By: Taban Khajehnassiri
This brief article first published electronically as the editorial of WWN JUL 15 2000.
As you may know, in our own native language, in persian, we have a saying
that "to hurry up is the act of satan." But now, regarding these new
fast-pacing technologies adding up each and every moment to our world, I
think the very first thing we have to and need to do is hurry up. In case
of the Internet, first it was just to know the rules how to play with the
Internet, then it was only establishing a simple web presence on the net,
and then it came with e-mails new terms such as e-business, e-commerce,
e-elections and recently e-government. We have to be well on this road to
all these e-things if we want to survive on this blue and green e-planet.
There are many more people in the world, many more individuals and
corporates attracted to the Internet in the matter of seconds and minutes.
Nowadays, there are many more web sites on the World Wide Web waiting for
you as viewers or potential customers to serve you the most and the best,
and that is a good reason for me to write about it. You see, in this
e-world, people (personally or in corporates) invest their (time and)
money on the Internet to reach somewhere safe, sound and sometimes much
more profitable. They build up their web sites online perhaps on a single
basic thought or an idea. they advertise in newspapers, magazines,
e-zines, radio and tv channels to find out more viewers, customers and
ultimately more profits. celebs are looking for more fans, more piece of
papers to sign and more contracts. Governments are looking for e-presence
to rule wider and serve citizens faster and (perhaps) better than ever
before. Is there any success for them via the Internet? Anyway, it almost
depends on your own goals and objectives, but where do you want to go from
here on the Internet? What are we as the citizens of this e-planet looking
for or going for on the Internet with (or without) our web site? Is this
given web site (or let me say e-home) taking us where we want to go? I am
sure you do not want to setup a web site just for decorating a small
portion of the net. No, we do not want our actions and money all in vain.
The only truth is that we know you would like to hear your viewers all
talking about you (as the webmaster or site owner) and your web site, and
that is surely the Word-of-Mouth part of your advertising campaign.
Meanwhile, you want your web site a head and shoulders above other web
sites on the net, sometimes it is possible but regarding some of those big
big guys or corporates out there, it looks somehow much more harder. But
here, we can say something, you need satisfied customers, viewers.
Statistics show that most of them are looking for reliable information,
good and reasonable prices, honesty and respect as well as desirable
services and supports. With your web site, are you providing them with
what they need?
The sad thing about the Internet is that statistics are saying more than
75 percent of all net users are there looking for and surfing for
entertainment, hobbies and communications. On the other hand, even if your
site has a chance to attract viewers because of its entertaining
orientation or content, it is almost true if we say your viewers rarely
click the banners you have presented up on your pages unless the banners
themselves are there to guide them to much more fun and entertainment.
I believe banners must be used to make a brand out of something. In books,
articles and columns, authors are talking about the matter of Technology,
IT fundings and expertise, but there is still also the matter of access.
According to recent reports from NUA Internet Surveys the proportion of
people with an Internet access at home even in America is under 50% in
most of Europe it is less than half that, for instance in Germany, it is
around 20%, in Australia it is about 38% and 18% in the UAE. And again, in
case of Iran, we do not have any precise estimate in this regard.
This shows that everyone involved with the Internet business, setting up
web sites, e-commerce and so one must be so alert about the whole issue of
investment on the net. Take for example these vital questions: Government
web sites cannot choose their customers; Services they provide must be for
everyone from their own respected country and also from anywhere else in
the world. This shows that government webmasters must pay more attention
to the matter of their web site designs, structure, content and services
that must be more comprehensive and complete. Perhaps and again, it is
true that we say government web sites throughout the world are so limited
and poor in their information and presentation. To government web sites,
issues of security and trust are of greater concern. I suppose you are
handling a government web site, is your web site designed for a government
purpose taking you and/or your viewers where you and they want to go? It
sounds that the whole money put to build up and maintain a government web
site unable to meet the needs of its own visitors is all waisted and in
vain! To private sector corporates tending to construct and maintain a web
site or an interface to promote their goods or services, satisfaction of
customers is a must, since they are able to choose their customers.
Customers look for precise and integrated and structured information, best
possible support, security and trust as well as reasonable pricings. They
also look for good-looking pages, easy navigations and prompt replies to
their requests. Is your web site designed for a private sector body taking
you (as the webmaster or site owner) where you want to go? There are many
more and enormous potential out there on the Internet. Each and every web
site (Government, private or personal) will need committed management and
leadership. We need to understand the needs of ouyr viewers, customers and
citizens. We need to understand the principles of the graphical interface
we design to establish a better relationship with the users. However, we
need our visitors contact us and let us know their views and this is the
most important part of a dialog. Without feedbacks web sites are doomed to
die soon. If we are here on the Internet, we want to make a brand, we have
to initiate a big economic boost from within. We have to overcome the
barriers, we have to change the mind, the body and the spirit of what is
not working any more on the Internet.