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Newsletter: June 2004

In this issue:

Guest Editor's Note: Proof in the Pudding

Yes, this is the June issue, and it is a little late. Please forgive us, we just had to stop the presses until we were sure of the results of this year's International Web Page Awards. I'm pleased to announce that we were successful again this year! Proof, I believe, that we are on the right track here.

Rodney Johnson, Senior Designer

Feature: Archiving Your Newsletter

Email newsletters can be a powerful tool, but if you follow good anti-spam guidelines, you may worry that your message doesn't reach as far as it could. The solution is simple: just archive a copy of the newsletter on your website. This provides a few instant advantages: your site is bulked up with more content that is also now searchable by search engines, and possible subscribers can preview past copies when deciding whether to sign up. If you publish content that has a short lifespan (meeting notices, date-specific items) you may want to edit the information you archive, or clearly date it. If you want to restrict access to your newsletter content, perhaps because it is a member service or provided for a fee, you can still post archives behind password protection. At 3W Studios, we have just taken our own advice, and posted an archive of our email missives for your browsing pleasure.

Award News: 3W Recognized For Redesigns

Results of the 2003 International Web Page Awards have been leaked in advance to the lucky winners. 3W Studios was pleased to receive two "Certificates of Creative Achievement." The sites recognized were our own corporate site and Florida Dental Association. The FDA's site was redesigned in September of 2003, having already been recognized by the awards in 2000.

3W Studios has earned recognition from the IWPA in 5 of its 6 awards. The competition draws entries from such industry heavyweights as Agency, Organic and Razorfish. The best of show winner will be announced on www.webpageawards.com.

Security News: Microsoft Security Flaws Continue

Computer Emergency Reponse Center (Cert) and the Internet Storm Center have issued a new warning about Internet Explorer and a virus known as Download.Ject. The virus sneaks in through a loophole in the browser and opens up the infected computer to potential take-over. We have experienced this first hand at 3W Studios, although we were able to isolate and repair the infected machine before any damage was done. The worrying aspect of this new problem is that the virus is out on the web, lying in wait within websites (even those you might trust) and you may never know you have it. Any Windows 2000 Server that does not have the MS04-011 security update installed and is running Internet Information Server could be at risk.

Cert recommends that until Miscrosoft issues a patch, you avoid using Explorer altogether, and download FireFox or Opera. 3W Studios recommends you abandon Explorer completely, regardless of any future patches. FireFox will import all your IE bookmarks and gives you a better browsing experience anyway.

Read more on the virus from Symantec and Microsoft.

Links:
US Computer Emergency Response Team (Cert)
Internet Storm Center

Other News: Createathon Applications Available

Our favorite time of year is quickly approaching and we want your organization to be a part of it.

Each year we invite non-profit organizations to be a part of our CreateAThon event. CreateAThon is a 24-hour blitz in which Kidd Tucker Group provides advertising, public relations and design services to the Big BendŐs non-profit organizations on a pro-bono basis. These services include conceptual development, copywriting, design, website design, advertising, and public relations. Examples of projects that can be done include brochures, direct mail pieces, outdoor pieces, press releases, development of media plans, negotiating for PSA airtime and free/discount printing.

Creating community awareness is crucial for non-profit organizations, and as practitioners we realize that with very limited budgets, oftentimes investing the limited funds into marketing is simply not an option. Therefore this event was created to meet the tremendous need in our community for these services. CreateAThon gives us at Kidd Tucker Group the opportunity to utilize our resources and creativity to work with you and create something truly remarkable to benefit our community.

This yearŐs CreateAThon is scheduled to take place from September 30, 2004 at 8 a.m. to October 1, 2004 at 8 a.m. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible; the deadline for CreateAThon 2004 applications is July 30, 2004. Organizations selected by Kidd Tucker Group to participate in CreateAThon 2004 will be notified by the second week of August.

To learn more about CreateAThon and Kidd Tucker Group visit our websites at www.createathon.org and www.kiddtucker.com.

Other News: Soccer Results

More results are in from the 3W Studios soccer team. Building on the spring season's success, the team recorded a 5-2 winning record in the summer season, and finished in second place (up from fourth). After winning their first play-off game, 3W Studios bowed out in the semi-finals. The team plays in the Warner Soccer Super Six league (over 30s division) here in Tallahassee.