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Answer Upon - How To Evaluate A Website Or Company
The function of Human Resource Management contains a number of activities. The most important among them is to understand your small or home-based business’s recruitment needs. HRM is responsible for deciding that whether to hire freelancers or appoint full-time workforce for the business setup you have. Hiring and training the best workers, making sure that they are high performers, ensure your personal management practices and try to be conventional to various policies are some of the Human Resource Management activities.Mostly commercial or non-commercial small or home-based businesses have to carry out the human resource activities by themselves, as they cannot afford recruiting human resource management at their early stages. Conversely they should make the employee certain about the terms and conditions and the corporate policies of your business. Usually, those rules, regulations and policies are mentioned in the appointment letter provided to them at the time of their hiring. Besides that, do not make the Human Resource Management (HRM) confused with the Human Resource Development (HRD). HRD is a much broader spectrum of which HRM is a part.The functions of HRM can be dealt easily and effectively in a small or home-based business setup by the business owner. Yet, the Human Resource Management functions are different for small, medium or large size entrepreneurs, and it place emphasis on how leadership, organization and devotion played important roles in organizational success.Next to the general management work, HRM practices are the most important activity in small or home-based business ventures. Study shows that smaller firms grow in HRM practices if giving importance to training of its employees and group-based incentives on a basis of total quality management strategy. But the HR practices have generally languished in small or home-based business.In short it is better to say that Human Resource Management (HRM) is a sophisticated means of managing quality workers, benefits and wages within the organization’s budget.
3. After checking the items above I usually look for an “About Page.”
Here again a
Website run by an individual might not have one. However, the best companies,
whether large or small, will almost always have at least one page if not more
devoted to information about the company. Sometimes information about the
company’s management is provided as well.
These pages also go by names such as, “Company info.,” “Our Company,” or just, “Company,” etc.
The About page can often tell you a lot about a company, including how long they claim to have been in business. In general, the longer the better!
4. Does the Website feature any certifications, affiliations, or rankings, backed by
reputable and unbiased 3rd party organizations such as The Better Business Bureau,
Chamber of Commerce, Dun & Bradstreet, TRUSTe, Alexa, DSA (Direct Selling
Association), etc.?
Though none of the above organizations endorse or guarantee companies,
membership in and/or certification by a respected 3rd party organization can go a
long way toward giving you greater peace of mind that a company or individual is
legitimate and trustworthy.
Something that people don’t commonly know about the Better Business Bureau is that they can establish a file and keep records on ANY company or individual whether they are a member or not. The difference is, however, that a company who is not a member has not agreed to the terms of the Better Business Bureau, cannot display their logos, and has no way to really showcase a good record if they have one.
However, even if a company is not listed with the BBB, IF they’ve b
Management is all about being the one who facilitates business or organisational success. Delivering the required results. It can be daunting, yet with these ten simple ideas, it might not be the impossible challenge…Business is complicated. Organisations are horribly complicated. Yet within that there are people who manage, who have ‘cracked the code’ for success. Success for themselves, their people and overall, the organisations they run.So if there are just 10 actions a great manager takes to deliver the excellence way above the rest, what might they be?Here are some ideas. The use and implementation of them is up to you…1.Talk to your peopleTop of the list is always how you relate to your people. Regular, easy-going interactions (we call them conversations and chats), make for relationships that work. Talk to and above all listen to them. And respond to what you hear. You will find great information which will help you develop them for the future.2.Have Clear ExpectationsEvery one of your people is desperate to please and be seen to be doing a great job. To do this you need to ensure that they are all very clear indeed about what you want them to do. Some need more help with this than others.3.Build TrustTrust falls in many ways. Doing what you said you would; treating everyone fairly; being consistent; keeping criticism private; creating confidential time for those who need it; behaving yourself how you expect your people to; being as open as possible; taking personal responsibility for your actions. Invaluable.4.Focus on ValueManagement is about results. So whatever steps or actions you take must always be measured against their contribution to the results you want. If the action is not value creating, then it’s not required. Sometimes you might have to take a risk with an investment, especially in time or people. And that’s OK5.Go Customer Crazy!Whatever you do, you will manage the delivery of products or services. Your customers are your lifeblood. So make it easiest fo
Even if you are looking at a Webpage that is owned by a company, often you will have to go no further in the evaluation process to rule out a particular Website or opportunity. Then, only if the Website passes your tests, do you go on to evaluate the company and opportunity.
Please realize, also, that this article does not really address the issues involved in evaluating the opportunity side of a company, or fully evaluating the company and opportunity combined. On the Homepage of ABCIncome.com appears a 13-point criteria developed out of two decades of experience with evaluating business opportunities. The version on the Homepage is only an overview, but a more complete version of what to look for will appear soon in the form of a new article.
One other point before we really get started, is that this article is not concerned with aesthetic issues. Granted, there are certain, “generally accepted Web design practices,” some of which will be talked about here. However, just because a Website uses a certain type of graphics, or perhaps a wild color scheme (or a boring one), doesn’t mean that it can’t offer good content or opportunities. There are just too many factors having to do with personal preference for these to be considered a major factor for the purpose of this article.
Ok, with that said, here are some of the things that you should be looking for when evaluating a Website or a company:
1. Is the MAIN Website directly accessible via a URL (Web address) that reasonably
makes sense?
Some Websites, most notably those that are questionable, will
occasionally set up even their main URL so that it isn’t very intuitive or accessible for
the general public. For instance, normally a Website name might look something like
this:
www.evaluateawebsite.com
Or www.evaluateawebsite.com/index.htm
Or www.evaluateawebsite.com/main.asp
On the other hand, if something isn’t quite right it might look something like this:
www.evaluateawebsite.com/prelaunch/
Or www.evaluateawebsite.com/comingsoon/
Or www.evaluateawebsite.com/invitationonly/
Let me immediately point out that simply because a URL ends with a name similar to one of the examples above that doesn’t mean that the Website isn’t legitimate. If, for instance, you are reading this article directly on the Website of ABCIncome.com instead of in my email newsletter, then it ends with a name that is tacked onto the main Web address of ABCIncome.com. It’s pretty standard practice in the industry to add forward slashes and additional directories, folders, and/or page names to the right of the main URL.
However, IF you cannot erase those extra characters to the right and directly access the Website with just the portion that ends in .com, or .net, or .biz, or .ws, etc., that may be cause for concern. Many Websites direct visitors to pages that aren’t the main Homepage. However, if you can’t get to the Website’s main Homepage, again, that may be cause for suspicion. Business Websites are all about marketing a product or service, so any normal Website owner would typically want to make sure that their Homepage is accessible to any and all visitors.
2. What kind of contact options are provided? Email, Contact Form, telephone
number, etc.?
If there are no contact options, unless there is a VERY good reason, such as that the
site is undergoing construction or maintenance, consider it to be a big RED Flag!
If the site offers a way for you to purchase something, but there are no contact options (until after purchase, you hope), then absolutely consider it a BIG RED Flag!
In general, the more contact options, the better. I would feel the most comfortable, for instance, dealing with Website where an email address or contact form, and a phone number, and a street address are provided. I would feel least comfortable with a Website where only an email address and nothing else is provided.
Remember also that you can, or should, view Websites owned by individuals slightly differently than Websites owned by a company. Any legitimate, reputable company, for instance, should offer at least some contact information, again, the more the better. However, it is not uncommon for Websites owned and managed by individuals to feature less contact information. Especially if it is owned by a home based business person; he or she might not be comfortable publishing their home street address or phone number on the Web, for instance.
In rare cases with certain types of replicating Websites (where many representatives have the same type of Website) the user may not have the option of providing more contact details. But, again, that’s rare. These days even most Websites aimed at individual users allow the user to add and update their contact information.
Even a P.O. Box is better than no address at all. Here again, whether dealing with a giant company or an individual, it is not uncommon for companies or individuals to use P.O. Boxes to more efficiently handle their mail.
True, some unscrupulous operators hide behind P.O. Boxes. However, they are a much smaller percentage in comparison to legitimate users. The main reason is that, especially after 9/11, in order to apply for and use a P.O. Box or address service the applicant has to provide various kinds of information, including a real street address, and proof of identity, etc.
Some Websites provide only an instant chat username as a means of contact. Here also, usually to be considered a red flag.
Because scam artists know that providing a means of contact considerably increases the credibility of a Website, one of the cleverest tactics to watch out for is a site that provides a “Live Chat” or “Live Support” or “Live Customer Service” option, etc., but it is never really staffed!
The above tactic is often combined with the additional tactic of the site claiming to be located in a part of the World that just happens not to be open for business during regular business hours in busy parts of the World such as the USA and Canada.
I saw that tactic employed by a scam Website claiming to be located in the UK. It offered, “Live Support,” but noted that they operated according to UK time, which, conveniently, meant that by the time that most people in the USA and Canada got out of work and visited their Website, it was too late to make contact due to it being after hours in the UK. In reality, the site’s “Live Support” option was never staffed, but most visitors never caught on due to the cleverness of the scheme.
3. After checking the items above I usually look for an “About Page.”
Here again a
Website run by an individual might not have one. However, the best companies,
whether large or small, will almost always have at least one page if not more
devoted to information about the company. Sometimes information about the
company’s management is provided as well.
These pages also go by names such as, “Company info.,” “Our Company,” or just, “Company,” etc.
The About page can often tell you a lot about a company, including how long they claim to have been in business. In general, the longer the better!
4. Does the Website feature any certifications, affiliations, or rankings, backed by
reputable and unbiased 3rd party organizations such as The Better Business Bureau,
Chamber of Commerce, Dun & Bradstreet, TRUSTe, Alexa, DSA (Direct Selling
Association), etc.?
Though none of the above organizations endorse or guarantee companies,
membership in and/or certification by a respected 3rd party organization can go a
long way toward giving you greater peace of mind that a company or individual is
legitimate and trustworthy.
Something that people don’t commonly know about the Better Business Bureau is that they can establish a file and keep records on ANY company or individual whether they are a member or not. The difference is, however, that a company who is not a member has not agreed to the terms of the Better Business Bureau, cannot display their logos, and has no way to really showcase a good record if they have one.
However, even if a company is not listed with the BBB, IF they’ve be
Many years ago when I was just starting my first business, a very good friend said to me "If you can't go out and promote what you're offering, go get a real job with a paycheck at the end of the month, because you won't make it on your own."Blunt, eh?At the time I was mortally offended at his attitude. But over the years I've eaten many slices of humble pie in front of him because I realized he was right all along. While I was blinded by the exhilaration and excitement of doing something I loved, I wasn't so keen to look at the realities of what it takes to run a successful business.I've learned a lot since then those heady days. One of the things I learned is that business activities fall into 3 categories.1. Marketing and selling your product or service 2. Delivering your product or service 3. Administrative tasksI deliberately put marketing and selling in the first place because if you don't market and sell successfully you won't have any clients to deliver to and you certainly won't need to do any admin.Many entrepreneurs don't like to hear this. Like myself many of us go into business so that we can do what we love. We focus on building the skills our professions require. Taking more classes. Attending yet another seminar. Reading more books. Catching up on the latest methodologies. The education is never-ending because there's always something new and exciting to learn.But when it comes to getting the word out, we stumble.For me the big breakthrough came when I stopped thinking of myself as a writer, consultant or coach and I started seeing myself as a marketer whose top priority was marketing my business.And the most surprising part of this? My shift in mindset has not affected the quality of work I turn out for my clients! It did however mean overcoming some negative emotions around marketing and selling.Admin tasks can be delegated. And unless you're offering something highly specialized that only you can do, delivering your service or product can often be hired out as well.But if you're the kind of person who can generate tons of leads, persuade someone to cal
1. Is the MAIN Website directly accessible via a URL (Web address) that reasonably
makes sense?
Some Websites, most notably those that are questionable, will
occasionally set up even their main URL so that it isn’t very intuitive or accessible for
the general public. For instance, normally a Website name might look something like
this:
www.evaluateawebsite.com
Or www.evaluateawebsite.com/index.htm
Or www.evaluateawebsite.com/main.asp
On the other hand, if something isn’t quite right it might look something like this:
www.evaluateawebsite.com/prelaunch/
Or www.evaluateawebsite.com/comingsoon/
Or www.evaluateawebsite.com/invitationonly/
Let me immediately point out that simply because a URL ends with a name similar to one of the examples above that doesn’t mean that the Website isn’t legitimate. If, for instance, you are reading this article directly on the Website of ABCIncome.com instead of in my email newsletter, then it ends with a name that is tacked onto the main Web address of ABCIncome.com. It’s pretty standard practice in the industry to add forward slashes and additional directories, folders, and/or page names to the right of the main URL.
However, IF you cannot erase those extra characters to the right and directly access the Website with just the portion that ends in .com, or .net, or .biz, or .ws, etc., that may be cause for concern. Many Websites direct visitors to pages that aren’t the main Homepage. However, if you can’t get to the Website’s main Homepage, again, that may be cause for suspicion. Business Websites are all about marketing a product or service, so any normal Website owner would typically want to make sure that their Homepage is accessible to any and all visitors.
2. What kind of contact options are provided? Email, Contact Form, telephone
number, etc.?
If there are no contact options, unless there is a VERY good reason, such as that the
site is undergoing construction or maintenance, consider it to be a big RED Flag!
If the site offers a way for you to purchase something, but there are no contact options (until after purchase, you hope), then absolutely consider it a BIG RED Flag!
In general, the more contact options, the better. I would feel the most comfortable, for instance, dealing with Website where an email address or contact form, and a phone number, and a street address are provided. I would feel least comfortable with a Website where only an email address and nothing else is provided.
Remember also that you can, or should, view Websites owned by individuals slightly differently than Websites owned by a company. Any legitimate, reputable company, for instance, should offer at least some contact information, again, the more the better. However, it is not uncommon for Websites owned and managed by individuals to feature less contact information. Especially if it is owned by a home based business person; he or she might not be comfortable publishing their home street address or phone number on the Web, for instance.
In rare cases with certain types of replicating Websites (where many representatives have the same type of Website) the user may not have the option of providing more contact details. But, again, that’s rare. These days even most Websites aimed at individual users allow the user to add and update their contact information.
Even a P.O. Box is better than no address at all. Here again, whether dealing with a giant company or an individual, it is not uncommon for companies or individuals to use P.O. Boxes to more efficiently handle their mail.
True, some unscrupulous operators hide behind P.O. Boxes. However, they are a much smaller percentage in comparison to legitimate users. The main reason is that, especially after 9/11, in order to apply for and use a P.O. Box or address service the applicant has to provide various kinds of information, including a real street address, and proof of identity, etc.
Some Websites provide only an instant chat username as a means of contact. Here also, usually to be considered a red flag.
Because scam artists know that providing a means of contact considerably increases the credibility of a Website, one of the cleverest tactics to watch out for is a site that provides a “Live Chat” or “Live Support” or “Live Customer Service” option, etc., but it is never really staffed!
The above tactic is often combined with the additional tactic of the site claiming to be located in a part of the World that just happens not to be open for business during regular business hours in busy parts of the World such as the USA and Canada.
I saw that tactic employed by a scam Website claiming to be located in the UK. It offered, “Live Support,” but noted that they operated according to UK time, which, conveniently, meant that by the time that most people in the USA and Canada got out of work and visited their Website, it was too late to make contact due to it being after hours in the UK. In reality, the site’s “Live Support” option was never staffed, but most visitors never caught on due to the cleverness of the scheme.
3. After checking the items above I usually look for an “About Page.”
Here again a
Website run by an individual might not have one. However, the best companies,
whether large or small, will almost always have at least one page if not more
devoted to information about the company. Sometimes information about the
company’s management is provided as well.
These pages also go by names such as, “Company info.,” “Our Company,” or just, “Company,” etc.
The About page can often tell you a lot about a company, including how long they claim to have been in business. In general, the longer the better!
4. Does the Website feature any certifications, affiliations, or rankings, backed by
reputable and unbiased 3rd party organizations such as The Better Business Bureau,
Chamber of Commerce, Dun & Bradstreet, TRUSTe, Alexa, DSA (Direct Selling
Association), etc.?
Though none of the above organizations endorse or guarantee companies,
membership in and/or certification by a respected 3rd party organization can go a
long way toward giving you greater peace of mind that a company or individual is
legitimate and trustworthy.
Something that people don’t commonly know about the Better Business Bureau is that they can establish a file and keep records on ANY company or individual whether they are a member or not. The difference is, however, that a company who is not a member has not agreed to the terms of the Better Business Bureau, cannot display their logos, and has no way to really showcase a good record if they have one.
However, even if a company is not listed with the BBB, IF they’ve b
Before the Job Fair:Find out what businesses will be there. The more information you can gather beforehand, the more successful the job fair is going to be for you. Find out what businesses are going to be at the job fair, and spend some time doing some research about them. What types of jobs do they have? What kind of people are they looking for? What kinds of skills do these people need to have? Shortlist the organisations you want to talk with.Decide on your objective. Are you going with a specific aim or just to mooch around? Once you are clear on why you are going it will help with preparation, both mentally and how you present yourself.Develop some questions you'd like to ask employers. Narrow down your list of businesses to include those who have jobs you are interested in, or are businesses you think you might like to work for. Then list some questions you would like to ask the company representative at the job fair.Proofread your CV - at least twice. If you don't already have one, it is a good idea to put a CV together for a job fair. It gives employers a blueprint of your skills and something tangible to remember you by. Be sure to proof read your CV before the job fair to find any spelling or grammatical mistakes. Even if you think there are no errors, have someone else look it over too. Don't let errors overshadow your qualifications for a job! Take several professional quality copies with you.Be sure your CV contains your updated contact information. You'll want employers to be able to reach you if necessary. Double check that your address, phone number, and e-mail address is current.At the Job Fair:Dress the part. As with a job interview, first impressions at a job fair are important. How you represent yourself sends an immediate message to employers about how serious you are in your job search. It isn't always necessary to wear a suit to a job fair - unless you are looking for a job that would require you to dress professionally at work. However, you should leave the jeans and t-s
2. What kind of contact options are provided? Email, Contact Form, telephone
number, etc.?
If there are no contact options, unless there is a VERY good reason, such as that the
site is undergoing construction or maintenance, consider it to be a big RED Flag!
If the site offers a way for you to purchase something, but there are no contact options (until after purchase, you hope), then absolutely consider it a BIG RED Flag!
In general, the more contact options, the better. I would feel the most comfortable, for instance, dealing with Website where an email address or contact form, and a phone number, and a street address are provided. I would feel least comfortable with a Website where only an email address and nothing else is provided.
Remember also that you can, or should, view Websites owned by individuals slightly differently than Websites owned by a company. Any legitimate, reputable company, for instance, should offer at least some contact information, again, the more the better. However, it is not uncommon for Websites owned and managed by individuals to feature less contact information. Especially if it is owned by a home based business person; he or she might not be comfortable publishing their home street address or phone number on the Web, for instance.
In rare cases with certain types of replicating Websites (where many representatives have the same type of Website) the user may not have the option of providing more contact details. But, again, that’s rare. These days even most Websites aimed at individual users allow the user to add and update their contact information.
Even a P.O. Box is better than no address at all. Here again, whether dealing with a giant company or an individual, it is not uncommon for companies or individuals to use P.O. Boxes to more efficiently handle their mail.
True, some unscrupulous operators hide behind P.O. Boxes. However, they are a much smaller percentage in comparison to legitimate users. The main reason is that, especially after 9/11, in order to apply for and use a P.O. Box or address service the applicant has to provide various kinds of information, including a real street address, and proof of identity, etc.
Some Websites provide only an instant chat username as a means of contact. Here also, usually to be considered a red flag.
Because scam artists know that providing a means of contact considerably increases the credibility of a Website, one of the cleverest tactics to watch out for is a site that provides a “Live Chat” or “Live Support” or “Live Customer Service” option, etc., but it is never really staffed!
The above tactic is often combined with the additional tactic of the site claiming to be located in a part of the World that just happens not to be open for business during regular business hours in busy parts of the World such as the USA and Canada.
I saw that tactic employed by a scam Website claiming to be located in the UK. It offered, “Live Support,” but noted that they operated according to UK time, which, conveniently, meant that by the time that most people in the USA and Canada got out of work and visited their Website, it was too late to make contact due to it being after hours in the UK. In reality, the site’s “Live Support” option was never staffed, but most visitors never caught on due to the cleverness of the scheme.
3. After checking the items above I usually look for an “About Page.”
Here again a
Website run by an individual might not have one. However, the best companies,
whether large or small, will almost always have at least one page if not more
devoted to information about the company. Sometimes information about the
company’s management is provided as well.
These pages also go by names such as, “Company info.,” “Our Company,” or just, “Company,” etc.
The About page can often tell you a lot about a company, including how long they claim to have been in business. In general, the longer the better!
4. Does the Website feature any certifications, affiliations, or rankings, backed by
reputable and unbiased 3rd party organizations such as The Better Business Bureau,
Chamber of Commerce, Dun & Bradstreet, TRUSTe, Alexa, DSA (Direct Selling
Association), etc.?
Though none of the above organizations endorse or guarantee companies,
membership in and/or certification by a respected 3rd party organization can go a
long way toward giving you greater peace of mind that a company or individual is
legitimate and trustworthy.
Something that people don’t commonly know about the Better Business Bureau is that they can establish a file and keep records on ANY company or individual whether they are a member or not. The difference is, however, that a company who is not a member has not agreed to the terms of the Better Business Bureau, cannot display their logos, and has no way to really showcase a good record if they have one.
However, even if a company is not listed with the BBB, IF they’ve b
In a previous article (How One Builder "Made the Most Money I've Ever Made") I wrote how a builder dealt with his resistance to raising prices and properly charging for all the work he performed to create his most financially successful year ever.The one of the greatest points to that article is those changes came at little-or-no cost to him, neither in time or money. Virtually all the increased revenue from implementing those strategies will translate directly into profits for that builder!Along the same lines, here are two other simple, low-cost profit building strategies that won't add to the wrong side of your income statement.Strategy #1 -- Your Choice: Compete with Everybody, or Just a Few...or NobodyGo to your local association, or the yellow pages, or wherever you can find a list of builders and renovators in your area. That is your competition.Now...you can either compete with all of them...or some of them...or none of them.How?Does MacDonald's compete with Ruth's Chris Steak House? Does Volvo compete with Hyundai?The answer is yes and no...but more no than yes.Each of those two examples compete in the same marketplace (food; transportation)...but that's where it ends. Not only have they differentiated on quality, but also on their targeted clientele within that market.So...what about you? Do you want to compete with all the other builders...or just some of them (or none)?If you want to reduce your competition (and, heaven knows, it's ballooned in the past years), stop getting lumped into the entire "builder / renovator" category -- focus on a target market(s) and let them know you're the expert for that market's particular needs.Chances are, you already have a target / niche market...you're just not taking full advantage of it. Who are the people you like working with? What kind of projects do you enjoy the most? Where are your company's specific strengths? Energy-efficiency? Big use of small spaces? Vacation areas? Accessible homes / renovations for people with can't get around easily?<
Even a P.O. Box is better than no address at all. Here again, whether dealing with a giant company or an individual, it is not uncommon for companies or individuals to use P.O. Boxes to more efficiently handle their mail.
True, some unscrupulous operators hide behind P.O. Boxes. However, they are a much smaller percentage in comparison to legitimate users. The main reason is that, especially after 9/11, in order to apply for and use a P.O. Box or address service the applicant has to provide various kinds of information, including a real street address, and proof of identity, etc.
Some Websites provide only an instant chat username as a means of contact. Here also, usually to be considered a red flag.
Because scam artists know that providing a means of contact considerably increases the credibility of a Website, one of the cleverest tactics to watch out for is a site that provides a “Live Chat” or “Live Support” or “Live Customer Service” option, etc., but it is never really staffed!
The above tactic is often combined with the additional tactic of the site claiming to be located in a part of the World that just happens not to be open for business during regular business hours in busy parts of the World such as the USA and Canada.
I saw that tactic employed by a scam Website claiming to be located in the UK. It offered, “Live Support,” but noted that they operated according to UK time, which, conveniently, meant that by the time that most people in the USA and Canada got out of work and visited their Website, it was too late to make contact due to it being after hours in the UK. In reality, the site’s “Live Support” option was never staffed, but most visitors never caught on due to the cleverness of the scheme.
3. After checking the items above I usually look for an “About Page.”
Here again a
Website run by an individual might not have one. However, the best companies,
whether large or small, will almost always have at least one page if not more
devoted to information about the company. Sometimes information about the
company’s management is provided as well.
These pages also go by names such as, “Company info.,” “Our Company,” or just, “Company,” etc.
The About page can often tell you a lot about a company, including how long they claim to have been in business. In general, the longer the better!
4. Does the Website feature any certifications, affiliations, or rankings, backed by
reputable and unbiased 3rd party organizations such as The Better Business Bureau,
Chamber of Commerce, Dun & Bradstreet, TRUSTe, Alexa, DSA (Direct Selling
Association), etc.?
Though none of the above organizations endorse or guarantee companies,
membership in and/or certification by a respected 3rd party organization can go a
long way toward giving you greater peace of mind that a company or individual is
legitimate and trustworthy.
Something that people don’t commonly know about the Better Business Bureau is that they can establish a file and keep records on ANY company or individual whether they are a member or not. The difference is, however, that a company who is not a member has not agreed to the terms of the Better Business Bureau, cannot display their logos, and has no way to really showcase a good record if they have one.
However, even if a company is not listed with the BBB, IF they’ve b
How do we build a business? This is the ultimate question. Our quest to grow our company into our vision is something we all strive for. But how do we do this? How do we market ourselves in order to build awareness and attract our ideal clients? Some of life’s greatest questions have the simplest answers. I will attempt to offer my philosophy as to one of business’s greatest questions.I’ve titled this article: The Orchid Principle. Have you or someone you know love Orchids? Orchids need an incredible amount of tender loving care. They need to be fed, watered, and even placed next to a compatible fellow orchid in order to prosper and grow. You may wonder, is all this worth it? Well, yes! Orchids, when they are properly cared for will bloom continuously for over a year! This is a major payoff. You may be asking yourself, this is interesting, but what does it have to do with building a business?In my course, The Designer’s Coach I describe 6 Fatal Flaws of a design business.1) No Strategic Vision2) Uncooperative Teamwork3) Haphazard Marketing4) Amateur Selling5) Faulty Client Fulfillment6) Poor Negotiation SkillsEach one of these flaws can be overcome by understanding The Orchid Principle. Let’s look at each flaw, and see if we can relate the growing of orchids to the growing of our business.No Strategic VisionDoes your business operate without a vision of where you want to be in 5 years? Do you function day to day by making decisions that have no strategic basis? As the leader, you need to lead with a plan.Let’s look at our orchid garden. Your goal in 5 years is to have the most beautiful collection of orchids. You can close your eyes and see the orchids with their fabulous intricate design and intense color. You have hundreds of them. Your greenhouse is a festival of amazing orchids.Now, close your eyes and imagine your business 5 years from now. Is it the orchid garden in your dreams? Can you see your ideal business? Like an orchid, can you see the shape of it, the textures, and the colors? Who is your ideal client? How will you reach out and find her?Uncooper
3. After checking the items above I usually look for an “About Page.”
Here again a
Website run by an individual might not have one. However, the best companies,
whether large or small, will almost always have at least one page if not more
devoted to information about the company. Sometimes information about the
company’s management is provided as well.
These pages also go by names such as, “Company info.,” “Our Company,” or just, “Company,” etc.
The About page can often tell you a lot about a company, including how long they claim to have been in business. In general, the longer the better!
4. Does the Website feature any certifications, affiliations, or rankings, backed by
reputable and unbiased 3rd party organizations such as The Better Business Bureau,
Chamber of Commerce, Dun & Bradstreet, TRUSTe, Alexa, DSA (Direct Selling
Association), etc.?
Though none of the above organizations endorse or guarantee companies,
membership in and/or certification by a respected 3rd party organization can go a
long way toward giving you greater peace of mind that a company or individual is
legitimate and trustworthy.
Something that people don’t commonly know about the Better Business Bureau is that they can establish a file and keep records on ANY company or individual whether they are a member or not. The difference is, however, that a company who is not a member has not agreed to the terms of the Better Business Bureau, cannot display their logos, and has no way to really showcase a good record if they have one.
However, even if a company is not listed with the BBB, IF they’ve been around for a while and you can verify that fact, at least the BBB may have on file any negative complaints that have been filed.
I must stress, however, this really applies only if the company that you are doing business with has been around for a considerable length of time, and you can verify it. That’s because a common tactic of scam artists is to start a new company, take people’s money, and then simply close their doors, start another new company, and repeat the process all over again. Thus, if they are not a BBB member, they may very well have taken advantage of many unsuspecting victims, but simply haven’t been around long enough for complaints to have reached the BBB yet. That’s why it is a requirement that when a business or individual applies for membership they must have been in business for at least 6 months to a year, and, further, the BBB goes as far back as 3 years in their files to see if there have been any past complaints before granting membership.
Unscrupulous companies that try to evade detection by closing their doors and then opening up again under a new name are often detected in the BBB’s database. So, if you know that a company previously operated under a different name it would be a good idea to check to see if any complaints were filed against the company under its previous name(s).
5. WHOIS and Alexa are tools that you can use in combination to further develop a
profile and picture of what a Website is all about.
Alexa ( http://www.alexa.com/ ) allows you to track various data about a Website’s
activity, perhaps how long the site has been around, and maybe who owns it.
Alexa can be a great tool, but you have to be very careful if you aren’t familiar with what all of the various pieces of information mean. For instance, just because a Website has a high Alexa rating doesn’t mean it’s credible.
There are enough people who love money enough to jump onboard any scheme or scam even if it seems too good to be true that unscrupulous Websites have often been able to achieve high Alexa ratings. The thing to watch for is most of the traffic being generated by the people who are jumping onboard the scheme and advertising the site, as opposed to the Website climbing up in the rankings on its own merits.
Again, it may take you a while before you are able to interpret and read the data to be able to discern such things. However, one potential clue that “might” be a tip off is when you see a Website appear out of the blue and all of a sudden it has a high Alexa rating. Maybe it’s ranked at #77,000, for instance, but it’s only been on the charts for a few weeks or months. Not always, but, especially if you are utilizing the other methods discussed here, you may be able to determine that such a brief and rapid change in ranking is a red flag for that particular Website.
You also have to realize that Websites and the companies and individuals behind them are separate entities. For instance, Sears Roebuck had obviously already been around a long, long time before they ever had a Website. And even companies or individuals that have a Website sometimes add new ones, etc. So, if a company or individual says they’ve been around for a while, but their Website hasn’t been around as long, that isn’t necessarily a red flag as long as you can verify the information.
As for WHOIS, there are numerous WHOIS servers that you can use. Many in fact. However, three of the best known and most popular are:
InterNIC http://www.internic.net/
VeriSign http://registrar.verisign-grs.com/whois/
and Network Solutions http://www.networksolutions.com/en_US/whois/
WHOIS is a special database that lets you find out about a Website by typing in the domain name (the Website address). Among the things that you may be able to find out are out how long the Website has been around, who owns it, and where that company or individual is actually located.
Earlier I mentioned a scam Website that claimed to be in the UK. Well, using the same kinds of methods that I’m telling you about here I quickly found all kinds of red flags. One of the biggest was that when I ran a WHOIS query the result came back that the site owners were not really in the UK as they claimed to be, but were actually registered on the offshore island of Belize, a common tactic of, and a HUGE red flag characteristic of scam operations.
Another thing to watch for are private registrations by companies or individuals who are obviously advertising as doing business with the public. Private registrations are those where the real identity of the Website’s owner is not revealed. That’s fine if someone just wants privacy. However, companies doing business with the public are by their very nature doing business with the public! Therefore, it really makes no sense, in most cases, for someone to file a private registration. It can be a red flag that makes one wonder, who really owns this Website, and why don’t they show themselves?
6. Dun & Bradstreet and similar business intelligence and credit reporting agencies,
most notably Hoovers, are also excellent options if you really want to find out more
about a company.
From Microsoft to Motorola, Dun & Bradstreet (also known as
D&B) is THE industry’s most respected credit reporting and business intelligence
source for that kind of information.
Unlike most of the other resources mentioned in this article, D&B primarily focuses on large companies like the Fortune 500, or larger “small” businesses. So, many, if not most individuals and small businesses will not be listed. Additionally, these services require a fee, which can be substantial in order for you to pull a report on a company, unless you have a subscription, which also involves a fair amount of cost. You can, however, run limited queries at no cost that may be helpful to you.
7. One last point to consider is one that most people never give much thought to
when evaluating a Website or a company, and that is the payment methods they
accept.
Limited payment method acceptance (the inability to accept online payment) may be
a red flag when dealing with all but the smallest companies or individuals.
The bottom line is that the more payment methods a site is able to offer the greater the convenience for the customer, which equates to more sales. Therefore, no established company would want to be without the ability to accept multiple forms of payment, unless, of course, something is wrong.
This article is already lengthy, and space simply does not permit going into detail about the different types of payment processors. However, in general, a Website that accepts payment via a secure merchant shopping cart of its own has probably passed the most rigorous application, credit check, and background verification process. With a third party proc
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