So you got the kid across the street to create your website for you. It was cheap and at least your business now has it’s own website. It shows! But let’s not get into that today. What I really want to discuss is the fact that many websites invite you to contact them, but like that youthful appearance you had 10 years ago.. it goes missing.

The past week I’ve been busy researching vacation villas and automobile rental for our upcoming trip to the Caribbean. I’ve contacted several companies through the email address or contact form on their website without any responses. Why bother putting up an email address or “Contact Us” text if you have no intentions of answering my concerns? Is this website of yours being used to generate business or is it there so you can tell your friends and business associates that you have a website. Let me guess.. having this website makes you “cool”!

Here’s the reality of my unanswered emails - I MOVED ON! Right now I’m about to book with your competition. The fella who knows that I needed a response so I could give him my business. You must realize that the same way I found your website, I also found your competition.

If you don’t have the time or resources to answer each email as they come in, set it up so at least I get an autoresponder message saying that you received my email… that it’s important and when I can expect a response from you. WAIT! The important part is.. you must actually follow up! We can all understand that your business keeps you busy (it’s a sign that you’re doing something good to attract all these customers, that’s keeping you busy) so we don’t mind waiting for a response.

Don’t leave potential customers hanging.

I think it was about a year ago that I first discovered that  a hacker had taken over my server and was using up all it’s resources to bombard people with spam emails. It was just at the time when my online businesses were really taking off. My entire portfolio of websites were either shut down or running a bit slower than honey in the winter. Not only that, but every bit of information I had on the server was corrupted.

As I read Rosalind Gardner’s latest post : How to Protect Yourself Against Hackers in her “Net Profits Today Online Magazine” I could only shake my head. I’ve been there and know exactly what she’s going through and the work involved to get things right again. Good Luck Ros!

I didn’t have the time nor resources to get my hack-attack fixed, so I let that part of my internet business dissolve and had to move on. This sort of thing costs tons of money both for the impact it creates on your business and the amount of time and special skilled people you have to hire to get it back to normal.

I think it was last week sometime I had called my cousin’s place to invite them for my dad’s birthday party when I got into a brief conversation with his wife. She said she was thinking about calling me to ask me what my views were on “Jeff Paul”. Jeff Paul? Yea, the fella who’s on tv with his work at home package that’s making people tons of cash. NOPE! My tv time is limited to just a few shows and secondly, if it doesn’t cook food.. I won’t watch the infomercial.

She knew I’ve been working from home the past 7-8 years now and that I know a fair amount about the scams on the internet… so I guess this is why she asked. Funny thing is, this is the first time someone I know outside my internet realm that asked for my opinion on anything internet related. Yea! And I couldn’t comment on it!

I thought since I was in the dark about Jeff Paul Systems - Instant Profits Organization and all the commercials that’s plastered on the TV, I’d see what I could find out about this supposedly “easy” way to make tons of money from home. The first result that came up for my search on Google didn’t surprise me one bit!

Maybe you should read about Jeff Paul Systems - Instant Profits Organization.

How about those Giants eh! Yup I called it earlier on Sunday.

So far so good… my eBay project is going great and I’d like to share another tip with you today. Yea, I know it’s Super Bowl Sunday and you’re probably at some party gearing up for a Giants win

RESEARCH!

Regardless if you have the “best” or “most-in-demand” item on eBay there’s no guarantee that your item will sell. Take the time before you submit your listing to research what other eBay sellers are listing their item for. Yes, the PRICE. Try to stick with the same price as the competition so your listing does not get passed over for being too high-priced. Here’s a little tip I use.

I check to see what other sellers are selling the item I want to list. Then I drop my starting price a few dollars less, so my ad stands out as being cheaper to bid on. Here’s the kicker… on my shipping price I add back a few dollars. I’ve found that most buyers on eBay tend to look at the selling price and not pay much attention on what it will cost them to have the item shipped to them. Now, don’t get me wrong… it’s not my intention to gouge anyone with overly high shipping charges.

So have your starting price a bit lower than the competition and add the couple bucks to the shipping price.

Enjoy the game.