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G E T P R O F I T A B L E U P D A T E!

November 14, 2000

The “Get Profitable Update” e-newsletter delivers original,

valuable and usable marketing information, success tips, and business strategies that you can use immediately to increase your revenues and profits. Its subscribers are worldwide.

A FREE, BI-monthly newsletter dedicated to helping you…

… Make More Profit!

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Please forward this e-newsletter to anyone you know who can benefit

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will immediately impact their sales and increase their profits. This e-newsletter (and our website) focuses on helping small to medium size businesses position their company as the “Brand” of choice by their customers and prospective targeted marketplace.

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IN THIS ISSUE:

E-Commerce: Dot.Com or Dot.Gone – Part 3

(To view Parts 1 & 2, go to www.GetProfitable.com

and click on “FREE Special Reports” to view archives.

E-Commerce: Top Ten Dot-Cons’

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E-Commerce: Dot.Com or Dot.Gone – Part 3

In our past two issues of the Get Profitable Update, we have been discussing how recently the media would have us believe that the days of the instant dot.com millionaire along with what may have been considered the Internet gold rush for any business with a dot.com suffix to it has ended. Many would have you believe that no longer can basement or garage startup companies launch unimpressive, poorly managed websites and still expect venture funding to magically appear overnight, along with exaggerated valuation and an over-the-top IPO fortune.

Well the truth is that they are partly right. But they are also partly wrong. As we have discussed, the venture capitalists have rolled up their red carpets and pulled out a bigger calculator when it comes to evaluating dot.com businesses.

But for us here at GetProfitable.com, we remain completely positive on the prospects for dynamic growth and opportunity for e-businesses. Especially for the small to medium sized companies who target a real niche, e-brand their business and offer a higher-than-expected level of service. Consumer and business purchasing trends online support this finding.

In the last issue we reviewed the first two of the 5 critical customer centered steps you need to implement if you’re trying to troubleshoot an unsuccessful site or launch your company’s first site. So here it is... the third and final installment.

(To view the first two articles go to www.GetProfitable.com and click on the Free Special Reports button to view archives)

3. Wealth Comes to Those Who Create “Value.”

A very wise mentor of mine once taught me this sage business principle and I have never forgotten it. How does this relate to your Internet business? Well it is simply not good enough to have a site that is graphically pleasing to the visitor. Or, to offer nothing more than smart sales copy that promotes your products or services.

The statistics say that 85% of the people surfing the Internet come to the Web for content while the other 15% come for sales.

I think this is a very revealing statistic. This means that you will have a greater change to attract and retain visitors and convert them into customers if you include valuable tips and helpful information that will add real value to their user experience. The kind that brings insight from behind the scenes or that is something tangible they can use immediately to increase sales and grow profits.

Perhaps you could build a community on your site by hosting a moderated chat board or have a contest where visitors and customers can suggest their ideas on how to improve your site or your products and services. The ones with the best ideas win a prize.

The point is that by offering valuable content that compliments the products or services you offer on your website, you will enhance your credibility as an expert in your business and will increase the value of your site. This will provide you with the best opportunity to convert leads into sales creating satisfied customers who return to purchase and refer others as well.

4. One of the growing secrets of the Web is Personalization.

One of the mistakes that I see often in my consulting practice are clients that fail to track and maintain data about who their customers are and what their buying habits are. This is just good old fashioned marketing applied to the Internet and is a critical and growing component of today’s website marketing.

Tracking this type of data allows you to understand the needs and desires of your online customer which shows them that you care and that their business is indeed important to you. It demonstrates that you are investing in getting to know them and are building a relationship with them the same way that an offline business would.

Ultimately it proves that you understand them and that you care. You can then reward them for their online loyalty which will only further build their trust and confidence in you and insulate you from the threat of your competitors targeting and stealing away your customers.

5. Tracking Your Website Statistics is Critical if You Are Serious About Your e-Business.

There are some very important statistics hiding out there in your web host log files. They are your visitor’s habits and patterns on how they use your site, where they go, where they come from, at what point do they leave your site. Are they dumping out on your order form or shopping cart or, someplace in your sales copy etc.

Taking the time to study these is a vital part of owning and operating your online enterprise. If you are serious about maximizing your profit potential you will invest the time to learn how to use this valuable tool. If you are already doing this then I compliment you because you understand the value of what I am saying.

Depending upon how good the statistics are that are provided by your web hosting company, you may want to go one step farther and buy a software package to help you even more. One such product is Web Position Gold and it’s probably worth looking into. If you are disappointed with the service you are getting with your web hosting company, give me a call and I can recommend someone that has an awesome control panel offering you an easy to operate way to obtain your sites tracking statistics.

Dot.Com or Dot.Gone Conclusion

Well there you have it. My five simple steps to help you survive, succeed and build a very profitable online e-business. No these few things alone won’t help you make a million overnight, but they are a good start if you are committed to your Internet enterprise. But one thing is for sure. If you ignore these key strategies, you could end up on the heap with the other dot.gone’s.

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E-Commerce: Top Ten Dot-Cons’

Reminding consumers that they should always be on guard when online

U.S. Federal Regulators announced recently an education and law

enforcement push against the top Internet scams.

Ranging from mystery phone charges to shady investments, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) listed the “Top Ten Dot-Cons” Internet users should be concerned about. The FTC has been working with an international coalition this year to stamp out Web scams through lawsuits and an online education campaign.

I have gone to this site and found it rather interesting. If you have a moment to check it out, I think you will find it quite informative as well.

http://www.ftc.gov/

Netscape Search on www.ftc.gov

1: Top Ten Dot Cons: Media

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/dotcon/media.htm

2: Top Ten Dot Cons: Consumers

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/dotcon/consumer.htm

3: Law Enforcers Target Top 10 Online Scams

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2000/10/topten.htm

4: Top Ten Dot Cons: Multilevel Marketing Plans and Pyramids

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/dotcon/mlm.htm

5: Top Ten Dot Cons: Law Enforcement

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/dotcon/law.htm

6: Top Ten Dot Cons: Investments

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/dotcon/invest.htm

7: Top Ten Dot Cons: Credit Card Fraud

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/dotcon/credit.htm

8: Top Ten Dot Cons: Web Cramming

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/dotcon/cramming.htm

9: Top Ten Dot Cons: Internet Access Services

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/dotcon/access.htm

10: Top Ten Dot Cons: International Modem Dialing

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/dotcon/modem.htm

11: Top Ten Dot Cons: Health Care Products and Services

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/dotcon/health.htm

12: Top Ten Dot Cons: Business Opportunities

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/dotcon/bizop.htm

13: Top Ten Dot Cons: Banner Ads

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/dotcon/banner.htm

14: Top Ten Dot Cons: Travel and Vacations

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/dotcon/travel.htm

15: Top Ten Dot Cons: Text Home Page

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/dotcon/text.htm

16: Top Ten Dot Cons: Internet Auctions

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/dotcon/auction.htm

17: Law Enforcers Target Top 10 Online Scams

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2000/10/top10advis.htm

18: Top Ten Dot Cons: Participants

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/dotcon/participants.htm

19: Top Ten Dot Cons: Classified Ads/PSAs

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/dotcon/classified.htm

20: Top Ten Dot Cons: Business

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/dotcon/business.htm

21: Top Ten Dot Cons: Crossword Answer

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/dotcon/answer.htm

22: Top Ten Dot Cons: Crossword Puzzle

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/dotcon/crossword.htm

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If you have a question about how to “Brand Your Business” call 815-297-1297 or email kevin@getprofitable.com or go to our website GetProfitable.com for more free information.

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COMING SOON... Kevin’s Hot New Book

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customer or a lifetime customer?

Check out our newly re-designed Web site. There is a special one-time pre-publication 50% off sales offer on my new book as well as lots of new and valuable information to help make you more profitable. You can take our online poll and see the instant updated results.

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Kevin M. Clark

(I would appreciate a tear sheet or electronic copy too.)

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Kevin M. Clark is a small business marketing consultant and branding specialist and speaker to many nationally acclaimed groups.

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Written by Kevin M. Clark,

“Entrepreneur of The Year Award Recipient,” (Regional

Winner) and President of Clark Marketing Group, Inc.

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