Blog Tips for Beginners

- Keep it simple. Start with a free and easy to use blogging tool like Blogger. Pick a simple design and just start writing. You can tweak the design and make it look good later.

- Write for yourself. It takes time for others to find and read your blog so use it as a space to think out loud about the things that interest you. Pick topics that you are passionate about and you’ll find people with similar interests will connect with you.

- Interact with your readers. Make sure your blog has a commenting feature – when someone leaves a comment email them or leave a reply comment. People will come back if you take the time to acknowledge and interact with them.

- Set boundaries and think about the purpose of your blog. Remember what you are writing is in a public domain so you might want to refrain from talking about your personal life – people WILL find it. Decide up front about what you will and won’t write about and stick to it.

- Read other blogs and link to those that interest you. One of the best things about blogging is how it connects people thinking through similar issues. Link to them, add your own ideas, leave comments on their blog – blogging can bring about rich and wonderful conversations and lead to lasting friendships.

- Be patient, post regularly and have fun. It can take a long time to build up a readership. In the mean time just enjoy the writing process. Make it a daily exercise (it takes some discipline) and don’t give up if it seems no-one is reading – just be yourself and have fun.

 

source: http://www.livingroom.org.au/blog/archives/blog_tips_for_beginners.php

Electronic Commerce History Timeline

• 1990: Tim Berners-Lee wrote the first web browser, WorldWideWeb, using a NeXT computer.
• 1992: J.H. Snider and Terra Ziporyn published Future Shop: How New Technologies Will Change the Way We Shop and What We Buy. St. Martin’s Press. ISBN 0312063598.
• 1994: Netscape released the Navigator browser in October under the code name Mozilla. Pizza Hut offered pizza ordering on its Web page. The first online bank opened. Attempts to offer flower delivery and magazine subscriptions online. Adult materials were also commercially available, as were cars and bikes. Netscape 1.0 in late 1994 introduced SSL encryption that made transactions secure.
• 1995: Jeff Bezos launched Amazon.com and the first commercial-free 24 hour, internet-only radio stations, Radio HK and NetRadio started broadcasting. Dell and Cisco began to aggressively use Internet for commercial transactions. eBay was founded by computer programmer Pierre Omidyar as AuctionWeb.
• 1998: Electronic postal stamps can be purchased and downloaded for printing from the Web.
• 1999: business.com was sold for US $7.5 million, which was purchased in 1997 for US $150,000. The peer-to-peer filesharing software Napster was launched.
• 2000: The dot-com bust.
• 2003: Amazon.com had its first year with a full year of profit.

 

Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-commerce#Timeline

The Difference Between a Virus, Worm and Trojan Horse

The most common blunder people make when the topic of a computer virus arises is to refer to a worm or Trojan horse as a virus. While the words Trojan, worm and virus are often used interchangeably, they are not the same. Viruses, worms and Trojan Horses are all malicious programs that can cause damage to your computer, but there are differences among the three, and knowing those differences can help you to better protect your computer from their often damaging effects.
A computer virus attaches itself to a program or file so it can spread from one computer to another, leaving infections as it travels. Much like human viruses, computer viruses can range in severity: Some viruses cause only mildly annoying effects while others can damage your hardware, software or files. Almost all viruses are attached to an executable file, which means the virus may exist on your computer but it cannot infect your computer unless you run or open the malicious program. It is important to note that a virus cannot be spread without a human action, (such as running an infected program) to keep it going.  People continue the spread of a computer virus, mostly unknowingly, by sharing infecting files or sending e-mails with viruses as attachments in the e-mail.

A worm is similar to a virus by its design, and is considered to be a sub-class of a virus. Worms spread from computer to computer, but unlike a virus, it has the capability to travel without any help from a person. A worm takes advantage of file or information transport features on your system, which allows it to travel unaided. The biggest danger with a worm is its capability to replicate itself on your system, so rather than your computer sending out a single worm, it could send out hundreds or thousands of copies of itself, creating a huge devastating effect. One example would be for a worm to send a copy of itself to everyone listed in your e-mail address book. Then, the worm replicates and sends itself out to everyone listed in each of the receiver’s address book, and the manifest continues on down the line. Due to the copying nature of a worm and its capability to travel across networks the end result in most cases is that the worm consumes too much system memory (or network bandwidth), causing Web servers, network servers and individual computers to stop responding. In more recent worm attacks such as the much-talked-about .Blaster Worm., the worm has been designed to tunnel into your system and allow malicious users to control your computer remotely.
A Trojan Horse is full of as much trickery as the mythological Trojan Horse it was named after. The Trojan Horse, at first glance will appear to be useful software but will actually do damage once installed or run on your computer.  Those on the receiving end of a Trojan Horse are usually tricked into opening them because they appear to be receiving legitimate software or files from a legitimate source.  When a Trojan is activated on your computer, the results can vary. Some Trojans are designed to be more annoying than malicious (like changing your desktop, adding silly active desktop icons) or they can cause serious damage by deleting files and destroying information on your system. Trojans are also known to create a backdoor on your computer that gives malicious users access to your system, possibly allowing confidential or personal information to be compromised. Unlike viruses and worms, Trojans do not reproduce by infecting other files nor do they self-replicate.
Added into the mix, we also have what is called a blended threat. A blended threat is a sophisticated attack that bundles some of the worst aspects of viruses, worms, Trojan horses and malicious code into one threat. Blended threats use server and Internet vulnerabilities to initiate, transmit and spread an attack. This combination of method and techniques means blended threats can spread quickly and cause widespread damage. Characteristics of blended threats include: causes harm, propagates by multiple methods, attacks from multiple points and exploits vulnerabilities.

To be considered a blended thread, the attack would normally serve to transport multiple attacks in one payload. For examplem it wouldn’t just launch a DoS attack — it would also install a backdoor and damage a local system in one shot. Additionally, blended threats are designed to use multiple modes of transport. For example, a worm may travel through e-mail, but a single blended threat could use multiple routes such as e-mail, IRC and file-sharing sharing networks. The actual attack itself is also not limited to a specific act. For example, rather than a specific attack on predetermined .exe files, a blended thread could modify exe files, HTML files and registry keys at the same time — basically it can cause damage within several areas of your network at one time.

Blended threats are considered to be the worst risk to security since the inception of viruses, as most blended threats require no human intervention to propagate.

Combating Viruses, Worms and Trojan Horses

The first steps to protecting your computer are to ensure your operating system (OS) is up-to-date. This is essential if you are running a Microsoft Windows OS. Secondly, you should have anti-virus software installed on your system and ensure you download updates frequently to ensure your software has the latest fixes for new viruses, worms, and Trojan horses. Additionally, you want to make sure your anti-virus program has the capability to scan e-mail and files as they are downloaded from the Internet. This will help prevent malicious programs from even reaching your computer. You should also install a firewall as well.

A firewall is a system that prevents unauthorized use and access to your computer. A firewall can be either hardware or software. Hardware firewalls provide a strong degree of protection from most forms of attack coming from the outside world and can be purchased as a stand-alone product or in broadband routers. Unfortunately, when battling viruses, worms and Trojans, a hardware firewall may be less effective than a software firewall, as it could possibly ignore embedded worms in out going e-mails and see this as regular network traffic. For individual home users, the most popular firewall choice is a software firewall.  A good software firewall will protect your computer from outside attempts to control or gain access your computer, and usually provides additional protection against the most common Trojan programs or e-mail worms. The downside to software firewalls is that they will only protect the computer they are installed on, not a network.

It is important to remember that on its own a firewall is not going to rid you of your computer virus problems, but when used in conjunction with regular operating system updates and a good anti-virus scanning software, it will add some extra security and protection for your computer or network

 

source: http://webopedia.internet.com/DidYouKnow/Internet/2004/virus.asp

E-Commerce Mistakes (2)

Here are the 2nd 5 mistakes

1. Not testing your site. All the links on your site, including product descriptions, photos, the shopping cart, feedback, and others, should be routinely tested to make sure they work.
2. A hard-to-find or nonexistent privacy policy. Although most people will not actually read your privacy policy, some shoppers will want to know what you will do with the information you collect.
3. Poor order fulfillment. Word travels fast on the Internet, and just one or two unhappy customers can do irreparable damage to your reputation. Before you launch your site, make sure you are prepared to fill the orders your customers place, and do your best to deliver your product in a timely fashion.

    

4. Straying from your objective. If your goal is to have an online children’s furniture business, do it; don’t start selling patio furniture or antiques. Too many e-commerce sites lose their primary focus and start spreading themselves too thin. Stick with your area of expertise.
5. Poor customer service. Perhaps this is the most significant area of all. Web consumers today are very conscious of customer service, and they are apt to go elsewhere if they feel you are not providing them with the level of service they deserve. If you heed only one thing from this list, make it this one. Provide excellent customer service and your satisfied customers will spread the word.

source: http://www.allbusiness.com/sales/internet-e-commerce/3972-1.html

E-Commerce Mistakes (1)

Here are some e-commerce mistakes that should be known to be avoided, I will post (5) of them now and if you are still interested, see the other (5) I will post later
Trying to sell the wrong product online. Not all products will sell successfully on the Internet. Inexpensive products that require a shipping charge are typically not worth selling, particularly if they can be easily purchased in most local stores. Other products, such as specialized high-end clothing, may be more difficult to sell because people prefer to try them on. Research how other e-commerce sites have fared with similar products and what tactics that have used to entice shoppers into ordering online.

Lack of marketing. Just because you have a product and a Web site does not necessarily mean anyone will find it. You need to market your site both online and off. Focus on your company’s competitive advantage, and do your best to convince the customer that you are offering a great deal.

A poorly designed Web site. In their haste to get online quickly and start selling, too many e-commerce novices do not display their wares well. Many would-be Web designers crowd their sites with too much information or cram too many items on a single page. A professional-looking site that features a dozen items with clear photos and descriptions is more effective than one that includes 50 sales items all bunched together. Also, be wary of too much color, Flash animation, or graphics that can slow downloads.

Falling behind the times. If you do not keep your site current, you will lose out to competitors that do. Stay on top of the industry and post new items often. If customers visit your site over the course of several weeks or months and nothing has changed, they may assume the site is no longer maintained, and they may look elsewhere. A successful e-commerce site is one that stays current and appears vibrant. 

Poor checkout procedures. Once your customers decide what they want to purchase, it should be easy to go to the shopping cart and pay without having to answer questions or jump hurdles. Make completing the transaction as easy and painless as possible.

 

Success Tips in E-Commerce (2)

Here are the other 5 tips for success in e commerce:

 

Do not let your Customers forget you:
Customer Relationship Management is of prime

importance, especially when you are small and

struggling to build a persistent customer base.

Develop innovative ways to inform past customers

about new products and the latest updates to the

web store. Your chosen ECommerce solution should

have provisions for incorporating various CRM

campaigns. Adopt Innovative communication for

communicating with your customers.

Pamper your customers to generate permanent

sales in order ensure the success of your online

business.
Increase your Web Presence:
Make your presence felt by carrying out

intelligent marketing over the Internet. Perform

search engine optimization (SEO) for your site,

since the majority of buyers visit websites

after spotting them come in the first three or

four pages of search engine results. You can

either hire professional services or carry out

Internet marketing by yourself.

Associate yourself with web sites providing

complimentary products or services on the

Internet. This helps you in increasing your web

presence both for search engines and for your

customers.

Intelligent marketing alone will get you

customers.
Build Robust Backend Operations:
Backend operations are the backbone of your

online storefront. Spend time in analyzing the

backend operations provided by the ECommerce

software. Features such as Inventory management

processing, credit card processing, reporting

systems etc. will shape your first impression.

All your backend operations are expected to be

accurate, scalable and provide real time data.

Your choice of ECommerce solution would largely

determine the strength of your backend

operations.

A potential threat to your ECommerce operations

is systems failure owning to faulty backend

operations. Ensure the existence of a strong

backend platform before opening for business.
Learn Faster and Better:
To err is human, but failing to cover yourself

and allowing your competitors to exploit your

loopholes, is suicidal and is a major threat to

E-Success.

Always have an unbiased assessment of your

online business and be prepared to spot your

mistakes. Learn the art of covering your

mistakes and rectify them before your

competitors come to know about them.

Business is all about speed. Speed is essential

in identifying and rectifying mistakes. You need

to learn about your loopholes and mistakes

faster than your competitors and rectify them

effectively.
Surprise your Customers:
Surprise your customers with frequent changes in

your business offerings. Add incentives by

providing surprise offers, price discounts etc.

Your estore can also help to add life to your

business enterprise. Perform regular

enhancements to look and feel, the display of

products etc of your online storefront. Make

changes that do not detract from the brand image

in the minds of your customers. Make sure, as

well, that the changes are not unattractive or

are too frequent.

Constantly innovating while remaining focused on

your business goals will lead to success in your

online business.

 

source :  http://www.goecart.com/online-business-success.asp

Success tips in E-Commerce (1)

Here are some tips in succeful e commerce this time I will put 5 of them and the other (5) later

Target the Un-Targeted:
Know your customers thoroughly and target those needs that are unseen by your competitors.

eBay is a bright example. eBay was quick to recognize peoples’ desire to earn economic profits by trading second-hand products. eBay realized the need for a platform where such buyers and sellers could meet and trade. ECommerce technologies helped eBay to create the required platform required and the rest is history.

When you are new to online business- Start Small but Start Right.
Strong Business Planning:
Have complete knowledge of your revenue source, break-even duration and other important strategic details from the beginning, and decide on the milestones that are to be achieved. You should know the right moment to expand your business and plan for future sources of revenue.

The Internet business has a cruel history of bringing about disastrous changes at phenomenal speed. Be prepared to face such upheavals and have plans in place to manage such turbulent times.
Business Friendly ECommerce Software:
Always choose software that is easy to manage and allows you to focus on your core business activities.

Choose an ECommerce solution that fits your business requirements. Analyze ECommerce software in terms of its scalability, security and the amount of customization allowed.

Invest in a solution that not only meets your present requirements, but also is capable of accommodating your future business needs.
Create a Web Store with a Difference:
Visual memory is more enduring than textual memory. Correct branding is important for the success of your online business. Increase your brand recall by creating an estore that is in tune with the likes and dislikes of your targeted customers.

Learn more about your customers and create unique branding by using distinct color combinations, site layout and innovative logo. Attractive display of your domain name can also play an important role in branding your online store.

Be different (but not vague) in order to create a positive appeal in the minds of your customers for achieving esuccess.
Make your “Hot Sellers” most Visible:
Attract a customer and advertise your USP first.

Create your estore in such a manner that when a visitor leaves your online store, s/he is aware of your specialty even if they do not intend on purchasing those products.

To clarify: Let us assume you are an online flower vendor specializing in selling fresh red roses. Create your online storefront in a way that when a visitor leaves your storefront, s/he is aware about your specialty even though he may not have seen the Red Roses section. So the next time the visitor intends to buy red roses, they will be very likely to recall your storefront.

E-Commerce in Saudi Arabia

E-Commerce in Saudi Arabia: adoption and perspectives

 

I found the this resreach about E-Commerce in Saudi Arabia  and I think It’s very very useful

 

in this URL

http://dl.acs.org.au/index.php/ajis/article/view/105

 

I hope you benifit from it , regards.

First Trial To Develop a System

There is a difference between real life and books!!

 yesterday , I was working with my partener in our project , which is analysing and designing an information system for a company or a store or an orginization. We went to four non-profit orginizations , actually we were met nicely especially when we introduced our selvies as students from KFUPM looking to help them to develop a system.

I noticed that they all wish to have an information system to ease their work, but the awareness of how usful the system is was not that much. The second barrier I noticed that they say it requires a lot of money which they cannot afford , plus that they feel comfortable the way the did their work. Another isuue is that real life is not based on assumptions or therios , I mean you dont expect to find everything and everbody wait just to give you what you look for , we waited for the person who is responsible about the system of the fourth orginization we went to for about half an hour, but he didnt come , we called him to his mobile but it was turned off!, so we got the number and left this orginization saying “tommorow is a new day!”

 

 

My experience with E-Banking

The person is an enemy of what he is ignorant about!

Before taking this course (MIS 300) I was one of those who dont trust e-business , However after the 2nd week in

this course , I began to change my mind about e-business , I went to the web site of the bank for which I am a

customer and I created an account , even though creating account procedures were a bit strict & accurate , I

appreciated that for security reasons , and after I completed these procedures I didn’t believe that I could see

my account balance , details  , pay bills… etc , in my computer in my room without going to the ATM , now I

enjoy making transactions from my own laptop , anytime anywhere  , without exaggerating nothing convinced me as this course

and of course its instructor