You have two options to avoid this. First is by not providing online form (and I think it is not what you want) and the second one is providing form with spam prevention system. Spam prevention system is added to your online form to differ between human and robot (computer) interaction. Some spammers using robot to automate their spamming job. The prevention can be an image verification code (that can only be read by human) or by making user to answer questions.

If you do not know how to do this, ask your webmaster to create one for you. I am also available to create a spam prevention system for your contact form. Contact me if you need my services.

Wikipedia has a description about CAPTCHA, the basic of spam prevention system.

Here is the list.

1. Browse The Web
   Internet (search engines for specific) is a must have tools for furniture marketing to find prospect buyers. Many web browsers available on the net: Mozilla Firefox, Opera or Internet Explorer. You may choose which one is suite with you.
2. Write, Read, Send and Receive Emails
   So you got buyers from the net? Why not send them emails? You need to know how to use email application either it is a webmail or mail client. A webmail is a web application that can be accessed using web browser. YahooMail and GMail are examples of webmail.
   Some people are prefer to use mail client applications to handle their emails, such as Outlook Express (or Microsoft Outlook) and Mozilla Thunderbird. Your emails will be downloaded to mail client from where you can write, read and send emails. You are no need to open web browsers.
3. Chat
   Maybe you want to have a conversation with buyers. It can be done by using instant messenger applications. Yahoo Messenger, Windows Live Messenger, and Skype. Audio conversation also can be done if you have large Internet bandwidth.
4. Scan Images or Documents
   Sometime you need to send scanned document (Bill of Lading, COO) to buyers, then you need to have this skill. Many scanners include software to its package or you can use image editing tools (Adobe Photoshop) which can aquire image from scanner.
5. Download Photos From Digital Camera
   Actually it is easy to download image from Digital Camera. Just plug the cable (included with the camera) into USB port and if you run Windows XP above, it will be detected automatically. Your photos will be available on additional drive.
6. Edit (Resize and Crop) Images
   Another skill is how to edit images. Resizing image is needed if you want to make images smaller in image size and file size. Tools like ACDSee make this possible as well as square-cropping image. But if you want to crop in other shape rather than square, you need image editing tools.
7. Insert Images Into Documents
   Inserting images into documents should be a daily job for you. It should be easy of you are familiar with Microsoft Office.
8. Convert Document to PDF
   You should confirm with your IT Department to make sure that you can convert documents to PDF. Usually you need to install software such as Adobe Acrobat to be able to convert to PDF directly from Microsoft Office.
9. Compress Files
   Sometimes you have a lot of files and want to send it at once instead of attach it one by one. Again, contact your IT Department if this software is already installed. WinZIP or WinRAR can be used to compress files.
10. Burn CDs
    Your buyers maybe ask you to send them catalog CD by regular mail. You can burn your product images on CD easily. If you are using Windows XP and above, you just need to copy the files to the CD Writer Drive, then right click and choose “Write these files to CD”. Other softwares are available. Nero is one of them.

That’s all the 10 basic computer skills for you who works or wants to work as Furniture Marketing Officer. Feel free to add your list and comment using form below.

First, is by creating incoming links to your furniture website from a website that already indexed by Google. This website is one of them (Try: indonesia furniture exporter keyword on Google). You are welcome to submit your furniture website for a free.

Second, is by submit directly on Google. Just go http://www.google.com/addurl/ and submit your furniture website there. You just need to fill your URL, give comments and enter the spam prevention code. After submission, you have to wait for the next Google crawling schedule and test to search your self on Google.

That’s all. It is so easy.

May be you asking why you need to submit your company to this website also. It is good to have more incoming links to your website because its also have a contribution for search result ranking. This website focuses in furniture from Indonesia and lists furniture exporters from Indonesia. If you are listed here, there is a chance for you to be found by buyers.

Why should you doubt, submit your site now and it will be listed soon.

If you have any comments, please do not hesitate to leave it here.

Being online either by email, instant messenger or website help you to stay connected with customers, even sometimes phone call need to be made. Email helps you send messages along with attachment. Instant messenger like Yahoo Messenger, MSN, or Skypee saves your phone bill to communicate with foreign customers. Website can show your products online, just like have a virtual showroom – 24 hours a day, seven days a week (24/7).

There so many advantages by having a website in the Internet, because a website:

• Can show your products to the market 24/7 in inexpensive cost. You just need to pay for the web hosting service, commonly in yearly term.
• Gives future customers time to view all of your products only by click. So they can do research on your products before buying.
• Allows you to display your email, phone number and address to make customers easily reach you to make a transaction.
• With a web application and database will be easily updated with new products and up to date information.
• Does not limited by location. As long as there is an internet connection, customers can reach you from a web browser.
• Can accept order online and you just need to follow up the order.
• Can send emails through mailing list to customers by only sending one email.
• Provides a website statistic for you to review who are visiting and from where they reached you. Most viewed products or pages can be listed also. This helps you to plan your marketing strategy.
• And many more….

If you already have a website but unsure on how to get more advantages from it, please do not hesitate to contact us. If you did not have a website and want to create one, please see our Exporters Guide.