Getting clicks and traffic by accident appears to be big business. And by 'big' I mean worth MILLIONS of dollars! While typosquatting is unfortunately not a new online marketing practice, its use and, moreover, its ABUSE has grown significantly and exponentially since 2000. Cybersquatting means registering, trafficking in or using a domain name with the intent to profit in bad faith from the goodwill of a trademark that belongs to someone else. It commonly refers to the practice of buying up domain names that use incorporate the names of existing businesses with the intent to sell the names for a profit to those businesses. The term derives from squatting, the practice of building some kind of home or dwelling or in some way using someone else's landed property without their permission. Typosquatting, although very similar to cybersquatting, has a slightly different, but much more serious purpose: it is employed by people who want to divert traffic to their websites. Typosquatters typically purchase a domain name that is a variation of a popular domain name with the expectation that some of the traffic for the original web site will stray to theirs by capitalizing on web surfers´ misspellings of those popular domain names. How can large companies, with all their IT experts, not foresee something like this happening? How come they allow tons of opportunistics to make revenue every time innocent Internet users mistype the original brandnames or trademarks? The answer is, cybersquatting originated at a time when most businesses were not savvy about the commercial opportunities on the Internet. Since opportunities like these rarely knock on one's door more than once, these so-called 'entrepreneurs' reserved and registered domain names corresponding to the names of well-known businesses with the intent of selling the names back to the companies when they finally woke up. Commercial domain names are obtained from companies that are authorized to ensure that a domain name you want is unique (no one else already has it) and issue it to you if it is. However, these registries make no attempt to determine whether the domain name is one that rightfully ought to go to someone else. The principle is 'First come, first served.' Panasonic, Fry's Electronics, Hertz and Avon were among the first targets of cybersquatters. Well-known products, sports and political figures and other celebrities are also among the victims. Today,, although the practice itself is growing, opportunities for cybersquatters are rapidly diminishing, because most businesses now know that nailing down domain names is a top priority. Although trademark laws may offer some protection, it is often cheaper to buy the domain name from the cybersquatter than it is to sue for its use: these processes cost money, and though you may be able to recover your costs and attorney fees if you win, there is no guarantee; it's completely up to the judge. Among some of the most famous examples of domains resold by cybersquatters to companies are; WallStreet.com for over $1 million, AltaVista.com for $3.5 million and the unprecedented $7.5 million paid for Business.com, all in 1999. Cybersquatters may also regularly comb lists of recently expired domain names, hoping to sell back the name to a registrant who inadvertently let their domain name expire. How do you know if the domain name you want is being used by a cybersquatter? As a general rule, first check to see if the domain name takes you to a legitimate website. If it takes you to a website that appears to be functional and reasonably related in its subject matter to the domain name, you probably are not facing a case of cybersquatting. But if you own a trademark and find that someone is holding it hostage as a domain name until you pay a large sum for it, you may be the victim of cybersquatting. You can sue to get your domain name -- and possibly some money damages -- under a 1999 federal law known as the Anti-Cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act or you can initiate arbitration proceedings under the authority of the Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and win the name back without the expense and aggravation of a lawsuit. The ICANN arbitration system is considered by trademark experts to be faster and less expensive than suing under the ACPA, and the procedure does not require an attorney.
Typosquatting, however, is a much more dangerous practice because it is commonly used by pornographers. Typosquatting is based on the probability that a certain number of Internet users will mistype the name of a web site (or its URL) when browsing the web. Typosquatters usually register several possible typos for a brand name or web site known for its high traffic, then monitor to see how many clicks per day each of their typo domain names receives, and finally use the information to sell advertising for the web sites that receive a high volume of accidental traffic. Ironically, advertising revenue might come from selling ads to the original site's competitors or by providing redirect pages to related products or services. There are multiple ways in which typosquatters may turn typos into revenue. When surfers mistype popular URLs, squatter companies throw up ads in hidden browser windows, making money off of ads few people see. As a consequence, companies such as AT&T Corp. and The New York Times are paying for ad impressions even though the ads are buried. Finally, when visitors try to close their browsers or otherwise leave the web site in question, there is one more attempt at monetizing the mistake. Another browser window usually pops up, with a different web site's name. This one contains more advertisements. It's a never ending story that sure gets on the nerves of most of us! The success of companies that practice Cybersquatter points out some serious flaws in the Internet's domain name system and in two of the web's most prominent revenue models: Affiliate Programs and Advertising Reselling. Advertising resellers such as 24/7 Media Inc., Advertising.com Inc. and iBoost Technology Inc. contract with large advertisers and then automatically feed ads onto thousands of web sites. The automated method of placing ads on sites can make tracking where those ads end up a very difficult task. Needless to say, typosquatters do not think there is anything wrong with using people's errors to grow traffic. However, it is a whole different story when typosquatting is employed by pornographers to attract children to their websites. Until now, there have been few methods of stopping pornographers and others abusing the domain name system from misleading children and adults into accessing sites masquerading as popular legitimate sites. Many adult web sites misrepresent their content or the nature of their sites by registering domain names that are intentionally confusing, using page coding designed to mislead search engines, distributing false advertising to promote site traffic, or hijacking visitors of another site. The problem is particularly serious when children are involved. Just as adults do, children get spam and unsolicited instant messages with graphic sexual images, content, or links to pornographic sites. Statistics show that 20% to 30% of traffic to adult sites is comprised of children. Many masquerade as messages from trusted friends or web sites. Children also may be tricked into visiting a pornographic site when they search for age-appropriate words or phrases on a search engine. Even if you find it hard to believe, depending on the type of marketing or advertising model used by a particular web site, there may be no incentive to filter children. In fact, targeting children may be an effective way of increasing ad revenue. The name of the game is web site traffic where adult sites are concerned. So they cannot rely just on keywords to increase traffic. As part of the Amber Alert legislation, typosquatting is now a crime in the United States. Porn network czar John Zuccarini was the first person charged under the new typosquatting law by the U.S. Attorney's office in the Southern District of New York and pleaded guilty in 2004. He was sentenced to two and a half years in prison. Until the enactment of the Protect Act (most commonly known as the 'Amber Alert' legislation), stopping typosquatters was a civil matter, or perhaps (under extraordinary circumstances) a consumer fraud matter. The sites Zuccarini has been found to have cybersquatted include those referring to Nicole Kidman, Backstreet Boys, Encarta and others. His manipulation of Aaron Carter's and Britney Spears' names is among his more recent abuses. Courts have already held that there is no legitimate purpose for Zuccarinin registering and using the typo-domains other than to trade on the popularity of the underlying domain names, celebrities and products involved.
In summary, cybersquatters and typosquatters are unethical companies and individuals that want to profit from your family's and your own confusion and spelling mistakes. If you want to help protect your children and others online, drop by www.Anti-Spam-League.org and report those who are engaged in these and other unscrupulous online marketing practices. Become a member for free and sign up to receive our Newsletters with useful and valuable information on how to handle abuses on the Internet. Also, look for more articles on related topics on our web site. You will learn how we can really make a difference by working together with consumers and companies to preserve Internet users' freedom and privacy while promoting loyal advertising and good art on marketing practices.
About the Author
The purpose of the Anti SPAM League is to help consumers and business owners reduce the amount of SPAM they receive. In addition, our Anti SPAM organization believes that educating site owners in the area of SPAM prevention and ways to successfully and responsibly market their sites, is key in making a difference.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Home Office Essentials Part One
So you've decided to set up your own business. You're following the same route taken by thousands of new entrepreneurs each day. You've settled on your business idea, designed a marketing strategy and are looking forward to a bright future.
Did you stop at any point and think about how your home office should be designed? What type of office setup do you need? Most entrepreneurs have their offices at home. Do you evenhave space for an office at home?
The purpose of the following two articles is not to give you a blow-by-blow plan of how to set up your home office but more to give you tips and advice that'll save you time, heartbreak and money.
Your Desk Newspaper ads years ago were filled with adverts stating "start a business from your kitchen table". While in theory (and in bad advertising) this is fine operating your business from a kitchen tables is entirely unpractical.
A good home office desk is functional, sturdy and has a clear, flat worktop. You've seen those office desks that are filled with drawers, shelves, keyboard trays and tons of other nooks and crannies. Firstly this type of desk looks fine in a catalogue but is far smaller when you actually build it.
Secondly all those drawers and shelves only give you more places to lose stuff. Keep your desk simple.
The ideal home office desk has a large, flat working area with at least one deep drawer for storing files and another shallow drawer for storing pens, paper and other consumables.
Ideally the desk should also be L shaped. This allows you to place your work around you as opposed to constantly having to stretch and reach for different items. The L shaped desk will provide you with a more practical working environment aswell as saving you backpain problems later in life.
Your Chair This is where you're going to be spending a considerable amount of time. Never, ever skimp on your home office chair. It is absolutely essential that you have a good office chair.
Many new home business owners make the critical mistake of using a kitchen, spare household or even a garden chair for their home office. This boggles the mind considering the same person probably wouldn't think twice about paying $1,000 for a new computer but won't pay $100 for a quality office chair.
Using a cheap chair that doesn't provide proper back and lower limb support can and will lead to lower back and shoulder pain. It can also provoke migraines and other headaches. Poor posture should never be underestimated - it can have far reaching effects.
Features you should look for in an office chair:
* Adjustable backrest
* Swivel base
* Adjustable armrest
* Adequte lumbar support
* Deep cushioned seat
A great home office chair can be purchased for as little as $60 brand new. If you're finding yourself strapped for cash then check local auction houses for office clearance items.
Other source of "cheap" office chairs are IT firms and call centers. They're constantly having to replace their furniture to meet legal ergonomic requirements. That $200 office chair can often be purchased slightly used for about $20.
Your Ergonomic Environment
The 3 key environmental factors in a suitable home working environment are noise, light and heat.
Noise Excessive noise is not only distracting but also debilitating. Prolonged exposure to excessive noise can and will affect your hearing.
What counts as excessive noise? Most experts agree that anything over 45 decibels or the equivalent of a really loud office fan is counterproductive to your work. You'll have trouble focusing or thinking clearly for more than a few moments.
Your home office needs to be a relatively peaceful environment. You'll do your best thinking, be at your most creative and work most effectively in a quieter office space.
Avoid using laundry rooms, TV rooms or other areas with excessively noisy equipment of any kind.
Light You need to be in control of the light in or coming into your office. Light sources that are too bright will cause glare on computer screens and documents.
A home office that is too dimly lit will lead to eyestrain and headaches over time. If the area is too dark you'll lean closer to the computer screen and documents to read them thus causing discomfort.
Natural light is ideal because it provides diffuse (soft) light. An added bonus is that natural sunlight has a beneficial effect on our physiologies - our bodies produce more "feel good" chemicals when we absorb natural light.
Obviously don't put your working area in direct sunlight as it will be far too uncomfortable to work in. Simply arrange your office in such a way as to maximize the benefit of the natural light in your immediate surroundings.
If you're a nightowl then simply point your desklamp away from the desk towards a wall behind you. Why? This provides the same type of diffuse light that you'd experience during the day. Adjust the lamp until it provides enough light to read your screen or documents comfortably by.
Heat This is the easy bit. Your home office should be neither too hot nor too cold. Is that stating the obvious? Any extremes of temperature in your home office will lead to decreased work performance. Normal room temperature is 37 degrees celsius (98 degrees Farenheit) so you need to aim for something in that region.
If your home office is too cold you won't be able to focus. You'll spend more time being annoyed at being cold than getting any work done.
Too much heat and you'll find yourself becoming irritable, lethargic and distinctly uncomfortable.
Your body is no different to the engine of a car or a piece of electronics. We all have optimal working temperatures. Otherwise we break down.
continued in Part Two
About the Author
This article was provided courtesy of HomeOfficeBuddy.com which contains tons of information on home office desks
Did you stop at any point and think about how your home office should be designed? What type of office setup do you need? Most entrepreneurs have their offices at home. Do you evenhave space for an office at home?
The purpose of the following two articles is not to give you a blow-by-blow plan of how to set up your home office but more to give you tips and advice that'll save you time, heartbreak and money.
Your Desk Newspaper ads years ago were filled with adverts stating "start a business from your kitchen table". While in theory (and in bad advertising) this is fine operating your business from a kitchen tables is entirely unpractical.
A good home office desk is functional, sturdy and has a clear, flat worktop. You've seen those office desks that are filled with drawers, shelves, keyboard trays and tons of other nooks and crannies. Firstly this type of desk looks fine in a catalogue but is far smaller when you actually build it.
Secondly all those drawers and shelves only give you more places to lose stuff. Keep your desk simple.
The ideal home office desk has a large, flat working area with at least one deep drawer for storing files and another shallow drawer for storing pens, paper and other consumables.
Ideally the desk should also be L shaped. This allows you to place your work around you as opposed to constantly having to stretch and reach for different items. The L shaped desk will provide you with a more practical working environment aswell as saving you backpain problems later in life.
Your Chair This is where you're going to be spending a considerable amount of time. Never, ever skimp on your home office chair. It is absolutely essential that you have a good office chair.
Many new home business owners make the critical mistake of using a kitchen, spare household or even a garden chair for their home office. This boggles the mind considering the same person probably wouldn't think twice about paying $1,000 for a new computer but won't pay $100 for a quality office chair.
Using a cheap chair that doesn't provide proper back and lower limb support can and will lead to lower back and shoulder pain. It can also provoke migraines and other headaches. Poor posture should never be underestimated - it can have far reaching effects.
Features you should look for in an office chair:
* Adjustable backrest
* Swivel base
* Adjustable armrest
* Adequte lumbar support
* Deep cushioned seat
A great home office chair can be purchased for as little as $60 brand new. If you're finding yourself strapped for cash then check local auction houses for office clearance items.
Other source of "cheap" office chairs are IT firms and call centers. They're constantly having to replace their furniture to meet legal ergonomic requirements. That $200 office chair can often be purchased slightly used for about $20.
Your Ergonomic Environment
The 3 key environmental factors in a suitable home working environment are noise, light and heat.
Noise Excessive noise is not only distracting but also debilitating. Prolonged exposure to excessive noise can and will affect your hearing.
What counts as excessive noise? Most experts agree that anything over 45 decibels or the equivalent of a really loud office fan is counterproductive to your work. You'll have trouble focusing or thinking clearly for more than a few moments.
Your home office needs to be a relatively peaceful environment. You'll do your best thinking, be at your most creative and work most effectively in a quieter office space.
Avoid using laundry rooms, TV rooms or other areas with excessively noisy equipment of any kind.
Light You need to be in control of the light in or coming into your office. Light sources that are too bright will cause glare on computer screens and documents.
A home office that is too dimly lit will lead to eyestrain and headaches over time. If the area is too dark you'll lean closer to the computer screen and documents to read them thus causing discomfort.
Natural light is ideal because it provides diffuse (soft) light. An added bonus is that natural sunlight has a beneficial effect on our physiologies - our bodies produce more "feel good" chemicals when we absorb natural light.
Obviously don't put your working area in direct sunlight as it will be far too uncomfortable to work in. Simply arrange your office in such a way as to maximize the benefit of the natural light in your immediate surroundings.
If you're a nightowl then simply point your desklamp away from the desk towards a wall behind you. Why? This provides the same type of diffuse light that you'd experience during the day. Adjust the lamp until it provides enough light to read your screen or documents comfortably by.
Heat This is the easy bit. Your home office should be neither too hot nor too cold. Is that stating the obvious? Any extremes of temperature in your home office will lead to decreased work performance. Normal room temperature is 37 degrees celsius (98 degrees Farenheit) so you need to aim for something in that region.
If your home office is too cold you won't be able to focus. You'll spend more time being annoyed at being cold than getting any work done.
Too much heat and you'll find yourself becoming irritable, lethargic and distinctly uncomfortable.
Your body is no different to the engine of a car or a piece of electronics. We all have optimal working temperatures. Otherwise we break down.
continued in Part Two
About the Author
This article was provided courtesy of HomeOfficeBuddy.com which contains tons of information on home office desks
How to Position Yourself as an Expert
Whatever kind of freelance or consulting work you do, one of the best ways to attract top clients is to position yourself clearly as an expert in your field.
And yes, you first have to be an expert. You don't have to be the world's leading expert, but you do need to know what you're talking about, and in real depth.
To become a credible expert it first helps if you choose your niche carefully.
If your niche is too broad - like 'all consumer electronics' - you'll find it hard to position yourself as a true expert.
If your niche is too narrow - like 'Sony PlayStation' - you'll find it hard to make a living.
Niches like 'computer games' or 'home entertainment' are perfect. It won't take you a lifetime to become an expert in either field, and there are plenty of prospective clients to choose from.
Of course, it will help enormously if you choose a niche in an area that genuinely interests you.
>> Got expertise? Here's the next step...
One of the fastest ways to get the word out is to get your name in print. In other words, write articles.
It's the strangest thing...but as soon as someone sees your name in print, your 'expert' status automatically jumps up several notches.
Publish your articles on your own web site. And make it known that other site editors can reprint your articles on their own sites and in their newsletters. Get the word out through a blog and by participating in discussion groups.
And, of course, every article should include a short bio and link back to your own site.
>> What's better than having your articles online?
The next step is to get your articles printed in real print publications, on paper. Again, strangely, an article on paper earns you more expert points than an article on the web.
Best of all, if your niche is, for instance, home renovation products and services, get an article printed in one of the trade magazines that serves that industry.
Now you're getting in front of hundreds or even thousands of prospective clients. It's not an ad. It's better than an ad. You're presenting yourself as a true expert, with the implicit endorsement of the editor of the publication.
>> Accept those invitations to speak
Once your name has appeared as the author of a sufficient number of useful, expert articles, you'll start getting invitations to speak. If they don't come your way, start looking for them.
You can start out small, speaking to local business groups and marketing associations. If all goes well, you'll soon find yourself with opportunities to speak to much larger groups at industry conferences.
And yes, being a speaker earns you major expert points.
>> Time to write a book?
Nothing brings you expert status faster than being the author of a book. Do you know enough on your subject to write a book? It may take a little time before you're ready. But the more articles you write and the more times you speak, the deeper your knowledge will grow.
In addition, articles and speaking engagements generate feedback from your readers and listeners. And the more feedback you get, the better you will know what it is people really want and need to know.
If you can get published and distributed by a major publishing house, so much the better. If not, self-publish. You'll need to do a lot of promoting to get the sales, but you can earn more money from each book sold and still confirm your status as an expert in your field.
>> Concluding thoughts
After a while you'll find yourself writing articles, speaking at public and corporate events and signing copies of your book or books at every opportunity.
At that point you will have truly earned your stripes as an expert and will find yourself with a very impressive list of clients and prospects.
Start writing!
About the Author
Nick Usborne is a copywriter, author and speaker. You can access all his newsletter articles on writing for the web at his www.ExcessVoice.com site. You'll find more articles and resources on how to make money as a freelance writer at www.FreelanceWritingSuccess.com
And yes, you first have to be an expert. You don't have to be the world's leading expert, but you do need to know what you're talking about, and in real depth.
To become a credible expert it first helps if you choose your niche carefully.
If your niche is too broad - like 'all consumer electronics' - you'll find it hard to position yourself as a true expert.
If your niche is too narrow - like 'Sony PlayStation' - you'll find it hard to make a living.
Niches like 'computer games' or 'home entertainment' are perfect. It won't take you a lifetime to become an expert in either field, and there are plenty of prospective clients to choose from.
Of course, it will help enormously if you choose a niche in an area that genuinely interests you.
>> Got expertise? Here's the next step...
One of the fastest ways to get the word out is to get your name in print. In other words, write articles.
It's the strangest thing...but as soon as someone sees your name in print, your 'expert' status automatically jumps up several notches.
Publish your articles on your own web site. And make it known that other site editors can reprint your articles on their own sites and in their newsletters. Get the word out through a blog and by participating in discussion groups.
And, of course, every article should include a short bio and link back to your own site.
>> What's better than having your articles online?
The next step is to get your articles printed in real print publications, on paper. Again, strangely, an article on paper earns you more expert points than an article on the web.
Best of all, if your niche is, for instance, home renovation products and services, get an article printed in one of the trade magazines that serves that industry.
Now you're getting in front of hundreds or even thousands of prospective clients. It's not an ad. It's better than an ad. You're presenting yourself as a true expert, with the implicit endorsement of the editor of the publication.
>> Accept those invitations to speak
Once your name has appeared as the author of a sufficient number of useful, expert articles, you'll start getting invitations to speak. If they don't come your way, start looking for them.
You can start out small, speaking to local business groups and marketing associations. If all goes well, you'll soon find yourself with opportunities to speak to much larger groups at industry conferences.
And yes, being a speaker earns you major expert points.
>> Time to write a book?
Nothing brings you expert status faster than being the author of a book. Do you know enough on your subject to write a book? It may take a little time before you're ready. But the more articles you write and the more times you speak, the deeper your knowledge will grow.
In addition, articles and speaking engagements generate feedback from your readers and listeners. And the more feedback you get, the better you will know what it is people really want and need to know.
If you can get published and distributed by a major publishing house, so much the better. If not, self-publish. You'll need to do a lot of promoting to get the sales, but you can earn more money from each book sold and still confirm your status as an expert in your field.
>> Concluding thoughts
After a while you'll find yourself writing articles, speaking at public and corporate events and signing copies of your book or books at every opportunity.
At that point you will have truly earned your stripes as an expert and will find yourself with a very impressive list of clients and prospects.
Start writing!
About the Author
Nick Usborne is a copywriter, author and speaker. You can access all his newsletter articles on writing for the web at his www.ExcessVoice.com site. You'll find more articles and resources on how to make money as a freelance writer at www.FreelanceWritingSuccess.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)