Thread: dialups concern or no????????

Just tried my site on dial up what a nightmare. Before I create more problems for myself and work, do I need to concern myself with dial up slowness in downloading?
Should I try one itm at a time , go by ize and try to reduce and sacrific the looks on high speed modems for the I don'; know how big a percent of users have Dialup. What loads for me in seconds takes 2 minutes in dialup, I wouldn't wait and I fear they won't either.

Hey there!

Your website took me 0.02 seconds to load. I would keep your site how it is because I think most people have High Speed or atleast light speed. Dial up is a thing in the past. The futur is now!!! haha

Hi Chocco... It loaded quick for me too but thats a broadband thing as you noticed. One of your main problems will be the file size of the picture on your index page. The one in the top left. Try re-doing it but saving as GIF not a JPG. The quality will be slightly lower but it will shave maybe 80% off the file size.

Thanks guys,
I will do the changing. I was told before on this forum that the jpg is the way to go and to change everything from GIF to JPG. So I'm glad I didn't.

If I saved it initially as a jpg how is it changeable? Show my ignorance but...?

It isn't ignorance my friend ;)

Did you make the files in a paint program?

If so. when you save the pic you should have the option of what file type to save as. Usually this is directly beneath the little box where you type the name of the file.

No my situation is that I live very remotely in Mexico and there are no techs, no computer stores NOTHing helpful. People here know nothing about computers. Like me.
I took the photos with a friend and then scanned them into my document folders after he sent them to me. He and the photos are no longer in Tabasco sooooooooo...I have a paint program and tried to learn to use paint.net, but it is confusing to me, the paint program on this computer doesn't work.

Is that your email address in the bottom of your signature?? I will grab the pic and try to make it a smaller file size for you ;)

yes

OK... I have got the image down from 35k to 16k and it still looks good, no blurring or fading.

I am emailing it to you now. all you have to do is copy it to where the existing pic is located, overwrite the existing pic then upload it to your site :)

Thanks it's guys like you that make BV such a nice place for first timers like me....THANKS

I'm a first timer here too :) The email is sent... Great picture by the way, That part of Mexico looks amazing! I like the other pics on your site too, the temples.

Come on down,you know who to call whn you want a trip
you pay small airfare we will worry about the rest, lt me know so we ould work something. Thanks for all.
George

Small airfare? haha I think not... I'm in England but... always thought it would be a nice place for a holiday one day ;)

No probs, I'm pleased that I could help. I will assume you got the email so all is good.

Originally Posted by Jeremy

Hey there!

Your website took me 0.02 seconds to load. I would keep your site how it is because I think most people have High Speed or atleast light speed. Dial up is a thing in the past. The futur is now!!! haha

So your saying that people with dial up arent important?...yes it is a thing of the past, but there are still many among that do still have to use it.

Kate, You know that every comment made here comes with the unwritten codicil that "you are exempt from any negitive aspect of it". You must also know that you are not just important, you are the life blood of the forum.

Having said that, I have to aggree that if you design your site for the slowest download speeds it will never really be what you want the visitoer to see. It is a constant act of compromise.

mark - blush...I just wanted it to be said that everyone is a potential customer....I work with some elderly and they dont have the savvy for high speeds...lol.....just wanted to keep the dial uppers up and going!!!!!
and thats not easy!....with bad connections...hehehe...

I have just noticed that my last post was written by my dislexic half!
If there was a calorific expenditure related to posting kate would be the fittest of us all! I have never seen such fast and furious hop, skip and jumping from post to post. I am out of breath!
You may have a slow connection but make up for it with the fastest fingers in the east!

oh no, I keep browsers open and refresh...gotta make up for slow connections!...lol
at this moment I have 4 in vodahost
5 in another
3 in another
and on my firefox I have two browsers open with 6tabs on one and 8 tabs on the other...
hmm..guess I closed IE...lol
its not about speed, its ogranization...
gotta get back to bluevoda!...

organis..a.t..i..o..n
Must try that if I ever have time, thanks Kate. LOL

lol..I have to concidering I dont have the time some days, and there is much to do and not enought time...so I have to juggle, multitask..
hey mark,, you could try multitask!...lol...

I could Kate,
but I here the operation is very painfull and I am not too sure my wife would approve. Only women can mutitask, isn't that right? OUUCH!

Well thats what Ive heard darlin' but Im not one to believe what I hear...lol....I would think your wife would appreciate it if you could multitask!....

FPRob,
really is only USD $611 london to cozumel. Tabasco is not that far from Cancun or Cozumel.
Got all caught up in multi tasking there for a minute

Thanks Choco .. At least once I have paid the airfare I know that I won't have any problems finding somewhere to stay hehehehe

;) ;) ;)

I completely disagree with anyone who says you should ignore dial-up - unless you are targeting for an area where almost all will have high speed. In the US, unfortunately, there are LOTS still with dial-up - especially in states with mountains - and they will click off the really slow loading sites very quickly to find another to purchase from that loads faster.

One of the reasons I switched to Voda from my previous webhost is there were things intrinsic in their hosting that caused my sites to load slow no matter how well I optimized. Selling products, I have to have pictures - but I can work very hard to optimize my pics to load as quickly as possible - and to take that into consideration.

Like screen resolution - you can't make everyone happy - but you have to take it all into consideration. Also, today - many people are using **** pilots and other devices - they even order from them - and those load slowly like dial-up.

I do not have the programs such as Photo shop, etc. and there are no stors her that sell ANYTHING for computers
other than video games. Is there anything I can use to
reduce volume , size of images or change jpg to gif?? I can get it shipped maybe it gets here maybe not, registering is no assurance. They also tas imported goods, heavily.

Originally Posted by choco777

I do not have the programs such as Photo shop, etc. and there are no stors her that sell ANYTHING for computers
other than video games. Is there anything I can use to
reduce volume , size of images or change jpg to gif?? I can get it shipped maybe it gets here maybe not, registering is no assurance. They also tas imported goods, heavily.

Aren't you using PixResizer?
Certain programs. like Picasa2, will also let you resize for email and posting.
You can get anything you want from el DF.
I agree you need the dial-ups, too many use it.

You can get The Corel Graphics Suite or Adobe Photoshop of eBay for a remarkable price and... They are original copies 99% of the time too.

I definitely recommend Corel for ease of use and learning about graphics.

:)

Originally Posted by FPRob

Hi Chocco... It loaded quick for me too but thats a broadband thing as you noticed. One of your main problems will be the file size of the picture on your index page. The one in the top left. Try re-doing it but saving as GIF not a JPG. The quality will be slightly lower but it will shave maybe 80% off the file size.

NOT TRUE

George-
If you simply run each of your images through the Free VH pix resizer, it will sufficiently reduce your JPG file sizes for optimal dialup loads.....
(file size should be 70-100 for instance).

It's best to stick with "tried and true" BV advice.....it's a standard for a reason.
And, that's why you recently recieved hints to reduce the number of pictures on your pages, combining content in a balanced approach.

Stick with JPG's, try to keep a limit to say...3-4 per page, but make sure they are all re-sized to the exact size you need.
You cannot afford to lose their clarity, nor do you need to fall for "maybe" or "probably" as part of your winning solution set.

> If you absolutely MUST, you can convert them (and resize them too) in MS Publisher, a utility you already have on your computer......and THEN run them thru VH pix-resizer.....

http://www.gimp.org/
http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/Sof.../download1.asp
http://www.getpaint.net/index.html

Here's 3 free photo editing software programs.

FPRob....."original copies" ????? LOL

Thank you I'll look at them all

Originally Posted by CarbonTerry

http://www.gimp.org/
http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/Sof.../download1.asp
http://www.getpaint.net/index.html

Here's 3 free photo editing software programs.

GOOD POST!

Ihave redued the pixs but need as is for optimal effect. The lure to this place is not done justice in words, especially my lack of expertise, or "lack of cognition" in use of english although it is my mother tongue. I have been here long enough to start to mix dialects,spanish and my spanmayalish.

LOLOL!
So, use it to your advantage! You can create a measure of "charm" that way, you know...but, like anything on the web, keeping it simple assures success.

And in travel, create the allure and the desire to know more....make them want to contact you to learn what makes you so special.
We know you won't disappoint them!

have u seen changes? like it more just need that LOOOOOOOOOOOOOng contact form and I can't (or haven't been able to yet) get a email form. Then I'll do the run around the state and do itinerary for keeps.

yeah. Bill U can anything u want and usually what u don't, DF is a unusual place. Most of what u can get is tampered with of pirated and I'm quite aways from DF and we don't have mail service to speak of.

Muy Bueno! George!

(Andy helped me on my "new form" and I think I wore him out!)LOL

I think I have the hang of it, and if I am able -as far as my schedule permits- I can help you out on yours.....

Thank you. The form I want to do is extensive with a lot of medical, personal etc., wll u know. Have to get it all the first time or they can run u around. Need first a terms of service, maybe u have some pointers on that. Will do standard no show, cancellation etc. but have to tie them down.

I have tried emailing you several times....apparently something is blocking the email you have posted here and the ones I can find on your website?
A lot of what we can do can be easily done via email: I can send you some examples of previous Forms and travel docs to see if you can copy/paste them and then make simple edits.

You are confusing me somewhat...are you mixing up Customer Reply/Contact Forms and Content Pages??

I would suggest having a deatiled "Inquiry/Contact" Form with the questions you need to measure interest level, possible dates of travel, etc. so you can reply to them with a semi-accurate quote and still use the interaction to get more specific answers and plans detailed: even the first "Follow-Up" is a trip-building experience....
Take a look at this example from our Luxury Travel site: http://www.eliteluxurytravel.net/request.htm
Here's one from the Vaction site: http://elitetravelgroup.vacationport...=4531&pid=5713
It's all about follow-up (prompt and personal), and narrowing the options based on their dates, budget, etc. We should include many of the same information on your form.
> Also take a look around these sites....nowhere are the complete "Terms" listed, since they change according to the trip, etc.

Terms of Service, Waivers, etc. all come when the deal is made, usually, and not thrown at them in the very beginning! You don't want to scare people off....you need them to have these documents and to execute them properly, yes, but when it is time...

No I was speaking of a form that explains just that, the terms of service at the time they send info to get a confirmation, which is the time they would make dwn pmt.
so to speak honest money what ever. I know I need a pre sales form just to see the interest and then do follow up on it, I never thought of my itinerary as etched in stone, if logistically possible for the money I'll take them to Indiana.
I'll look at the forms and maybe be in shape tomorrow pm to discuss it more. Do not know why u can't email, I get mail all day.

what about the gallery in the itinerary trying to give glimpse of area or activity, tooooooo big. All sites have, there's much larger. Site large must view in largest browser. I get told too many key words at 22 One site I loooked at had 1400 so I just try to get somehing pleasing to the eye.

Don't freaking worry about Key Words now, G!

And quite honestly, I would think that 75% or more of YOUR customers will be US clients and have cable hook-ups! Don't get so messed up with these things....I spend a lot more time on the visual, the content, and the finest detail of the web design myself....it's what makes the sale online, nothing more. People will only prefer what appears to be top professionalism....they don't spend money with those who have funky sites. They don't mind scrolling down, but they don't want to find less than what they think they deserve....

When we get your site tweaked really nice, then we can deal with getting more attention to it, and there are better ways for travel/destinations to skip to the top without having to deal with all the issues other common websites must contend with: for instance, I know of 3 wholesalers that would be happy to list your site in their "catalog" of destinations, and these handle almost 60% of the world's leisure travel right now....that is sure to get you the rank and attention you both need and want....

So....keep focused on tweaking your site 800 wide in the cleanest, most picture-perfect layout you can, then we'll add the necessary Contact functions to begin following up the leads, and then we can even prepare the Forms and Official Documents in the background you will be emailing to prospective clients during the "itinerary building process"....siempre?

About the emails? I sent another "Test" and it cam back as:

This is the qmail-send program at smtpout10-04.prod.mesa1.secureserver.net.
I'm afraid I wasn't able to deliver your message to the following addresses. This is a permanent error; I've given up. Sorry it didn't work out.
<Choco3@prodigy.net.mx>:
148.235.52.20 does not like recipient.
Remote host said: 550 5.7.1 No esta permitido el SPAM: Choco3@prodigy.net.mx Giving up on 148.235.52.20.

So...I suggest you email ME, and add my address to your addressbook or whatever you need to do to take me off your SPAMBLOCKER.

o.k. esta bien. looked briefly at sites, yeah could use some of that. The thing is the diference of Cancun (NOT MX)and Mexico.
Mexico is a bit more rustic. well of course u know. I deal with the day to day Mex. where a telephone might take a year to be installed. And I here people complaining about " We'll be there between 9-5" how about june and oct. Just want to do the simple tours. Started off doing walking tours, still do. People laughed but it IS very lucrative, amazing what people will pay if you know the subject.

Didn't know I had a spam blocker.

"Life is like a box of choclates.."

LOLOLOL

And...I understand COMPLETELY....been there, did that. We help elevate Palace Resorts back in the days, and I helped to turn some little known tours in Costa Rica into today's "must-do's" when I started the Adventure Travel division....you are in the perfect time and place to slowly (or as quickly as you want) grow and become the leader, since MOST operators don't know anything more than how to BS....people tell other people about their wonderful experiences, and THAT is the kind of repeat/referral business that is profitable!
It's who you know, and who you can let get to know you.....people are willing to pay for a cherished experience they can brag about.

Exactamente. Gotta go no sleep last night either. Makes dull boys duller.
Bye