Article

Small changes, big results

It's the little things that count. Read about the great new features you can use on our Web sites.

March 25, 2002

We always assume most folks don't notice the little things that we do to improve their

experience with us.

For instance, did you notice the way my name appears in blue at the top of this story? That's one of the latest in a series of improvements we've made to the Web portals we operate here at NetWorld Alliance. Point your mouse there, click on it, and an e-mail box pops up.

You'll see it on all the writers' names on stories on ATMmarketplace and KIOSKmarketplace, a new feature designed to increase the interaction between readers and writers. It's an easy way for you to give us your instant response to any story. Give it a try the next time you read something you like or, heaven forbid, dislike.

Because we're a Web-only news resource, we can constantly add new features. The goal with this one is to build interactivity and buzz in our industries. We've got a long list of improvements in the works, but it's about time we explained a few of the features we've already added to you.

Classified information

I like to think that the news and stories we present are the only things that matter to our readers. However, that's just not true. We know that our commerce section, research centers and community pages all generate lots of page views. For instance, our ATMmarketplace message boards have been extremely active recently, thanks primarily to the controversy surrounding the bankruptcy filing of Credit Card Center.

Recently, we launched a new and improved classified advertisingsection. The new design makes it easy to participate and includes sections for buying and selling equipment, posting RFQs and RFPs, listing available jobs and posting resumes. From what the folks in our advertising department tell me, it's pretty inexpensive to post an ad, and some ads are even free. If you haven't seen it, it's worth checking out.

Getting better all the time

Now back to the news. At the top of all of our news items, you'll notice two new icons. One, "Printable version," allows you to more easily print copies of any story. The other, "E-mail this article," lets you send the story to any e-mail address with one quick click.

Which brings to mind another intriguing difference between the Internet and the world of ink and paper. Among the new terms the Internet has brought to our vocabulary is "viral marketing." It's a term that's easy to use but not so easy to define. The fact that it has such as negative connotation masks its generally positive meaning in Internet marketing.

Viral marketing. Sounds like something the FBI ought to be looking into. In fact, it's simply a higher-tech version of the old-fashioned "word-of-mouth" advertising. And that's what the e-mail to a friend feature is all about. When you see a story you think a colleague would find interesting, use the icon and e-mail the story. You will have done some viral marketing for us.

You've got mail

The same holds true for our twice-weekly e-mail alerts. Between our ATMmarketplace and KIOSKmarketplace sites, we send e-mail alerts to 10,000 subscribers who have indicated that they want to receive them. For many, it's a reminder to check our sites for the latest news.

You can forward the e-mail alert to a friend simply by clicking on the browser button that reads, "Forward." If you have ever done it, thanks for helping us with some viral marketing.

Just this week, we've upgraded the alerts to make it easier for you to unsubscribe from the e-mail list. We hate to see you do this, but if you're one of those people who has difficulty keeping your Inbox messages under 100, we understand.

We've also made a big improvement that you can't actually see on the site - unless you count the new  "powered by Compaq" logo at the bottom of the home page. We've signed a deal with Compaq and have installed dynamic new servers that help our pages load more quickly on your computer.

You'll see yet another visible upgrade to the left of this paragraph.

Upgrades Galore • New and improved classified section • Printable versions  • E-mail this article • E-mail the author • Unsubscribe from e-mail alerts  • Compaq servers • Improved graphics  • Great editorial staff • Corporate Web site (www.networldalliance.com)

We've added the capability to place more charts and photos on the site, enhancing stories and adding new information you can access quickly.

Our biggest upgrade

Of course, all of the improvements we've made in the last six months haven't been technical.  We've made a major upgrade with the new members of our editorial staff.

Many of you know Ann All, our ATMmarketplace editor, who has earned a reputation as an industry expert and has been tracking the ups and downs of the ATM industry for two-and-a-half years now.

Michael Jackman, who joined us in April as editor of KIOSKmarketplace, was literally thrown into the frying pan, reporting from KioskCom in Orlando, Fla. his first day on the job. He's since written a number of great stories and suggested new ideas that we're putting into practice.

Finally, we are fortunate to have a full-time staff writer in Tisha Thi, who in her first two months has tackled a number of meaty story assignments.

You can find out more about our staff, and about our company, at our own NetWorld Alliance Web site. The new site is about a month old and worth a look.

We're in the business of providing news to you. And along the way, we hope that we entertain you, inform you and make it easier for you to read and enjoy our product.

If you think about it, we're a news organization just like your local newspaper. Our coverage area, while it encompasses the entire planet, is really just a relatively small community of individuals doing the same sort of work. Our readers have common interests and problems, and we serve as a place to point out the issues that make a difference in the communities we serve.

To suggest ways we can do that job better, just click on my name at the top of this story.