One American Writer

May I Please Use You to Make Money?

Because every business needs a Web site*, I highly recommend that every reader subscribe to Website Magazine (WebsiteMagazine.com...No, there is no affiliate relationship there...but if one is available, I will pursue it).  

And, since your presence on the Web is so vital, and this magazine provides such excellent content, I don't mind quoting two articles in the May 2010 issue to make my point.

In Editor-in-Chief Peter Prestipino's "Web Commentary" article, "Is Your Website a House of Cards?" (page 48) he asks, "Is your entire business model reliant on the performance of another?  If yes, you have a significant problem on your hands."

He could have pointed directly to the folks who just lost all of their income streams when Apple (Apple.com) decided to play nice (thank you, Apple -- could you please influence Microsoft to have high standards, too?) and block smutty applications from the iPhone.

That article (page 8), "Apple Tightens the Reins on App Developers," reports the company banned thousands of applications "deemed to have adult-themed content."

My husband wants to build a big playground in our backyard -- big enough for grown-ups.  But when he calls it an "adult playground" I tell him our friends will picture scantily-clad women swinging on the swing set.  The word "adult" has been high-jacked.  We need to call it a grownup playground.

I hope, as you proceed in your own business start-up, that you will be a grownup and stay away from "adult-themed" ways to make a living.  Do something you can be proud of, and make sure you don't rely exclusively on another company's technology or permission.

Thank you, from the bottom of my born-in-New-England (don't call me a prude) heart.

* You see "Web site" and "website" in this post because "Web" should properly be capitalized, and "Web site" should properly be two words, but many leading industry publications use "website," so you see that term quoted.

Get Fooled and Pay $100 per Month

This gives American business a bad name.  This gives capitalism a bad name.  Those of you starting a business might be tempted to make profit using unethical tactics like this.  Don't do it.  

I searched for a recipe and saw this ad:

The ad instructs the reader to enter his or her phone number to get access to the recipe and other wonderful recipes...thousands, in fact.  

The unsuspecting consumer might think, "OK, I'll enter my phone number.  If they call me, I'll just say no to whatever they're selling."

In very small print, barely legible on the bottom of the ad, if you look very closely and squint, you will read this: "Yes, give me the receips. (sic) I accept offer for 9.99 monthly for Unlimited Access to Easy Meal Ideas and Recipe Website."

Many folks don't know that the monthly recurring charge is made to and through their phone bills, so they feel safe providing their phone numbers.

Given the misspelling, I take it back, America.  This is probably an ad for a company where English is not the native language.  But the face-cream ad I almost fell for (send for your free full-size sample and pay only $2 shipping and handling) might have been American.  I saw the small print just in time.  If I didn't like the product I could return it to stop further automatic shipments costing about $100/month.

I know there are households where that automatically deducted hundred bucks is going to really hurt the grocery or rent budget, and it makes me angry that companies are allowed to perpetrate this on the public.

Come on, America.  It may be legal, but can we please have higher standards and enforce some ethics, too?  Come on Yahoo! and Google and other search engines that accept these ads.  Grow up.  Be responsible and do what you know is right.

And you, new business owner, please please don't stoop to hurting your customers.  Don't try to fool us, OK?

Thank you.