June 2008 Archives

Are some people stupid or what? Someone copied my entire site (over 1,000 pages), and placed it under a new domain. They changed the contact information and in some places the site name.

I don't get it, what's the point? What are they trying to achieve?

Do they not understand the duplicate content rule? Did they think they would go undetected? Do they think, just because they are online they can copy whatever they please and use it the way they want?

How do people like that sleep at night?

My site cost me thousands of dollars and over 5 years of hard work to build. And someone thinks they can just come in, use a program to copy and put it under a new domain and presto! They have a 1,000 page web site that cost them nothing.

So what does someone like me do in a situation like this?

Here are some action steps I'm going to take immediately:

1. I'm not going to contact them because, this is no mistake. They changed the contact name and my key links. So why try talking to a thief?
2. I'm going to report them Google.
3. I will contact their hosting company Yahoo and let them know about the situation.
4. I will post this blog to:

   A.) Alert people so this doesn't happen to them.
   B.) Create awareness about this kind of behavior.

I found out about it because I found some increased links in the Google webmaster section of inbound links. When I investigated. I found my site has been copied and indexed by Google.

My site is A Touch of Business.com :
http://www.atouchofbusiness.com

The domain that stole my site is at (this site may be down by the time you read this because I'm taking action today):
http://b2bserv2you.com/

The contact information is at:
http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/results.jsp?domain=b2bserv2you.com

 

Here Are Some Screen Shots I Took Before Posting This Entry

This is the original Contact Page

 

This is the modified contact page to reflect there phone number

This is the WhoIS Information

Links form the Google Webmaster Tools

 

Stolen Site in Google SERP's

 

 

Although you need business insurance, it doesn't have to be complicated. There are a few things to consider. For example, if you're running your business from home, and you have a store front, you'll need to include that in your policy. You have to be covered incase someone gets hurt on the premises.

If you're running an internet business, and you don't have walk in traffic then your business insurance policy changes. For example, say you're running an eBay business, and you have couriers picking up, and dropping off products. That would probably be a different business insurance policy.

The best practice is to talk to a trusted business insurance broker that can guide you to get the business insurance. It's best to be honest and let your broker know exactly how your business operates. If you fail to disclose any information, your policy could be void. I think it's better to be over insured than it is to have a problem, and find out you're not covered due to a technicality.

Business Insurance is one area you don't want to look for the best rate, but the best coverage. Business Insurance is not as simple as Home Insurance.

You may need to cover your equipment, you may need to be covered incase of a fire, and your business is down for a few weeks etc.

You want to consider including liability in your Business Insurance policy, incase someone files a lawsuit against you.

Business Insurance differs from business to business. Some business insurance packages are standard and you simply add to the policy. In any case, it's best to find a reliable broker. What's the use of saving on insurance and running into to problems if you have a claim? It's money down the drain, because you paid for a Business Insurance policy, and you weren't covered for what you need it for.

For example, you have a website design business that you operate from home, and your clients are all online. So you tell your broker that you have no walk-in customers. You save money on the policy. A couple years down the road you start to get local clients. One day one of them slips, and breaks a leg coming into your office.

Now you have a problem. Your house insurance doesn't cover it because the person is a business client; the business insurance doesn't cover it because you're not covered for walk-in clients. You just paid a lot of money for insurance that didn't cover your most important needs. And now you have to take care of the problem out of your pocket.

Insurance is a must in north America; we have some outrageous lawsuits. Make sure you get the sufficient coverage from a trusted insurance broker.
That's The Way I See It
Acey Gaspard
A Touch of Business.com

See Also
Business Insurance - What You Need To Know About Before You Get It!

Sometimes getting frustrated is a good in business, because it drives to change.

Naturally when you're frustrated, it's no fun at all! When you're frustrated, you don't think "This is a good thing, and now it's time to change!"  Rather, you are fed up with the situation and want things to get better.
 

So here's a tip, the next time your feeling frustrated, skip the uncomfortable feelings and go straight to the solution state. This way you don't have to feel frustrated but rather you'll know you need to change. Rather than burn energy on the frustration, shift that energy and find a solution. Simply ask questions like:
 

How can I make this better?

What can I do to make things better?

What would ______ do in a situation like this?
 

Although this will not feel natural, it will help because you'll find a solution quicker, and avoid focusing on the state of frustration - you'll learning to stay solution focused.
 

When you train yourself quickly go to a solution focused state, your business will flow smoother; you can tackle problems quickly, not to mention you build your confidence and personality.
 

That's The Way I See It!
Acey Gaspard

http://www.atouchofbusiness.com 

Good customer service is more than just taking care of the customer. I think good customer service is analyzing what your customers want, and catering your business to work in favour of your customers.

Here's a Simple Customer Service Plan

Here's what I would do. I would keep track of all the complaints made by customers, and I would look for trends in those customer complaints.

When I identity similar complaints, then that tells me something is wrong with the way I'm treating my customers. Let's say I had 3 complaints about the same issue. You can't say "it's just a couple picky customers." You need to look into the matter and make changes.

This doesn't mean you need to give in to all the customers' complaints. You may need to present your product or service in a different way. You may need to add benefits, change your product, or simply eliminate whatever people are complaining about.  Each case is different and you need to take action, and create a solution.  You can't just let it go.

Also you have to keep in mind, many customers are unsatisfied, but they won't do anything about it. So if you have three that told they are unsatisfied, you can be certain there are more.

Good customer service and accurate customer feedback go hand in hand. You can learn a lot from customer complaints and customer feedback.  But it's no use getting feedback if you don't act on the information.

Without customers, you have no business, so be sure to monitor your customer's satisfaction and make the necessary adjustments to give good customer service.

Good customer service takes patience, understanding, and investigations. Those business people that practice good customer service are ahead of the game.

That's The Way I See It!
Acey Gaspard
A Touch of Business
See Also:

Good Customer Service - Tips For Keeping Happy Customers

Business yellow pages are still a great place to advertise your business. If you think about it, when you go to the yellow pages, you're looking to shop. You're already in the buying mood, looking for the best place to make your purchase. I suppose one of the problems with advertisers in the business yellow pages is that they list their business like they would in the white pages of the phone book.

In the white pages, people know your name, but are looking for your number or address, while in the business yellow pages, people don't know who you are, and are looking for a product or services.

Here are some tips to help you create an effective business yellow pages ad that brings you quality customers.

Research the Business Yellow Pages Market
Turn to your advertising section of the Business Yellow pages. Look at what other businesses have to offer. Make a list of everything they all have in common.

Now make a list of the benefits that catch your attention.

And finally, make a third list of the things you feel are missing from all the ads in this section of the yellow pages.

Can you identify something that's missing in the industry and fill the gap from the data in the third list?

Can you provide better benefits from data in the second list?

Do you have all the important benefits from the first list?

Understanding the Customer:
People searching the business yellow pages are already in a buying mood. It's not your job to sell the reader on using your product; they are ready and looking to buy. Your job is to sell the reader on why they should buy from you, rather than the other businesses listed on the page.

(Side note: By the time your ad goes to print, you won't know exactly what businesses will be advertising, but you can expect at least some of the ones that are listed from the pervious year's business yellow pages book)

Create a Headline That Sells
Create a compelling, benefit style headline. Your Business Yellow Pages Headline should be your number one benefit. For example if you sell used cars. You don't want a headline like quality used cars Or Jack's Used Cars; you want a headline like: We will Beat Any Advertised Price on Your Next Used Car or Your Car Is Free! Can you see how this headline will make people looking to buy a used car, call you rather than the other dealers listed on the page? Naturally you need to keep your promise. You don't want to print something you can't deliver, or mislead the customer.

List Your Top Benefits:
Make a bullet style list of your top 5-10 benefits, and even though you should have a lot of benefits in your business, identifying them is sometimes difficult.

For example, when advertising in the yellow pages, your location could be a benefit. Lots of parking could be a benefit, open late hours, free delivery is other benefit. You have to dig deep in your business to identify benefits, but once you get going then you might find it hard to stop.

Read Out Loud:
Read your business yellow pages ad out loud. Does it make sense? Does it excite you? Would it make you call the number, if you were a potential customer? If not, keep adjusting it until you feel good about your ad.

Make Your Ad Stand Out
You want to attract attention to your business yellow pages ad. Including graphics and a border helps attract attention. You want the reader's eye to be attracted to your ad and at the same time, you want your business yellow pages ad to look professional.

Many graphics, fonts, and over use of borders will draw attention to your business yellow pages ad, BUT it will also make it look CHEAP. A cheap ad reflects a cheap operation. You may want to have a professional design your ad.

Make It Easy To Contact You
If you do business nation wide and you can afford to have a 1-800 number then that might be something to look into. Be sure to include your web site or an email.

Take Your Time to Design You Business Yellow Pages Ad
Unlike the web, if you make a mistake with your business yellow pages ad, you have a big problem. Your ad is in the book and in the hands of thousands of people for at least a year, and you CAN'T change it. So be sure to double check everything and get some feedback from customers, friends, and suppliers. Suppliers can give you great ideas on your ad because they see your business from a different point of view than you do.

Business yellow pages advertising is still an effective way to advertise your business. I don't see it going away anytime soon.

That's The Way I See It!
Acey Gaspard
A Touch of Business.com

More on Yellow Pages advertising