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The Value of Building
a Community on the InternetBy Lois Jeary
We see
thousands of people adopting the internet and its offerings every day. Some will
just want to browse from site to site to see what's there. Many have started
using the internet to do their shopping for both home and business. Others are
simply looking for a way to keep in touch with friends and family. A select
group of these individuals will see the advantages of creating a home-based
business using the internet as their platform.
It is rare though that you will
find an individual who can 'wear all the hats' required to run a successful
business in today's world. There is a huge amount of information that requires
consideration when starting your business, not the least of which is a sound
business plan.
Self-starters require talents
that range anywhere from being an accountant, a web designer to a graphic
artist. Then there is a need for copywriting skills, management and delegation
ability, technical know how, legal knowledge and perhaps software development.
And let's not forget about marketing. That's a full plate for anyone,
particularly if you are just getting started.
With a bricks 'n mortar style
business, corporations can hire the talent they need when they need it. For the
small, home-based business that is just starting out, this can present problems.
And this is where building a community or network of responsible people can be a
real boost for you and your business.
You and I have had a chance to
connect with other ethical and responsible people who also run an online
business. We've had the chance to learn from our mistakes and adjust to the
changes taking place on the internet on a regular basis. Now think of all the
newbies who are just starting their internet adventure today.
Experienced marketers have had
some trouble understanding the FTC regulations as well as the new CAN-SPAM law
which went into effect on January 1st, 2004. The law came into effect on January
1st, however, the FTC has until September, 2004 to 'fine tune' the regulations.
Now we are facing more new
challenges with email. Personally, I've been very disillusioned with email
delivery for about a year and a half and I know I'm not alone. That's why you
have seen more publishers switching to rss feeds or weblogs. You're going to see
more publishers adopting a weblog-type format. Others will send a note telling
you where the latest online edition is located. The big thing lacking here is
interaction. Think back to why you started publishing an ezine in the first
place. Didn't you love getting feedback from your subscribers? That's what made
it fun and worthwhile.
With all the changes taking
place, we are losing that essential contact with our readers. Of course we need
to make money, but that isn't the whole picture. Subscribers, your customers,
are also becoming numb to the reasons behind all the changes taking place. How
many times have you asked them to resubscribe? How many did you lose each time?
Inboxes have become so congested with unsolicted email, it has become next to
impossible to find the information they have requested.
We need to provide a safe place
for our readers so that we can get back to providing good content as well as
share products and services that will benefit their business as well as yours.
A perfect example is the
Quikonnex Service created by Jim Gray and Carolyn Peltier (http://quikonnex.com/109).
Here publishers and members of the community can work together. They can share
resources and help each other build their businesses. Quikonnex also offers the
latest in private messaging (QMTP) which virtually eliminates the need for email
to stay in touch with fellow publishers and members.
Quikonnex is a media-rich content
management system that beats any service currently out there. You can use
Quikonnex to publish your ezine even if you don't currently have a website or
tie it in with your site if you do. The Quikonnex Forum contains a wealth of
information. Publishers and members can share tools, ideas, suggestions or tips
that help them in their day to day business - it's all about people helping
people. What a refreshing change.
For those of you who are hesitant
about downloading programs, the creators of Quikonnex built their own
cross-platform, cross- browser reader called QuikView that makes subscribing to
a channel a breeze no matter what browser or operating system you currently use.
If you don't mind downloading a reader, they provide a customized version of the
Awasu reader. And it's all backed up with support.
Don't let the changes taking
place on the internet paralyze you into inaction. And don't be afraid to make a
change that will benefit you as well as your readers. We all have tools that we
use in our daily business. If that tool becomes less effective, it's time to
replace it. Just because you started publishing using email as your method of
delivery doesn't mean you have to keep doing it that way.
I wouldn't be where I am today if
I hadn't met some of the amazing and resourceful people who have become my
mentors and friends. My way of saying 'thank you' to them, is to help others
along the way. Imagine how powerful, how positive our internet experience would
be if we all helped each other succeed.
Lois Jeary publishes KIT (Keeping
In Touch) through her Home4Success channel which features straight forward
articles, helpful hints and suggestions, interaction with subscribers and more.
Join today:
http://home4success.com/go/to.cgi?l=quik Helping you build a successful
home-based business one step at a time. View the Home4Success Channel
here
You can reprint this article (if
not stated otherwise above) on your website or publication with notice
"Reprinted from Zongoo!
Computers".
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