TOPS Home E-Zine

Issue #3 - March 2002

Inside TOPS Home:

1. TOPS Announcements: Sales and Backups
2. The Quarterly Contest: Win Money
3. Customer in the Spotlight: Century Management Services, Inc.
4. Support: Internet E-Mail 
5. Support: Dynamic vs. Static Pages
6. Design: Exceptional Websites
7. Helping to Overcome the Tragedy
8. Attachment: Sign up sheet and helpful sales tips

Announcements:

Welcome to the 3rd Edition of our web site e-zine. We are currently enjoying a major increase in web site interest. It seems as though many companies are realizing the enormous benefits a web site that interacts with TOPS Software have. We are sponsoring a contest and hope that everyone will become involved. As always, enjoy your reading and if you have any questions or concerns call me, Matt Meiklejohn at 800-760-9966, or email me at WebSales@topssoft.com.I look forward to speaking with you!

- Matt Meiklejohn

As many of you already know, I gave birth to a bouncing baby boy this past December. Marcus Alexander was 9 pounds, 11 ounces, and has continued to grow like a weed. Unfortunately, support backed up a little because I was out on maternity leave. I am happy to report that I am back on the job, part time, at least, and am willing and able to help you with all of your support needs. I still ask that you remember to send all support requests to websupport@topssoft.com instead of my personal account.

- Andrea Drennen

The Quarterly Contest: Win Money

TOPS Software has decided to host a contest, with a grand prize of $250.00. By participating in this contest, you can strengthen the bonds between your company and the communities you manage, provide 24 hour a day 7 day a week service to your residents, decrease phone calls to your office, and, of course, win money.

How can you win the money? It’s easy! Simply sign up the most community web sites from now until June 30, 2001. Attached to this e-zine are documents that you will need to sign and send back so I know who is in the contest and where I can send the $250.00. It’s so simple. Here are the rules:

1. The contest will begin as soon as the first person signs up and end June 30, 2002.  All web sites received after June 30, 2002 will not be counted towards the contest. 
2. You must be signed up to win the contest.
3. You must have all paperwork for the web sites correct and completely filled out.
4. You must have the correct payment for the web sites.
5. The communities signed up must use our web sites and must be managed by the contestants company.
6. Only those people who work for the management company, the board members of each community, community members or those designated by the management company to sell web sites are eligible for this contest.
7. All companies that are involved in this contest must own TOPS2000™ and the communities they sign up must be managed by them.
8. First prize will go to the person who sold the most community web sites.

The first prize winner will receive a check from TOPS Software for $250.00.The second prize will receive a check for $150.00 and third prize a check for $100.00.In case of a tie, the contest will continue until one of the parties signs up another web site..

For more contest information and to get signed up please call Matt Meiklejohn at 800-760-9966 or email at websales@topssoft.com.

Customer in the Spotlight: Century Management Services, Inc.

Century Management Services is a management company located in South Florida. Their website, http://www.centurymanagementservices.com/ showcases the professionalism and attention to detail that they provide for their customers. Century's website shows good use of the standard TOPS Website features, such as classifieds, documents, and related site links. Be sure to check it out! 

Support: Internet E-Mail

Did you know that you could check your e-mail from any machine, anywhere, without installing an e-mail package? All you need is to be connected to the Internet! TOPS Software out sources e-mail hosting to a company called Internet Mail, or iMail. Here are instructions for accessing your e-mail on the iMail servers, via the Internet:

1. Open a web browser
2. In the address bar, type http://mail.domainname.com/ (where domain name is the URL of your website, ie mail.topssoft.com)
3. If the domain has not been transferred, or if the above option does not work, type http://imailx.innerhost.com/ (where X=the imail server where the domain e-mail is hosted, such as imail14 or imail9)
4. Enter the User ID of the e-mail account you are checking (e-mail address)
5. Enter the password of the account you are checking
6. Click Login
7. Mail account should come up. If it does not, try #3. If you still have problems, the domain may be on a different mail server. Call TOPS for further support.

Support: Dynamic vs. Static Pages

Remember that your site consists of two types of pages: static and dynamic. The dynamic pages, such as advertising and events are expected to change regularly, and are controlled by you. If you want to add a page that you can add and edit elements frequently, (like a photo gallery) then you can add your own using the modules feature. However, you will need to let us know you added one, so we can add the link on the sidebar. 

A static page is a page whose contents will rarely change, if ever. If you want to add a custom page that is mostly text with some accent graphics it is probably static. The static pages are simply standard HTML pages that are not expected to change often and are handled by us. To make changes to a static page, such as the home page or services page, simply e-mail your changes to us. You can submit a page in a number of formats, such as HTML, DOC, XLS, TXT, and PUB, or you can just send it to us in the text of the e-mail.

Design: Exceptional Web Sites

When you pay the set up fee for a management or community web site, TOPS provides you with ten hours of free design and set up time. This covers basic set up for any web site, and the basic web site is very good. Sometimes, competition and critical boards make a very good web site not good enough. If you are in the market for an exceptional web site, TOPS can provide you with that as well. From adding pictures to your home and services pages, to designing flash animations, to everything in between, TOPS Software is your total solution provider. Our designers work with you to give you exactly what you need. If you have an idea of a way that you can improve your website, and you do not have the tools or the manpower to do it, contact Matt at websales@topssoft.com and he will provide you with a proposal. 

Helping to Overcome the Tragedy  

Due to our significant response from our customers we have decided to extend our relief fund efforts and continue supporting the American Red Cross Relief Fund. So from now until July 4, 2002, America's Independence Day, we will be contributing a portion of all community web site set up fees to the American Red Cross Relief Fund.  

This Month's Attachment

To help with our contest we have attached a few files. The first is the sign up sheet that must have your name on it to win the contest. The other attachments are literature that you can use to help sell your community web sites. If you would like another copy of the attachments or cannot download from this e-mail please contact me at websales@topssoft.com.

 

Did you know that TOPS Software will provide you with a free community
web site  CD demo?  Follow this link to apply for your free demo today!

 

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About the Authors

Matt Meiklejohn is your TOPS Community Web Site Sales Representative
Andrea Drennen is the Director of Publishing and Standards at TOPS Software

 

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