Who's Minding the Store? Written by Arleen M. Kaptur
You’ve set up your internet storefront. Everything is ready, and its been checked and re-checked. All links work and there is nary a doubt in sight. If you have other commitments, such as employment off web, family, personal, friends, etc. you find that you return to your storefront when you have a few free moments or just happen to be in mood to do some surfing yourself. When you sit down at computer and go to your site, question should blaze out at you as a neon sign on a cold, dreary night. “Who’s Minding Store?” Have you checked your e-mail to see if any prospect or customer had a question or concern? Are there comments, suggestions, or ideas that others have kindly forwarded to you and now they deserve an answer or response? If your having a bad day, choose your words very carefully when you respond to anyone. They should be sweet and tender for tomorrow you may just have to eat them. Has a market issue changed enough to put you one step behind everyone else that is marketing a similar product/service? Are there new updates or revisions on anything you are marketing? These are just a few of questions to ask yourself as you return to your storefront to find that front door is creaking a bit and dust is collecting on shelves. In other words, selling anything on internet is a commitment. Its just same as anything that is worthwhile in life. You took time to create a perfect site, found a product/service that you believe in, and you went ahead to attract potential visitors/subscribers/buyers. They presume that you are there (somewhere) and that you are ready to help them make their decision to buy your product. Now, you have to take time to be there, respond as quickly as you can to their concerns, or questions, and yes, make changes because nothing stays same.
| | Who Do You Trust?Written by Arleen M. Kaptur
Experts abound in every phase of business. There are those that have achieved, have built from ground up, and there are those that wish they had, but are willing to share their knowledge anyway. If you are looking for expert advice, there are sites ranging from A to Z and everything in between. Everyone at some point feels they are an expert in their chosen field of endeavor and they all want to share their expertise and knowledge. So, who do you listen to and what advice do you take to heart and use? This is not such a simple question to answer. You can always learn something from everyone. Each individual has had unique experiences, and has learned and grown from whatever it is they encountered. Their advice, however, may be one-sided- their version. Advice can be helpful, or it can be vented anger or frustration coming from someone who tried and failed. So what do you do with an uncertainty such as this? Read, read, and read more. You will notice a pattern to certain individuals. They will give you facts, from their view point, but there are no actual “facts” to back what they are claiming. There are no concrete numbers, or value attributed to their advice. These you can take with a grain of salt, but they have taught you something as well. You know what to look for, you are more selective in what you choose, and you are beginning to separate chafe from grain. Individuals who are well-known are also not necessarily best teachers. Many times these giants of industry or business forget how it was in beginning. They take for granted that you know baby steps and are just ready and able to take plunge. Many times success gives someone ability to see future but they forget many of steps that it took to get to this point. Learn what you can and continue your investigation into finding out step by step what it takes to succeed in your field and to learn from masters. You cannot, in one lifetime, learn what ten or twelve other people learned in their lifetime. You’re just one person, with twenty-four hours and you need to do best you can with what you have. There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking questions or seeking advice. You will learn most from those who have been there, achieved, and now feel secure enough in what they have done to offer expert advice and skill training.
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