[2003-06-23] Keeping Your Business's Finances on Track One of the biggest benefits of operating a home-based business is that it doesn't require any formal training or experience. After all, some of the most successful individuals never attended a single business-related class or workshop. [2003-06-23] The Internet: Homonym Heaven Have you ever visited a visually attractive site and then spotted phrases such as, "If your interested in learning more about our Websight, e-mail us," or "This product comes with an unconditional guarantee. It's high quality will make you're life better!"? How about, "Body fat problems? We can help. Of coarse you need patients when it comes to reducing the access around you're waste." [2003-06-23] 6 Basic Rules To Starting An Online Business So here you are! you've been surfing around the Internet for quite some time. Or you're new and are thrilled by what it has to offer. You say to yourself "Hey! Look at all those people earning big money on the internet" and you decide you want to be a part of it. [2003-06-23] The First Fold Makes Your Site, (Or Breaks it.) Visitors to your site are not looking to make a new friend. They don't want to chat. And they don't give a darn what you think about anything, least of all your product. They only want to know: [2003-06-20] Do You Really Need a Website? Having a website is the one form of marketing for your business that just keeps on giving! But how do you know if you need a website? [2003-06-19] Damashi Peer Review - Careful With That Spelling! I had a look at the Damashi site and, to tell the truth, I found it tacky, uninviting, and less than informative about what is actually on the site. Even a banner saying 'Book of the Month' above the tome shown on the home page would give a clue that more treasures lie within. [2003-06-19] Addicted to Email: A Survivor’s Story. The following is a story of a fellow ezine subscriber, Joe, who had a terrible addiction to email. Not internet porn, or gambling, or even drugs - but email. Funny, huh? Not so funny to Joe. Read his story and then I'll describe what Joe did to overcome this problem. [2003-06-10] Making News is Better Than Just ‘Making the News’ There is a major difference between making news and "making the news." It is the difference between a shotgun and a slingshot. Amateurs can "make the news." They can entice a morning TV crew to take video of a charity event. Or land a mention in a local newspaper column. Or even score a feature story in a trade magazine.But these are one-time shots that are unlikely to leave an impression on your target audience. Simply "making the news" will rarely attract a steady stream of prospects to your door. Yet even top PR pros tend to focus on "making the news." There are two reasons for this. First, it's relatively easy to score. Second, the boss rarely understands that simply "making the news" is virtually worthless to the bottom line. [2003-06-10] The Anti-Spam Zealots who went to the FTC Spam Forum On the three days from April 30 through Friday, May 2, 2003, the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) held a "Spam Forum" in Washington, D.C. [2003-06-05] A Sense of Humor in the Workplace... Is it me? Or, was that not funny? When I was first initiated into Corporate America, I had a sense of humor that went unmatched by any mortal soul. I was quick-witted, smart, sharp, and knew every gag and joke available to humanity. Most of it, I learned in college. But, college never really did teach the fact that having a sense of humor in the workplace is different than 'jocularity.' After a few brushes with career-chaos, I realized that the definition of 'corporate humor' deals with how one handles oneself and not how one can elicit laughter. --- Where did this come from? --- [2003-06-04] Crawford House Collectibles - Is It In Stock? Ouch. Where do I start... 1. Home page - ugly. The "Control Panel" uses a "techie" style that is so out of keeping with the product line its almost funny (but it ain't!). Meanwhile the text is strictly html 101. The mottled background is both distracting and unappealing. A total disaster. No images. No specials. Nothing that would make me want to go another click further.