Name: Brian Austin
Web address: http://www.austinhall.co.uk

In researching about the Net for writing projects, I simply do what anyone could do - if they had the time. So I perform most of the work and gel this with my own experiences. As a result, I'm grateful to have been exposed to an enormous amount about Web design and Internet marketing, including talking to some of those few who have really made Web marketing successful venture.

What services do you offer?
Web page/site design with e-commerce integration as desired with particular emphasis on creating sales copy that sells plus, help to get a profitable 'Theme store' Web site up and running quickly - first time - with direct access to one of the Internet's top marketers, J Nicholas Schmidt. Of course this is really useful if you want to really make money on the Net! There are still many organisations who simply want a Net 'presence'.

For any commercial operation, a fast-loading, attractive, graphically compelling Web site is of course great, but all this is wasted, until a proportion of targeted customers take the action you want them to take: buy a product; ask for more information; call your phone line; provide essential contact details; leave an email address; and so on.

Currently, there's only one way you can do that effectively: with words. Only the 'right' combination of words (spoken/written) can compel a potential buyer to take desired action - and that's where I like to 'fly'! It's a great challenge as each target market requires a different approach. One approach can be amazingly successful, yet fail dismally when put to another group - it's knowing the difference and the motivations that compel people to buy, that makes for a lot fun (and a win-win for all concerned). As you can see from the link above, I'm an affiliate for the Profitstream corporation - a top US Web marketing firm run by the ever colourful J Nicholas Schmidt. So between us, we can help clients make their Web venture a success – first time round.

What you like most about the web?
The fact that's it's just amazing! Awesome! Incredibly flexible! Continually changing and embedded with as much freedom and choice that any of us will probably ever want on planet Earth. On the Web, individual countries, governments, political persuasions, and so on, are not so important. Anything that helps connect people from different backgrounds, cultures, beliefs and so on, can only be good for us as a race. Oh, and er... it pays the bills :-)

What you like least about the web?
Net clogging and variable connection speeds. Here in the UK, currently we have to pay for Net access by the minute (although that is set to change sooner rather than later). Also I dislike anything that promotes negativity, abuse or ill-treatment of any individuals. I used to dislike the entire ethos of search engines and how unreliable they can be: too many untargeted hits for what you want, and so on. But then I realized that, currently, for all their disorganisation, they're a gift! I no longer worry so much about search engine positioning as that is a continually moving target and is only one component available to us. And of course, soon, they'll work out a really effective way to start charging for targeted direct hits!

What for you is the most useful web technology?
I'm always fighting time. It's amazing how much time we can waste getting distracted doing silly things that we shouldn't really be doing and which stop us from spending our valuable time on our core activities! Maybe I take on too much. And I've learned the hard way anything that saves time in Web marketing, working with email and creating effective Web sites really makes my day - and Coolmaps Components come high on the list here. I'm having a lot of good experiences using these, and they're fun too - sometimes we just don't have enough fun do we? The NetObjects Web site (www.netobjects.com) is also an absolute treasure, and I regularly tap into the excellent content available from www.efuse.com. I'm also 'warming' to Flash and similar technologies. Automating email follow-up is another great benefit to me and so PostMaster at http://www.post-master.net/rs/internettips also gets a big 'thumbs up'.

Why do you use Fusion?
After trying several Web page design packages, including FrontPage, HotDog, WebExpress and would you believe TextPad (a simple text editor that I still use for fine-tuning), I didn't like the way some packages change the code without asking - tedious and time-wasting to sort the problems out later. A friend introduced me to Fusion so I decided to give it a try and have never looked back. Once you understand that Fusion is an animal that likes its share of PC resources, all is well. I found Fusion intuitive and logical and it allows us to build a page the way we would like it to appear. The Fusion approach simply makes sense! Now I wouldn't use anything else! Why change when what you use simply works? I've got a life and want to keep it that way :-)

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Your five favorite web sites?
1. club.coolmaps.com I learned about coolmaps.com through one of the Fusion newsgroups. One thing that really struck me while browsing the club site was that as questions popped into my mind, while browsing a little further, the answers to most of those questions had already been addressed. Obviously, this shows a lot of thought and consideration has gone into this approach, with a view to helping visitors solve many problems quickly. It's a site that is simple, effective, really useful and fun to use. I have to admit that when I receive a coolmaps component, it's a bit like opening that Christmas present; you know, the one you've really been after; then you get that warm glow.

2. www.profitstream.com An amazingly successful Internet marketer who knows a thing or two, with an interesting new approach that bucks the current trend. He suggests that whatever we do, we don't give it all away for free. Sounds like good commercial sense to me; let's hope it catches on :-) I appreciate that, as I'm an affiliate for this site. What I'm about to say might sound a bit limp, but there is so much valuable free information here for anyone who really, REALLY wants to make money online. Here's a secret, check out the free newsletter: The Daily Profitstream. Awesome and amazing!

3. www.wired.com What can I say: a great range of topics with a similar outlook, covering the fields that I'm interested in - plus an outrageous colour scheme that is guaranteed to dilate the pupils of those who dare to attempt to doze while viewing :-)

4. www.dilbert.com Providing a regular dose of lightly profane, dry humour. Essential to maintain an amusingly warped view of the world and remember not to take things too seriously. If you're having a hurricane of bad-day-blues, tune into Dilbert.

5. www.lollie.com Ditto here. You can have a lot of fun with some great inspirational quotes, motivational snippets, screensavers, great links and a fine range of free PC wallpapers you'll just love. She's a gem.

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Do you think the web will change the world?
Wow! You're kidding! You bet, pal :-) We're lucky enough to see the 'first tiny shoots' of that 'giant Oak tree': the Web 'all grown up', that, I believe will emerge sooner rather than later. I hope my two children, Jessica (13) and Mark (10) will, in their lifetimes, see the full 'emergence' of the Web.

What do you do for fun?
Regularly drive my lovely wife and kids nuts. Discuss alternative theories of cosmology to our anti-social, ginger-coloured cat 'Biscuit' (who somehow adopted us during his stay at our local Cats Protection Shelter). At such times, he just stares at me, rapt and hopelessly entrenched, with a kind of sad, pleading look: I can't imagine why! Listen to classical music (cat stays). Listen to Rock music (cat goes). Walk up mountains - and then walk down again hopelessly exhausted (they're mountains to us Brits, but hills to you folks over the pond). I'm also a Technical Director of a small UK charity and so help make better use of the Net to increase their membership and funding.

Thanks Brian.

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