Hello Kolb Net Works Clients and Friends,
Happy Holiday wishes to you and your family from the team at Kolb Net Works. View our Holiday Card photo online.

How did you do on your 2003 New Year resolutions? One of my resolutions was to send out a monthly email newsletter. I got 11 newsletters sent this year! That's 11 more than I sent out in 2002. Thanks for your encouraging feedback. The experience I gained was well worth the effort. Over the year, we grew from a simple Outlook distribution list to a snazzy, feature filled software application that manages the mailing list and tracks opens, reads and clicks. I'm hoping that more of our clients will consider sending out email newsletters in 2004.

KNW News:
Welcome new clients: Union County Industrial Development Corporation, Northeast Wood Products and Solair Energy, all who are in the process of getting new web sites from us.

Welcome in advance to Nils Raab, Lycoming College senior who will be with us during the Spring 2004 semester doing an internship here.

Holiday Hours: The KNW office will be closed from Wednesday, Dec. 24, Noon, to Friday, Dec. 26 for the Holiday and will reopen Monday, Dec. 29. We'll be open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, then close for Jan. 1 and Jan. 2, 2004. If you need urgent service leave a message at 570-326-2888 and I'll get back to you. Enjoy the Holidays!

Upcoming event: I will be presenting a seminar for the Small Business Development Center at Bucknell on March 24, 2004. Title: "Using New Media (websites, email, multimedia) in Your Small Business Marketing Effort." Location: Room 256 in the Langone Center. Time: 9 AM to Noon. Cost $20. You can register online on the SBDC website.

We've updated some of our audio studio gear with a new Nady microphone and a new 24 bit sound card. Contact us for your professional voice over needs including radio commercials and message on hold.

Thanks to everyone who agreed to receive their invoices via email. Let me know anytime you wish to change your billing preference.

Web Site Launch news:
http://www.celebrationinabox.com  (based in Altoona, PA)  switched over to a Storefront 6 ecommerce engine last month. This month their new "box" design went live. This site features delicious gourmet cheesecakes and other specialty baked goods that are great for sending to that special client for the holidays or to mark a birthday. 

www.worthingtontrailers.com - Another Storefront 6 project, Worthington upgraded from a static website to a powerful database backed site with over 150 trailer models.  Montoursville, PA, based Worthington Trailers builds custom all-aluminum trailers for virtually any need, work or play.  The new website also features a dealer locator, searchable by any US zip code, and Storefront Merchant Tools, allowing Worthington Trailers to make instantaneous changes to many features on their website from any computer at anytime.

www.chemcoat.com - Redesigned and launched in early November, Chemcoat, Inc. wanted a site that provided a clear and concise description of their customized industrial coatings services.  The goal: get customers in existing and new markets to pick up the phone.  Within weeks of launch, the website has been doing just that. 

www.wgrc.com - Feeling visitors were getting lost in the navigation of their old site, central Pennsylvania Contemporary Christian Music station WGRC wanted a fresh look and feel for their site.  The new site features a redesigned navigational structure, improved graphics, and more music and programming features.

ECommerce Tips:
An Ecommerce site should be tested regularly to ensure no orders are missed. How often? It depends on your site's activity. If you receive orders daily, you should test your site first thing each day. Place a test order and make sure you get 2 confirmation emails. For sites with less traffic, once a week may suffice. We do not recommend anything less than once a week testing for Ecommerce sites.

Search Engine News:
Google is testing book excerpts online. See story at SearchEngineWatch.com.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO):
Did you know that Kolb Net Works offers Search Engine Optimization? SEO includes analyzing search engine ranking and results to determine which keywords and search engines referrals are the most effective. We use this information to focus our marketing efforts to the portals and search engines that are most productive for your target demographic. The result of successful online marketing is an increase in quality site traffic. Since sales is often directly associated with increased site traffic, expert online marketing can lead to increased sales. Read more details on our SEO page at: http://www.kolbweb.com/searchengineservices.asp

Marketing Reviews
This is a good time for an end of the year marketing review. This involves taking a look back at your marketing efforts in 2003 and deciding what worked and what needs attention. Contact us to setup up a marketing review for your company.

Internet News:
US Congress passes and President Bush signs SPAM email regulation, the law goes into effect January 1, 2004 - see story.

Additional Services:
Did you know that Kolb Net Works also offers ancillary design services including:

• Web Development / ECommerce / Database / Maintenance / hosting
• Multimedia Production: CDROMS, web sites, Video spots
• Domain Registration
• Search Engine Optimization
• Email marketing
• Streaming Media live broadcast and archive
• Flash & Shockwave Development
• Logo Design / Development
• Print Ads
• Brochure / flyer / newsletter design
• Poster design / Buttons / Election campaign
• Postcard design
• Kiosk development
• Ad Campaign Development
• Radio spot writing and producing
• Voice over narration / On Hold messages

Note: issues of current and past newsletters are online and can be viewed at: http://www.kolbnetworks.com/newsletters

As you start your email newsletter address list, please include my email address so I can see how you’re doing.

Best Wishes for the New Year,
-----
Kathy Kolb
President, Kolb Net Works, Inc. - Powerful Web Solutions
http://www.kolbnetworks.com --- (570) 326-2888 --- kathy@kolbnetworks.com