Time's Running Out


"Now, I'M Going Berserk!"

Time's running OUT! I'm sorry I have to keep beating this drum but, rumor has it Google has teamed up with Verizon to decide Net Neutrality. WHAT?

This article makes it all quite clear - and easy to understand:

Google-Verizon Deal

What the hell happened to our administration's promise that Net Neutrality would NOT be compromised? Went the way of the rest of the promises, I guess.

In any event, it is VITALLY important that the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) hear from us. WE have to do OUR part to protect our businesses - and our FREEDOM.

Please, please, PLEASE go to the URL below and make your voice heard to the U.S. Congress!

We have to TELL THEM!

TELL THEM HERE!

Business Notes


"Thieves on the Web"

Sometimes I wonder if it's possible for any organization to make a dent in cleaning up the internet. So many scams - so many "business owners" who have no intention of treating their customers with anything other than contempt - so much BS ... And, so much theft!

In just a short period of time, I have personally known three online business owners who have had their web sites stolen! Their entire web sites - good GRIEF!

This is only the tip of the iceberg. You can also find your articles, sales copy, ad copy, ebooks and reports, software, other products, graphics and images, and even your ezine stolen!

Unfortunately, the theft itself is only the beginning of the problem. One victim was advised by several people to, "just leave it alone ... let it go."

In a pig's wazoo! For one thing - why do we bother to put a copyright mark on our work if it isn't going to mean anything? For another - she could soon find her own products stolen right along with the site design.

If your intellectual property is stolen - you need to get that stolen material off the Web! In one of the instances mentioned above, the product WAS actually stolen - right along with the entire web site - and was being sold by the thief. He even used the same credit card provider as the real owner!

In addition to all this, the thief then proceeded to market the product using "spam." Is this something you should just "leave alone?" I don't think so!

A thief is a thief is a thief. This person isn't going to have an ounce of ethics. You can bet you're dealing with someone whose reputation will soon be in the toilet. Do you want your property associated with this? Believe me, sooner or later, it will rub off on you!

In this case, the thief's web host refused to ban the stolen site. Even with undeniable evidence that the owner had both his domain name and his site up first! Even though the thief had been reported for "spam" by an outside source! What do to next?

Even when the web host cooperates, the job isn't finished. In fact, your job starts before something is stolen. And, it isn't over just because one web host shuts the pirate down. He could simply get a new web host and put it all back up.

Now granted, getting rid of this guy can take some work, energy and stamina on the part of the victim. But, let it go?

Well, I suppose you could. But how much are your web site - your products - and your reputation - worth to you?

Business Tips


"What? No Telephone?"

I recently saw an interesting shop down the street. The next day, I tried to call to see if they carried something I wanted. But, I couldn't do it. They had no telephone number listed.

Do you believe that? Well, don't! It wouldn't happen with an off-line business.

Every brick and mortar company has a telephone number for receiving business calls. Can you even imagine a business with no way for customers to contact them by phone? What kind of business is that?

Yet, what do we have on the Internet?

We have people setting up home-based businesses. Then, they seem to feel that since they are working from a home office, they don't want to provide a telephone number on their web sites. What's the thinking here?

Some online business owners believe that they will be inundated with hundreds of calls per day and receive telephone calls from cranks. Not true. Only a tiny percentage of your web site visitors will ever call you. And you'll probably get just about as many crank calls as you would with an unlisted private number from cranks dialing randomly.

If you do get a crank call? That thing in your hand has a disconnect button - use it!

Some people work online during hours that may not be considered "business hours." They don't work 9 to 5. So what? Any business can set its own business hours and they can be anything you wish. Post your hours - and the time zone!

Oh, they'll just call anyway - day or night? So turn on Voice Mail after hours. What's the problem?

One person actually told me that she "hates the phone." This person objected to answering the same questions that were answered on the web site. All I can say to that is, "Then, get out of business." You can't build a company without customer interaction. If you don't like people, then you'd better get out of marketing!

At least in the USA, most land line telephone companies have a service called, "Personalized Ring" - or "Distinctive Ring." They give you a second number for about $6 per month. It uses your main line - but when a call comes in on that number, the telephone rings differently from your main number. Hark! A business call! You can now answer your telephone with your company name - and you don't even have to answer "after hours."

How can you run a business without allowing potential customers - or business associates - to contact you personally? You can't. If you refuse to provide a telephone number, trust me, smart people will refuse to do business with you!

If you expect your business to be taken seriously, you need to take that telephone seriously and provide a number on your web site. If you refuse to provide a telephone number, don't try to tell me you HAVE a business! You don't. No legitimate business hides from potential customers and/or business associates!

Same ol' rule of thumb: How to they do it down on Main Street? Are you in business - or not?

Business Notes


"Tools You Need"

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Date: June 30, 2010
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:15PM Eastern (GMT-5)

Substantial Discount for Trade Journal Readers ONLY:

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Article Copyrights


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These works are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 License
To re-publish articles by jl scott from this site, please include the following byline - with live links - after each article you use.

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* dr. jl scott is the Founder of Chamber of Commerce - on the Web™ http://www.ChamberofCommerce-ontheWeb.com - and also the publisher of the Online Business Trade Journal™ - the blog that keeps you up to date with online business coming of age. Visit: http://www.OnlineBusinessTradeJournal.com

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