BIZ-BANANA.COM

If the Net has been a bit slow recently it's probably because just everybody with ANY interest in
e-commerce has been downloading

Make Your Site Sell! 2002

The original edition of MYSS! caused a sensation on the Internet and quickly gained the glowing reputation as THE "bible" for selling on the Net. If you are new to BIZ-Banana.com, the motivation for your visit probably went something like this:

"I would love to build an online business but I have no idea what to do or where to start, even what to sell."

If you've been thinking along these lines, then MYSS! 2002 is just the sort of thing you need...

...It's what everybody needs.

Check out our review here to find out why YOU need it, too!

Take That, Scum!
back to headlines

I received the latest edition of Ken Evoy’s affiliate newsletter the other day. It was a ‘special edition’ about the latest developments on something called Scumware.

It’s not something I’d heard of before – but I’m certainly aware of it now! In essence, seemingly innocuous browser tools create overlay links or banners, spawn pop-up windows and track user activity.

Some examples of scumware:

• KaZaa Media Desktop -- a file sharing service that includes Top Text.
  
• Gator -- browser add-on that places "overlay" ads on any page you view with the plug-in activated.

Deemed "predatory" advertising, these services generate traffic and revenue from sites with which they have no contractual obligation, or permission to do such. In other words...

… They generate revenue from YOUR pages without paying or asking YOU. Also, they direct traffic away from your site, or replace your links with their own, thus depriving you of sales and commissions.

Ken also says:

”... because this is a blatant violation of copyright, pure unadulterated theft, and downright irreprehensible behaviour, SiteSell.com has made appropriate changes to its affiliate agreement. We are implementing a "zero-tolerance" policy to the use of such tactics by our affiliates.

Here's the bottom line on the new changes...

**Participation in predatory advertising programs will be cause for the affiliate’s immediate termination.**”

That last paragraph really got my attention. B-B has never used such deplorable tactics (nor ever will!) but there is another implication. Anyone who has signed up to the Five Pillar Program through one of my links could use this type of advertising – innocently, or otherwise.

So, I’d like to take this opportunity to ask my affiliates to ensure that they have read and comply the new agreement terms.

The debate will no doubt run and run so here a few links that should give you a flavour of what it’s all about.

Against Scumware:

http://scumware.com/
http://www.stopscum.com/
http://www.takebacktheweb.com/
http://www.associateprograms.com/search/newsletter173.shtml

The Download:

The main danger with "scumware" is that it disguises itself as a harmless, helpful utility. The short disclaimer on the CNET site does not do enough to illustrate the true nature of this beast's dark side. You can view it at:

http://download.cnet.com/downloads/0-1896420-100-6885899.html

Some of the discussion so far:

http://list.adventive.com/archives/i-sales.html http://list.adventive.com/archives/i-helpdesk.html

Some other links:

The Five Pillar Program mentioned above can be found at:

Associate Programs - SiteSell
http://www.sitesell.com/refer.html

By the way, the last part of the URL /refer - does just that; its my affiliate reference, so there. BIZ-Banana.com tells it like it is and so does Ken Evoy. I’m proud to be one of his affiliates.

There's also a related entry in the MYKS! Diary

Caroline Tresman the founder of Homeworking.com recently asked me if I fancied doing a guest spot in her own newsletter. Would I? Took all of ten seconds to jump at the chance. You can subscribe to the Homeworking newsletter from the index page.

Here's our contribution:

"The Internet is enthusiastically touted as the modern-day Gold Rush, and although there are certain parallels I think the pundits could have chosen a better comparison.

The distance of history somewhat clouds the events of mid-eighteenth century USA, so much so that a romantic image persists which belies the harsh reality.

The truth is that, yes, many a fortune was made during those wild, hectic days - but very few struck it rich from actually digging for gold. As the rumours of riches just waiting to be plucked from the ground spread like an epidemic of influenza, normally levelheaded folk abandoned jobs, homes and families and set off for the gold fields.

Some even turned up in their street clothes, expecting to gather their fortune in the afternoon and be headed home by nightfall!

The great majority, of course - as we know with the benefit of hindsight - were doomed to bitter disappointment and many frittered away meagre life savings on worthless claims, supposedly 'genuine' maps, and substandard equipment sold to them by unscrupulous merchants out to make a fast buck.

See anything familiar here?

In the 21st Century the sales methods and the packaging may be slicker, but, from whichever generation, the underlying message is still the same… with the emphasis on the ‘lying’. There’s no point in sugarcoating it. People are GULLIBLE. How else do you explain the booming industry in ‘get-rich-quick’ schemes? I’ve said before on the BIZ-Banana.com site that you’d be better to put the money you pay for these schemes on the first favourite at the nearest bookies!

It would be a gamble I know, but at least you would be able to experience the thrill of watching your horse lose (probably) but at least it’s quick and you’d have no illusions about that fact that your money’s gone for good. Who knows, you may even pick a winner! One thing I know; these unworkable homeworking schemes are losing CERTAINTIES!

Next time, we’ll show you a few better alternatives."

Talking About Guests...
back to headlines

I've been moaning to myself recently that there are not enough hours in the day, mostly because I've got so much catching up to do. The site has been sadly neglected in recent times but just because I haven't been able to do very much work doesn't mean I haven't been thinking about it.

Updating the site is a top priority but it's going to some take time before it's up to speed, so I'm delighted to report that we've enlisted the help of a guest contributor to research and update one of our major reports.

Alan Errington is a full distributor of Telecom Plus so who better to help us with checking out the facts, figures and recent developments. I hasten to add that Alan is only assisting in a research capacity, albeit an important one, BIZ-Banana.com (in other words --- ME!) being responsible for the narrative in the report.

It's not our job to say whether or not you should choose this or any other type of homeworking activity, our role is to make people aware that there are other options than being taken to the cleaners by some cheap and nasty scam.

We will try earnestly to steer you in the direction of worthwhile ways to work from home, but the final decision has to come from YOU!

The new report should be ready within the next few weeks - I hope, he says. Meantime, the 'old' report is still available if you think it might be something that would interest you. Click here read it.

Until next time...