By Colby Horton
Shop Site of the Month
Integrity Automotive - Carmel, Ind.
www.integrityautomotive.net
This site offers total functionality to its visitors, including an interactive service center complete with an online appointment scheduler, parts and accessories request form, and an opt-in listserve to receive specials and newsletters via e-mail. An employment section and "Ask a Question" area incorporate new trends in shop Web site design. The professional graphics and navigation scheme make this site appealing.
Web Wise
ASA Offers Members Browser-Based E-mail Access
Incorporating the latest in Internet technology, the Automotive Service Association now offers powerful and flexible browser-based e-mail access to all ASA national members. This benefit allows ASA members to access e-mail from anywhere at anytime, as long as the member has an Internet connection. This new ASA Web Mail program is free and allows members to establish their own username and password upon registering. Providing twice as much e-mail storage as other free e-mail providers, this tool is invaluable in communicating with customers or friends and family.
First and foremost, this new program incorporates the ASA name by allowing members to send e-mails with the suffix ASAgo.com. Using these e-mail addresses helps associate members with the world's most dedicated group of automotive professionals.
The ASA Web Mail program mirrors the most sophisticated Web-based applications available on the Internet. Members have complete control over this e-mail program. Members can establish e-mail folders to better organize their correspondence and create up to five signatures designed specifically by the member. In designing the program, ASA has created filters that can virtually eliminate unwanted SPAM e-mail.
Members can also use an interactive address book in the new program. Content of the address book can be as simple as keeping track of e-mail addresses, or more complex, allowing storage of phone numbers, addresses, alternate contact information, nicknames and birthdays.
Other free Web-based e-mail programs available restrict disk space significantly. For a collision repair shop, that could deter complete communications with customers and insurance companies. Trying to send a digital photo of a customer's vehicle may prove difficult with other e-mail programs. However, with more disk space available, larger files can be transferred from your shop to your clients.
ASA Web Mail also has the capabilities of checking your other
e-mail addresses, creating one central line of e-mail communication. Members can also create filters for incoming e-mails. Filters screen incoming e-mail for keywords that you set up, redirecting them to certain folders in your e-mail account. For example, you can create a filter marked "ASA" that will redirect all ASA-related e-mail into a certain folder you have established. You can also use a specialized search mechanism to find e-mails you have misplaced. Searching by phrases, words or dates can help you locate e-mails that have been sent to your inbox.
To sign up for ASA's free Web Mail program, visit the Members Only area of the ASA Web site and click on "ASA Web Mail" from the left menu. To access Members Only, click on "Member Login" from the top of the ASA home page (www.asashop.org) and enter your six-digit ASA member number into both the username and password fields when prompted.
Net Numbers
Last year, the ASA Web site received more than 10 million hits and almost 2 million page views.
Source: WebTrends
ASA Web Ways
ASA's Online Store
ASA now offers members the ability to purchase business aids, reference materials, promotional items, ASA insignia and consumer brochures 24 hours a day, seven days a week. ASA's recently revamped Online Store offers complete e-commerce capabilities, including a shopping cart mechanism and online credit card transaction abilities. All products are accompanied by a photo and description, as well as a list of related products. The Online Store resides in the Members Only area of the ASA Web site (www.asashop.org).
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Net Worth is written by Colby Horton, ASA's electronic communications manager. He can be reached at (800) 272-7467, ext. 234, or by e-mail at colbyh@asashop.org.
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