1. Your Website, Your Way!

Your website is your "face" on the Internet. Make it a good one.

Welcome to the EZBIZsa tour, in which we hope to show you why you should be using an EZBIZsa website. It is meant for small and micro businesses but it can be used by anyone really, for almost any function. Plus, it's perfect for those who need a site for a limited time or specific purpose after which it can just be shut down. No mess, no fuss! In this tour we want to show you just how versatile, easy to use and full featured it is. Let's start of with the website itself ...

The core of the EZBIZsa system is your website. You can choose between the "Designer" or "Pre-Built" template setting, or we can design a custom template for you so that your site is unique . In case you are unfamiliar with the terminology, a website templates is a framework within which your website is built. The text and images, backgrounds and features then fill the blocks of the template.

If you feel creative, you can use our Designer Template option, which allows you to customise your website to how you want it to look*. Choose the colours, fonts, buttons and even shift elements of your site around. Our designer templates allow you to unleash the artist within. You can't change everything (yet) but there isn't much you cannot do with the Designer Template. You can choose how wide it is, how high the header is, where the buttons are, what everything looks like, the size and type of text and much more. And all without knowing a stitch of HTML.

The Pre-Built Template option offers you a range of fixed layouts that have been built to accommodate the the EZBIZsa user who wants a good-looking website up and running quickly, without having to "mess around" with the design elements and colour choices.

Change from this Designer template ...

... to this Pre-Built one with the click of a button!

Unlike most other website builders, all EZBIZsa websites come equipped with a host of tools and facilities that you can include on your website to interact with your website visitors, including...

Much of the interaction with website visitors can be done through our unique "side blocks" (an example of which is shown above), which can be activated and deactivated and reordered to offer you unrivalled functionality as far as website builders are concerned. No other "off the shelf" website building software with anywhere near the ridiculously low price of EZBIZsa offers anything like the functionality that our product does. If you find anything else that is comparable, let us know.

The site also allows you to add an almost unlimited number of pages.

EZBIZsa websites give you incredible control over your website with an appearance control page dedicated to each element of your site - header, website background, page background, menu buttons and more! Use plain colour header or choose from our selection of stock images or use your own image. The choice is yours.

An example of an appearance control page.

Plus, for a small additional fee, we can help you set your entire site up, including the design of a "killer header" and button backgrounds, or for a little less, we can design a professional, great-looking header to set your website apart.

Remember that you can start using a EZBIZsa website right now and our paid, feature-rich packages start at only R39,00 per month.

2. Website Lay Out

Moving around your website is as easy as falling down stairs ... just less painful.

EZBIZsa websites are divided into two sections; the admin section (or back-end, or as we call it "control space") and the website section (or front-end). The "control space" is where you do the work to build your website and where you find the functions and tools that make EZBIZsa a really amazing product. The "website" is what visitors to your site will see.

Control Space

The "control space" consists of two pages, a "home" page and a "builder" page. It couldn't be easier! All of the tools and services you have access to can be easily reached from the home page, and everything you need to build your website is on the builder page.

The "Home Page" with all tools in easy reach.

Builder

The "Builder Page" offers you unmatched control over the look and feel of your website with our Custom website template option, through which you are not bound to the limitations of traditional templates. For those who desire a "quick and easy" solution, we do offer pre-built templates as well.

The "Builder Page" in "Custom" website mode.

3. Administration and Control

You are in control!

The entire point of EZBIZsa is to put you, the site owner, in the driver's seat. The administration section of the site, therefore is geared to offering you options to control almost every part of your website.

Obviously you can change your password and e-mail address at any time, but there is so much more you can do to manage your EZBIZsa website as well.

So, you can tailor the facilities on your website to what you want to offer ... precisely. And this extends far beyond just the look and feel of the site - although, as we have already stated, you have almost complete control there too. The control goes as far as allowing you to decide what tools will be available to your website visitors, from a newsletter sign up form to a survey, from a shopping cart to a contact form. No other website builder in this price range (or even at double the price) offers this combination of functionality and control.

A view of a portion of the Contact Page Builder.

You can choose to have alerts e-mailed to you that visitors to your site have sent a message or quote request to you through your site. You can have duplicates of messages and quote requests e-mailed directly to you so that you don't have to log into your system to retrieve your messages. And that's just the tip of the iceberg ...

4. Building Your Site Couldn't Be Easier

Content is king on the Internet, but with EZBIZsa you have an advantage ...

EZBIZsa has numerous "standard" pages that are available in your website - each for a specific purpose and many with unique functionality. They include the "Home" page, "About Us" page, "Location" (map and address) page, "Specials" page and many more. They are already set up with dedicated features that make them more than just empty pages. Simply add a button to your website menu and link the page you want to the button and voila!

An example of how easy it is to add a menu button.

What is more, you can add extra pages as well and either link them to your main menu or link to them from other pages. These pages can serve whatever function you would like. Most pages also have individual facilities to add unique meta keywords and descriptions, as well as the ability to determine how keyword rich your text is.

Your content (text, images etc.) is what your website visitors will be coming to see on your site, so we make sure that you have as much control as possible over what you are putting on your website. From the text editor that makes entering and editing text a breeze (see image below), to the easy-to-use image and links insertion system, you couldn't ask for an easier, more robust and reliable content management system.

The text editor

The unique image and link controls allow you to add an image or link directly into your text; simply click in the text where you want the image or link to go, format it (you can change image size, give it a border, add a link to it and more) and then click a button to insert it.What is more, your content can be saved as a draft if you need to work on it and published to your site when you are ready. You can also embed code snippets (Google maps, Youtube videos etc.), Flash files and audio quickly and easily

Part of the image and link dialog system

Need help? There is context help text on almost every content page to help you and our support team are just a message away.

5. Your Products and Services

Effortlessly manage products and services on offer

If you wish to sell or promote goods online, you can easily manage your products through the EZBIZsa catalog page. It's a snap to build new products and edit existing ones. Managing your catalog is made all the easier with the comprehensive search and filter capabilities. Products displayed on your site are accompanied by a write up and optional image, but you can link your product to an "Expansion" page where you can write as much as you want and even add images and links. With three product layout styles, you get to show off what you are selling your way. You can sell tickets and downloads of music or documents as well - something most other website builder can't do.

The Product Page where you can access your products

Shopping Cart

Yep, you guessed it - EZBIZsa has a built in shopping cart for easy display of products that can be collected by visitors in a "basket". The shopping cart can either send an invoice to the customer or allow visitors to pay through various payment solutions* (such as Netcash and Payfast, although these must be set up by the website owner) thereby facilitating credit card, EFT and/or Ukash payment for goods.

Quotes

Every site has custom-built quoting system that allows visitors to your site to request a quotation for goods and/or services. You can draw up a quote and e-mail from your EZBIZsa control space quickly and easily. No need to fire up other software or type out a quotation on your word processor. All quotes are stored and can be accessed at any time and all sent quotes can be downloaded to your favourite spreadsheet program*.

The Quotes Waiting page

When a quote is confirmed, you can invoice the customer if they have paid for goods*. Like quotes, invoices can be generated from your EZBIZsa control space and e-mailed to the customer/client. Overdue invoices are then listed on your home page for follow-up action.

What is more, information about your customer/client can be automatically sent to your website's Client Relations Manager, in which you can record details about them, schedule follow-up marketing efforts and sales calls and more*. This makes dealing with your clients so much easier. It will even remind you when it's their birthday (although you have to enter the date yourself, initially).

An example of a product on an EZBIZsa site

If you offer services, you can build a page for each service you offer, each being accessible from your website's main menu. This allows you to break down your offerings in a logical and functional way. You can quote on services using the built-in quoting system. Upon completion of your service, you can then invoice your client from within your EZBIZsa control space*. In short, this one website is all you need to run your small business.

*Only available with certain packages.

6. A Host of Functions

Tools to help you run your business you way!

Once your EZBIZsa site is set up, you can use the functions integrated into your EZBIZsa system to help you streamline your business. Some functions are quite common on website, such as the "Contact Me" form that allows visitors to your website to send you messages that you can view and respond to from within your site, using the message builder ...

The Message Builder ...

We have already dealt with EZBIZsa's quote, invoice and CRM systems, but those are just the tip of the iceberg!

Bookings*

If you run a bed-and-breakfast, restaurant or small venue, EZBIZsa offers an integrated booking, quoting and invoicing system that allows you to set up your rooms or services and enter bookings per room or service in a booking calendar. This makes keeping track of bookings a breeze. Choose a date format to accept bookings for single dates (for restaurants, trainers and public speakers) or over a time period (for bed and breakfasts and guesthouses).

Filling in the booking form on an EZBIZsa website

EZBIZsa also comes equipped with a password-protected "Premium" section that allows you to regulate who has access. This has been built specifically for clubs and businesses who want to keep information private or only for a select group of website visitors. You can set up access accounts members who can log into the premium section of your site where you can post articles and other information that only they can view. You can also post messages in the Premium section's home page for specific members or for all members.

Mail Client*

EZBIZsa includes a mail client that allows you to check and respond to e-mails you receive through your EZBIZsa e-mail address(es) right inside your control space.

Newsletters and Surveys*

The built-in newsletter system allows you to compose HTML newsletters (with colour) that you can e-mail to the people who subscribe to your newsletter through your website. You can also set up surveys so that you can find out what visitors to your website want or what their opinions are about certain issues.

Maps

Want to show where your office or venue is located? Well, with EZBIZsa all you need to do is type your address into the relevant text box in the control space and an interactive Google map with a marker showing where you are exactly will be displayed on your Location page (a free map key from Google is required).

*Only available with certain packages.

7. Make Your Time Count

EZBIZsa even helps you become more productive

EZBIZsa offers productivity enhancement tools for the small business owner who needs to manage critical aspects of their business activities. From daily and weekly time management systems to help you get the most out of your day, to a business plan template and marketing manager that can help you determine where you are heading with your business.

Set up daily priorities for each day of the week ...

Time management for small business owners is crucial and EZBIZsa makes getting the most out every second of every working day easy. Set targets for the week each Monday. Then lay out your action plan (with targets) for your day each morning before work. And finally, review which targets were achieved at the end of the week. You will find that you will have more time to spend on the important things. The day planner integrates with the calendar and your events for the day are displayed on your home page.

8. Community

We are strong together

EZBIZsa is more than just a website. It is like a club. When you join us, you become part of our community and there are a host of tools in your control space that will help you make contact with other users both as a source of revenue as well as a source of information. Use the community to look for products and services, advertise your own or just get in touch with others to network.

Even free website members get to participate in our community (although their activity is somewhat limited by the facilities provided).

9. Tools of the Trade

Tools help add to the convenience

Another advantage to EZBIZsa is the ever-growing list of tools that we have added to make your life easier. Things like calculators, online news and more.

Some of the resources available...

Typewriter

One noteworthy tool is the typewriter, which allows you to write text files (notes, plans, letters, drafts etc.) and store them in EZBIZsa. They do not appear on your website and securely stored. What is more, they can be sent as an HTML e-mail at the touch of a button.

10. Resources and Info

Knowledge is power ...

Many small business owners lack access to resources about all manner of business-related matters because they have no time to find out or they don't know where to look. We have included a growing library of articles and links to help our users find out more and in so doing to empower themselves to run their businesses better. After all, knowledge is power.

11. Support and Help Every Step of the Way

Supporting, educating and listening

EZBIZsa has loads of nooks and crannies to explore and using it can be a little daunting, especially for the Internet novice or new user. With this in mind, we have not only focussed on making the system easy to use, but we also offer comprehensive support through our "Support" page and Live support chat. We also offer free EZBIZsa training seminars from time to time for those who really want to get the most out of their business website.

The support page

We also offer a range of other support tools, including tutorials, frequently asked questions section and glossary to empower you to use your EZBIZsa site.

Listening

We relish any feedback from our clients and users and we welcome yours, whether it is to tell us what you think of EZBIZsa or what you would like to see added to it. We do what we can to make the changes our clients request and many of your users will attest to our attentiveness in this regard. Obviously, we can only make changes that are general enough to benefit all users or a particular group of users, but we will seriously consider all requests.