My 2¢ Worth

inally, I get to bring you the interview with Phillip Fuller that I promised. His son, Charles got out of the hospital on the 23^rd of September and has recovered from the worst of his injuries.

 had Phil digging around at the last minute trying to come up with a photo suitable for publication. he claims he doesn't have one.

s for me, while I don't consider it likely, I believe it is possible that Phil is even uglier than myself and is too ashamed to show his face to you all. Sorry Phil! I just couldn't resist.

joy the interview folks!

Feature Article

Special Interview

with Phillip Fuller Web Profits 4 U

Phillip has been married to his wife Marcia for 13 years. He has two sons, Charles, age 22 and Gabi adopted from Timisoara, Romania in September of 2000. Gabi just recently celebrated his sixth birthday.

Phil works in the 'Brick And Mortar' world by driving an 18 wheeler locally. "I'm home every night and weekend ... thank goodness. While I am earning extra income on the net, I'd like to be able to replace my current employment income with online income. I enjoy driving, yet I realize I can't do it forever "

Some of his interests include: playing chess, fishing, going tent camping, and ezine publishing.

Web Sm@rts: Thanks for agreeing to this interview Phil.

Phillip: My pleasure, Ed.

Web Sm@rts: How did you decide that you wanted to start your own Internet business?

Phillip: I had always heard the Internet was THE ticket to presenting your opportunity to the masses.

Web Sm@rts: What products /services did you want to sell?

Phillip: I have tried a wide variety of affiliate and MLM programs, without much success. Both the Internet and MLM seem to lack TRULY duplicative systems. Most seem to require duplicating personalities, which is impossible.

When I first started, I just wanted to earn a small income and work my way up to a large income. Regardless of what the ads and websites say, there is WORK involved to achieve success. There is no true " Let us do the work for you " programs or products.

Web Sm@rts: How much money did you begin with?

Phillip: I didn't really set out with a specific budget. I don't believe the Internet is a one way street. I want to do business with others that share common goals and ideals. I currently use one of my accounts as 'cash flow'. What income I earn, I use to offset expenses or invest in advertising.

Web Sm@rts: Do you believe that there is still a way to start without NO money?

Phillip: Yes, you can START without money, but it WON'T be easy. You can start out 'free', but to be taken seriously, you'll need some money to invest at a future date. ALWAYS investigate any programs or products BEFORE investment. Be persistent AND consistent. Don't give up after one or two tries with 'free' promotion methods.

Web Sm@rts: How long did it take your Web site to start making a profit?

Phillip: I first started out with a 'build it yourself' type website. While I did earn a little income and could actually do a TINY bit of html, I like the website that you and I created together. Nothing against the first one really, but being limited to 4000 characters per page is NOT a benefit.

Your design and ideas are MUCH better ... you came up with an ad submission form right on the web page ... This makes it easier for me and makes the ad investor feel more at ease when investing in advertising. I have made more sales when we were able to incorporate the ad submission form and the payment page to work seamlessly.

Web Sm@rts: What do you think about E-zines as a way of making profits?

Phillip: I've been reasonably successful at selling ad space. I enjoy helping others promote THEIR programs by selling ad space via my ezine. Ezine publishing IS hard work. I've honestly made more consistent income through selling ad space than through affiliate programs.

Web Sm@rts: Some people just don't have enough funds to promote their business... What would you recommend them to do? How can they promote?

Phillip: Flat out, they HAVE to advertise. There are many different forms of advertising. PPC search engines, ezine advertising, and classified sites. I'll address the area I feel I know best... ezine advertising.

First, if funds are limited, you MUST separate YOUR ad from the ad everyone else is using. Some affiliate programs and ebook programs have pre-written ads. That's ok IF the program is new. However, if it's a popular program or ebook, it won't take long before the market is saturated with the SAME ad. MAKE the extra investment to have your ad 'flashed' ( flashyads.com ).

I also have some "Power Punch Phrases" I like to use and can share with others, upon request. phillip@ebizprofits4u.com

Web Sm@rts: You also work a regular 9 to 5 job in addition to your online activities. How do you find enough time to actively promote your business? How do you balance the demands of a job and online business with the demands of family?

Phillip: Yes, I have a full time job. My hours vary a bit from day to day. I work my Internet business during the times my job is a little slow. Finding the time to promote can be challenging ... distractions seem to be a nemesis of mine. I choose to make time for my son ... I wait until he goes to bed to work on my ezine and promotions.

I actually find myself able to relax from my day job by working online.

Web Sm@rts: When did you start using the Internet regularly and why?

Phillip: I first was on the Internet about 4 to 5 years ago. It was a bit like being a kid in the candy store. I was in 'shock and awe' at all the seemingly promising looking products and programs. I learned through the 'Internet School Of Hard Knocks" mostly.

With more experience under my belt, I now know to ask other trusted contacts in the Internet community BEFORE I leap into action. I've been fortunate with the AdMistress Circle of Ezines, the support they offer, and the wide range of experienced publishers & marketers, to ask for input when needed.

Web Sm@rts: Which Web sites do you visit most regularly?

Phillip: Hmmm .. what a GREAT question ! My favorite is Michael Green's "How-To" forum. You can get honest feedback from a wide variety of sources. From webmaster 'Techie' questions to 'Newbie' questions.
www.howtocorp.com/forum/

Web Sm@rts: How have the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rules affected your business?

Phillip: It has hurt my advertising business. While the FTC rules are fairly easy to understand and follow, a good many advertisers still seem uninformed, or plain just don't care. I've had to turn down advertising sales because the ad content didn't meet the guidelines.

The biggest 'culprit' seems to be advertisers from the ad co-ops ... if the ads don't meet the guidelines, I don't publish the ad or ad the subscriber.

It's really a good thing ... it will eventually rid the net of scammers. I'm willing to help my paid advertisers meet the FTC guidelines ... the advertisers should be willing to learn ... and cooperate.

Truth in advertising ... it should have started on the Net a whole lot sooner. Newbies may have less of a chance of being taken ... BUT, they still need to do their own investigation ... They also need to take PERSONAL responsibility. There's NO guarantee someone won't get burned ... even with the FTC guidelines. Investigation is key ... Learn to build a network of trusted contacts in the Internet community.

Web Sm@rts: Do you use affiliate programs to sell other people's products? If "NO" have you ever used to do this? If somebody sells his own product - is it a good idea to sell other products (to use affiliate programs) as well?

Phillip: Yes, I belong to many affiliate programs.

A.) It seems that most affiliate programs have a short life span ... what's 'hot' this month may be in the deep freeze the next month. While I have sold 'one time' affiliate products, I look more earnestly for 'membership' (residual ) programs.

Some affiliate programs have really LOUSY ads ... even if they happen to be good, how many OTHER affiliates are using the EXACT same ad? Advertisers MUST break out of the 'herd mentality'. Affiliate ads get stale FAST.

I believe there's nothing wrong with selling multiple affiliate programs or products. The true test is, Are YOU personally benefiting from it? If so, how? Write your testimony or give your experience ... I'd rather see a personal recommendation as opposed to some 'gurus' testimony. Don't overstate ... you may lose credibility. I'd even like to see the weaknesses YOU'VE found.

**************

Letting visitors search your page

Here is a very cool little script that will allow your visitors to search the page for specific words. If you have a lot of content on your page, this can be a useful tool to help your visitors find exactly what they are looking for. This would be especially useful for technical documents or other lengthy pieces of text that visitors would otherwise have to search through to find the term they are really looking for.

This first part of our function is the actual Javascript. It's always good practice to place your scripts within the <head> of your HTML document, but it's not necessary.

<script language="JavaScript"> var NS4 = (document.layers); var IE4 = (document.all); var win = window; var n = 0; function findInPage(str) { var txt, i, found; if (str == "") return false; if (NS4) { if (!win.find(str)) while(win.find(str, false, true)) n++; else n++; if (n == 0) alert("Not found."); } if (IE4) { txt = win.document.body.createTextRange(); // Find the nth match from the top of the page. for (i = 0; i <= n && (found = txt.findText(str)) != false; i++) { txt.moveStart("character", 1); txt.moveEnd("textedit"); } if (found) { txt.moveStart("character", -1); txt.findText(str); txt.select(); txt.scrollIntoView(); n++; } else { if (n > 0) { n = 0; findInPage(str); } else alert("Not found."); } } return false; } </script>

Now that you have your script in place, you need a way for your visitors to actually use it. We do this by adding an HTML form to the page, so people can enter terms to search.

<form name="search" onSubmit="return findInPage(this.string.value);"> <font size=3><input name="string" type="text" size=15 onChange="n = 0;"></font><input type="submit" value="Find"></form>

Note that unidentified terms return a customizable error prompt. As well, this script parses through each repeated value until it reaches the end of the text on the page. It does not matter if you have the form above or below the page contents, it seeks all text on the page. It would obviously be most handy to install the form at the top of the page.

* Get these syndicated tip feeds for yourweb site, free. *

Second Article

Windows XP Taskbar Tricks

by: Beth Sunny SharperTraining.com

If you are like most people, when you want to visit a specific site on the Internet you begin by double-clicking on the Internet Explorer icon. Once Internet Explorer opens and your default homepage loads, you then type the address in the address bar at the top of the window. If you are the impatient type, this can seem like forever.

There's a better way: add the Address box directly to your taskbar so you can type the address there without having to wait for Internet Explorer to open and load your home page. (For the uninitiated, the taskbar runs along the bottom of the screen between the Start button and the Notification Area, where the name of any open documents will appear.)

1. Right-click in a blank area of the taskbar. The shortcut menu will open.



2. Choose Toolbars, then Address from the shortcut menu. The word Address will appear in the taskbar.



3. To expand the Address toolbar, double-click on Address.



4. Type the web page address directly in the taskbar Address toolbar and tap [Enter] (or click the Go button). Internet Explorer launches and goes directly to the page you specified.



5. To shrink the Address toolbar, simply double-click on Address again. To remove the Address toolbar, right-click on a blank area of the taskbar, and once again select Toolbars, then Address from the shortcut menu.

If this does not seem to be working, your taskbar may be locked. To check this, right-click in a blank area of the taskbar to display the shortcut menu. If there is a checkmark next to Lock the Taskbar, then the taskbar is currently locked. Simply choose Lock the Taskbar from the shortcut menu to unlock it.

Along the same lines as above, if you use the Internet Explorer Links bar, you can add that feature as a taskbar toolbar as well. Use steps 1, 2, 3 and 5 above, substituting Links for Address. To use an icon on the Links toolbar, just click on it.

Soon you will be zipping along the Internet - right from the Windows XP taskbar!

**************

Beth Sunny is a writer, publisher, and computer trainer. She owns Software Training Resources (STR), a courseware company known for their "QuickSteps to Learning" training manuals. STR launched an exciting web site in January of 2001. The web site is specifically for the Computer Training Industry - http://www.sharpertraining.com.

The site offers a place for individuals in the Computer Training Industry a place to advertise their business, correspond with others in the industry, find training products, and discover software tips and read great articles relating to computer training. Visit the site today! http://www.sharpertraining.com

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