Tip for Online Auction Sellers

Adoption and Implementation of a Privacy Policy

2008-03-30T07:30:00.003-06:00

An organization engaged in online activities or electronic commerce has a responsibility to adopt and implement a policy for protecting the privacy of individually identifiable information. Organizations should also take steps that foster the adoption and implementation of effective online privacy policies by the organizations with which they interact; e.g., by sharing best practices with business partners.

Notice and Disclosure
An organization’s privacy policy must be easy to find, read and understand. The policy must be available prior to or at the time that individually identifiable information is collected or requested. The policy must state clearly: what information is being collected; the use of that information; possible third party distribution of that information; the choices available to an individual regarding collection, use and distribution of the collected information; a statement of the organization’s commitment to data security; and what steps the organization takes to ensure data quality and access. The policy should disclose the consequences, if any, of an individual’s refusal to provide information. The policy should also include a clear statement of what accountability mechanism the organization uses, including how to contact the organization.

Choice/Consent
Individuals must be given the opportunity to exercise choice regarding how individually identifiable information collected from them online may be used when such use is unrelated to the purpose for which the information was collected. At a minimum, individuals should be given the opportunity to opt out of such use. Additionally, in the vast majority of circumstances, where there is third party distribution of individually identifiable information, collected online from the individual, unrelated to the purpose for which it was collected, the individual should be given the opportunity to opt out. Consent for such use or third party distribution may also be obtained through technological tools or opt in.

Data Security
Organizations creating, maintaining, using or disseminating individually identifiable information should take appropriate measures to assure its reliability and should take reasonable precautions to protect it from loss, misuse or alteration. They should take reasonable steps to assure that third parties to which they transfer such information are aware of these security practices, and that the third parties also take reasonable precautions to protect any transferred information.

Data Quality and Access
Organizations creating, maintaining, using or disseminating individually identifiable information should take reasonable steps to assure that the data are accurate, complete and timely for the purposes for which they are to be used. Organizations should establish appropriate processes or mechanisms so that inaccuracies in material individually identifiable information, such as account or contact information, may be corrected. These processes and mechanisms should be simple and easy to use, and provide assurance that inaccuracies have been corrected. Other procedures to assure data quality may include use of reliable sources and collection methods, reasonable and appropriate consumer access and correction, and protections against accidental or unauthorized alteration.

E-commerce has grown faster than anyone could have predicted only a few years ago. The Internet is entering more and more American homes to become a true mass medium. While the Net offers unparalleled convenience for consumers, many hesitate to transact business on the web. People are nervous about thepotential loss of personal privacy. Is their personal information and online activity tracked, collected andanalyzed without their knowledge or approval?

Web businesses are striving to convert visitors to customers. But consumers will not purchase from sites if they do not feel confident that their personal information is respected. News stories, studies and polls all confirm that fear of the loss of privacy is a principal reason people don’t transact business online. If online companies expect consumers to spend time at a Web site, make purchases and visit the site again they must build trust.

Posting a privacy policy is a critical step. But what isa credible privacy policy? The Online Privacy Alliance, a coalition of nearly 100 global companies and associations, urges all Web businesses to post privacy policies that contain ALL the following elements, recognized by policymakers and consumers as the foundation for a policy that engenders trust.

The Winners: Smaller Merchants who Made it Big

2008-01-21T18:17:00.000-07:00

Some of our most successful merchants are big companies. But not all of them. A lot of the most successful stores are smaller companies. Some, in fact, are one-man operations.

That's what they mean when they say that the Web levels the playing field. A small company doesn't have to look small. Or stay small.

In the physical world, a big company has a big advantage. They can spend millions of dollars to set up a marble and glass store on Park Avenue.

On the Web, things are different. Everyone's Web pages are made out of the same stuff: text and images. So there is no reason that you can't look just as good as General Motors. Or better.

It's not just a matter of pride. Looking real is what makes customers buy. So if you can make your Web site look like the site of a big successful company, that may be just what you grow into.

These stores did. Most of them started small. All have become leaders in their categories. How did they do it? Focus on a specific niche market, a professional looking Web site, great customer service, and time.

Gun Dog Supply
PalmGear
Fridgedoor.Com
Aviation Shopping Network
Vitanet
Beyond Muscle.com
Direct Sales
Restaurant-Store.com
Internet Hobbies
Flight Sim Central
Stained Glass Warehouse
Upgrade Source
Mr. Gadgets

Choosing a Domain Name

2007-10-08T11:28:00.001-06:00

From our friends at Yahoo

What makes a good domain name? A good domain name should be easy to remember, easy to spell, and preferably short. The name of your company is always a good choice. If your desired domain name is already taken, you can search if the .net or .org variation is available. You may also use hyphens to create unique domain names.

What characters are allowed?
.Com, .net, and .org domain names must meet these requirements: They cannot exceed 67 characters, including the characters in the suffix (63 characters plus the 4 character .xyz). Only letters, numbers, or hyphens are permitted. A domain name may not begin or end with a hyphen. They are part of the regulatory standards that .com, .net and .org domain names must follow.

What's the difference between http://yahoo.com and http://www.yahoo.com?
Not a lot. You can advertise whichever one you like the best.

Do I need to put the http:// on?
Probably not. Most web sites just advertise www.widgetdesigns.com. The www. is a good enough clue to people that it's a web address, so you don't need to say it. All popular browsers let you simply type www.widgetdesigns.com into the URL window.

Should I get a lot of domain names?
You may register and own an unlimited number of domain names. In addition to .com, many people register the .net and .org variations of their primary domain name. Each domain name costs $35.00 per year. If you already own a domain name, you can transfer it for $10.00 per year.

Who owns the domain name I register?
If you register a domain name through Yahoo! Store, you may designate the Registrant (owner) and Administrator. Yahoo! is only listed as the technical contact and nameservers. As the Registrant, you have final authority and responsibility regarding the use of your domain name.

What is the public domain name database?
A public domain name database (also known as Whois) contains contact information for all domain names. There are many registrars that register .com, .net and, .org domain names. Each of these registrars maintain their own public domain. The personal contact information you provide as the Registrant and Administrative contact is used to register your domain name. As required by the Internet's governing organization (ICANN), this information will be made publicly available. Records of all domain names registered by the registrar, Internet Names Worldwide, are maintained in their public domain domain database. The information includes Registrant, Administrator, technical contact, and nameserver information as well as record creation, update, and expiration dates. This information is available through many publicly accessible interfaces. You'll find a list of whois resources in Yahoo!'s directory.

How do I update my contact information in the public domain database?
The personal information you provided in your order was used to register your domain name. As required by ICANN, the Internet governance organization, this information was made publicly available.

What is the difference between .com, .net, and .org domain names?
Originally, the three letter suffix after the dot in domain names indicates whether the domain name was used for commercial (.COM), network (.NET), or non-profit (.ORG) purposes.Although there are guidelines, anyone may register these regardless of the intended use..Net and .org suffixes are good alternatives if the domain names you want in .com is already taken.

Tips for Online Auction Sellers - Advertising Your Product

2007-08-11T17:45:00.000-06:00

There are millions of products for sale at online auctions and many less that actually sell. Filling in all the necessary blanks when presenting your item for auction will help insure you sell it quickly and at the price you want.

Carefully Prepare the Item Description: A full and accurate description of your item or service is important and will help prevent problems after the sale. Include whether the item is new, used or reconditioned, and note any flaws the item may contain.

Think Like a Buyer: When writing your description, think like a buyer by anticipating possible buyer questions and including the answers in your advertisement. This will help cut down on your time in answering emails about your item and also help prevent anxious buyers from clicking elsewhere because you lack the information they want immediately.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: Seeing is believing especially with Internet auctions. When possible, include a photograph of the item and include pictures of anything which helps identify the authenticity of the product.

List the Minimum Bid You Are Willing to Accept.: When setting the minimum bid for your item, choose the lowest price which is fair and which you are willing to accept. Compare prices other sellers are listing for minimum bids on items similar to yours. You want to be competitive and fair. Also, post the types of payment you accept.

Set Your Shipping Terms: Include shipping information, such as - who pays for shipping, shipping costs, insurance policy and costs and where you are willing to ship, i.e. international shipping. Also include if the item is available only for pick up.

Post Your Return Policy: Decide on your return policy and include the information in your description. This should include details on who pays for shipping costs if the item is returned, if there is a restocking fee, and the length of time the buyer has to request a return. A "no return" policy should be clearly posted.

Service After the Sale: Include service information to the bidders. If you do not provide service for the item, say where the bidder can go to get it.

Keep It Simple: Keeping your description short and to the point will enable the buyers to know, at a glance, if they are interested in what you are selling. Most people want to be able to scan a page for the information and lose interest if something is too wordy.

Good Seller Etiquette:

Respond quickly to a bidders questions.
Keeps printed copies of all email exchanges with the bidders.
When the auction closes, print all the information about the transaction, making a note of the buyer's identification, the description of the item and the time, date and price of the bid.
After the auction closes, contact the winning bidder immediately and confirm the final terms of the sale. This includes the final cost, shipping chargers and where to send the payment.

Similar Page Checker

2007-07-18T10:22:00.000-06:00

Search Engines are known to act upon websites that contain Duplicate / Similar content.
Your content could be similar to other websites on the Internet, or pages from within your own website could be similar to each other (usually the case with dynamic product catalog pages)

This tool allows you to determine the percentage of similarity between two pages.

The exact percentage of similarity after with a search engine may penalize you is not known, it varies from search engine to search engine, Your aim should be to keep your page similarity as LOW as possible.

Duplicate Content Filter
This article will help you understand why you might be caught in the filter, and ways to avoid it.

http://www.webconfs.com/similar-page-checker.php

What Are Those Orange RSS or XML Buttons?

2007-05-10T16:01:00.000-06:00

What Are Those Orange RSS or XML Buttons?

More than likely you have seen these strange looking orange buttons on countless websites and wondered what the heck they were used for? These buttons link to an RSS file that syndicates and updates content on websites. Applications use these files to notifly you when new content is created or updated.

What is RSS?RSS is a syndication standard that websites use to syndicate their content. The original acronym stood for 'Rich Site Summary'. However, that meaning has now been replaced by the major benefit of RSS which is 'Really Simple Syndication'. Most people today refer to RSS by this meaning.

RSS is just basic hypertext code like xml or html. It was first introduced by Dave Winer from http://www.userland.com/ and the Scripting News.

RSS Feeds were first used mainly by news organizations to syndicate their content. Nowadays, RSS is usually associated with blogs or blogging because Blogs use RSS Feeds to mass circulate their content. Usually, an RSS Feed will consist of Headlines and Snippets of information with links linking back to a blog or website. Some RSS Feeds contain the full body of content.
Once you are subscribed to an RSS Feed, you will be automatically updated as new information comes online. It's a very practical and convenient way to stay informed on all your different areas of interest.
How Do I Use RSS?In order to access an RSS Feed you will need an RSS Feed reader or aggregator. Some common onesare Feedemon, Newsgator...

Another popular way to access and read RSS Feeds is through sites like MyYahoo or MyMSN. Just press the MyYahoo button and you will be automatically subscribed to that site. Some browsers now come with an RSS feature or function - such as the increasingly popular Mozilla Firefox Browser. It has a 'live bookmark' feature that will keep you up to date on all your bookmarked sites. Microsoft said in its Longhorn statement - the next version of Windows will have RSS. Webmasters should make sure their website is ready for RSS before this happens! More Information On RSS...
To get more information you can click here: RSS Tutorial or you can download this simple RSS and Blog Guide. In addition, Ken Evoy of SiteBuildIt fame, has written an excellent guide to RSS - you can find it Here.
Webmasters may copy this page without permission onto their own sites, as longas this page is presented in its entirety - including all links. Or you can link directlyto this URL if that is more convenient. Either way -

Make your site RSS User-Friendly!
Just copy the HTML code below onto a page on your site. Place a link entitled 'What Is This?' next to your Orange RSS or XML botton and link it to this page. Your visitors will thank you!

To copy, 'right click' and press 'select all' in the table below - then copy the highlighted HTML code onto a webpage on your site. Faster way, just 'right click', press 'view source' - then save and upload to your site.
http://www.bizwaremagic.com/ © Copyright - 2005 All Rights Reserved.

Year-End Tax Tips for Online Sellers

2007-04-04T11:26:00.000-06:00

Year-End Tax Tips for Online Sellers
By Barbara Weltman
Auction Bytes.com
October 23, 2005

How has 2005 been for your online business? Good? Bad? The answer to this question will determine the steps to take before the end of the year in order to minimize tax on your profits or make the best use of your losses.

If You've Had a Good Year If you've had a good year, take advantage of every deduction in order to reduce the profits you'll pay taxes on. Consider:

Buying new equipment (e.g., a computer, office furniture). You can position yourself to do more business next year while deducting the cost of the equipment up to $105,000 if you put it to use before the end of this year. Bonus: If you're short on cash, you can finance the purchase (e.g., charge it on a credit card); the deduction applies no matter how you pay for the item or items.

Deducting your business travel expenses. If you use your personal car to go to the Post Office to mail out the items you've sold or to pick up inventory at vendors, yard sales or other places, you can deduct the cost of this car use. You can write off your actual costs, including the gas you've put into your tank for business driving, or use an IRS-set standard mileage rate. This rate is 48.5 cents per mile for driving from September 1, 2005, through the end of the year; it was 40.5 cents for driving earlier in the year. For details on deducting car expenses, see IRS

Publication 463, Travel, Entertainment, Gift, and Car Expenses, at (http://www.irs.gov/).
Stocking up on supplies. Buy what you think you'll need in the coming year for packing materials and other supplies in order to deduct the cost now.

Setting up a retirement plan. Even if your eBay business is a sideline and you are already covered by an employer's retirement plan, you can still fund a retirement plan with your eBay profits. The money you put into the plan can grow tax-deferred for use in later years, avoiding current tax on those contributions. For details on your retirement plan options, see IRS

Publication 560, Retirement Plans for Small Business.
If You've Had a Bad Year If you've spent more money that you earned in profits, you probably have a tax loss for the year. To make the best of a bad situation, consider:
Adjusting your estimated taxes. If, for example, you are self-employed and have been paying estimated taxes for your business, you can reduce your payment for the fourth quarter of 2005, due on January 17, 2006. This will give you more cash to run your business.

Planning to use your loss. If you expect to have a net operating loss from your business in 2005, prepare to file for a quick refund produced by a carryback. You can apply the loss to 2003 and possibly 2004, generating a refund of taxes paid in those years. Individuals file IRS Form 1045, Application for Tentative Refund, to receive a check from the government, usually within 90 days - but you must file your 2005 income tax return before you file for the quick refund. Alternatively, you can file amended returns for those years on IRS Form 1040X.

If you did have a bad year, it's important to make sure to understand the reason for the loss so that you can correct any problems and, hopefully, become profitable in 2006. For example, maybe you're selling your items too cheaply and need to raise prices. Maybe you're paying too much for your inventory items and should become a better buyer.

Improve your recordkeeping systems. Whether business is good or bad, it is vital that you keep good books and records in order to optimize tax write-offs. For example, track your inventory carefully so that you pay tax only on your profits (the difference between the sales proceeds and what you paid for an item) and not on the full sales proceeds. Keep a log of your business driving so you can deduct all of your mileage costs.

Editor's Note: Consult with your accountant or tax advisor to ensure you make the right decisions for your unique situation, and visit the IRS website at (http://www.irs.gov/). About the author: Barbara Weltman is a nationally recognized tax and small business tax expert. Her popular newsletter, "Big Ideas for Small Business ®," is available without charge via http://www.barbaraweltman.com/newsletter. She is the author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Starting an eBay Business" and her newest book is "J.K. Lasser's Small Business Taxes 2007: Your Complete Guide to a Better Bottom Line."

Tips for the beginning auction seller

2007-03-10T18:53:00.000-07:00

Understand how the auction works. Many online auctions simply list
items that people want to sell. They don’t verify that the
merchandise actually exists or that it is described accurately, and
they can’t guaranty that the sellers will keep their
promises.

Check out the seller before you bid. Some auction sites have feedback
forums with comments about the sellers based on other
people’s experiences. Be aware that positive reports may have
been “planted” by the seller and negative comments
could be from a competitor. Other sources of information are state or
local consumer protection agencies and the Better Business Bureau.
Negative information is a good warning sign, but a clean complaint
record doesn’t guarantee that your transaction will go
smoothly.

Be careful if the seller is a private individual. Many consumer
protection laws don’t apply to private sales, though
government agencies may take action if there are many complaints the
same individual or criminal fraud is involved.

Be especially cautious when dealing with sellers in other countries. If
you have a problem, the physical distance, difference in legal systems,
and other factors could make resolving it very difficult.

Beware of “shills.” The seller may try to raise the
price artificially by making bids under fictitious names or recruiting
other people to make bids. Using bogus bidders is illegal and a
violation of online auction policies.

Get the name and contact information of the seller. The name, physical
street address, email address, and phone number are helpful to have for
checking the seller out and following up later if there is a problem.
Don’t do business with anyone who refuses to provide that
information.

Be wary of claims about collectibles and other expensive items. Since
you can’t examine the merchandise or have it appraised until
after the sale, don’t assume that claims about its condition
or value are true, or that photographs are accurate. Print out and save
the description and any photos to document the claims that were made.

Ask about delivery, returns, warranties and service before you pay. Get
a definite delivery time and insist that the shipment is insured. Ask
about the return policy. If you’re buying electronic goods or
appliances, find out if there is a warranty and how to get service.

Look for information on the auction site about insurance. Some auction
sites provide insurance that covers buyers up to a certain amount if
something goes wrong. Others may have links to third-party programs
that offer insurance for a fee. Read the terms of the insurance
carefully. There is often a deductible, and there be other limitations
or requirements that apply. For example, you may not be covered if the
seller had a negative feedback rating on the auction site at the time
of the transaction.

Pay by credit card. Under federal law, you can dispute the charges if
you paid the seller with a credit card and the goods were never
delivered or if they were misrepresented. If you are paying through an
intermediary service, ask what happens in the case of disputes.

Look for bonded sellers. Some sellers are bonded through programs that
have investigated their business backgrounds and credit histories and
guaranty your money back if they don’t fulfill their
promises. Click on the program symbol to learn how the bonding program
works and verify that the seller is a member in good standing.

Consider using an escrow service for expensive purchases that
aren’t covered by insurance or bonding. For a small fee, an
escrow service takes your payment and forwards it to the seller once
you confirm satisfactory delivery. If there is a dispute, the
escrow service may act as a referee. Ask if the service is
licensed and bonded, and how you can confirm that with the appropriate
agency.

Try mediation to resolve disputes. Not all problems are due to fraud.
Sometimes people simply fail to hold up their side of the bargain in a
timely manner or there may be a misunderstanding about something. Some
auction sites provide links to third-party mediation services that help
people resolve disputes. There may be a small fee that is usually paid
by the party who requests the mediation.

Inform auction sites about suspected fraud. They may have policies to
remove sellers from their sites if they use
“shills” or don’t live up to their
obligations.

Tips for Online Sellers

2007-02-07T00:32:00.000-07:00

Some good information for the seller.

Tips For Online Sellers
Under federal law, you're required to advertise your product or service and the terms of the sale honestly and accurately...

Know Your Legal Obligations

Under federal law, you're required to advertise your product or service and the terms of the sale honestly and accurately. You can't place "shill" bids on your item to boost the price or offer false testimonials about yourself in the comment section of Internet auction sites.

You're prohibited from auctioning illegal goods. While many auction sites monitor their sites to ensure that illegal items are not being offered, the responsibility for ensuring that a sale is legal rests with the seller and buyer. Some auction sites post a list of prohibited items as a guide.

You are required to ship merchandise within the time frame specified during the auction, or, if a time frame is not specified, within 30 days. If you can't meet the shipping commitment, you must give the buyer an opportunity to cancel the order for a full refund or agree to the new shipping date. To learn more about your responsibilities when shipping products, see A Business Guide to the Federal Trade Commission's Mail or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule.

Advertising Your Product
When describing your item and its condition, state whether it's new, used or reconditioned.

Anticipate questions buyers might have and address them in the description of your item or service.

When possible, include a photograph of the item. The saying that a picture is worth a thousand words is especially relevant in Internet auctions.
Specify the minimum bid at the lowest fair price you're willing to accept.
Specify who will pay for shipping, and note whether you'll ship internationally.

State your return policy, including who's responsible for paying for shipping costs or restocking fees if the item is returned.

Let prospective bidders know whether you provide follow-up service; if you don't, tell them where they can get it.

Dealing with Bidders

Respond as quickly as possible to bidders' questions about the item you're auctioning or the sales terms.

When the auction closes, print all information about the transaction, including the buyer's identification; a description of the item; and the date, time and price of the bid. Save a copy of every email you send and receive from the auction site or the successful bidder.

Contact the "winning" bidder as soon after the auction closes as possible; confirm the final cost, including shipping charges, and tell the buyer where to send payment.
Arranging for Payment

If you accept credit card payments from the buyer directly, bill the credit card account only once you've shipped the product.

If a buyer insists on using a particular escrow or online payment service that you've never heard of, check it out. Visit its Web site. Be suspicious of claims about being affiliated with a government agency. Call the customer service line. If there isn't one, or if you call and can't reach someone, don't use the service.

Before agreeing to use an online payment or escrow service, read the terms of agreement:

If it's an online payment service, find out who pays for credit card charge backs or transaction reversal requests if the buyer seeks them.

Examine the service's privacy policy and security measures. Never disclose financial or personal information unless you know why it's being collected, how it will be used, and how it will be safeguarded.

Be suspicious of an online escrow service that cannot process its own transactions and requires you to set up accounts with online payment services. Legitimate escrow services never do this.

Check with the Better Business Bureau, state attorney general or consumer protection agency — where you live and where the online payment or escrow service is based — to see whether there are any unresolved complaints against the service. Be mindful that a lack of complaints doesn't necessarily mean that the service has no problems.

Source: ftc.gov

http://domainsmagazine.com/Domains_6/Domain_298.shtml

The CAN-SPAM Act: Requirements for Commercial Emailers

2006-10-31T13:49:00.000-07:00

The CAN-SPAM Act: Requirements for Commercial Emailers

The CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 (Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act) establishes requirements for those who send commercial email, spells out penalties for spammers and companies whose products are advertised in spam if they violate the law, and gives consumers the right to ask emailers to stop spamming them.
The law, which became effective January 1, 2004, covers email whose primary purpose is advertising or promoting a commercial product or service, including content on a Web site. A "transactional or relationship message" – email that facilitates an agreed-upon transaction or updates a customer in an existing business relationship – may not contain false or misleading routing information, but otherwise is exempt from most provisions of the CAN-SPAM Act.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, is authorized to enforce the CAN-SPAM Act. CAN-SPAM also gives the Department of Justice (DOJ) the authority to enforce its criminal sanctions. Other federal and state agencies can enforce the law against organizations under their jurisdiction, and companies that provide Internet access may sue violators, as well.
What the Law Requires
Here's a rundown of the law's main provisions:
It bans false or misleading header information. Your email's "From," "To," and routing information – including the originating domain name and email address – must be accurate and identify the person who initiated the email.
It prohibits deceptive subject lines. The subject line cannot mislead the recipient about the contents or subject matter of the message.
It requires that your email give recipients an opt-out method. You must provide a return email address or another Internet-based response mechanism that allows a recipient to ask you not to send future email messages to that email address, and you must honor the requests. You may create a "menu" of choices to allow a recipient to opt out of certain types of messages, but you must include the option to end any commercial messages from the sender. Any opt-out mechanism you offer must be able to process opt-out requests for at least 30 days after you send your commercial email. When you receive an opt-out request, the law gives you 10 business days to stop sending email to the requestor's email address. You cannot help another entity send email to that address, or have another entity send email on your behalf to that address. Finally, it's illegal for you to sell or transfer the email addresses of people who choose not to receive your email, even in the form of a mailing list, unless you transfer the addresses so another entity can comply with the law.
It requires that commercial email be identified as an advertisement and include the sender's valid physical postal address. Your message must contain clear and conspicuous notice that the message is an advertisement or solicitation and that the recipient can opt out of receiving more commercial email from you. It also must include your valid physical postal address.
Penalties
Each violation of the above provisions is subject to fines of up to $11,000. Deceptive commercial email also is subject to laws banning false or misleading advertising.
Additional fines are provided for commercial emailers who not only violate the rules described above, but also:
"harvest" email addresses from Web sites or Web services that have published a notice prohibiting the transfer of email addresses for the purpose of sending email
generate email addresses using a "dictionary attack" – combining names, letters, or numbers into multiple permutations
use scripts or other automated ways to register for multiple email or user accounts to send commercial email
relay emails through a computer or network without permission – for example, by taking advantage of open relays or open proxies without authorization.
The law allows the DOJ to seek criminal penalties, including imprisonment, for commercial emailers who do – or conspire to:
use another computer without authorization and send commercial email from or through it
use a computer to relay or retransmit multiple commercial email messages to deceive or mislead recipients or an Internet access service about the origin of the message
falsify header information in multiple email messages and initiate the transmission of such messages
register for multiple email accounts or domain names using information that falsifies the identity of the actual registrant
falsely represent themselves as owners of multiple Internet Protocol addresses that are used to send commercial email messages.
Additional Rules
The FTC will issue additional rules under the CAN-SPAM Act involving the required labeling of sexually explicit commercial email and the criteria for determining "the primary purpose" of a commercial email. Look for the rule covering the labeling of sexually explicit material in April 2004; "the primary purpose" rulemaking will be complete by the end of 2004. The Act also instructs the FTC to report to Congress in summer 2004 on a National Do Not E-Mail Registry, and issue reports in the next two years on the labeling of all commercial email, the creation of a "bounty system" to promote enforcement of the law, and the effectiveness and enforcement of the CAN-SPAM Act.
See the FTC Web site at www.ftc.gov/spam for updates on implementation of the CAN-SPAM Act.
The FTC maintains a consumer complaint database of violations of the laws that the FTC enforces. Consumers can submit complaints online at http://www.ftc.gov/ and forward unwanted commercial email to the FTC at spam@uce.gov.
Your Opportunity to Comment
The National Small Business Ombudsman and 10 Regional Fairness Boards collect comments from small businesses about federal compliance and enforcement activities. Each year, the Ombudsman evaluates the conduct of these activities and rates each agency's responsiveness to small businesses. Small businesses can comment to the Ombudsman without fear of reprisal. To comment, call toll-free 1-888-REG-FAIR (1-888-734-3247) or go to www.sba.gov/ombudsman.
For More Information
The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit http://www.ftc.gov/ or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
April 2004

Tips for Sellers from The Federal Trade Commission

2006-10-02T06:04:00.000-06:00

Internet auction sites give buyers a “virtual” flea market with new and used merchandise from around the world; they give sellers a global storefront from which to market their goods. But the online auction business can be risky business. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) wants to help buyers and sellers stay safe on Internet auction websites. Among the thousands of consumer fraud complaints the FTC receives every year, those dealing with online auction fraud consistently rank near the top of the list. The complaints generally deal with late shipments, no shipments, or shipments of products that aren’t the same quality as advertised; bogus online payment or escrow services; and fraudulent dealers who lure bidders from legitimate auction sites with seemingly better deals. Most complaints involve sellers, but in some cases, the buyers are the subject.Whether you’re a buyer or a seller, understanding how Internet auctions work can help you avoid most problems.

How Internet Auctions Work — Rules of the Marketplace

Role of the Auction Site.
Most Internet auction sites specialize in person-to-person activity where individual sellers or small businesses sell their items directly to consumers. In these auctions, the seller — not the site — has the merchandise, and often, the site will not take responsibility for any problems that may arise between buyers and sellers. Before using an Internet auction site for the first time, buyers and sellers should read the Terms of Use, and review any information the site offers.

Registration. Most Internet auction sites require buyers and sellers to register and obtain a “user account name” (or “screen name”) and password before they can make bids or place items for bid. Keep your password to yourself. If you share it, another person could access your account and buy or sell items without your knowledge. That could damage your online reputation — and eventually, your bank account.Fees. Some sites require sellers to agree to pay a fee every time they conduct an auction, whether the item is sold or not. Other sites charge a fee only when an item is sold.The Auction. Many sellers set a time limit on bidding and, in some cases, a “reserve price” — the lowest price they will accept for an item. When the bidding closes at the scheduled time, the item is sold to the highest bidder. If no one bids at or above the reserve price, the auction closes without the item being sold.
Some auction sites allow sellers to set a price at which a buyer can purchase the item without competing with other bidders. A buyer can choose to purchase the item for the price the seller has set, without bidding.

After the Auction:
Arranging to Pay and Deliver Merchandise. At the end of a successful auction, the buyer and seller communicate — usually by email — to arrange for payment and delivery.
PhishingBe aware of “phishing:” emails sent to you asking for your password or other personal information that look like they’ve been sent by an auction website or payment service. Usually, these emails are fishing for your information and are coming from someone who wants to hack into your account.If you get an email or pop-up message that asks for personal or financial information, do not reply. And don’t click on the link in the message, either. Legitimate companies don’t ask for this information via email. If you are concerned about your account, contact the organization mentioned in the email using a telephone number you know to be genuine, or open a new Internet browser session and type in the company’s correct Web address yourself. In any case, don’t cut and paste the link from the message into your Internet browser; phishers often make links look like they go to one site, but actually send you somewhere else.

Payment Options
Successful bidders can choose among many options to pay for an item they have bought on an Internet auction — credit card, online payment service (which often accepts credit card payments), debit card, personal check, cashier’s check, money order, or escrow service. Sometimes, the seller limits the types of payment accepted and posts that information in the auction listing. Many sellers require receipt of a cashier’s check or money order before they send an item. Higher volume sellers often accept credit cards directly. To protect both buyers and sellers, some auction sites now prohibit the use of wire transfers as a method of payment.

Credit Cards.
Credit cards are a safe option for consumers to use when paying for items bought on an Internet auction: They allow buyers to seek a credit from the credit card issuer (also known as a “charge back”) if the product isn’t delivered or isn’t what they ordered.

Online Payment Services.
Online payment services are popular with both buyers and sellers. They allow buyers to use a credit card or electronic bank transfer to pay sellers. They also may protect buyers from unlawful use of their credit cards or bank accounts because the online payment service holds the account information, not the seller. Many sellers prefer online payment services because the services tend to provide more security than, say, personal checks.To use an online payment service, the buyer and seller generally set up accounts that allow them to make or accept payments. Buyers provide payment information, like bank account or credit card numbers, and sellers give information about where payments should be deposited. In some cases, sellers do not have to create an account with the online payment service to receive funds. To complete a transaction, the buyer tells the online payment service to direct appropriate funds to the seller. The seller then gets immediate access to the funds. Most online payment services charge the seller to receive the funds, but some payment services charge the buyer.Some online payment services offer protections to buyers if the seller fails to ship the goods or ships goods that are not as described in the auction. Buyers should read the terms under which the protections apply. Usually, if a buyer uses a credit card to pay for goods or services through an online payment service, charge back rights are available to the buyer who uses the credit card. However, if the service considers the transfer of funds to be a method of sending cash rather than paying for goods, then charge back rights may not apply. If you cannot find out what will happen if you need a refund, or if you don’t understand how the payment service works from reading the website, find a different service or use another method of payment.Debit Card, Personal Check, Cashier’s Check, or Money Order. Many smaller sellers accept forms of payment that are cash equivalents. These sellers often wait to receive the payment (and may wait for a personal check to clear) before shipping the item. Buyers should use this type of payment only when they trust the seller. At the same time, sellers should ensure that checks and money orders they receive from buyers are legitimate before shipping the goods; they should be suspicious of checks or money orders for amounts that exceed the price of the merchandise. Unlike credit cards or some online payment services, cash equivalents (and wire transfers) cannot be reversed if something goes wrong.Wire Transfers. The FTC recommends that buyers not wire money (via a money transmitter or directly to a seller’s bank account) unless they know the seller personally or can verify the seller’s identity. Buyers should be suspicious of sellers who insist on wire transfers as the only form of payment they will accept. If something goes wrong with the transaction, you most likely will lose your payment and not have any recourse. In fact, to protect both buyers and sellers, some auction sites now prohibit the use of wire transfers as a method of payment.

Online Escrow Services and Bonding Services.
For big-ticket items like computers, cars, or jewelry, buyers should consider using an escrow service or purchasing from a bonded or insured seller to protect their funds. The primary purpose of online escrow services is to protect buyers and sellers from fraud. Escrow services accept and hold payment from a buyer — often a wire transfer, check, money order, or credit card — until he receives and approves the merchandise. Then, the escrow service forwards the payment to the seller. The buyer pays the fee for an online escrow service — generally a percentage of the cost of the item.Before using an escrow service, both the buyer and the seller should verify that it is a legitimate, reputable company.Some sellers may state that they are bonded or otherwise insured against fraud. If a buyer intends to rely on a seller’s bonded status or the seller’s insurance to protect against fraud, he should investigate the legitimacy of the bonding or insurance company and then make sure that the seller really is a member of — or certified by — that company. If a problem arises with a bonded seller, the buyer usually has to engage in a dispute resolution process with the seller before being able to submit a claim to the bonding or insurance company.

Types of Fraud
Most people who complain to the FTC about Internet auction fraud report problems with sellers who:
fail to send the merchandise.
send something of lesser value than advertised.
fail to deliver in a timely manner.
fail to disclose all relevant information about a product or terms of the sale. Some buyers experience other problems, including:
“bid siphoning,” when con artists lure bidders off legitimate auction sites by offering to sell the “same” item at a lower price. They intend to trick consumers into sending money without delivering the item. By going off-site, buyers lose any protections the original site may provide, such as insurance, feedback forms, or guarantees.
“second chance offers,” when con artists offer losing bidders of a closed auction a second chance to purchase the item that they lost in the auction. Second-chance buyers lose any protections the original site may provide once they go off-site.
“shill bidding,” when fraudulent sellers or their partners, known as “shills,” bid on sellers’ items to drive up the price.
“bid shielding,” when fraudulent buyers submit very high bids to discourage other bidders from competing for the same item, then retract their bids so that people they know can get the item at a lower price. Escrow Service Complaints. Another type of fraud occurs when sellers or buyers pose as escrow services to improperly obtain money or goods. The so-called seller puts goods up for sale on an Internet auction and insists that prospective buyers use a particular escrow service. Once buyers provide the escrow service with their payment information, the escrow service doesn’t hold the payment: It is sent directly to the so-called seller. The buyer never receives the promised goods, can’t locate the seller, and, because the escrow service was part of the scheme, can’t get any money back.In some cases, a fraudster poses as a buyer and, after placing the highest bid on an item, insists that the seller use a particular escrow service. The escrow service tricks the seller into sending the merchandise and doesn’t send the payment or return the goods to the seller.

Fake Check Scams Target Sellers
Sellers can be victims of fraud when buyers send fake checks or money orders that are detected by the bank only after the seller has shipped the goods. A buyer might offer to use a cashier’s check, personal check, or corporate check to pay for the item you’re selling. Sometimes, the buyer sends a fake check or money order that exceeds the cost of the item that has been purchased. The so-called buyer (or the buyer’s “agent”) states that he made a mistake, or comes up with another reason for writing the check for more than the purchase price. In either case, the buyer asks you to wire back the difference after you deposit the check. You deposit the check, learn that it has cleared, and wire the funds back to the “buyers.” Later, the bank determines that the check is fraudulent, leaving you liable for the entire amount. The checks were counterfeit, but good enough to fool unsuspecting bank tellers.

For Buyers and Sellers...
Where to Turn for Help
If you have problems during a transaction, try to work them out directly with the seller, buyer, or site operator. If that doesn’t work, file a complaint with:
the attorney general’s office in your state.
your county or state consumer protection agency. Check the blue pages of the phone book under county and state government.
the Better Business Bureau.
the Federal Trade Commission. File a complaint online at ftc.gov.
The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit http://www.ftc.gov/ or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

Article Search Engine: GoArticles.com

2006-08-21T03:20:00.000-06:00

Article Search Engine: GoArticles.com

Creating The Best Headlines For Search Engines by Danny Wirken

Headlines can make or break any marketing copy. Headlines and sub-headlines that fail to interest or excite the reader will surely lead to unread copies. This could be quite unfortunate not only for the website's owners but to users as well who might miss out on relevant information contained in an article. A good headline is able to convey to the reader the greatest benefit that can be derived from accessing the information being offered.

Title Tags and Search Engines
One of the most important factors in achieving high search engine ranking is the use of an effective title tag. This is basically an HTML code snippet that creates the words that appear on the top bar of the web browser. Generally, the Meta description and Meta keyword tags follow a title tag although the order in which they appear is not critical.
Search engines use the title tags to gather information about a website. The words that appear in the clickable link on the Search Engine Results Page (SERP) are the words used in the title tag. In search engine algorithm, the top three includes title tag together with the visible text copy and the links pointing to the page.

Title tags can only be effective if it contains specific keyword phrases relevant to the site's industry. The keywords would need to reflect the specific boundaries (if any) which a site has. A good example would be to use California Divorce Lawyers instead of simply using Divorce Lawyers which would include divorce lawyers' sites from all over the world. A title that is neither very general nor too specific is the best option as it eliminates too many competitions while not being too restrictive of the scope of possible readers. Thus, depending on the site's purpose, the title can be modified to appear as Los Angeles Divorce Lawyers which further narrows down the option for searchers.

The creation of the title tag can come after the copy has been written and optimized. The most relevant keyword phrases which form the basis of the copy are the most probable sources of a compelling tag. One clue that can help determine whether a good copy has been written is the ease of arriving at a title. It is impossible to come up with the right title if the content is unable to deliver at least one main and clear idea.

When writing a copy for a website, the best approach is to use the main phrases that will suitably reflect the business. The text is then composed around these phrases while being the source of a keyword-rich title. However, it is not advisable to pull a particular sentence from the text verbatim and use it as a title. A unique sentence or phrase that hits the mark is more advantageous.

A keyword phrase used in the title tag but doesn't actually appear on the visible copy can work both ways. A high ranking may be achieved since a title tag is given a lot of weight by search engines. However, having phrases that are considered to even be slightly competitive in the title but are not found in the copy will reduce its over-all effectiveness. The consideration of gaining many keyword-rich words to the site remains and this should also work hand in hand with the title. If there are keywords that are considered important enough for the site's use to be found by search engines, then those same words should be effectively incorporated into the text. It isn't as simple as using it at the top or bottom of the page but having these important words blend in the over-all result of the page.

Producing Effective Headlines
The best headlines do not just happen. They are intentionally created as such to provide the best results possible for both the site owner and the reader. Headlines offer the first opportunity to grab the reader's attention from the targeted market.

The length of a good headline has been the subject of discussion. There are those who believe it should be limited to a certain number of words but no one can argue about the success of headlines that can be categorized as long by ordinary standards. This just goes to show that the length is not as important as the convincing power of certain words put together. However, a long headline stands to benefit from a writing technique that makes it possible to physically break-up and cleverly display high-spots of interest. Every headline should be presented in such a way that the advantage promised to the reader is so evident that it is almost as if the copy was made solely for him/her.

The choice of words obviously determines the effect of any headline. The two most eye-catching words in a headline are "free" and "new". "Free" because readers can be very open to consider anything that would not require them to pay and "new" because readers tend to associate new to something better. Words that also seem to deliver are "how to", "introducing", "improvement", "revolutionary", "magic", "simple", "compare", "last chance" and other words of similar nature. Most of these words seem trite and worn-out but they work towards providing a more specific and desirable offer to the prospect. The selling promise should be subtly incorporated into the headline. This could be done by using longer but information-laden statements. Focus the headline on the benefit which the readers can expect to receive.

Negative headlines doesn't work except when the negativity is used to underscore the undesirable result that is expected to be eliminated or avoided with knowing the information contained in the text. Sometimes, it takes a negative statement to drive home a specific message. A headline should be able to strike as directly as possible any situation faced by the reader. If this is achieved through a negative approach such as with the headline "Top Ten Investment Mistakes", then a negative headline is considered a good one.

There are several ways to come up with a winner headline. A headline could stress the need for quick action or select its readers at once with its choice of words. It could highlight a large audience looking for improvement, anticipate incredibility or provide a stopper ad that challenges the searcher to read. Do not forget to always state the benefit to ensure that articles will not be passed over.

Companies should include their unique selling proposition in their headlines. Emphasis on the wide range of choices as to size, color, features or prices could be made. Mention incentives or benefits such as lower price compared to competitors or free items and services.

Headlines that offer news are often successful. Anything newsworthy belongs at the top. Personalized headlines far outperform headlines that are general in nature. Humor and double meanings may not produce the desired effect and are widely considered as non-productive.
Determining the best headlines may require some testing. This is to test which headline pulls best. Many have harvested the benefit of the incredible results of simply altering a headline.

The vast difference between two proposed headlines might never be known without this test. Success can be achieved once website owners recognize the tremendous power of words through verbalization. Verbalization is a technique used in writing a headline to increase its impact by the way it is stated. As an added reminder, try writing from the "point of you" from time to time to get the readers' interest on a personal level.

About the Author
http://www.theinternetone.net

SiteProNews: The Importance Of Sound Website Design & Search Spiders To Internet Marketers

2006-08-21T03:18:00.000-06:00

SiteProNews: The Importance Of Sound Website Design & Search Spiders To Internet Marketers

SiteProNews: August 21, 2006 Feature Article
To Print: Click here or Select File/ Print from your Browser Menu. Article printed from SiteProNews: http://www.sitepronews.com
HTML version available at: http://www.sitepronews.com/archives.html

The Importance Of Sound Website Design & Search Spiders To Internet Marketers
By James Opiko (c) 2006

Google currently is reported to have indexed 8 billion pages and counting. Google utilizes an array of bots A.K.A. spiders or crawlers. Among the specialized bots Google uses include: The web spider Googlebot, the Adsense spider MediaBot, the image spider ImageBot, the AdWords spider AdsBot, the RSS feed spider FeedFetcher-Google, and Googlebot-Mobile spider for mobile devices. MSN & Yahoo, the other two of the 'big three' have their own proprietary versions of spiders. Why is it important for an Internet Marketer to know how spiders crawl your website? A search engine crawler is your best visitor. Giving a crawler easy and uninhibited movement in your website is necessary for good search engine rankings. Your website must be spider (search engine) friendly if you want any traffic from the search engines. A search engine spider does not read your website the way we humans do. The spider reads web-page source code (HTML) that renders your page, therefore 'bad code' can be an mpediment to the spider, sometimes causing it to give up crawling your website. Spiders love content (text) and do not read JavaScript at all, therefore a website that is packed with images with no ALT tags to assist the spiders, and heaps of JavaScript may not be indexed successfully. So, when designing your website you must incorporate structural website design principals that elicit search engine friendliness. An astute marketer should also desire to see how search engines see his or her site. This may be accomplished by a Lynx Viewer which is a text-mode web browser. Additionally, a Lynx Viewer can help you determine if your web pages are accessible to the vision impaired, an assemblage of visitors that should not be ignored ---yes, there are millions of visually impaired people surfing the Internet regularly. A quick search in Google for "Lynx Viewer" will yield numerous sources from which you can download this important tool for your use. Even though you must design your website with your visitors in mind first, it is crucial that you accord the search engines top level priority too, since the vast majority of these visitors will arrive via search engines. Practice good SEO (Search Engine Optimization) but not at the expense of your visitors' experience -- it is a balancing act that must be accomplished with prudence. Also of significant importance is the fact that web browser standards are not yet fully harmonized. A web page that looks great in Internet Explorer might look atrocious in a Mozilla based browser like Firefox or Netscape. Additionally, with the proliferation of hand held devices for browsing the Internet, compliance with W3C standards is becoming more and more critical. A marketer must therefore be conversant with the intricacies of cross-browser design -- designing for one browser (IE) is no longer ideal, as the Google backed FireFox is eating up Microsoft’s browser turf at an alarming rate. Anybody can "whip up" a web page in FrontPage without sufficient knowledge of HTML, but may not be able detect and correct the messy code that FrontPage generates underneath the page, some of which is proprietary to Microsoft. Consequently a website that looks superb in Microsoft Internet Explorer may look and load dreadfully in Opera and/or some other browser, denying you visitor traffic. Never use a Word Processor to design your website. Word Processing software generates tremendous amounts of code that is not search engine friendly. If you cannot hand-code using a text editor then it is necessary that you use authentic and industry standard web design software that incorporate the most up to date design principles. Macromedia's Dreamweaver and the latest version of Microsoft FrontPage are good candidates with Dreamweaver getting my partisan nod. A first-rate design strategy should include the use of CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) and valid XHTML, the most current in the HTML generation of standards. Websites designed in strict W3C standards tend to be lighter, faster and cross-browser compatible. This is not to insinuate that table based design is going anywhere anytime soon, for it is my humble disputation that if strict W3C standards were to be enforced in browsers, 95% percent of websites would go out of business, furthermore the lack of inter-browser synchronization just worsens things. According to some surveys, more than 86% of all people arrive at websites through search engines. In 2006, PC World, arguably the most authoritative and widely-read computer and business magazine, reports that Google remains the site of choice for most surfers. "The double-digit increase in online search activity marks a significant milestone in the evolution of Internet consumer behavior," says Ken Cassar, senior director of analytics at Nielsen/NetRatings. "Online search is the primary tool most people rely on to do everyday research," he says. So, from a marketing perspective unless your site appears in the top 30 listings of the major search engines & directories, you will hardly get any worthwhile traffic. Therefore, Search Engine Positioning is vital to your marketing success on the web!
A top ranking in the search engines can bring you highly targeted traffic. If someone visits your site after searching for a product or service that you are selling, it means that he/she is interested in what you are selling and hence is a potential customer for you. Thus, search engines send pre-qualified customers to you. You can sell virtually anything on the Internet, but in order to succeed you must bring "targeted traffic" to your website....people who are ready to buy your products and services, the vast majority of who will arrive at your website through search engines. If your website is not designed suitably, Google and other search engines will disrespect your website. Respect brings in traffic which translates into the all important Dollars, "Kwacha," Euro or whatever you wish to call money. Remember, search engine bots are your most important visitors, you must seduce, "open your doors" and accommodate them in order to gain any measurable success in your Internet Marketing endeavor. ================================================================
James Opiko owns http://www.AfroArticles.com, an article
marketing directory. Dig here -
http://www.afroarticles.com/article-dashboard/Category/SEO/239
AND here: http://www.apondosystems.com/marketing/
Articles-on-Search-Engine-Positioning/ for more articles on
Search Engine Positioning
================================================================
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SiteProNews is a registered service mark of Jayde Online, Inc.

Capitalize on the unlimited Sales Potential of the web Today

2006-07-04T13:07:00.000-06:00

I started buying and selling collectibles on the internet in 1995 as a part time venture,today its how I make my living!! If you are interested in setting up a selling operation on the Internet, be it selling antiques and collectibles, new merchandise or a unique product that you have access to, here are some of the pitfalls I encountered when I got started and how you can avoid them. There are a lot of really good sources of information and guidelines that are free or very low cost but they all require one very important item, Your Sincere Effort!Without your time and determination all the information and resources in the world are worthless. Starting your own business be it on line or in your home town is time consuming and like everything else in life you get out what you put into it. If you are looking for a no effort instant income solution don't waste your time here because I have yet to find any program that does not require Time, Determination and the willingness to Succeed. "Get Rich Quick" scams are all over the internet so be careful and remember that old adage,"If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is". The Basics: You need something to sell, AndYou need a place to sell it, web site, on-line auction or a setup online storefront. Lets start with "What to Sell". I buy and sell antiques and collectibles which I purchase from thrift stores, estate sales etc. It started out as a hobby and now it is a full time career for me. I enjoy shopping for others and thats basically what it is, I know what collectors want and I find it for them. If you are knowledgeable in another consumer product you can market that line of goods, clothing, books, stamps and coins, whatever.Do you know what the number one saleable product of all time is.... TaDa! "Information". Thats right plain and simple Information. Think about it, we are constantly seeking information, we watch and read the news, we buy books, take higher eductaion courses, we are online reading tutorials :-) I don't care who you are or where you come from, you know something that other folks would pay to know about. Good Grief I know a lady who makes darn good money on the internet selling her family recipe for chocolate cake!

There are thousands of businesses who will pay you to sell their products, they call it Affiliate Programs, we'll get into those later on. Another example, I retired from the home improvement business after 30 years now I get paid very good money as a consultant, I also have a "How To" information web site for home owners"Als Homeimprovement Center" where the advice is free but people pay me to put their ads on my web site pages.By now you get the idea, find a product or sell some information that you have and other people want.

Lets move on now to the next phase, "where to sell it"Option #1: You can sell thru the on-line auctions which I cover in great detail in my tutorial"Getting Started in Auctions". This is a lot of fun and you can make some very good money selling items you buy from yard sales, the junk in your garage and friends and neighbors will pay you to sell their junk!Option #2: You can sell thru setup storefronts provided by others. They provide you with a hosted storefront, shopping cart, merchant account and see to it that your store is promoted to the search engines. These services average about $50 per month and up. Option #3: Your get your own web hosting, your own domain and set up your own web site. A lot more work, not as expensive, your own unique domain name and you have full control over what you sell, how much you sell and how you sell it.

Before we get into the web sites and ready made storefronts I suggest you signup for a free 5 part email course on marketing. After floundering around on the net for a year or so I ran into Dale Miller and his offer of a free course on internet marketing. By the time I finished part 2 of the course I knew more than I had learned in all those thousands of hours I had spent reading advice from others and also from the very expensive "Golden Opportunity" program that I bought. Yes its true, in a moment of weakness and frustration, after trying and failing over and over I fell for the hype. I still have that course and it is for sale at a drastically reduced price! Dale Miller is a self made millionaire who has an outlook on life that is quite down to earth and his approach to marketing is quite blunt and to the point. His methods are proven, easy to apply and make a lot of sense. His advice and guidance was the turning point of my entire marketing strategy and the success of not only my auction business but also my other business ventures. This is the only recommendation of this type that you will see on my entire web site even though I get paid to put up other ads, try the free course, you will see what I mean.THE SUCCESS ARSENAL

At this point you can decide which route you want to take. The easiest and more expensive of the options are the ready made,Storefront Services.With these services you simply send them the photos of your items, fill in the blanks with descriptions, prices etc and they process the orders for you for a predetermined fee.

Option #2: You setup your own web site with your name, design it as you wish and provide your own merchant account, shopping cart etc. The biggest advantage to this approach is even though it is a lot more work, you have complete control over how your site looks, what you offer and also a much better chance of being listed with the search engines. With a storefront you are grouped in with the providers submission to the search engines and the odds of your store showing up are pretty slim.

Tips for Selling Products and Services Online

2006-06-25T05:51:00.000-06:00

Have you considered selling products and/or services online? Have you already jumped into this lucrative market? If so, how are your sales? If you are reading this article then you most likely haven’t reached your sales goal. So read on to find out helpful tips for selling your products and services online.

Enlist the help of technological gurus to get you up and running on the Internet quickly. Don’t seek out a website design firm because they are often too slow. You need to manage the website.

Have the website designer create a shell model from which you can build your own websites.

You can learn how to create, manage, and update your WebPages in as little as a few hours.

Try to find inexpensive tools that are going to yield a high rate of return. An inexpensive tool that you must invest in is a “sequential Autoresponder”. A sequential Autoresponder sends out email after email to your customer list. You can send out a free e-course with this Autoresponder. Make sure that you send a product link as this can lead to sales conversions.

When you are selling products and services online it is beneficial to understand the type of revenue sources available. Utilize as many, or all, of these revenue sources to maximize profit.

The revenue sources include: direct sales, joint venture deals, residual affiliate program, EBay affiliates & EBay direct sales, Google AdSense program

The first revenue source is through direct sales. This includes sales letters which connect directly with the customer.

The second revenue source is joint venture deals. Joint venture deals entail working with another colleague to help sell each other’s products. You then give each other commissions.

The third revenue source is a residual affiliate program. A residual affiliate program is when you recommend a colleague’s service or product to help turn it into a sales conversion. Basically, you will earn a commission as an affiliate for life.

The fourth revenue source consists of EBay affiliates and EBay direct sales. EBay is growing significantly every day allowing EBay to be used as a lead generator.

The fifth revenue source is to participate in the Google AdSense program. In this program,

Google puts advertisements on your website for you and if somebody clicks on them, then you get paid.

Finally you can earn revenue from telephone seminars that you can disperse across the Internet and mentor coaching retreats.

Online Shopping Safety Tips

2006-06-17T02:53:00.000-06:00

Understand how Internet auctions work.
Before you sign up to sell something, buy something first. The more you know about the process, the more likely you are to notice if a buyer isn't playing by the rules. Choose your auction site wisely.
All auction sites are not created equal. Before you decide where to sell your items, do a little research. Read and understand the site's privacy policy and check sites like Epinions or Consumer Reports for reviews.

Check out the buyer's reputation.
Many auction sites have a built-in system that allows you to rate other sellers according to your experience with them. It's wise to be wary of a buyer who has negative ratings as a seller. Before your auction closes, cancel bids from buyers who are known to submit bogus bids.
If you believe one of your buyers is bogus, you may be able to cancel their bid (depending on the auction service's policies), but only before the auction closes. Some auction sites even allow you to restrict an auction to pre-approved bidders or buyers only.

Consider using a third-party payment service.
Third-party payment services allow you to transfer money into an online account and make payments from that account without exposing your actual credit card or bank account information. These services are often preferred over using personal checks. Consider using an online escrow service for big ticket items.
An escrow service acts as a go-between, holding the buyer's money until the buyer receives and approves of the seller's item. The terms of escrow should be agreed upon by both sides; you may wish to make accepting those terms required to bid on your auction. See below for information about finding an escrow company you can trust.

Research any third-party payment or online escrow service a buyer wants to use before you agree.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has received reports of fraudulent buyers who will insist that the seller use a third-party payment service or an escrow service, which turns out to be fraudulent. The seller ships the item to the escrow service, but never receives payment or the return of goods. For information on third-party payment services see Protect your privacy with online payment services.

Call the credit card company.
If you choose to accept credit cards, contact the company that issues the card to verify that the name on the card matches both the shipping information and the contact information you've received.

Use tracking services when shipping.
It is usually the buyer's responsibility to pay for shipping an auction item, but the seller typically chooses the shipping method. To help ensure that your item arrives in a timely manner, and to help prevent fraudulent buyers from claiming that they never received an item (when, in fact, they did), use a shipping service that includes tracking or consider paying or charging extra for tracking services.

Never respond to unsolicited requests to update your account information.
These are most likely a scam that could lead to identity theft. Most legitimate companies will never send you unsolicited e-mail or instant message requests for your passwords or other personal information. If you do receive such a request that you think may be legitimate, contact the company directly (not through the message you received) and ask for confirmation.

How to target your selling online to Females vs Males

2006-05-28T00:39:00.000-06:00

Should a website that is targeting a female market use a different online approach to a website that is targeting a male market?

Absolutely yes.
Like most things in life, when it comes to online behaviour, men really are from Mars and women are from Venus.

If your target market is predominantly female, you need to prioritise the following three factors when putting together your online strategy*:
1. Entertainment valueWomen place greater importance on the entertainment value of a website compared to men, when deciding whether they are going to purchase online from that site.
2. Security and PrivacyA website's level of perceived security and privacy has a greater influence on a woman's ultimate purchasing decision.
3. ConvenienceWomen are much more motivated by the convenience benefits of shopping online. This includes the convenience of avoiding common factors associated with in-store shopping, such as crowds, time spent waiting in line, physical effort, stress and frustration.

Females greatly value the convenience of shopping to their own schedule and the fast speed of online purchasing.

However if your target market is mostly male, you should be focusing on the following two factors to maximise the effectiveness of your online strategy:
1. Previous online purchasing experienceMales are much more likely to purchase online again if they have already purchased a product or service (not necessarily yours) using the Internet.
2. Information and OrganisationWomen tend to go directly to the website where they intend to conduct their purchase while men are more likely to surf from site to site, gathering information before deciding where to buy.
Because men place greater emphasis on the online shopping process, they are more swayed by their attitudes to websites. They are more likely to be influenced by the informativeness and the organisation of the sites they visit.

The implications for your own business then become obvious. If women are your primary target, every aspect of your website and online communications campaign should guarantee the security and privacy of your customers' information. It would be wise to develop innovative entertainment components within your website, but ensure that this does not detract from the convenience of using your site. That is, don't create flash pages that take too long to load.

In comparison, if men are your primary target, you can generate more business by including detailed information on your product and service offerings, by structuring the website simply and ensuring strong usability. Repeat purchase incentives would also work particularly well.

Have You Heard of the Electronic Business Card?

2006-05-01T22:20:00.000-06:00

An electronic business card is free and you can make one yourself. Many businesses and individuals use them. So you're probably wondering what it is and how you can create one.

Promote your website everytime you send an email and you will see your website traffic increase. It's simple, free, and essential - it's the humble email signature. A basic email signature for your business emails could include the details from your business card, such as:
Your name
Your position
Business name
Business address
Business phone numbers, fax numbers and your mobile number
Web address and email address

Your signature is attached to the bottom of your email so all your essential details are readily available for your clients in your email. Think of how many times you send your email out to people every day.

Do you pass out your business cards as much as that in a day? Not likely. Sure, some of your emails you send are to people you already know but people tend to forward informative or relevant emails onto colleagues and friends. Their friends may not have heard of you and your business before. So if you have your email signature on that email you have effectively passed your business card to more people than you would have expected. You can create really flashy email signatures that have images, music, fancy font and colours.

Flashy signatures with your actual signature at the bottom of your email are also available. Every email client, such as MS Outlook and web-based email, give you the option to add a signature to your emails. All you need to do is type up a simple email signature with the details presented above and turn on the signature option. This can usually be performed under the Options menu of your email client. Not hard at all is it? Your email signature acts as an electronic form of your business card by getting your details out to potential clients and it doesn't cost a cent.

Have You Heard of the Electronic Business Card?

2006-02-03T22:07:00.000-07:00

An electronic business card is free and you can make one yourself. Many businesses and individuals use them. So you're probably wondering what it is and how you can create one.

Promote your website everytime you send an email and you will see your website traffic increase.

It's simple, free, and essential - it's the humble email signature.

A basic email signature for your business emails could include the details from your business card, such as:
Your name
Your position
Business name
Business address
Business phone numbers, fax numbers and your mobile number
Web address and email address

Your signature is attached to the bottom of your email so all your essential details are readily available for your clients in your email.

Think of how many times you send your email out to people every day. Do you pass out your business cards as much as that in a day? Not likely.

Sure, some of your emails you send are to people you already know but people tend to forward informative or relevant emails onto colleagues and friends. Their friends may not have heard of you and your business before.

So if you have your email signature on that email you have effectively passed your business card to more people than you would have expected.

You can create really flashy email signatures that have images, music, fancy font and colours.

Flashy signatures with your actual signature at the bottom of your email are also available.

Every email client, such as MS Outlook and web-based email, give you the option to add a signature to your emails. All you need to do is type up a simple email signature with the details presented above and turn on the signature option. This can usually be performed under the

Options menu of your email client.

Not hard at all is it? Your email signature acts as an electronic form of your business card by getting your details out to potential clients and it doesn't cost a cent.

Why your customers won't buy from your website

2006-02-03T22:06:00.000-07:00

Why your customers won't buy from your website

In a previous newsletter, we've discussed how important it is for your website to be Informative, Well Organised and Entertaining. Studies have found that these are the three main criteria customers will often use to form their opinion about any type of website.

These three factors are also important in influencing a customer's decision to buy your product or service online. However, they are not the only major influences.

There are 2 other key factors that influence whether or not your customers will buy online.

These factors (supported by recent academic studies) are:

1. Perceived Security of your site
Browsers have significant concerns about the risks associated with providing their credit card details and personal information online. If you want to dramatically increase the level of purchases made online at your site, it may be necessary to target a significant portion of your online campaign at alleviating your customers' security fears. Clearly, reassurances about security and privacy provided by online retailers to date appear to have been largely ineffective.

A risk-free security policy (e.g. automatic refund for queried transactions) from the perspective of the consumer may mean your company as the service provider bears greater risk. But weigh this up against the alternative, which is lower or no online sales at all.

2. Previous online purchasing experience
Research has shown that browsers who have purchased online previously are more likely to purchase again. The implication for your business is that it may be more logical to focus communication and marketing strategies on targeting those who have purchased online previously - e.g., advertise on other online vendor sites, gain databases of people who have purchased from websites. By targeting these people, you are increasing your chances of reaching buyers who are already accustomed to online purchasing.

It may also be easier and more cost effective for you to focus on generating repeat business from your own previous online customers.

Some interesting findings to arise from recent internet studies have been the things which do NOT influence the online purchasing intentions of consumers. Factors which buyers find insignificant when deciding whether to purchase online or offline include price, seller reliability and convenience.

To find out how Freestylemedia can extend your online marketing strategy to maximise this knowledge about consumer online purchasing habits, email: fred@freestylemedia.com.au

10 secrets to great email marketing - Part 2

2006-02-03T22:05:00.001-07:00

10 secrets to great email marketing - Part 2:

Following our last e-newsletter on email marketing, here are the next 5 secrets to building a great email campaign. To receive the first five, email info@freestylemedia.com.au

6. Give me a reason to refer
At the bottom of your email put a small blurb. "If you know of anyone else who would be interested in this offer please forward them this email." It is very logical for someone to do this, although it is surprising the difference this small blurb makes. Give your customers a reason to refer a friend and you will see an even better response rate.

7. Layout of the email
Understand how your audience is going to read their email. People who use Outlook Express will generally view your email in this small box. What that means for your email is that it needs to convey its message in that little box and give them a reason to scroll down.
It's the same with hotmail browsers, you only have a small window to display your message. Ensure that your offer can be quickly seen otherwise the buyer will browse to the next email.

8. Tune into WIIFM
The WIIFM (What's in it for me?) station is a favourite station when it comes to accepting special sales offers. Ensure that your buyer has a clear and simple way of accepting your offer. Click here to receive a free case study.., Reply to this email to receive a free copy .., Place your name in the form to begin your registration process.

9. Flashy images vs Text
There must be a balance between images and text in email marketing. Preferably more text than images. Images are slow to load and people tend to just read what they are looking at. One image plus a single link with the call to action in actual text is ideal .

10. Clean Subjects
Ensure that you have a subject line that is catchy enough for your email to be opened and relevant enough for the email to be read all the way through. Some possible subject lines are:
Questions, "Are you struggling to find clients?"Great Adjectives "Exclusive unveiling of the new product"

For more information on email marketing campaigns, contact Fred Schebestafred@freestylemedia.com.au

10 secrets to great email marketing - Part 1

2006-02-03T22:05:00.000-07:00

10 secrets to great email marketing

The debate about snailmail versus email rages on between the old timer marketers and the new age digital marketers. This article is going to give you the inside word from a digital marketer's perspective on how to increase your response rates and generate a multitude of leads.

1. No mistakes!

Broken links and broken images are an instant detraction from what you are offering. Not only does it damage the image of the company but it also disables the customer from accepting the offer. For example, I once received an email with an offer in it for a conference, but the link to sign up to the offer did not work. Instantly this reflected very poorly on the company and a valuable customer was lost.

2. Make it a quick message for a quick medium

You have 3 seconds to grab your customer's attention otherwise they can just press delete or move onto the next email. When you play tennis and someone hits the ball hard to you, usually your instant reaction is to hit the ball hard back. This is the same with emails. The message is transferred quickly and people tend to read and discard them quickly. You'll find that potential buyers rarely reread a newsletter they have received over email.

3. Send more than one email in the campaign

After you have sent your initial email with its offer send another one a week later saying that the offer has almost expired. You need to weigh up the number of times you do this with how annoyed the receiver will get. Keep doing this until you feel there is nothing more to be gained. This creates urgency for the reader and anyone who does not want to receive the email will just remove himself or herself from the mailing list.

4. Email link to websites

Your call to action is crucial. Direct buyers to a website or to reply to the email. Ensure that your offer is clearly displayed and it is clearly understood how to accept the offer. You will receive much faster response rates if you link to a website instead of asking the buyer to pick up a telephone and call you.

5. Reply to your responses

A quick response to your emails is going to ensure that your hot lead turns into a sale. Unlike with other mediums the time between when your offer is delivered and when it can be acted upon is very short. After receiving an email you can effectively purchase, book, apply or register for anything on the internet in a matter of clicks. This speed is required in returning to your leads as they will expect you to receive their email in your inbox as soon as they send it. As a rule, your response time should not be longer than 12 hours.

6. Give me a reason to refer

At the bottom of your email put a small blurb. "If you know of anyone else who would be interested in this offer please forward them this email." It is very logical for someone to do this, although it is surprising the difference this small blurb makes. Give your customers a reason to refer a friend and you will see an even better response rate.

7. Layout of the email

Understand how your audience is going to read their email. People who use Outlook Express will generally view your email in this small box. What that means for your email is that it needs to convey its message in that little box and give them a reason to scroll down.
It's the same with hotmail browsers, you only have a small window to display your message. Ensure that your offer can be quickly seen otherwise the buyer will browse to the next email.

8. Tune into WIIFM

The WIIFM (What's in it for me?) station is a favourite station when it comes to accepting special sales offers. Ensure that your buyer has a clear and simple way of accepting your offer. Click here to receive a free case study.., Reply to this email to receive a free copy .., Place your name in the form to begin your registration process.

9. Flashy images vs Text

There must be a balance between images and text in email marketing. Preferably more text than images. Images are slow to load and people tend to just read what they are looking at. One image plus a single link with the call to action in actual text is ideal .

10. Clean Subjects

Ensure that you have a subject line that is catchy enough for your email to be opened and relevant enough for the email to be read all the way through. Some possible subject lines are:
Questions, "Are you struggling to find clients?"Great Adjectives "Exclusive unveiling of the new product"

For more information on email marketing campaigns, contact Fred Schebestafred@freestylemedia.com.au

What the new Spam Act means for your business

2006-02-03T22:04:00.000-07:00

On 11 April 2004, new legislation will come into effect that will make spam illegal under Australian law.

Businesses who breach the Spam Act and continue to send out spam could find themselves subject to penalties of up $1.1million for each day of infringement.

Generally, the Act means that you are prohibited from sending unsolicited commercial electronic messages that have an Australian link. This can be interpreted as any message that is sent from, or received within, Australia.

More specifically, your business's commercial electronic messages must:

1. Contain accurate sender information
2. Not be sent without the recipient's express or implied consent
3. Offer the facility for the recipient to opt-out or unsubscribe from future correspondence.

An important point for marketers to note is that the new law also prohibits the acquisition or use of email address lists.

Businesses should be aware that the new legislation is not limited to just emails. 'Electronic messages' also includes SMS (Short Message Service), MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) and IM (Instant Messaging) communications. But at the moment, it does not appear to include standard phone or fax messaging.

Search Engine Optimization

2006-01-22T09:20:00.000-07:00

Free Web Site Promotion Guide
Search engine optimization; use keywords and meta tags to get the click. Works for google search engine placement, search engine positioning, search engine ranking etc...

Use Keywords And Metatags To Get The Click!
Article by Steve M Nash

Now everyone knows that you need to choose keywords and meta tags to make your site search-engine-friendly (don't they?).
And pages should be 'optimised' BEFORE you submit them to the search engines.
Search engine optimization is really not that difficult, but it is important: no-one visits your site if they can't find it on the first few pages of a search engine.

A good way of 'getting found' is to choose high-demand low-supply keywords (like "free nokia ringtones"), and to create pages optimised for those keywords. (Obviously, you need to find keywords relevant to your website.) The basic guidelines, below, show you how to optimise your pages - how to make sure your site gets the click.
But how do you find these profitable high-demand low-supply keywords in the first place?

Use this resource
Wordtracker is a free tool that allows you to brainstorm keywords and determine which of those keywords (if any) have little competition on the net (which are most 'profitable'). You simply add suitable keywords to a basket, and their profitability is determined using AltaVista as the search engine (the paid-for tool determines profitability using all of the major search engines).
Wordtracker is a powerful tool endorsed and used by many so-called search engine experts. You should use it too, to improve your chances of getting the click.
See how Wordtracker can help you!

Study these basic search engine optimization guidelines
Many of the major search engines behave differently to each other when it comes to choosing the best pages.
Worse than this though, is that some use metatags and some ignore them completely, preferring only to rely on page content (with weighting given to words at the top of the page). Even worse still, the search engines constantly change their ranking rules (algorithms).
So understand that these are only basic guidelines. However, they should help your web pages rank better with the search engines, over time:

TITLE tag should be between 5 and 12 words (Most important tag!)

Meta DESCRIPTION tag should be between 5 and 20 words

TITLE and Meta DESCRIPTION should be different. Combine bothto encourage someone looking at a busy page of search resultsto click your link, rather than someone else's.

Meta KEYWORDS tag should be between 0 and 50 words

HEADING Tags should be used, if possible (these tags are usedinstead of Meta DESCRIPTION tag, sometimes)

Meta KEYWORDS tag should contain words that exist in TITLE andMeta DESCRIPTION tag (as well as in page content)

Do not use too many COMMENT tags, or Image ALT tags,especially if you stuff them with keywords

Word order matters; e.g. uk optimization is not optimization UK

Recommend this site to a friend or colleague

Subscribe to one of my popular mailing lists

Link to this site from your site

Again, these are basic guidelines - don't take them too literally. Remember, the most important content for the search engines is also the most important content for your site visitors - your actual page content.

Read more...
You can find out a great deal more about keywords, metatags etc. from the following excellent resources:
http://spider-food.net/

http://searchenginewatch.com/webmasters/meta.html

http://www.searchengines.com/

Remember that search engines are getting more and more sophisticated. Concentrate on creating valuable keyword-rich pages that your site visitors will like, the search engines will like them too! And your site is sure to get the click! Search engine optimization - as simple as that!

The Art of Selling Online

2006-01-05T20:51:00.000-07:00

The Art of Selling Online
by Joan Sotkin

Do you have the sales skills you need to effectively sell your product(s) or service(s) on the Net? As with any business venture, if you don't know how to close a sale, you're not going to generate much income.

The selling process starts with your Website, which is, in effect, a sales presentation. Who wrote the copy for your Website? If you did, do you know how to write effective direct response copy? (Copy that elicits a specific response, such as placing an order, from your prospect.) Or, if your Website designer prepared the copy, does he/she have good sales presentation skills?

The fact is, a large number of Websites owned by small businesses and professional practitioners have weak sales presentations. They are missing two basic elements, which we will talk about here:
1) benefits-oriented copy and 2) a strong call to action.

>>>Benefits, Benefits, Benefits<<< http://www.landsend.com/. The home page is filled with calls to action and benefits. The product descriptions are artful -- very dynamic and enticing.

>>>What's Your Call to Action?<<< mailto:information@yourdomain.com. (link) "

If you are selling a product and you have a shopping cart, be sure something says, "Add to Cart"
If you don't use a cart, I suggest a link that says, "For ordering options, click here" or "Find out how to order our widgit now!" (This would be a link.)

The page with ordering options should clearly state how people can order your product. Language should be clear and direct. Don't say, "Please fill out our order form." Instead, say "Use our secure order form."
Make this a link to your form.

At the end of every page on your site, have a call-to-action -- and make it something more than "Contact Us." If I don't have anything else, I'll use a click-Go link box that says "Choose a Location." On the selection list will be often be an action such as "Ask a Question" or "Order Now."

>>>Exercise:<<< http://www.yourdomain.com
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Best of luck

Tips on selling from the Goverment

2005-12-11T02:57:00.000-07:00

Tips for Sellers...

Know Your Legal Obligations

Under federal law, you're required to advertise your product or service and the terms of the sale honestly and accurately. You can't place "shill" bids on your item to boost the price or offer false testimonials about yourself in the comment section of Internet auction sites.
You're prohibited from auctioning illegal goods. While many auction sites monitor their sites to ensure that illegal items are not being offered, the responsibility for ensuring that a sale is legal rests with the seller and buyer. Some auction sites post a list of prohibited items as a guide.
You are required to ship merchandise within the time frame specified during the auction, or, if a time frame is not specified, within 30 days. If you can't meet the shipping commitment, you must give the buyer an opportunity to cancel the order for a full refund or agree to the new shipping date. To learn more about your responsibilities when shipping products, see A Business Guide to the Federal Trade Commission's Mail or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule.

Advertising Your Product

When describing your item and its condition, state whether it's new, used or reconditioned.
Anticipate questions buyers might have and address them in the description of your item or service.

When possible, include a photograph of the item. The saying that a picture is worth a thousand words is especially relevant in Internet auctions.

Specify the minimum bid at the lowest fair price you're willing to accept.

Specify who will pay for shipping, and note whether you'll ship internationally.

State your return policy, including who's responsible for paying for shipping costs or restocking fees if the item is returned.

Let prospective bidders know whether you provide follow-up service; if you don't, tell them where they can get it.

Dealing with Bidders

Respond as quickly as possible to bidders' questions about the item you're auctioning or the sales terms.

When the auction closes, print all information about the transaction, including the buyer's identification; a description of the item; and the date, time and price of the bid. Save a copy of every email you send and receive from the auction site or the successful bidder.
Contact the "winning" bidder as soon after the auction closes as possible; confirm the final cost, including shipping charges, and tell the buyer where to send payment.

Arranging for Payment

If you accept credit card payments from the buyer directly, bill the credit card account only once you've shipped the product.

If a buyer insists on using a particular escrow or online payment service that you've never heard of, check it out. Visit its Web site. Be suspicious of claims about being affiliated with a government agency. Call the customer service line. If there isn't one, or if you call and can't reach someone, don't use the service.

Before agreeing to use an online payment or escrow service, read the terms of agreement:
If it's an online payment service, find out who pays for credit card charge backs or transaction reversal requests if the buyer seeks them.

Examine the service's privacy policy and security measures. Never disclose financial or personal information unless you know why it's being collected, how it will be used, and how it will be safeguarded.

Be suspicious of an online escrow service that cannot process its own transactions and requires you to set up accounts with online payment services. Legitimate escrow services never do this.

Check with the Better Business Bureau, state attorney general or consumer protection agency — where you live and where the online payment or escrow service is based — to see whether there are any unresolved complaints against the service. Be mindful that a lack of complaints doesn't necessarily mean that the service has no problems.

For Buyers and Sellers...

Where to Turn for Help

If you have problems during a transaction, try to work them out directly with the seller, buyer or site operator. If that doesn't work, file a complaint with:

1. The attorney general's office in your state.

2. Your county or state consumer protection agency. Check the blue pages of the phone book under county and state government.

3. The Better Business Bureau.

4. The FTC. File a complaint online at www.ftc.gov or call toll-free 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit www.ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

Tips for listing design

2005-11-26T03:43:00.000-07:00

Give the right first impression
Just as with any brick-and-mortar storefront, your auction listings need to captivate and interest visitors through professional design and a clear presentation of what's offered. After all, if your shop's floors were cluttered and the walls in desperate need of repair, what kind of message would this send to potential customers? Make no mistake about it, this is the same impression visitors will have of your business if they find your auction listing in similar disarray.

Excelling beyond the basics
In days of old (of course, we're only talking a few years ago by Internet standards), having a basic auction listing was generally accepted and excused. But in today's day and age, when the online auction marketplace is pursued by professional corporations with design prowess, you don't want potential buyers to ignore your listing in favor of one that is more attractive.
Granted, if you're just looking to sell a few loose items from your basement or consider yourself an infrequent auction seller then having professional listing templates might be overdoing it a bit. But, if you are trying to use Overstock to build a business or second income stream, then you'll absolutely want to make sure you build bidder confidence with nice, solid listing design.

Making the impact
Whether or not you decide to use our auction template design services, here are some killer tips you can employ to set the stage for a more successful online auction experience.
Build your brand whenever possible. If you are trying to build an Overstock business or if you are using Overstock as another marketing channel for your company, be sure to use your company's logos and other details in your listing. Ideally, use a similar template or design theme for everything you sell so that you establish yourself in the marketplace.

Make sure your auction listings look professional.
Your auction listing not only has to help you sell your products or services, but your business as well. Your listing will absolutely help shape people's perception of your business, and a sloppy or shoddy listing will only detract from this.

Be careful with new bells and whistles.
While some animated GIF's might be fun to look at and MIDI musical chimes seem great at first, most of your visitors will find them annoying or “old school”. Animated GIF's, if they must be used, need to be used sparingly. They were certainly the rage at the dawning of the 'net, but today, they are seen as a distraction. Rule of thumb...if a special whirly-bird feature has nothing to do with your business, then you don't need it!

Make sure your auction listing is laid out in such a way that people can easily understand what you're offering. Don't use a lot of filler text, just stick to the facts, describe the condition, and clearly communicate the benefits of buying that particular item from your company.

Keep it consistent and easy to read.
We often see auction sellers making the mistake of using gigantic text in a variety of colors throughout their auction listings. There is no reason to try and blast them with huge text or overly-bright font colors to get their attention. They're already interested...after all, they clicked on your auction title to learn more, right? Gigantic font sizes are the footprint of amateurs so do all you can to maintain a professional appeal.

Keep it clean.
Your auction listing should be simple, informative and uncluttered, yet engaging. Throwing too much information at your visitors will only confuse them. Make sure you leave some breathing room for their eyes to help ensure that your auction's details are read, not skipped.

Open a line of communication.
Your visitors will feel more comfortable if you give them a way to contact you for more information about your item. While this wouldn't really apply to something small like a poster or album, you'll certainly want to be accessible if you are selling expensive, complex or highly technical items.

Tips for the beginning seller

2005-10-30T09:55:00.000-07:00

I was doing some reading on selling online and found the following article. It has some great information for the beginner and I learned a couple of things.

Fire

Beginner's Guide to Online Auctions

Auctions can be quite frightening for the newcomer. Although it may seem overwhelming, an auctioneer needs to know only a few things to start out on the right foot.

Registration
Registration is necessary for all online auctions. This process is usually very simple, and very secure. However, auctioneers must be at least 18 to participate in most auctions. To complete the registration process, you'll have to agree to the services terms of service or terms of participation. (Amazon.com Auctions calls it a participation agreement.) This information will outline the services dos- and-don'ts -- mostly the don'ts -- such as trying to manipulate prices, selling illegal goods, and other infractions. Use this agreement as a guide for any activity that comes into question.

Know About Fees
Although some online auctions are free, most charge some kind of seller fee. Most sites have insertion fees, or standard fees that are applied when the seller lists an item. These fees are usually very low but can vary from auction to auction. Other auctions may have value based fees or fees that are cut as percentages of the final sale. Whether an online auction uses one fee system or another, it is important to know how they will effect both the seller and buyer.

Know Bidding and Selling Rules
Auctions are rigorously structured, and rightly so. Therefore, it is important to know what your given role in an auction involves. It is important to know what kind of responsibilities both the buyer and seller have in the auction relationship. These may involve bid honoring, payment or shipping. Not only is it important to know these rules but it is also important to know what could happen if you break them.

Auctioning Tips
Like any form of online communication, Internet Auctions have their own etiquette. If an auctioneer fails to use this etiquette, he/she could find themselves losing a sale or at the short end of a bad deal. In general, basic online rules apply. It is important, however, to remember that auctioneers are not always trustworthy and that the buyer (and seller) must beware.

Seller Tips
* Keep It Serious: You wouldn't participate in an auction with haphazardly written descriptions and poorly outlined policies; buyers will expect the same from you.

* Keep it Concise: Avoid lengthy descriptions or worded sales pitches. Although these approaches might work elsewhere, they have no place in online auctions.

* Include a Photo: Photos add to authenticity. Try to include one if you can. Remember to keep it focused and relatively compact.

* Answer Questions: Include an email address and answer questions promptly and thoroughly. People will buy from sources that they can trust.

* Finish It Up: Don't drop your buyers at the moment of purchase. Be prepared for follow up emails and inquiries. You may have the sale now, but you might not in the future.

* Don't Be a Stranger: Don't keep yourself too anonymous. Anonymity creates suspicion and suspicion is the auctioneer's worst enemy.

* Ship it Right: Don't rip people off in the shipping. Try to bundle items together and package them properly.

Buyer Tips
* Start Low: It would almost seem like common sense but it's always a good idea to start bids low. Starting high usually backfires and ends up costing the buyer more than
it is worth.

* Pay Up: When it is time to pay, pay immediately and with the most efficient way. Nothing makes a seller more angry than late payment.

* Ask Questions: If you have a question about an item, don't be afraid to ask. Asking can lead to valuable information and develop better relationships.

* Keep at It: Monitor your auctions and don't leave them alone for too long. Leaving them alone could cost you a small fortune.

* Don't Go Too Far: Take it easy on sellers. They don't deserve being attacked with negative emails or other annoyances.

Auction Formats
There are three main types of auctions online. It is important to know how they differ and how auctioneers function within them.

Dutch Auction: This is an auction in which the seller lists multiple quantities of an identical item. With multiple items up for sale, multiple bidders can win. Also, one bidder can try to buy more than one quantity. All winning bidders pay only the lowest successful winning bid amount. This is different from a Yankee auction, in which each winning bidder pays his or her exact high bid.

Reserve Auction: This is an auction in which the item for sale has a reserve price. The reserve price is the lowest price at which a seller is willing to sell an item. Although the reserve price is not listed per se (the auction posting will be marked as "reserve met"), it can be extrapolated when a bidder bids at or above the reserve price. The high bid will automatically be elevated to the reserve price, providing the current high bidder with what the seller would agree to sell at.

Straight Auction: Also referred to as an absolute auction, this is an auction in which there is only one item up for sale, and there is no reserve price. The seller sets the opening bid and must respect the final price at the end of the auction.

Auction Lingo
* "As Is": Also known as "as is, where is" and "in its present condition." Typically, this is a sign that no return privileges will be granted.

* Bid Cancellation: The cancellation of a bid by a seller. During online auctions, sellers can cancel a bid if they feel uncomfortable about completing a transaction with a particular bidder.

* Bid History:: A historical list of all the bids made on a particular auction during or after the auction.

* Bid Increment: The standardized amount an item increases in price after each new bid. The auction service sets the increment, which rises according to the present high bid value of an item.

* Bid Retraction: The legitimate cancellation of a bid on an item by a bidder during an online auction.

* Bid Rigging: Fraudulent bidding by an associate of the seller in order to inflate the price of an item. Also known as shilling and collusion.

* Bid Shielding: Posting extremely high bids to protect the lower bid of an earlier bidder, usually in cahoots with the bidder who placed the shielding bid.

* Bid Siphoning: The practice of contacting bidders and offering to sell them the same item they are currently bidding on, thus drawing bidders away from the legitimate seller's auction.

* Bulk Loading: Listing a group of different items in separate lots all at once using an online auction site's bulk loading tool.

* Buying Up Lots: The practice of buying all quantities of an item during a Dutch auction. This is typically done for resale purposes.

* Caveat Emptor: The Latin phrase meaning "let the buyer beware."

* Cookie: A piece of information sent from a web server to a web browser that the browser software saves and then sends back to the server whenever the browser makes additional
requests from the server.

* Deadbeats: High bidders who fail to pay for the item they won.

* DNF: Discuss Newest Features board. This is one of the more lively, if not antankerous, message boards in the online auction community.

* Escrow: Money held in trust by a third party until the seller makes delivery of merchandise to the buyer.

* fdbk/fk: Feedback. One user's public comments about another user in regard to their auction dealings. Feedback comments cannot be removed or changed once submitted to an
auction service.

* Featured Auctions: Auction listings placed prominently on the home page and category pages of an auction service. Sellers pay for this prime placement.

* Feedback Padding: One user posting fraudulent positive feedback about another user and his or her auctions.

* Final Value Fee: The commission charge the seller pays to the auction service after his or her item sells.

FVF Request: Final value fee request.

* Grading: The process for determining the physical condition of an item. Different items have different grading systems.

* IMO/IMHO: The message board abbreviations for "in my opinion" and "in my honest (or humble) opinion."

* Initial Listing Price: The opening bid price a seller attaches to his or her auction.

* Insertion Fee: A fee paid by the seller to the auction site in order to list an item for auction,
calculated as a percentage of the opening bid or reserve price.

* LOL: Message board abbreviation for "laugh out loud."

* Lot: A single auction listing.

* Market Value: The highest price a property will bring in the open market.

* Maximum Bid: The highest price a buyer will pay for an item, submitted in confidence to an online auction service's automated bidding system to facilitate proxy bidding.

* Minimum Opening Bid: The mandatory starting bid for a given auction, set by the seller at the time of listing.

* NARU'd: A auction user term to describe users whose memberships have been discontinued. NARU is the acronym for "not a registered user."

* Neg: Short for "negative user feedback."

* Net Cops: Auction users who actively attempt to report instances of fraud, such as shilling or bid shielding, to online auction sites.

* NR: Short for "no reserve." This indicates in the item description line that the auction has no reserve price specified.

* Opening Bid: The seller's opening bid, which sets the opening price.

* Outbid: To submit a maximum bid that is higher than another buyer's maximum bid.

* Registered User: A person who has registered as a member of an online auction service. All online auction services require registration prior to buying and selling.

* Relisting: The relisting of an item by a seller after it has not received any bids or met its reserve price. Typically, the first relisting is free.

* Reserve Price: The minimum price a seller will accept for an item to be sold at auction. This amount is never formally disclosed.

* Retaliatory: The user term for retaliatory negative feedback, posted by one user in response to another user's negative feedback.

* S&H Charges: Shipping and handling charges.

* Secondary Market: The buyer market for secondhand goods. Online auctions serve the secondary market.

* Shilling: Fraudulent bidding by the seller (using an alternate registration) or an associate of the seller in order to inflate the price of an item. Also known as bid rigging and collusion.

* Sniping: Outbidding other buyers in the closing minutes or seconds of an auction.

* Starting Price: The mandatory starting bid for a given auction, set by the seller at the time of listing.

* Terms of Service: A legally binding agreement that outlines an auction site's operating policies. All registered users must agree to a site's terms before using the service.

* User Info Request: A request for a user's background information, which provides personal information, such as a phone number.

Â© 2005, Ipswitch, Inc.

Tips on promoting your auctions and yourself for Overstock.com Sellers

2005-08-10T17:16:00.000-06:00

Selling Your Stuff
Tips on promoting your auctions and yourself
For
Overstock Auctions Sellers.

Below are some proven tips on promoting your auctions and making your home page stand out. Most of these tips can be done for free or at a very low cost and are proven to work by Overstock Seller.

Your Home Page: People like to read something about the person they are buying from. It goes a long way if you can provide your buyers with a little personal information. Keep it positive and give them the information that makes them know you care about your business reputation. Put a picture of something that represents you on your home page. Some sellers like pictures of themselves, their pets or something that represents their business. Leaving the red stick man sends the wrong message. Make your home page attractive you can find free graphic, animations and lettering on the web. Most of all be honest in your information remember they want to know a LITTLE BIT about you not your life story.

Your auctions: Once again honesty is the best policy, let the buyers know up front what your shipping policy, return policy and any other information you can provide to make the transaction smooth and fun. Here are some dos and don’ts for your auctions listings.

Dos

Hide nothing; make all information about the item and your policies clear in the listing.
Keep you shipping and Handling Fees reasonable, you may suck in the new buyers with low starting bids and make up the rest in S&H but they will not come back. Return customers are you most valuable assets and come in real handy with things are slow.
Avoid the 99 and 01 cent starting fees, you will get bids but spend a lot of time explaining why your S&H fees are so high. You will also get more negative ratings and few return customers.
Take good detailed photos of you item and offer as much information as you can.
Offer combined shipping and multiple item discounts. Some time giving a couple of dollars back can make you more money down the line with return customers.
Offer something free with the purchase. You can find all kinds of stuff that is very cost affective and people love to get something free. TOASA is in the process of putting together a list of web sites where you can go to get free or low cost stuff to help you sale.

Yourself: Here are a few tips on promoting yourself or business. Remember if you were to develop a customer base you can stop your customer service when you ship you package.

When you get notice of a closing auction with a bid send the buyer an email and let then know what payment types you take. Be sure to thank them for their purchase and let them know what time period you expect payment in.
When you receive notice or payment, their Money Order or Cashier’s Check sent them an email and acknowledge the receipt of payment, Thank them and let them know when you how and when you will ship the package.
When you ship the package include a business card, flyer, tips on bidding or how to protect their identification or some other type of document that has information on how to find your auctions, website, other sellers they can trust and any other information that makes them feel like you are there for them.
Try sending out an email to all you customers a month or so after the sale. The email could be about safety tips on bidding and buying on line, identification protection or something that is directed toward them and not a promotion. If you have done your job that will make them feel special and remind them you are around. Include links to your auctions, trusted friend, website, how to report a fraud and so on.
Some buyers also like to be notified if you have listed something new or special to identify them may take time but it will come.

Some free site, with more to come.

http://www.95mb.com/index.htm (Free Web Hosting)

http://www.amazingcounters.com/index.php ( Free Web page counters)

http://www2.flamingtext.com/ (Free animated lettering)

http://www.animationjungle.com/index.php (Free Clip Art)

http://go.to/animationworld (Free animation and clip art)

http://mygallery.timegonebuy.com/index.html (Free Auction Galary)

http://www.frontiernet.net/~dmishle (Low cost web page design, also a TOASA Member)

http://www.dollardays.com/ (Low cost item to give away)