Iqaluit (Nov 01/04) - Ed Maruyama moved to Nunavut over a year ago, knowing enough about computers and the Internet to land himself a good job with Nunanet.

Besides being a tech-savvy guy, Maruyama is also a talented photographer.

He specializes in the sort of rock music photography you see in popular magazines and big newspapers, where there is a lot of sweat on the rock star's brow and it looks as though the photographer was right on stage with the band.

Maruyama has seriously considered launching his own Web-page to promote and sell his photography.

But he knows all too well the limitations of web pages. He is also incredibly frustrated with Nunavut's notoriously slow dial-up system.

Needless to say, Maruyama can't wait for broadband Internet service to arrive in Nunavut.

There is no question about the value of speed when it comes to business Web pages, he said.

"Broadband is really essential. I think online shopping requires high speed," said Maruyama, sitting in his typically-computer-geek cluttered office at Nunanet last week.

"It's basically frustrating to have a web site and it takes forever to load the pages."

Adamie Itorcheak, who owns and operates Nunanet, is also waiting anxiously for broadband to change the lives of Internet users in the territory. When asked specifically about web sites for businesses, Itorcheak stressed, "it's not going to make you millions right away. You've got to think long term."

Before approaching funding agencies like Nunavut Economic Development and Kakiavak to help get you started on your Web page, Itorcheak said it is important you do your homework about Web sites. Sure enough, the best research you can do on the subject is on the Internet.

"Know what you want," Itorcheak said. "Have a plan."

Itorcheak knows many carvers and small business owners who want Web pages.

In a place like Nunavut, thousands of miles from the big cities and with huge distances between communities, the Internet is a vital lifeline for customers, Inuit artists and businesses.

But without broadband to speed things up, there is no point even having a Web page, Maruyama said. "It's too frustrating."

Tips for success

Here are some essential tips from Ed Maruyama for a business web site that people often forget:

1. Clean lay out. If they can't read it, what's the point? And for Nunavut, ask about downloadable Inuktitut fonts.

2. Reliability. You have got to show your customers that your site is secure. Banks that are online, such as CIBC, have security features you may want to copy.

3. Fast. High speed is key.

4. Identify your market. Who are you trying to reach? Who are you selling stuff to? Do you want to show video clips or enable visitors to play music?

Do you need pictures of your carvings? How big? Colour or black and white? Do you want a link to a tourism web page?

5. Hit counter. A counter isn't essential because it doesn't really tell you everything about who is visiting.