Natco Net News

Volume 2, Issue 9
September, 2000

Natco Notes

Bulk e-mail to NATCO Technologies customers is prohibited and illegal. If you've received an e-mail that was directed to a number of NATCO dialup customers, please let us know as soon as possible by calling: 453-8822, 425-7325 or 449-5087. We have increased security in an effort to decrease SPAM.

Make sure your computer isn't making a long distance call - use the local numbers that NATCO Technologies has provided you. If you're not sure, please call NATCO trouble ASAP: 453-8822, 425-7325 or 449-5087.

You can see a demonstration of DSL service in NATCO Technologies Demonstration rooms in Mountain Home at Brooks-Jeffrey Marketing or in Flippin at NATCO.

E-mail: Junk mail

63 new messages in your Inbox - only 5 of them from people you know.

Sound familiar? Junk e-mail can be very frustrating and time consuming, but there is something you can do about it. Many e-mail programs, such as Outlook Express, have a feature called "Block Sender" that will block e-mails from anyone you specify, including the people who sent those junk e-mails. Here's how it works:

Select any e-mail you've received by clicking on it once so that it is highlighted. Click on the word "Messages" just above the toolbar, and then click on "Block Sender." That -mail address will now be added to the "Blocked Senders" list and any future e-mails from that address will go straight into the "Deleted Items" folder.

Of course, it's impossible to expect to completely eradicate junk e-mails, but this feature should help you cut them down considerably. See the Help file of your e-mail program for information about blocking senders.

Dialup: SDSL now available in Mtn Home

NATCO Technologies is now offering SDSL Internet access in Mtn Home.

Call NATCO Technologies at 1-800-775-6682 or Mark at Brooks-Jeffrey Marketing at (870) 425-8064 for more information.

Dialup: Free Internet class

As a service to our customers, NATCO offers a free Internet QuickClass. Held at Brooks-Jeffrey Marketing, the class is free to one person per Internet account; additional attendees are $35 per person. It's great for new users, and even those with Internet experience can pick up some new tricks - we've had students as young as 14 as well as seniors and business owners.

If you'd like to take advantage of the free class, or if you'd like attend to again or send someone else for $35, please call Brooks-Jeffrey Marketing at (870) 425-8064 for the times and dates of upcoming classes.

Dialup: Connection problems

Very few NATCO Technologies customers are ever disconnected or "bumped off" because of our system. If you are experiencing any connection problems, please call the NATCO Technologies help desk: 453-8822, 425-7325 or 449-5087 - we may be able to help you adjust your system to avoid these problems.

Summer and winter may be high times to catch a cold, but computers are susceptible to viruses all the time. Make sure you have a good anti-virus program - there are many good ones available - and keep it updated with the latest DAT files.

Web site owners, especially those with a business interest, are naturally concerned with search engine results. The closer to the top they are, the more traffic they are likely to receive.

Beware of Internet companies that play on this desire. It starts with an e-mail telling the Web site owner that his or her site did not show up in the top thirty results of several search engines using a certain key word, usually something very generic like "ozarks." This, of course, concerns the Web site owner, who is encouraged by the company to purchase its services (sometimes upwards of $1500 worth) to increase the Web site's ranking.

Don't fall prey to this. Terms like "ozarks," "fishing," or "cars" are extremely broad. Most users try to narrow down their searches, which greatly increases their chances of finding your Web site. For example, someone searching for a place to stay in Bull Shoals is not going to type "ozarks." Most users will type something like "Bull Shoals +resorts" or "lodging in Bull Shoals."

Finally, it is important to remember that with nearly a billion Web sites now online, we can't all be in the top thirty all the time.

Archives of Natco Net News are available online at http://www.natcotech.com/newsletter/.

Questions? Problems? E-mail custserv@natconet.com or call 453-8822, 425-7325 or 449-5087 for assistance.

(c) 2000, Northern Arkansas Telephone Company, Inc.