutes, however, you will probably need to configure it to work with your mobile carrier. Again, if you have problems connecting, pop into your phone shop.

'Mobile Internet - What do I need to use it?' is one in a series of short articles focused on accessing the internet via a mobile phone. Published in the Isle of Man Examiner 18th March 2008. Next weeks article is 'What can I use it for'

Yachtsmann.com awarded "Industry Website of the Month"

AndreasH — 2010-08-25T16:39:45.43

SYNFO, the website of the leading superyacht publication The Yacht Report, has awarded yachtsmann.com its prestigious "Industry Website of the Month" for March 2008.

Full story: http://www.synfo.com/IYR/WebsiteOfMonth.asp

Internet Marketing

AndreasH — 2010-08-26T09:06:33.107

1. Web Site Preparation

The first thing you require before embarking on an e-marketing campaign is a professional web site. This will probably be the first contact a prospective client will have with your company and is therefore extremely important. First impressions matter!

2. Search Engines

There are millions of web sites on the internet so the chances of potential customers stumbling across your website are tiny unless it is properly promoted. If your target audience is outside the island - register with the popular search engines like Google and Yahoo. Whilst many sites still let you submit your site without charge this is changing as search companies try to realise the revenue potential of search. You can submit your site yourself but to get the best results you should use a professional search engine optimisation service. Be aware that it can take several weeks or months for your site to be indexed and to appear in search results.

3. Publish your web site address on all company literature

Your web site address (URL) should be on every piece of literature that your company produces. Make sure that your URL appears on your business cards, brochures, letterheads, faxes, invoices, other company stationery and newspaper adverts. In print, it is common practise to leave off http:// and show only the "www.yourbusinessname.com" portion.

4. Use E-mail Signatures

Microsoft Outlook and many other email programs allow you to add an email signature to e-mails. This is a very useful feature that many people neglect to use. Ensure that your company name, phone and fax numbers, web site and email address appear on your signature. Putting your web site link on your email signature makes it very easy for people to find your web site as once you have sent them an email all they have to do is click on the link at the bottom of the message.

5. Keep your web site up to date

Many organisations spend a lot of time and effort getting ‘on-line’ and then simply forget to do anything else. It is extremely important to keep the content of your site up to date so that your site appears dynamic. If you have a news service, use it. If the last article on your site is dated last year, many people will assume you have ceased to trade.

6. E-Mail Newsletter

An e-mail newsletter is a very effective way of keeping in touch with your client base. These cost only a few hundred pounds to generate and e-mail campaigns enjoy a higher response rate than traditional printed media. Most organisations have a huge unused resource in terms of customer e-mail addresses so the raw material is already present in most companies. Remember, however, to always provide an option to 'opt out' of future e-newsletters etc., or you may be accused of spamming.

Does your web site hurt your image?

AndreasH — 2010-08-26T09:14:57.547

Whilst the hype surrounding the dot com boom may have faded, the internet has firmly established itself as a powerful marketing opportunity. Forrester Research estimates that global online purchasing in 2004 will reach £3,700 Billion, of which an estimated £156 Billion will be conducted online in the UK alone.

The dot com revolution has changed the way we do business. It is now extremely common for a prospective client or employee to ‘check you out’ by reviewing your company web site before agreeing to meet, or even whilst conducting a telephone conversation with you.

The majority of clients expect companies to have a web site by default and regard it as odd if not suspicious when they don't. Additionally, the image of your site must be in keeping with the image you are trying to create. Today, more than ever, your web site is your shop window to the world and first impressions still count.

The advantages of having a well designed web site will vary from business to business, however, the following will apply to many;

* IT NEVER SLEEPS. Regard your web site as an electronic brochure, available to all 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
* IT IS EASILY KEPT CURRENT. Once live, your site can be very easily and cost effectively maintained. Compare this with the expense and hassle of changing an address or contact details in a printed brochure.
* ATTRACT NEW BUSINESS. A web site is ideal for the soft sell. It allows potential clients to look at your company's products and services in a completely relaxed and non-threatening way.
* ADVERTISE NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES. The internet is a global medium allowing a company to market products and services to a world-wide audience. It is also very easy to have a web site available in a number of languages - a particular advantage for many businesses in the Isle of Man with an international client base.
* REDUCE ADMINISTRATION COSTS AND IMPROVE SERVICE. If you are constantly sending out standard forms and documents, or need to keep product information up to date, making this information available on your web site will achieve both.
* PROVIDE CONTACT INFORMATION. At the very least a company should make all their contact details available on-line. It is very common for someone to refer to a web site to look up the telephone number or address for a company they want to deal with.
* ATTRACT QUALITY STAFF. When researching a prospective employer, the first thing a prospective employee will look at is the company web site. Given the ongoing shortage of skilled personnel on the island, presenting a professional image is key if you want to attract quality staff.

Web Site Security - Distributed Denial of Service

unknown — 2010-06-04T13:53:29.623

An attack on a web-site designed to reduce the availability of that site is known as a Denial of Service attack (DoS). A DoS attack is intended to disable a web site by brute force of requests. It could be likened to continually making thousands of phone calls to a company at the same time and “clogging-up” the telephone switchboard. This poses many problems for the business, not only is the web site inaccessible but the attack is also designed to use all available bandwidth removing the business’s ability to counter the attack.

DoS attacks are often part of a plot to blackmail companies. Businesses who have become subject to a Dos attack often have little choice but pay up. While successful attacks on web-sites are known, it is suspected that many companies threatened with such an attack have simply “paid up” to avoid such an attack.

If you host a web site on your internal company server, building a system that protects against DoS attacks can be difficult and prove very expensive. If you feel your company may become a target for a DoS attack, pre-emptive planning with your hosting company is probably the most cost effective form of defence.

New web site launched

AndreasH — 2010-08-26T08:56:14.88

Recent visitors to our web site will have noticed the revamped design.

Although our new site has been expanded considerably, much care has been taken to retain the ease of navigation and speed of access, which characterised the old site.

The Top 10 Web Design Mistakes

AndreasH — 2010-10-08T14:34:12.013

Every organisation needs a good web site but like many things, designing a good web site is far harder than it looks. The old maxim that "Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder" certainly applies and tastes vary from person to person. Design and layout are not easy but there are certain classic mistakes that tend to occur again and again.

Our top 10 list of web design mistakes are set out below:-

1. Large Home Pages
Large home pages that take forever to download are extremely irritating and will lose you visitors. Studies have shown that you will start to lose visitors if a site takes longer than 7 seconds to load. Most visitors will have cancelled if it takes more than 15 seconds. Make sure your images are properly optimized for the web to make them as small as possible and whatever you do - do not use background music on your home page. Try to keep the total size of your homepage under 60K (80K max). Remember the smaller the homepage - the faster it will load in a visitor's browser and surfers love fast sites.

2. Long stretches of unbroken text
Reading text on a computer screen is not as comfortable or convenient as it is on a printed page. Studies have found that the average visitor skims through text on a web page rather than reading every word. It is therefore important to keep things as short and succinct as possible and to break up the text into easily digestible sections.

Users also dislike having to scroll down the page so where possible make sure the page fits within the browser window

3. Poor use of Animated Graphics
Animated graphics have their place but when used incorrectly they can be an unnecessary distraction. Spinning logos and so on have an overpowering effect and can distract visitors from your site content. Users also equate such designs with advertising which means they ignore it. In this case, less is definitely more.

In particular, Under Construction signs have no place on a professionally designed web site - a web site should not be put up unless it is complete. You can announce upcoming developments and changes to the web site on a news page. An animated worker with a shovel may look cute but it certainly doesn't create the feeling of a professional organization.

4. Flash Intro Screens
I am a fan of flash when used correctly. However, one of my pet hates are the huge flash intro screens, particularly those without a Skip Intro button. The first time a visitor experiences these, they may be impressed. However, after a few more visits, the viewer will become increasingly bored and irritated as they have to wade through the same flash presentation to access even basic contact information on the site. The other thing to remember when designing with Flash is to keep the file sizes as small as possible. A lot of web designers have ADSL and have huge bandwidth so don't really notice the monstrous file sizes of their flash presentations. Most users however are still on 56K modems and they can take 10 times longer to download the same presentation - which means they won't be returning to your site anytime soon.

5. Bad Navigation
Web surfers have no patience with web sites that confuse them. It doesn't matter how good a site looks if people can't immediately find the information they are looking for. People are used to certain navigation standards such as site logo linking to the home page, or a clear indication of what part of the site the current page belongs to. If these elements are missing, users are easily lost. Consistency is the key to good Navigation design. Obscure and inconsistent Navigation structures should be avoided. Use commonly accepted web standards and keep it simple - then it's hard to go wrong.

6. Treating the Web like other media
You cannot create a good website directly based on another medium. What looks great on a glossy brochure rarely translates well to the web. Those new to the web often try to copy the look, feel and content of their corporate glossy within their web site to maintain a consistent brand image. This is a classic web design mistake and very rarely succeeds. The web is a very different medium to print and needs to be specifically designed for.

7. Designing for an internal audience
Your web site should be designed with your customers needs in mind. Customers are rarely interested in long-winded mission statements and organization charts that only a staff member would understand. It is amazing how many sites are designed for the benefit of senior management and not for the customer.

8. Broken Links
This is one of the most common problems on web sites. There is nothing more annoying to click on a link only to find it doesn't take you anywhere and just gives you an error message. It makes a web site look incomplete and gives the impression that it is poorly maintained.

9. Outdated Information
It is crucial to keep the information on your web site up to date. Allocate some time and a budget to do this on a regular basis. You are not going to impress a customer when the last update on your news page is over a year old. You may think this would never happen - but it is very easy to overlook this sort of thing. Allocating responsibility and a budget for keeping the site up to date is the best way to avoid this. Proper planning will allow much of this to be done in-house by your own - non technical staff.

10. Designing for 1024 and above.
Sites that specify "best viewed in 1024 and above" are a no-no. Professional's design for an 800 X 600 screen resolution as that is still what the majority of web users set as their screen resolution. A site designed for 800 X 600 will still look good at resolutions of 1024 and above but the reverse does not apply as visitors will not see the site in one pane but are forced to scroll up and down and from left to right.

Widgets now available

AndreasH — 2010-08-26T08:31:44.15

Widgets are becoming very popular applications for providing information on everything from weather forecasts and news feeds (RSS) to calendars or battery life monitors.

To demonstrate how a widget may work for your business, we have recently released our own news widget that will keep you up to date with all the latest happenings at Island Web Works.

To download or find out more about widgets, click here.