How to Email Large Files

by Tom Kettman, Tech Help (www.gotechhelp.com)

Have you ever tried to send large video files or photos by email, only to be informed that the attachment you're trying to send is too large? The reason for the size limit is that email was not designed to handle large file formats. Large files can bring down entire networks, crash email programs, and frustrate your friends, family, and coworkers. There are alternatives, though--and no, I'm not going to tell you to use the post office.

There is a new crop of web services available that allow you to upload large files to their sites and just send an email with a link to download the file. The advantage is that as people are increasingly using iPhones and BlackBerries to access their email on the go, they can see that you've sent them a file to download but they don't have to suffer through trying to download an email that is too large.

The simplest service I've used is www.YouSendIt.com. To use the service, simply go to their website, enter the recipient's email address, choose the file you want to upload, and then start the sending process. This service offers a variety of options, both free and paid, depending on file size and usage.

One of the newest sites to offer large file delivery services is www.Pando.com. Their system involves installing software on your computer so you can use Outlook directly to complete the process. If you are someone who regularly sends large files, the convenience of being able to use Outlook may be worth the extra hassle of installing the software. This service also has both free and paid options.

Other services are available as well. Some focus strictly on business documents, while others are geared toward casual users. Read through each provider's options to make sure you're getting the right service for you.

Spring Cleaning

by Doug DeVries

Good thing I didn't write this article when spring officially started. March just didn't feel like spring...

Garage sales are now in full swing and people are cleaning, but one of the easiest spring cleaning areas to forget is your computer. Your poor computer has been quietly toiling away all winter – now it needs a break and a clean-up.

1. With all those little fans running in your computer, it becomes an expensive air filter. Each year, it is important to open the case of your computer and carefully vacuum out any dust. You may be shocked to see how much has accumulated. Turn OFF the computer first and vacuum very carefully, so as to not touch any components. You can also used compressed air to blow away the dust, but I'd suggest taking it outside first.

2. Check your hard drive. With Windows XP & Vista, the classic ScanDisk and Defrag steps are not nearly as important as they used to be, but still worth doing once per year. Open My Computer, right-click on your C: drive, select Properties and you will see the Tools tab. Scandisk and Defrag are located on this tab. Click on one to get started and let the computer walk you through the rest. Be aware: these processes will take some time. (Note: these processes are generally not required for Macintosh computers.)

3. Update your antivirus and antispyware programs. It is amazing how many people let this area slide. There are several free antivirus solutions - check out http://free.grisoft.com. For spyware, visit www.download.com and search for Spybot Search & Destroy.

4. Clean up your temporary Internet files. In any Internet Explorer window, click on Tools > Internet Options. Under the General tab in the section on Temporary Internet Files, you'll see the options to Delete Files and Delete Cookies. This will clean up old 'cookies' and give your browsing a clean slate. Actually, you could do this once a month. If you use something other than Internet Explorer, such as Safari or Firefox, the names of the tabs might be different, but the process is pretty much the same.

Just a few minutes doing some spring cleaning will be well worth your time, and your computer will be better for it.

Top Ten Website Mistakes -- Part 2 of 2

by Doug DeVries of Tech Help

Last month, we looked at five of the top ten mistakes in web design, adapted from an article by Jakob Nielsen of Useit.com. Here are mistakes 6-10:

6. No Site Map
The site map is the easiest way for a user to find what they are looking for without sifting through submenus or trying to guess at the proper search terms. Even if you have a great search function, everyone interacts with a website slightly differently. Be sure to provide your users with multiple methods to access the same information.

7. Anything That Looks Like an Ad
Web users no longer pay attention to ads that come between them and their goals. This includes:
· Banner Blindness: If it looks like a banner ad due to shape or position, users will look right past it.
· Animation Avoidance: Blinking/flashing text and aggressive animations don't attract attention--they drive it away.
· Pop-up Purge: Even if pop-ups get past their blocker, most users shut them down before they're fully rendered.

8. Violating Design Conventions
Jakob's Law of the Web User Experience: "Users spend most of their time on other websites." Those other sites teach them what to expect from your site. Unconventional sites are harder to use because they force the users to retrain themselves. Most users would rather find their content elsewhere.

9. Opening New Browser WindowsThere are only a couple of situations where a new window or pop-up should be used on your website. Links to pages within your website should never open new windows. Links to other resource websites can open new windows, allowing people to keep track of where they are within your site. Extra windows can cause confusion, so use sparingly.

10. Not Answering Users' Questions
People use the Internet because they have a goal. They want to accomplish something, or maybe even buy your product. If you don't provide the information they're looking for, your website has failed. This includes service or product details, phone numbers, prices, and return policies.

For the full text of Nielsen's article, visit http://www.useit.com/alertbox/9605.html

Top Ten Website Mistakes

by Doug DeVries of Tech Help

Developing your website is an ongoing process. Don't get discouraged if you are currently breaking all the rules below. Begin the process of your redesign by addressing one area at a time. Your customers will appreciate it, and I believe you will see a return on your investment. Chances are, all of us break a few of these rules, but to help you overcome that, here are the top mistakes as detailed by Jakob Nielsen of Useit.com.

1. Bad Search
Keep your search simple. If your site search (the function that searches within your website) is overly literal and can't handle typos, plurals, and hyphens, your users won't be able to properly find your products or services.

2. PDF Files for Online Reading
Users hate coming across a PDF file while browsing because it breaks their flow. On the other hand, PDF documents are great for printing and for distributing manuals and other big documents that need to be printed.

3. Not Changing the Color of Visited Links
A good grasp of past navigation helps users understand their current location, but many design styles don't change link colors once they have been visited. This can be an easy update on your website.

4. Non-Scannable Text
A wall of text is deadly for an interactive experience. Intimidating. Boring. Painful to read. Use these well-documented tricks:
· Subheadings
· Bulleted lists
· Highlighted keywords
· Short paragraphs
· A simple writing style

5. Page Titles with Low Search Engine Visibility
Create custom titles for each of your pages (that line that appears at the top of your browser window). Don't leave "home page" or "welcome to my website" as the title text. It is confusing for users and doesn't help search engine optimization. The change is simple, but it makes a big difference.

Tune in next month for part 2, mistakes 6-10!

Adapted from Jakob Nielsen's article on Useit.com (www.useit.com/alertbox/9605.html)

Time to Revisit Your Website

by Doug DeVries

Over the past few years, websites have become increasingly more dynamic. The best websites allow visitors to interact with the content and engage with the community as it relates to your business. This can include product reviews, blogs, discussions, searchable FAQs, etc. If you haven't updated your website in a while, now is a good time to revisit it. A dilapidated website has the same effect as a broken window at your place of business.

Jakob Nielsen's of Alertbox (www.useit.com) discusses some of the top redesign priorities:

1. Email Newsletters
E-newsletters are a low cost, customer-centric method to address customer interests and needs with a high return on investment. If you don't have a newsletter, it's time to start one. Start simple, but at minimum begin collecting all of your customers' email addresses.

2. Product Pages
Your customers visit your website to learn more about your products and services. Don't skimp on the details.

3. High Quality Photography
Poor photography can be very distracting. Not only does it look bad, poor photography often inhibits visitors from fully engaging with your products. Be sure all thumbnails are linked to larger images.

4. Provide Product Comparison Options
Make it easy for visitors to compare your products or compare your products to a competitor’s.

5. Cater to Seniors
Older people are the fastest-growing segment of Internet users. Make your site senior-friendly with clear, easy to read fonts and simple navigation.

Other key items include gift-giving support, search functions, and user testing. Check out the full article at: www.useit.com/alertbox/roi.html. Don't let your website get stuck in 2005. Your customers expect your site to reflect you and your business. A little work on your web presence can give them the right impression and bring a return on your investment.

Your Hard Drive will Disappoint You

by Doug DeVries

I've written this article before. Why am I writing it again? Because I keep hearing the same thing from people. Here is how the conversation goes:

"My hard drive makes a clanking sound when I turn it on."

"That's not good. Your hard drive has probably failed."

"Aaaack! ...all my photos, business accounting, and documents are on it! Help!"

"Oh, don't worry, it's pretty easy to restore your data from a backup." (This is said with much sympathy.)

"Backup? I don't have a backup!"

This is usually when the person either starts to cry uncontrollably or yell, "No, no, no, it can't be!"

It really is a sad situation...with digital cameras, email, accounting, and everything else we do on the computer, it is amazing to me that people don't consider the need to back up their files. Your computer will fail, your hard drive will die...it is not if, but when. You need to be prepared.

Several options exist:

1. Buy some blank CDs and copy all of your important files from My Documents to the burnable CD. Don't forget to finish the "burn process."

2. External "thumb drives" can be used to store a copy of important files.

3. A second hard drive can be installed and used to make a mirrored copy of your regular hard drive.

There are several backup programs available. Each of them will take some time to set up, get working, and keep working. If it is too much, find a support company to help you with the setup.

Hard drive failure can happen any minute...are you ready?