In Focus:
Cookie Cutter Websites
By John V. W. Howe
One of the best services that I could do for mankind on the Internet is to shout from the mountain top, "Do not buy ready made, "cookie cutter" websites". These usually only make the seller any money.
A "cookie cutter" site is one that the builder creates so the title of the site can be easily changed to your domain name and the sites can be stamped out like using a "cookie cutter". The site is sold under the pretense that all you have to do to make LOTS of money is buy the site and pay to have it hosted on the Internet. The site has ready made links to products and services from which you are told will make a commission each time a person clicks a link. Usually the products and services are sold by the company that developed the website so they make most of the money if you do get a sale. They keep telling you, "Just think how much money you will make by having a site like this on the Internet".
For those of you who have "cookie cutter" sites, it's time for true confessions. When I first started on the Internet I did not know the magic word "traffic". I was naïve and thought that all you did was set up a website and the world beat a path to it to click on your offerings. I read an ad that said, "My little website made me $11,000 in a week". I thought, "Wow, if that site made him that much money, just a small percentage of that will be fine with me". Little did I know that the marketer who sold this "cookie cutter" site had a list of over 40,000 to which to promote the web site.
There were several testimonials in his sales letter about how people who had bought the site were raking in the money. When I later researched the testimonials, I found that these were from other Internet marketers who had large lists and could drive traffic to their "cookie cutter" sites. Beware of the fraternity of Internet marketers. They scratch each other's backs.
I bought the site and guess what. The only benefit I received from it was from some really good bonuses that were attached to the deal. It was a "live and learn" experience. I have justified it to myself that the bonuses were worth the amount I paid, but they really weren't.
Since then I have seen many of these sites on the Net, and I really think it is a shame that people do this to other people.
The time and money spent trying to promote someone else's "cookie cutter" site could be better spent creating your own site with your own personality.
So much of what is sold on the Internet should require the seller to tell "the rest of the story" to quote Paul Harvey. The untold part of the truth is really a lie.
Good luck in your future Internet career with your own website.
Copyright 2006 John Howe, Inc.
John V. W. Howe is an entrepreneur, author, inventor, patent holder, husband, father, and grandfather. He has been involved in entrepreneurial activities for over 40 years. He founded http://www.boomer-ezine.com and http://www.retirement-jobs-online.com to help Boomers (baby boomers) become entrepreneurs when they retire.
You can build your own website with the right guidance and assistance. For more information about building your own website instead of paying for another "cookie cutter site", click the following link =>STAMP OUT COOKIE CUTTER SITES.
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Business article
Starting Your Own Courier Business
by Stanley Headley
A courier business is one of the fastest growing businesses these days. It is not hard for a courier business to grow from a small or medium enterprise to a large corporation within several years, especially with good planning and management. However, starting your own courier business can be tricky. You will need to invest a relatively large sum of money to start, and then survive the first year before being able to gradually stabilise and eventually expand. There are several crucial aspects of this business that must be properly understood in order to start your own courier business correctly and earn profits from your investments.
The first thing you would have to pay close attention to is vehicles. You will need to purchase vehicles for your courier business: trucks, vans, or any other suitable vehicles will do. Most starting courier companies would opt for second hand vehicles to reduce their investments, which is fine if you do it carefully. Make sure the vehicles you are buying are in good shape and have good maintenance records. You will need to make sure you have valid vehicle insurances for every vehicle you purchase as well; vehicle insurance is a must. Accidents may happen, and it would be in your best interests to have insurances covering your investments.
When talking about insurance, it would be best to also get courier insurance. Courier insurance will cover items and merchandise shipped through your courier business. Customer's goods in transit are subjects to accidents as well, and having courier insurance covering your customers' interest is the best policy. You will most likely be able to get a courier insurance quote from the same company that provides you with your vehicle insurance. You can get relatively lower quotes on your insurance payments by doing so. Courier insurance is definitely crucial to your business operations, and it would be optimal to ensure you get the best possible courier insurance deals before you go on to the next step of setting up your courier business.
Once you have finished dealing with vehicle as well as courier insurance, it is all about setting up your operations. You can have representative offices to pick up customers' orders, have advertisements through the local media, and of course do your best to satisfy your customers. You are getting proper protection from both your vehicle insurance and your courier insurance, so no accident will be catastrophic to your business operations. Survive the first year, and it will be even easier from that point on.
Now that you know the basics of setting up your own courier business, it is time for you to take the plunge into this profitable business, and begin earning revenues from your investments. Remember, plan carefully, and make sure you get the best protection from your vehicle and courier insurance, and you will do just fine. Should anything go wrong, courier insurance will minimise your risks and keep your business operational. It will be well worth your investments for sure, and it will save you a couple of unnecessary headaches in the future too.
About the Author - Staveley Head is an established insurance company in the UK offering well rounded courier insurance policies to cover the costs for your courier business in a variety of unexpected situations.
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