Turn-Key E-Commerce - Guaranteed Low Prices Guaranteed low prices on Credit Card Merchant Accounts & CheckWriter Check Drafting Software. Also turn-key SSL Form Hosting & Shopping Carts. http://www.PayByPc.com - or call toll free 1-(877)-Pay-By-PC  E-mail:  your-biz@instantpc.com

My very best wishes to you and yours for a safe and happy Holiday Season.  There will be no Newsletter next week. We will return after the first of the year with some new and exciting articles for you.

TELL ME WHAT YOU'RE SELLING AND I'LL SHOW YOU HOW YOU CAN GET A FREE...  $94,000 INTERNET ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL PACKAGE.  Mailto:webmaster@envisionprofits.com w/ your name, age, where you're  located and whether you've got a website now or not AND what you're trying  to sell online and I'll show you - right now - how you can get - FOR REAL -  a $94,000 Internet Advertising & Promotional Package. Standing by to hear  from YOU now. - YBFA - 1/20

     Welcome to those who have recently subscribed to this Newsletter.  We have over 5,000 subscribers who receive this every Tuesday evening.  At the end of this Newsletter are instructions on how to "unsubscribe" if you don't wish to receive it in the future.

While supplies last!  Microsoft Office Pro 97 - FULL VERSION ONLY $99.  This is the full version, not an upgrade. Contains Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint, Access and Bookshelf Basics. Comes on CD with online manual and CD Key for online registration. For Word Perfect fans, Corel Professional 97, full version. Another great buy at only $59. E-mail to: HTMarketing@Prodigy.net - Visit our web pages at www.freeyellow.com/members2/htmarketing"  To assure your copy - order today. - YBFA - 1/15/99
 

**  Greg Landry's "Fitness-Tip-of-the-Week"

**  Special Article - HOW TO MAKE YOUR NAME STICK By Michel Fortin, Ph.D.

**  "Biz Tips" by Dr. Kevin Nunley - this is a weekly feature in the Newsletter - This week - Enclose a Business Reply Card

**  A little levity: Honk if you love Jesus

**  Items of Interest:  Ergo Tips by Virginia A. Grein

**  Internet Tip of the Week by Bob Osgoodby

**  Questions/Answers: A question about statistics

**  Upcoming Events: Next Week - Reference Checks...Are They Really Necessary? (c)  by Ernest F. Oriente, The Coach

**  Article for this edition - "Inspiring Trust on the Internet" by Wanda Loskot

**  Technology: MICROSOFT SUED OVER Y2K BUG IN DATABASE  TOOLS

**  Publications of Interest - Listed here are other publications you can receive free on the Web.  Only those publications that are appropriate for our online business community are listed.

METABOBURN IS HERE!   100% All Natural - Rated #1 for weight loss!  Over Metabolife!  Over Calorad!  Over BioSlim! Never before offered in America!    Cost is $24.95 for 120 capsules bottle. You can get it for $16.95 by ordering directly from vitan ovadirect.com.  You must use Member #20 to get the discount.  Buzz me for the business opportunity. You can make $8 a bottle profit!!!!!!

NUVT97A@prodigy.com or SweetJodie@aol.com - 317
 

The average American adult gains 7 pounds over the holidays! However, with a little know-how and effort you don't have to be "average". In fact, I've seen many people actually lose a few pounds over the holidays without depriving themselves. One of my clients said it best, "Greg, I can't tell you how good it feels to have lost three pounds during the holidays instead of gaining ten pounds as I used to do.  My friends are jealous. It's January 2nd and I'm feeling (and looking) lean and mean.  And, best of all, I actually enjoyed the holidays more because I always felt energetic. In years past, inactivity and lots of food made me constantly sluggish and tired.  To get my article, "Don't Do the Holiday 7".... mailto:Holiday7@Landry.com

-----

Author and exercise physiologist, Greg Landry, M.S., publishes a FREE email newsletter, "Fitness, Health, & Weight Loss". To start your free subscription, send any email message, mailto:Fitness-on@mail-list.com or visit http://www.Landry.com
 

INSTANTLY INCREASE ORDERS 25-30%  Increase sales & eliminate postal delays! Accept Checks by FAX/Ph/Email. Print w/your own printer using our check printing software. Easy & legal. Only $14.95! Visit our website at: http://www.last-exit.com/cgi/checker/index.cgi?10055
 

Today, we are constantly bombarded with marketing messages that seem to be just one big blur of sameness. Limited by society's very short attention span, your marketing message has to be effective enough to communicate and create top-of- mind awareness within an extremely short amount of time. Thus, the name is the best tool -- and often the only one -- for accomplishing this efficiently.

When positioning a company or product, your name has to "stick" firmly in the mind of the marketplace and must do so almost instantly. While uniqueness is an important factor, there are other elements that will help you in the anchoring process; elements that cause a name to be easily remembered as well as chosen when a customer experiences a specific need or desire. So, here are some simple rules to follow when choosing a name for your company or product.

WHAT DOES IT DO?
To make a company or product name truly memorable, it should convey its main feature or benefit. If I give you the word "Die Hard," for instance, you will naturally think of a battery or motor that dies hard. If I tell you "Jiffy Lube," you will naturally assume that it's a garage offering oil changes in a jiffy. If I tell you "Band-Aid," you will think of an adhesive bandage that comes to your aid.

Names that do not convey at least the basic nature of a company will be easily forgotten. This includes acronyms, such as "MGF Holdings Limited" (that name makes you wonder "What in the heck are they holding?"). It also includes self-titled companies, such as "Michel Fortin International" (which was, believe it or not, the name of one of my original companies -- one that failed nonetheless).

Benefits are particularly effective because such a name would make a company or product appear as if it had some added value. As a result, being positioned above the competition in the minds of people, the name will thus be quickly remembered when people make their decision to buy.

RHYMES MOVE MINDS
Ever since the spread of books, memorization became less important and the process of rhyming, in the same way, has gradually fallen out of favor. We all remember in one way or another the nursery rhymes we were told as children. In today's memory management courses, for instance, they tell you to use rhymes and word association. Rhyming is pleasing to the ear and, beyond ease-of-recall, it also tends to add credibility.

Dr. Matthew McGlone, a researcher at Lafayette College, has found that rhymes not only make a phrase more memorable, they also make it more believable. People surveyed prefer sayings like "Woes unite foes" to "woes unite enemies." He says, "Sometimes a singsong quality is a pleasing thing, and by virtue of the words being pleasing, they can confer a greater sense of truth."

While some names use multiple words such as "Blinds of All Kinds" or "Ronald McDonald," most names are made up of a single word. In these cases, therefore, the job would be conferred unto the tagline (that small sentence that follows and complements the name).

If I said "It takes a licking but keeps on ticking," you will probably know what product I'm talking about. And if the tagline rhymes with the name with which it is associated, the name will stick even more effectively as a result.

REPETITION RESONATES
What do "Saran-Wrap," "Coca-Cola," "Willy Wonka," "GI
Joe/Barbie," "Wayne's World," "Hamburger Helper," "Crispy
Crunch," and "Blockbuster" all have in common?

Similar to rhymes, the repetition of sounds, particularly consonants, have that pleasant and obviously effective singsong quality. They make the name more memorable by making the pronunciation more simple. In other words, it is definitely easier to remember a string of similar sounds than it is to remember a combination of totally different sounding words. Did you "See the softer side of Sear's" lately?

Remember, above all, that branding, while a powerful tool in your business, is even more powerful when names stick. From the simplest product to the most abstract or complex technical service, a memorable name helps to make the company or product memorable as well.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michel Fortin, Ph.D., The Success Doctor,(tm) is a business development consultant, speaker, author, and copywriter. Visit his NEW site at http://members.home.net/success-doctor or reach him at mailto:success-doctor@home.com or (613)748- 1624. Get a F REE copy of his book, "The 10 Commandments of Power Positioning: Magical Marketing Strategies for Creating an Endless Stream of New, Repeat, and Referral Business." While you're there, subscribe to his FREE weekly e-zine, "The Profit Pill(tm)"!
 

EASTER EGGS ON MY SITE? Boost your website traffic by adding Easter Eggs and Pop-Up ads to the links on your website. Offer awards  from jokes to cash on a random basis with E- Egg(tm) by Traffic Tracker. See it in action at <http://www.promo-dex.com > or email to eggs@promo-dex.com - 2/10
 

Enclose a Business Reply Card

  Ever send out a bunch of sales letters and get little or no response?  Direct mail tends to bring in a one or two percent response rate.  That is too low for many small businesses to make money on.  Direct mail seems simple, but the cost of postage can put an entrepreneur in the poor house in a hurry.

  One of the best ways to increase response is to include a business reply card with your sales letter.  There are versions for Internet use.  Offer additional information, a discount, or a free offer to the prospect if she sends the reply card back to you.

  Reply cards do three things.  First, they increase response.  I've gotten a 30% response rate when using business reply cards.

  Second, reply cards give you an opportunity to make more contact with the prospect. The second or third contact is usually the one that gets the sale.

  Third, people are much more likely to buy if you can get them to act in some way. Filling out the card and popping it in the mail can make a prospect mentally ready to buy.

-----

Get Kevin's new book "101 Best Biz-Tips, Powerful low cost ways to promote your business!"$14.95 at http://www.DrNunley.com Kevin provides affordable advice and copy writing, Kevin@DrNunley.com or (801)253-4536.
 

Turn street traffic into website traffic, earn $8 per plate plus $2 on sales made by those you sponsor. http://www.iditplates.com/partner/1361
 

Honk If You Love Jesus

The wife of a Southern Baptist preacher talks to her Sunday School class about a wonderful religious experience that she had last week:

The other day I went up to the local Christian book store where I saw a "Honk if you love Jesus" bumper sticker.  I was feeling particularly sassy that day because I had just come from a thrilling choir performance at the church. I then bought that bumper sticker and put it on the back bumper of my car.  I'm really glad that I did.  What followed was a truly uplifting experience .

I was stopped at the light of a busy intersection, just lost in thought about the Lord, and I did not notice that the light had changed.  It's a good thing someone else loves Jesus or I may have never noticed that the light had changed.  I found that lots of people love Jesus.  Why the guy behind me started to honk like crazy and then he leaned out his window and screamed, "For the love of GOD, go!... Go!  Jesus!   Go!"

Everyone was honking.  I leaned out my window and waved and smiled to all those loving people and I even honked my horn a few times to share in the love.

There must have been a man from Florida back there because I could hear him yelling something about a sunny beach.  I saw another guy waving a funny way with only his middle finger stuck up in the air.  When I asked my teenage son in the back seat what this meant, he said that it was nothing, probably a Hawaiian good luck sign or something.  Well, I've never met a person from Hawaii, so I leaned out the window and gave him the good luck sign back.  My son burst into laughter.  Why even he was enjoying the love of this religious experience.

A couple of the people were so caught up in the joy of the moment that they got out of their car and were walking towards me.  I bet they wanted to pray or ask what church I attended, but that's when I noticed that the light had changed. I waved one more time to my loving brothers and sisters and drove through the intersection.

I was the only car that got across the intersection before the light changed again. I felt kind of bad that I had to leave them and all that love that we had shared. So, I slowed the car down, leaned out the window and gave them all the Hawaiian good luck sign one more time as I drove away.

Praise the Lord for such a wonderful experience!  And honk if you love Jesus!!!
 

"ALTERNATE INCOME! DYNAMIC HOME-BASED INTERNET BUSINESS!" FREE 150 PAGE Internet Services Website!  YOUR site sells Hosting, Domain Registration, Engine Submission, Site Design, Banner Ads & more!  No experience necessary, we build your site for you, (minor setup fee) and deliver it ready to go!  Full training provided, 90 day satisfaction guarantee. PLUS: BONUS TO VISITORS!  FREE ADS, 6 MILLION HITS A MONTH!!  http://free-web-ad.com/bus8.htm - E-mail- mailto:webhost@free-web-ad.com - 1599
 

Ergo Tips:)

(We recommend that you consult your own physician regarding specific problems.  These answers are for general informational purposes only.)

Question:  "You recently wrote not to use wrist rests.  I use them and they help me.  When I stop, my wrists hurt just slightly.  Is this something different from what you were talking about?"

Answer:  "There are always individual differences.  The hand experts I talk to feel that unless they are the size of a cushion, they simply press on the nerves and tendons.  And they interfere so much with typing, that they add to the problem.  But, whatever works is up to you.  People differ. Women are different than men, I've been told, and so on."

Thanks for reading us.  Please send your questions to medpad@evansville.net.  Although we cannot answer each question personally, look for an answer in future issues. Questions are answered by Dr. Murray Grossan, http://www.ent-consult.com, Advice on Ear Nose and Throat Problems.

Archives at http://evansville.net/~medpad/ergotips.htm. ET:) is sponsored by http://www.evansville.net/~medpad.
 

Get serious about making money in network marketing. Amazing new FREE publication "Modern Day Millionaire" shows you how to get motivated distributors for your MLM products. Go to: http://www.mlmpros.com/million/811.asp?code=Z250 No obligation. Mail to: irv@smartbiz.com - 1/6/99
 

Year 2000 Test

We have been reading a lot lately about the Millennium Bug which is supposed to shut down all the computers at the stroke of midnight on December 31, 1999.  Will your computer be one of the fatalities.  Find out now by taking the Year 2000 test.

1.  Go to your "Start" Button and select "Control Panel".
    Select "Date/Time and set the date on your personal
    computer to December 31, 1999.

2.  Set the time to 23:55 hrs (11:55 pm) and then POWER OFF.

3.  Wait at least 10 minutes and then turn the PC back on.

4.  Check the date and time.  It SHOULD be a couple of
    minutes past midnight on the morning of Saturday,
    January 1, 2000.  The year "2000" must be displayed, not
    "00."

5.  Execute several programs (word processor, spreadsheet
    program) to make sure the operation is OK.

6.  Set the date and time back to the current setting.

        If your system didn't pass this "test," it means either your system cannot display the century or year correctly, or it may just not be converting correctly. While most newer computers can be updated with either a chip replacement or software update, older computers (most 386s, all 286s) may stop working.  Contact your local computer vendor or manufacturer for more information.

     If it doesn't pass the test, and it makes no difference what the date is, such as a computer just used for games, set the date back a year or so.  Your computer will never have to handle the Y2K bug.

Before conducting this test, it is advisable to back up all the files on your computer in the event of a problem with any of your date sensitive software.

-----

Bob publishes the free weekly "Your Business" Newsletter Visit his Web Site at http://adv-marketing.com/business to subscribe and place a Free Ad for your business.
 

YOU CAN JOIN THE TOP HEALTH AND NUTRITIONAL PRODUCTS COMPANY IN THE WORLD FOR $5 - Yes, FIVE dollars will allow you to purchase the best health products in the world at a very good discount.  Then you can use the products to improve your health while you check out the business opportunity without paying any entry fees!  mailto:ron@adv-marketing.com for Free Information  121
 

Bob - I see you have statistics on the number of "hits" you get at your Web Site on the Home Page.  How do you get these?

TJ at - tjinflorida@aol.com

-----

TJ - these statistics are provided as a service from my web host provider.  It gives a lot of valuable information to me including the number of visitors to every page.  This is a great way to see what is of interest and what is not.

FREE Website Planning Form-Request your free form by sending a blank email to pipdesign@ourlist.net or visit our website at http://www.profitpowerpromo.com for Free marketing information, tools and resources. 2/13
 

Next Week - Reference Checks...Are They Really Necessary? (c) by Ernest F. Oriente, The Coach
 

Let us save you money!  We can help you plan your budget and follow it.  Give us only a few minutes of your time, and you'll know exactly where your money is going.  Call or E- mail now for more information about this inexpensive, unique service.  Ronald Lanzilotta, 255 Englar Drive, Sebastian, Fl, 32958 - Call 561-589-2445 or Email at: UZDG17A@Prodigy.Com - 3/17/99
 

By now everyone knows that when it comes to building an effective website, content is king. And I bet we all agree that we talk about unique and useful content.

If content is the king - the ability to inspire trust is a crown prince. Just think - before you buy anything you want to be sure that you are buying a decent quality product that will be delivered in a timely fashion, and that the person who is selling it is not some fly-by-night operation.

You want to know that if anything is wrong - you can get help or even get your money back. If it is something that could require repair, you want to know you have good service available. You want to know as much about your vendor as possible. Right? Of course you want to know that you can trust vendors promises.

However, the reality on the web is different - the vast majority of sites don't even give a name of a contact person other than webmaster@domain.com!

It seems that the majority of websites fall into one of the two extremes - talking about themselves so much that people get turned off and leave their site from boredom (those are the sites boasting right from the beginning how long they are in business and bragging about their awards, credentials, associations, and you name it). On the other end of the spectrum are those telling too little or nothing at all - and that hurts their business just as much.

One of my pet-peeves on the web are people who hide behind the facade of a supposedly large business, the WE-symptom. They talk about OUR website, OUR business, We sell, WE answer - while it is actually a one-person business, where one person wears all the hats.

People do that because they think they inspire trust in their visitors. Actually they do just the opposite and hurt their business in the process. Sadly, by making this false claim they make all their other claims unbelievable.

It is not only about giving them your real e-mail address and your real phone number (this is just a bare minimum), but to build trust and relationships with your clients. Tell them the truth about yourself. It is called self-disclosure. Don't be afraid of being vulnerable - people will really respect you for admitting your flaws. The more truthful you are with your prospects and customers, the more comfortable, safe, and non-threatening they feel with you. And in turn they are more likely to purchase your products and services.

Tell them who you are and how you arrived at what you are doing.  Show them your picture so that they know it is a real human being behind your operation. It is not about HOW you look.  It is about creating an impression of closeness and connection - just as during the face-to-face meeting.

Here is an example: Jim Daniels tells his story how he left his corporate job to become a full time internet marketer http://www.bizweb2000.com/howiquit.htm

Multimedia Marketing Group (known from famous I-Sales list) is one of the few larger companies I know who introduces to visitors their entire staff:  (no wonder they are so good - they DO know marketing!) check this: http://www.mmgco.com/team_mmg

And if you don't want to use a photograph - you don't have to.  Especially if you can tell a story as well as Jim Heath, one of my web friends, who is a professional copy writer from Australia:  http://www.viacorp.com/jim.html

On the web one thing is sure: the more you tell (and the closer to the truth it is), the more you sell!

                           *  *  *

Wanda Loskot is an international business coach/writer/speaker author of referral systems that will make your business work so that you can rest or play - register to win one month of FREE business coaching! http://loska.com/successconnection For FREE subscription to her bi-weekly "Referrals Unlimited" mailto:ru@oaknetpub.com with SUBSCRIBE in the BODY of message
 

MICROSOFT SUED OVER Y2K BUG IN DATABASE TOOLS
Software developer Ruth H. Kaczmarek has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court against Microsoft, alleging that the company's FoxPro and Visual FoxPro database development tools were unable to process dates properly beyond Dec. 31, 1999.  The suit is believed to be one of the first against Microsoft alleging Y2K defects in its software.

FRANCE SAYS Y2K PROBLEM NO BIG DEAL, BUT ATTENDS MEETING ANYWAY
France was one of several countries that at the last minute decided to send representatives to the first global convention sponsored by governments to discuss the Y2K problem, when some undetermined number of computers systems are expected to fail because their software uses only two digits for the year field and will therefore make incorrect calculations when the new century begins.  The Gartner Group, a consulting company, has estimated that two-thirds of businesses and government agencies in "high-risk" countries (e.g., Russia and China) will suffer at least one major system failure resulting from the Y2K problem, and
even 15% of such organizations in "low-risk" countries (e.g., Australia, Belgium, Bermuda, Britain, Canada, Denmark, Israel, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, and the U.S.) will suffer the same fate.
 

Totally FREE:  POSTCARDS ONLINE! Send a FREE Postcard today! Laughing, Dancing, Singing Cards for you and all your friends! Animated Postcards for the one you love! And the one you'd love to love you, too!  Hundreds of gorgeous postcards ready to send at the click of your mouse. Customize the card's back panel with your personal wit and humor! Add those endearments and special thoughts you want to share today.  They'll love you for it!  Send yours now! Oh yes, did we mention it's FREE? Go to our web site at: http://www.postcardsonline.com - 1899
 

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Money - Most people in the world don't have enough of it for the necessities of life. That is why there is so much poverty in the world. What can we do about it? Download a new book FREE on Web www.tcoinc.com/gondek for the answer.  It offers a program and a blueprint for a bold, logical, and achievable solution to the problem.
 

That's it for now - Bob