However, completing some of tasks that are required for Competition Analysis can be overwhelming and expensive. This is a disadvantage for e-commerce startups with limited budgets.

The following is a suggestion that has worked for us at Rothline Entertainment, an e-commerce site located at http://www.rothline.com. After reviewing information on completing Competition Analysis, we immediately knew we could not afford to have an outside source complete these tasks. We were also overwhelmed with idea of attempting to complete tasks ourselves.

If you've been working online for any length of time, you already know that it's pretty tough trying to 'do' everything by yourself. Without assistance and guidance of fellow publishers and mentors, you would not come as far as you have in your business.

The right software can also eliminate some of workload, but it's people we come into to contact with and relationships we build that are vital to our success.

Sharing Knowledge and Skills

This is why forums have become so popular. They offer advice, suggestions and assistance to those looking for answers. It's a great way to develop your internet presence while helping others to succeed. Websites that offer 'how-to' tutorials or videos are also gaining recognition and popularity.

Eliminate Need For eMail

If I was just starting out and had to rely on email as my method of delivery today, I would not start publishing. When I first started publishing KIT in 2001, delivering my content and receiving feedback from my readers was a relatively simple task.

Today, it's become something of a nightmare. You see more publishers sending out notes to let you know that if you didn't receive latest issue, it probably got killed by filters. I would suggest that another reason for this second notice is that publishers are no longer receiving kinds responses they are used to when they send out their latest issue.

Each time we step up our level of security or protection by switching from single opt-in to double opt-in for instance, our subscribers are also being asked to jump through hoops just to stay with us.

The reason: email is broken. Until protocol for email is modified, you will continue to see invalid email addresses, false headers, spoofing and phishing scams that directly affect your business while putting everyone at risk. It's time to put an end to this risk.

Direct To Desktop Publishing

There are no two ways about it. If you are a publisher, you know how much time, effort and commitment is involved to put out good content on a regular basis.

Now add all nonsense that goes hand in hand with publishing through email today. Masking words so they don't trip filters. Invalid email addresses. Handling bouncebacks. ISP blocking and filtering. The list goes on and on and it's costing you.