Here is the status of my complaint with StomperNet for producing a product full of factual errors.

1: Stompernet has NOT responded to my email

2: I have since found additional factual errors

3: I have discovered that StomperNet is rated “F” with the Better Business Bureau.

4: I have filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, though I doubt it will do any good.

This past week I had the privlage of attending an entrepreneures meet up at the home of 23 year old multi-millionare Ryan Allis’ home. Ryan Allis is the owner of multiple internet companys. Most well known is icontact.com. There were some great new sites to consider for hot new web 2.0. First off was BookMesh, a site that is in invatation only phase for networking based on books. You like certin books it links you up with other users and has recomendations on books that you like based on other users. The second company which I realy like is ShoeBoxed.com, a very cool service that allows you to enter a shoe boxed email so that you dont have to worry about getting spammed. The shoeboxed account also keeps all your recepts in a well formatted interface so you can look back for historical purposes. I have already registered and look forward to using it for business purposes. Please check these hot new web 2.0 sites and let me know what you think!

If there is one thing you don’t want to waste in this life, it is time. In the workd of internet business, time is more important than ever – it’s too easy to spend your time doing “stuff”, and not get the important stuff done. Here are two tools from Google that you can use to organize your business and save time.

Google Calendar

The Google Calendar is perfect for keeping track of many things – not just meetings or appointments. I use Google Calendar to remind me of anything that needs to be done, including:

• Sending reports to clients
• Webserver maintenance
• Weekly marketing tasks
• Blog posting
• Sending invoices
• Completing projects
• Ordering products

Just go to Google Calendar, login, and click Create Event.

Gmail

I’ve always used Gmail as my primary email, and have been impressed by the accuracy of Google’s spam filtering technologies. Just recently, I started using the Gmail interface to check and manage all my email accounts. Ah, what a wonderful thing it is to not have to sort through umpteen spam email each day!

If you don’t already have a Gmail account, just comment here and I’ll send you an invite.

If you already have a Gmail account, just go to Settings > Accounts to add your other email accounts. You can then read all your email in your Gmail account, and Google’s spam filtering will filter out the spam emails.

“Lost wealth may be replaced by industry, lost knowledge by study, lost health by temperance or medicine, but lost time is gone forever.” ~Samuel Smiles

What up ePeople? I’m a little late on my thursday post. I apologize for slackin’ on my pimpin’. Anyhow…I want to talk to you about Risking Big. Or rather taking calculated risks. We all take risks every day. For most of us our biggest risk is getting into our car to drive to our destinations. But health risks isn’t what I’m talking about. When were young were more likely to risk more. Thats why our insurance costs more generally. We also as young men and women have a tolerance for more error. What’s the worst that can happen? They give us a bad credit score? Trust me, I have trashed my credit and brought it back relatively quickly to put my self in a position to win. Plus with a good idea and plan people will still back you with the right situation.
Don’t worry about what “they” say. I have been in many closed door meetings with big law firms and banks to discuss ideas that i have and also to brain storm. You will be surprised at the constructive feed back you can get from a large law firm or bank. It’s there job to entertain and consider business opportunities with clients and potential clients on behalf of the firm or banking institution. Plus most of the people you talk to will enjoy hearing and sharing ideas to help you. That is as long as your not in there every week with a new scheme.
There’s a great book called “Believe and Achieve” 17 principles from W. Clement Stone. W. Clement Stone was a “baller” in the insurance Field way back when. One of his main quotes was “do it now” I love that quote! when ever i have an idea or a hesitation about an idea i say to my self “do it now”. I believe Hesitation is one of the biggest idea/dream killers that live. If you have an idea or a dream go after it NOW. Don’t wait. Some things may take time but pursue them now!

That question really sums up your entire business nicely. I read a good post called Differentiate or Die that touched on this issue, and it has set me to thinking.

To put it another way, if a customer said “John, I’m considering buying this product from you and from yourcompetitor.com. Why should I buy it from you?” What would answer the customer? Do you have compelling reason? If not, you need one (or more) – NOW!

Here are some benefits you can offer your website visitors to differentiate yourself from your competitors. This is by no means an exhaustive list – if you can come up with unique benefit you can offer your customers, you are on your way to success.

The bottom line is that if you want to get customers, you MUST offer them something that your competitor(s) don’t or can’t. In some cases, you may be selling the exact same product, so it’s even harder to differentiate yourself. But it’s still very important!

What ways do you differentiate yourself from your competitors?