How to Protect Your Online Business from Credit Card Fraud

If you are selling something on the Internet, whether through product downloads or physical delivery, most likely you are accepting payments through credit cards. Credit cards provide a convenient way for buyers to pay, and thus form an integral component of doing business online. However, you need to watch out for a number of things when accepting credit card payments online. Just because a person expressed interest in your product and placed an order, does not necessarily mean that the person is willing to pay for it. They can use credit card fraud to steal it from you. Credit card

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How to Use Business Cards to Get More Customers and Increase Profits

A business card is one tangible proof that you are indeed a business owner. As old school as it may seem, nothing seems legitimacy than seeing your name, title and company printed in thick and colorful card stock paper. And finally, you’re at a networking event, all excited to hand out your business card to everyone you meet. But after handing out all the cards, what happens next? Do they get in touch with you? Do they become a client? If your prospect has your card — as well as your competitor’s card — how can you make sure that

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How to Use Customer Information to Increase Sales

Customers are not created equal: some are more valuable than others. Businesses that have the ability to determine the value of the customers have the edge in today’s highly competitive business environment. Customers fall into different categories, such as: Customers who are profitable; Customers who increase your competence . Customers who build up the image and provide contacts with other customers. Customers likely to generate a flow of new projects, accounts or new purchases, rather than the occasional one-off Your role as the business owner, therefore, is to be able to distinguish among the different customer types. More importantly, you

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How to Use Short Copy to Increase Sales

I believe it was Mark Twain that once said, “If I would have had time, I would have written a shorter letter.” His point being… it takes much more thought and time to write a short, concise piece than a long one. It’s true, too! Think about it. How hard is it to get your point across in a very limited amount of time or space? Ever tried to write copy for a postcard mailing? How about a 30-second radio commercial? How do you tell customers everything you want them to know in just a few words? Truth is… you

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No AssHole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn’t

Book excerpt from The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn’t by Robert I. Sutton, PhD. Excerpt reprinted with permission from publisher. Chapter 1: What Workplace Assholes Do and Why You Know So Many Who deserves to be branded as an asshole? Many of us use the term indiscriminately, applying it to anyone who annoys us, gets in our way, or happens to be enjoying greater success than us at the moment. But a precise definition is useful if you want to implement the no asshole rule. It can help you distinguish between those colleagues

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What You Need to Know About Merchant Accounts

Choosing the wrong merchant account provider is one of the quickest ways to jeopardize your business. Know how to evaluate a merchant account provider and understand the rates and fees involved.

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Importance of Continuous Learning for Entrepreneurs

Education is the key to moving toward your goals. Even those lucky ones with diplomas in hand understand that real success means staying in the learning curve.

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You, Inc: The Art of Selling Yourself

As founder of Beckwith Advertising and Marketing, Harry Beckwith learned early on in his career that no matter what product is being sold, the most important component of the sale is you.

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Over 40? Quit your Job and Get a Life

Did I get your attention? Good; that was the point. No one should have just a job after 40. Before 40, it is necessary to build your ego in the world. It is critical for self-development, self-esteem, and to get a sense of your place in the world. Naturally, it would be perfect to do the work you love before 40, but this is not always possible. Before 40, it makes sense to align your interests and abilities with the work you love. After 40, it is an absolute requirement for an authentic life. First – Quit your Job Of

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Importance of Follow-Through: Why It’s Good to Keep in Touch with Customers

Initial contact with customers is obviously very important. Without developing leads and making the initial sales contact there can be no prospects to close. However, many in sales fail to transition from contact to follow up. Without effective follow up your contact to conversion ratios will plummet. There are basic steps you can take to instill the importance of follow-through in your sales staff. Many salespeople fail to follow up simply out of forgetfulness. This often goes in tandem with being disorganized. For this category it is necessary to implement firm follow up policies and guide the applicable parties in

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Benefits of Outsourcing Your Sales and Marketing Teams

Sales and business development are the life blood of almost every business. If you aren’t bringing in new clients or creating new revenue streams your business is, for all intents and purposes, stagnant. If you don’t think you are a, “people person,” or would rather spend your time developing new products and services for your company, you could benefit greatly from outsourcing your sales team to a qualified service that specializes in sales, marketing and lead generation. If you have never managed a sales team before and you are running your own business, now isn’t the time to start. Sales

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Setbacks? How to Push Yourself Out of the Slump

There comes a point in the life of any business owner when it seems like you are staring at a wall. Maybe sales have slowed to a crawl, maybe the work has become monotonous, or perhaps a few setbacks have happened recently. Whatever the cause, there may be a day when you are tempted to just forget the whole thing. Here are a few simple ways to overcome business setbacks and get past that inevitable slump: 1. Think of the time and money you have already invested It may seem that you’re not getting anywhere, but if you look back

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