http://www.businessalone.com/ Home based business resources, strategies and tools for the solo business owner en Copyright 2008 Tue, 26 Aug 2008 07:32:38 -0700 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss The type of fraud I'm referring to is credit card or payment fraud as opposed to things like embezzling, tax evasion, or product scams. The Internet presents a special environment for payment fraud because transactions take place all over the globe often without one or even two parties being physically present to inspect or insure that everything happens as it should. Anonymity enables dishonest people to become bold and brazen. Credit card numbers and individual identities are stolen everyday by the unscrupulous. Web sites and shopping carts are hacked in every industry. Abuse of the payment system is commonplace nowadays.]]> http://www.businessalone.com/2008/08/can_you_prevent_or_avoid_fraud.html http://www.businessalone.com/2008/08/can_you_prevent_or_avoid_fraud.html Automate Your Biz Business Principles Computers E-Commerce Financial Management Fulfillment - Download How to . . . Merchant Accounts Ordering Retail Store Security Selling Tue, 26 Aug 2008 07:32:38 -0700 Who hasn't received a mailer that included an offer to purchase a product or try a service with the stipulation that all you have to do in order to activate the offer is peel off a pre-printed label and stick it in the box marked "I ACCEPT" and then send it off in the mail? Direct marketers send millions of these post cards or printed coupons everyday and have been doing so for many, many years. Why? Simply because they get response!]]> http://www.businessalone.com/2008/08/have_you_ever_tried_a_bounce_b.html http://www.businessalone.com/2008/08/have_you_ever_tried_a_bounce_b.html Advertising Business Principles Classified Ads E-Commerce Ezine / Newsletter How to . . . Marketing Media Niche Markets Selling Mon, 25 Aug 2008 06:13:38 -0700 Often a web site privacy policy is overlooked, thrown together in haste, or altogether omitted as the site owner is anxious to move on to more glamorous and creative aspects of developing a business home on the Internet. Privacy policies are sometimes akin to the "fine print" of most lengthy legal documents - something to be tolerated and considered, but probably there only in the extreme case that the user really cares about such things. I believe, strongly, that the site's privacy policy is very important and something that can greatly enhance the visitor's sense that the site owner really can be trusted - that he/she really does care about the confidentiality of the visitor's personal information.]]> http://www.businessalone.com/2008/08/does_your_web_site_have_a_soun.html http://www.businessalone.com/2008/08/does_your_web_site_have_a_soun.html Blog Business Principles Business in General Computers E-Commerce How to . . . Niche Sites Retail Store Web Site Sat, 23 Aug 2008 07:06:42 -0700 One of the most overlooked steps in web site publishing, product creation, and article writing is the "chore" of first doing market research. It's a chore to most people and therefore it is often neglected or shunned altogether because performing the research takes time, a certain amount of "know how" and definitely some amount of your precious time. But the consequences of not first doing research are almost always negative and will certainly cost you time and money in the long run.]]> http://www.businessalone.com/2008/07/sources_of_help_for_online_mar.html http://www.businessalone.com/2008/07/sources_of_help_for_online_mar.html Backend Products Business Ideas Business Principles How to . . . Information - Content Marketing Niche Markets Products Testing and Tracking Thu, 24 Jul 2008 06:28:12 -0700 Yes, bumper stickers have been in use for a very long time. In fact, they continue to be an excellent strategy for small business because the cost of employ this strategy is minimal but the exposure it can give your business can be great! Who doesn't notice and read unique bumper stickers? Yes, there are many boring, ugly, and hard-to-read bumper stickers. The impact that these stickers have can be minimal. But circulate some fresh, eye-catching, humorous, and outrageous bumper stickers for your business and you may just unleash a wonderful branding and marketing campaign!]]> http://www.businessalone.com/2008/06/advertising_that_works_bumper.html http://www.businessalone.com/2008/06/advertising_that_works_bumper.html Advertising Competition Freebies - Bonuses Headlines How to . . . Marketing Media Publicity - Releases Selling Web Site Mon, 16 Jun 2008 06:28:47 -0700 Today's post is a bit of rambling about a principle that all of us seek and can, at least to some degree realize, regardless of how our business endeavers pan out. Of course, from the title of this post you know the principle in mind is that of SUCCESS. Whether or not you feel that you are a success really depends upon how you define and measure results that you consider to be successful. Whether in business, life, in your marriage, in your relationships with family and friends, or wherever your "counting" takes place, the level of success you reach is often determined by the standards you set.]]> http://www.businessalone.com/2008/05/success_in_business_as_well_as.html http://www.businessalone.com/2008/05/success_in_business_as_well_as.html Business Principles Business in General E-Commerce Media Mentoring Owner Traits Sat, 24 May 2008 07:40:49 -0700 Buyer beware! Many a novice business owner has charged into the pay per click advertising world (PPC, for short) with high expectations of mega targeted traffic at small cost and come away with an empty wallet, few or no sales, and a vow never to waste money again in that arena! One of the keys to solving the PPC dilemma remains hidden from many folks view. Usually the campaign owner focuses on keyword strategies and maximizing ad placement.]]> http://www.businessalone.com/2008/05/if_you_decide_to_use_pay_per_c.html http://www.businessalone.com/2008/05/if_you_decide_to_use_pay_per_c.html Advertising Classified Ads Copywriting How to . . . Keywords Pay Per Click Ads Sat, 03 May 2008 07:49:27 -0700 The folks over at the Better Business Bureau commissioned a study in 2007 of the adult online shopper's most important issues. It seems that approximately 60% of those surveyed are primarily concerned about two things: (1) that their personal information could be stolen and sold online or reused by someone else, and (2) that their credit card information could be hijacked by some unscrupulous operator (59%).]]> http://www.businessalone.com/2008/04/the_folks_over_at_the.html http://www.businessalone.com/2008/04/the_folks_over_at_the.html Business in General Computers E-Commerce Marketing Online Helps Security Spam - Bulk Email Sat, 19 Apr 2008 07:00:45 -0700 Of all the tricks and strategies that direct marketing professionals have devised over the years to increase sales and push prospects to take action at crunch time, maybe the ultimate trick is employing the "scarcity" factor to a product or service. When a product is limited (scarce) in availability, it's value skyrockets dramatically. Most of us understand the reasoning behind using this tactic and I can guarantee you that at least 90% of the online product offers and "launches" that you'll encounter will use one or more scarcity tactics in the sales message to get you to buy.]]> http://www.businessalone.com/2008/04/how_to_force_your_prospects_to.html http://www.businessalone.com/2008/04/how_to_force_your_prospects_to.html Advertising Business Principles Competition Copywriting E-Commerce Freebies - Bonuses How to . . . Information Sales Marketing Products Selling Traffic (Web Site) Fri, 18 Apr 2008 06:37:40 -0700 Like most new and innovative things, Internet business for many people seems to be nothing more than a fad, a fancy, a fleeting hot topic that will soon cool off and die in obscurity. Many computer savvy folks have yet to make a purchase online and some still hold to the notion that the dot com era will soon be over for good. They reason that e-commerce online is not secure, too much of a passing fantasy, and something that they can easily do without.]]> http://www.businessalone.com/2008/04/small_business_on_the_internet.html http://www.businessalone.com/2008/04/small_business_on_the_internet.html Automate Your Biz Business in General Competition E-Commerce Marketing Niche Markets Retail Store Selling Start a Business Web Site Thu, 17 Apr 2008 07:06:30 -0700 You know I have often commented that "you are the business." Of course I'm talking about the fact that your business reflects your own personal ideas, traits, quirks, tendencies, and ability to be successful or not. You are the solo creator, fthe ounder, the operator, and only employee of your solor business. Without you, and everything that you know, do, and are, your business is nothing. There is no business if you don't make it so. That can either be a great asset or a debilitating burden.]]> http://www.businessalone.com/2008/04/is_your_business_looking_like.html http://www.businessalone.com/2008/04/is_your_business_looking_like.html Business in General Niche Sites Owner Traits Wed, 16 Apr 2008 07:51:46 -0700 Did you know there are ways to see what buyers are looking for at any given time online? The information is free. Smart marketers and product developers ought to keep an eye on the buying public and their wants. Understanding "demand" is one of the pillars of Internet marketing and product creation. CNET's Download.com is a library of free and free-to-try software programs and applications for Windows, Macintosh, and handheld devices. It began 10 years ago with 3,000 titles and today has over 30,000 potential downloads.]]> http://www.businessalone.com/2008/04/whats_popular_and_in_demand_on.html http://www.businessalone.com/2008/04/whats_popular_and_in_demand_on.html Affiliate Programs Biz Opps - Make Money Competition Computers E-Commerce Freebies - Bonuses Headlines Information - Content Marketing Media Niche Sites Products Selling Traffic (Web Site) Web Site Tue, 15 Apr 2008 07:24:26 -0700 Every business owner will have his moments when all creativity and unique ideas seem to hit a lull. No matter what the owner does, he just can't come up with anything new and exciting for his customers. It's at these times that repurposing your content may be the answer until your creative juices begin flowing again! Here is a simple list of things you can do to get yourself going again.]]> http://www.businessalone.com/2008/03/creativity_waning_in_your_busi.html http://www.businessalone.com/2008/03/creativity_waning_in_your_busi.html Business Principles Copywriting How to . . . Information - Content Products Mon, 10 Mar 2008 06:31:02 -0700 I have to be careful here because I'm not a search engine optimization wizard. What I am going to tell you is either what I have experienced or what I have gleaned from others that I consider to be very knowledgeable on the subject. Often business owners wonder what the best URL or business naming strategy is for an online business or product. Sometimes they even wonder if the domain name has any bearing whatsoever on the search engines. Of course, the reason to be concerned about SEO is to be able to get as much "organic" (or non-paid search engine) traffic as possible to your web site.]]> http://www.businessalone.com/2008/02/is_your_domain_name_a_factor_i.html http://www.businessalone.com/2008/02/is_your_domain_name_a_factor_i.html Business Principles Business in General Domain Names - URL How to . . . Keywords Search Engines - SEO Traffic (Web Site) Web Site Mon, 11 Feb 2008 07:43:28 -0700 Some of you may have seen this on MSN recently, but I thought I would share my synopsis of it anyway for those interested in the "wants" of Internet users. CNET's Download.com is a library of free and free-to-try software programs and applications for Windows, Macintosh, and handheld devices. It began 10 years ago with 3,000 titles and today has over 30,000 potential downloads. Here are the TOP TEN DOWNLOADS over the past 10 years:]]> http://www.businessalone.com/2008/01/whats_hot_and_in_demand_on_the.html http://www.businessalone.com/2008/01/whats_hot_and_in_demand_on_the.html E-Commerce Freebies - Bonuses How to . . . Information - Content Marketing Media Niche Sites Products Search Engines - SEO Software and Scripts Web Site Fri, 11 Jan 2008 06:58:39 -0700