The significant challenges that we face today cannot be resolved by the same level of thinking that created them.

Hi there. I certainly hope you are better prepared for tax time than I am. Even though I had promised myself that everything would be done and ready for the accountant at the end of February, I'm afraid I got a touch behind so I'll be putting my nose to the grindstone over the next few days.

I'd like to send a special welcome to our new subscribers - we're glad you joined us.

While our temperatures are milder than they have been we were faced with more snow than was forecast over the weekend so I guess we aren't actually into spring yet. British Columbia counts their blooms this time of year and the latest is count is 2 billion blooms. That sounds wonderful. Can't wait till it gets here.

I've lost count of how many publishers have contacted me explaining that any messages that contain attachments are not from them. This latest virus issue is creating much havoc - as usual. At the time of this writing there are about ten variants of MyDoom, NetSky and Bagle floating around. It seems the writers of these viruses and worms are attempting to out do each other. It's just another good reason to stop using email as far as I'm concerned.

Until the protocol for email is altered, we're all at risk. It's so easy to slip up and open a message when it looks like it's from someone you trust. If a message contains an attachment and you are unsure - delete it. Don't take chances. Here are a few things that I look for and perhaps it will help you too.

If there is no subject line - delete it. If the subject line is in solid capitals - delete it. I use MailWasher Pro and I can set up my filters and friends list there. The advantage of using a program like this is that I can get rid of the garbage before it enters my Inbox. It's just safer to delete it from my server. I can get rid of anything suspicious at the same time.

And always - always keep your virus definitions up to date. I have mine set to check for updates every two days automatically and I throw in a manual update within that time. When there is a lot of virus activity, this is a good practice to get into. If you've got your virus program set to update at 8:00 a.m. and new virus definitions come out at 8:10 a.m. your system will not be up to date. I also schedule it to scan my entire system every night while I'm sleeping.

Micheal Moorefield wrote our Feature Article, 6 Tips To Improve Your Business Website. Michael points out a few things that you should be paying attention to so that your visitors have a positive experience at your site.

What Is Missing From This Picture? comes to us from one of my favorite authors, Bob Osgoodby. We're all going through the trials and tribulations evoked by the use of email as it currently stands. People are becoming more cautious about who they give their information out to. Here are some ideas to help you gain the trust of your visitors.

Have a great day and keep smiling.

An Effective Alternative to eMail

6 Tips To Improve Your Business Website
Author: Michael Moorefield

There are six important characteristics that can play a major role on the impact your website has on prospects. Outlined below is the importance of each characteristic and tips on how to maximize your potential. It is always important to tailor everything you do to what your customer is expecting, doing so will help keep you one step ahead of the competition.

Convenience - Allowing your customers to make decisions at their convenience is a very powerful element. Nobody wants to feel pressured or hurried into making a buying decision. When a customer can go to your website, browse your products and services, and make a purchase at their convenience, you are satisfying a crucial consumer obstacle -- time. They don’t have to keep returning to your storefront every time they wish to evaluate your value. In fact, most customers do not buy something the first time they see it. Instead, they must see and consider it several times before they finally talk themselves into purchasing. A website allows customers to quickly review their reasons to purchase something, leading to a greater number of impulse buys.

Information - A website can allow you to communicate much more information about a product or service than an in-store display or advertisement. You can also control the way the information is presented. Supplying information in an orderly step-by-step process can greatly improve the chance of a purchase.

Evaluation - Many customers will not purchase something without searching for the best value. The internet allows your customers to obtain the information they need to feel like they are making an educated buying decision. Make sure you are using your website to take advantage of this opportunity. Inform your customer why your product or service is of the best value compared to their other options. Always acknowledge the competition instead of acting like your product or service is the only one out there.

Guidance - The pages of your website should guide the customer towards the specific solutions they are looking for. They should serve to help them quickly locate what they came to find. Think of it as a store map located at the entrance of a department store. The customer can use this directly upon entering the store to get to the department they are interested in, instead of wandering around looking for it. Get their relevant information in front of them quickly while they are still the mood to purchase. People buy on impulse. If they have to spend 15 minutes searching for what they are looking for, that impulse may very well fade away.

Contact - The internet also allows for another form of contact with your customer. Some people can be hesitant about talking to a representative in person or on the phone if they don’t feel very knowledgeable about the product or service. Email allows them to carefully collect their thoughts before sending them. They feel less awkward about their lack of knowledge. Again, use this opportunity to gain an edge over the competition. Go out of your way to educate them about the product or service.Entertainment - Use the informal atmosphere of the internet to entertain your customer. The internet is used by more people as a means of entertainment than as a means of business. If used effectively, entertainment can significantly improve the business relationship. Provide clever facts, amusing presentations or even a witty character or mascot to assist them. However, be sure that the entertainment is used appropriately. Be sure that is does not obstruct the information or value you are trying to bestow upon them.

Always use your competition to your advantage. Research how your competition uses these characteristics to improve their customer relations. Your website does not have to be boring just because it is informative. Create an appeal that will set you above the competition. The internet can be an extremely powerful tool for your business, reaching a greater audience than ever before. A successful business uses a complete arsenal to reach its market.

About the author:
Michael Moorefield is one of the founders of ThirdWeb Solutions, a digital multimedia company specializing in creating and improving the internet presence for small businesses. Working with a range of businesses to establish a prosperous web presence keeps Michael up to date with online trends not only in a design & development aspect, but a business aspect as well. Visit http://www.thirdweb.com for more info.

This little program has been around for years and to be honest, I forgot about it. I recently rediscovered it and thought I'd share it with you.

It's called Type It In and that's exactly what it does. You create buttons for all that repetitive typing that you do. Then instead of having to retype your signature or any type of information, you just click the button you want, and it appears in your document automatically.

You can also create different categories of buttons such as Advertising, Affiliate Programs - I have one for HTML snippets that I use over and over. I've created a video to show you how easy it is to use and you can take a look at the Type It In video here.

It saves me loads of time and helps keep me from making mistakes in my code. Here's the link for the download. They offer a 30-day trial.

Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.
Thomas Edison

Many a witty inspiration is like the surprising reunion of befriended thoughts after a long separation.
Friedrich Von Schlegel

Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.
Louisa May Alcott

What Is Missing From This Picture?
by Bob Osgoodby

How many E-mails do you get promising great riches or fantastic buys and you have absolutely no clue who sent it? Many of the return E-mail addresses are forged, and you have no possible way to respond to their offer. Despite the Federal Anti-Spam Bill, which became effective January 1, 2004, and set requirements for commercial e-mail, including opt-out provisions and valid postal addresses, many spammers are disregarding the law. They may give you a toll free number to call, where you will probably get a highly hyped recording, or you may get a Post Office Box to submit your application and payment.

What is missing from this picture?

They are!

The majority of people are pretty cautious. If someone jumped out of a dark alley and offered to sell you a "Rolex" for twenty bucks, you would probably just continue walking. What makes people think the Internet is a like a magic carpet, where all you have to do is make some type of outlandish offer, and people will flock to you with their wallet wide open?

It doesn't work that way folks!

If you expect people to deal with you, they must be able to identify with you and/or your company. If your company is not well known, they must be able to identify with you.

Remember the old saying - "Sell yourself first". When people are comfortable with you, the rest is easy. But how do I do this "you might ask".

There are a number of ways and the web actually makes it easy. Put a picture of yourself on your web site with a short bio and contact information. If a person knows how to get in touch with you in case of a problem, it makes their purchasing decision a lot easier.

Just this week, being in the market for some flat screen monitors, I found a seller on eBay who was selling them at a highly discounted price. He didn’t accept credit cards or PayPal, and wanted a certified check prior to shipment. He also didn’t have any history of selling on eBay and had a free email account – yeah sure.

Tell people how you help your customers and the successes they have had. Let them know how they need the benefits of your product or service. This is the kind of information that will build confidence in your customers and prospects.

A lot of people are reticent to give contact information on the web. They're afraid they'll get crank calls, or people will find out where they live. A real concern? I don't think so. There are ways around these types of problems.

I have a second telephone line that forwards the call to voice mail during non-business hours. I also keep the "ringer" on low. While I can hear it in my office, I'm not bothered if it rings at night.

Many places in the country don't have home delivery of their mail available, and a P.O. Box is their actual address. A P.O. Box is not ideal, but will be acceptable if a telephone number is provided.

Before you try to sell anything on or off the web, remember to sell yourself first, and you won’t be "missing from this picture."

Did you know that subscribers to Bob Osgoodby's Free Ezine the "Tip of the Day" get a Free Ad for their Business at his Web Site? Great Business and Computer Tips – Monday. Wednesday. and Friday. Instructions on how to place an ad are in the Newsletter. Subscribe at: http://adv-marketing.com/business/subscribe2.htm

Jaye has been adding more of her Bookkeeping Tips to the Strateshooter channel. To keep up to date be sure to add the Strateshooter channel to your links or you can view the Strateshooter page here first.

Links help your popularity with the search engines. They should also bring you more visitors, if the sites that link to you are relevant, and have high traffic themselves.

Note: The program that the author speaks about in this article is Aerilis.

Find out how easy it can be at:

Legal Stuff ...

We accept no responsibility whatsoever for the content, profitability or legality of any published articles or advertisements contained within KIT.

And, although all of the articles have been selected for their content, the publishing of such articles within this newsletter does NOT constitute a recommendation of the products or services mentioned or advertised within those articles.

Be responsible! Always do your own Due Diligence before responding to any offer.