{!date dayname+0}, {!date long+0} Dear {!firstname_fix} I hope all is well in your part of the world. Obviously there are some parts of the world which are not doing so well. Yesterday, my son and a few of his classmates picked some vegetables from their allotments and went selling them door to door. They raised £24.50 all of which they have done - on their own, without any prompting from adults - to help the people of Pakistan, affected by the floods. If you are moved to help the millions of displaced people please make your contribution at the DEC website.
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED: How can you cope with people stealing your "stuff" online? One of the reasons why people are often put off from revealing too much information online is they are afraid of "theft". They worry, for instance, that if they put their knowledge online, other people will steal it, plagiarise it and use it as their own. If it's not knowledge, but actual products, such as audio or video items, anyone, anywhere in the world can make copies within moments and rip you off. Indeed, fraudulent activities like these are commonplace. So common, that it prevents many business owners from fully participating with the internet and therefore not benefitting from it as best they can. The first thing to do is accept people will steal your "stuff". Whether it's a free report, a paid-for book, audios, videos, software - it WILL be stolen. Either you live with that fact, or you fret about it. The problem is, the harder you try to stop people stealing your material - such as with various copy protection devices - the MORE fraudsters will try to steal it. Make it freely available and there is no challenge, so they are LESS likely to want to take it from you. Next, be sure that whatever you produce has unique URLs or domain names inside it. So, your web pages, your PDFs, even your printed books and brochures, should have unique website addresses inside them. Merely having your home page listed means you cannot track so easily how people get to your website. So, for instance, I have a printed document I use at business events where I am speaking. That document suggests people visit a particular website. The ONLY place that URL is listed is in that document. That means I know that EVERYONE who visits that website has either seen me speak at a business event or has been handed a copy of the document. Similarly, this newsletter contains links that ONLY appear in this newsletter - nowhere else. I therefore know that anyone who connects to that link MUST have read this newsletter. If I suddenly get loads of connections, out of sync with the distribution of this newsletter, it's a clue my "stuff" has been copied and redistributed. Similarly, if I have spoken in London but I get loads of clicks to the "print only" website address from, say, Rome, it suggests my document has been copied. True, there's nothing I can do about it - but at least I know AND by using unique URLS to me (including affiliate links) I will benefit, even if someone has stolen the material. Another way of "identifying" the material as yours, making it harder for people to rip you off, is to produce it with authenticity. In other words, make it personal. If you are a regular reader you know my style. I try not to make what I do too "business like"; I use the words I would use when I'm talking to you face to face. Gosh, I even have a joke or two here or there. When material is obviously from one individual, it makes it much less appealing to steal. Make your online material YOURS - not generalised. If you produce your "stuff" in a bland, generic way, you make it much more likely to be stolen. One other thing - pat yourself on the back if your material is stolen. People only want to steal good stuff...! Remember, you can always ask your question and get it answered in this newsletter by going to: http://www.grahamjones.co.uk/questions
WHAT I LEARNED THIS WEEK: Family will always be there - so will good clients I've got a vusy few days ahead - my wife has a special birthday next week (one of those that end in a zero...!). So we have family here for the weekend, a lunch booked at a local hotel and then a "treat" for the special day. Presents are being wrapped as I write this and my son is busy preparing a hand-made card. And in amidst all the jollity and happiness sits an email asking me to do some work for a client next week - and I have replied "no". Family comes first - even before clients and money. In fact, twice this week I've had to turn down invitations to events on the same day - the day my son's preferred new school for 2011 has its only open day this year. I will be going to that school with him, rather than accept any work - no matter how attractive. Just like you, I suspect, it's virtually impossible for anyone to put anything between me and my family. But guess what - clients are like you and me too...! When I explained to the three people I have had to "upset" this week by saying I couldn't help because of my commitment to my family guess what they said? "Oh, of course family comes first; I'm so glad you told me. Yes, you must attend your family event; we can do the work at another time." In other words they respect me MORE because I cannot do what they want...! Good clients are people too and understand why you may not put them first - if you are honest with them and explain your inability to help them . Like family who are always there for you when you need them, good clients are always there waiting for you when your family commitments have passed. Never fear putting family first - it is what good clients actually expect you to do. If you want to check out what else I've been doing for the past week, you can always look at: http://www.grahamjones.co.uk/week
THIS WEEK'S "MUST BUY":
Actually it's free this week...! I'm taking part in a teleseminar series, called The Online Business Success Series. It is designed with new and existing online business owners in mind, giving you access to all the insider secrets from several experts about running a successful online business. You can learn:
This series of audio recordings lets you earn from industry experts who are sharing their knowledge with you. Sign up for your FREE place at: http://GJurl.com/obs
So, that's it for this week - see you in seven days...! Kind Regards
Graham Jones Web: grahamjones.co.uk Tel: +44 118 336 9710 If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter than you can delete your name from the mailing list by clicking this link: {!remove_web} |
