This is an online payment company specializing in handling payment and distribution for software publishers.

And they suck. Flat out suck.

Here's why: Two years ago, I tried to purchase HTML converting software. The company that seemed to have the best one was some developer in Russia. I like supporting small software developers that make handy software, so I bought it.

So, I pay with my credit card, download the software, and wait for the registration key to be e-mailed to me. I've done this dozens of times for software - usually you get a key either online, or e-mailed to you right away. 

However, this time, I get nothing. A day goes by - nothing. I e-mail the company to make sure I didn't put the wrong e-mail address in or something. No reply. Essentially, they stole my $39.99

Not so fast, Comrade. I called my credit card company, told them what happened, and they charged back the charge. I figured that was the end of it. Until today.

This afternoon, I tried to purchase a PDF converter. The payment doesn't seem to go through. So I call the company that processes. It seems it's Digital River, and they tell me it won't go through because I initiated a chargeback against them two years ago. I never heard of Digital River, so I had to have them explain - they said since they handled payment for the HTML converter company I charged back two years ago, I'm now blacklisted. 

I tried to explain I charged back because my software key was undelivered, but they did not want to hear it. Apparently, they said instead of charging back, I should have contacted THEM, and they would "make three attempts" to get me my key.

Gee, silly me. I instead contacted the place I bought the software from. And when they didn't answer, I revoked payment. That makes me a smart consumer, not some risk.

I'm sorry Digital River, but I'm not wrong here. You took payment for a crook company. And when I called a crook a crook and took my payment back, you put me on the blacklist? Because I didn't contact you? Why would I contact you for an undeliverable? That would be akin to buying a TV from a store, paying for it via credit card, arranging delivery, and then when it doesn't show up, calling Visa instead of the store. It would make no sense. My first call would be to the store to say "where's my TV?" Well, that's what I did.

I only called you today because the payment never even went through - THAT'S the time to call the payment processor.

Your blacklisting policy cost the PDF converter people a $129 sale. And I made sure they knew that, too. My letter was read, responded to, and forwarded higher.

And your lousy, condescending attitude on the phone today earned my scorn. And this blog entry.

I'd like an apology. But I won't hold my breath.

1. A home page - Being the first page a visitor sees, the home page should welcome a visitor, and let them know they are in the right place. It should also address whatever need/want your visitor came with. You must remember – nobody came to your website by accident – they came for a reason, and your homepage should address this reason. For example, my homepage lets a visitor know right away I can help them with their writing needs.
   
   Your homepage also needs to clearly give the visitor choices on where to go next. They should have a clear idea what to expect from clicking on your page's navigation.
   
   One more thing on homepages - stop with the Flash Cartoons and music. Please. If we wanted to watch Cartoons, or listen to music, we have a myriad of devices to scratch that itch. If your website forces visitors to do anything, they will leave.
   
   
2. A page(s) telling me what you offer - In simple terms, your website has a purpose – you are offering "something" to your visitors. It might be a product (or many products), a service, an image, or a combination of all three. Regardless, you need to tell me what you have. You may also want to tell me how it works (if needed).
   
   
3. A page(s) telling me why I should use you / buy from you / etc - This can be a stand-alone page entitle "why shop with us" or similar, or, for many businesses, this information can be worked into other pages (like the product/service pages, the "about us" page, or similar). But the end result is the same – I need to know why I should do business with you.
   
   
4. Calls to action - Like I stated above, your website has an overall purpose. Perhaps to get someone to buy. Or contact you. Or to just reinforce your brand and support your other advertising. Throughout your text, you need to logically lead your reader to the action you want him or her taking. "Click here to order our extra thick worms"…. "click here for more information on tractor varnish" "visit us soon – click here for directions"… etc. You must ask for action. If you don't ask, you don't sell.
   
   
5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Page - almost all good websites have a FAQ. It is a very subtle yet clever way to market yourself, because you get to reinforce the sales pitch. In other words, you get to ask the questions, and then you provide the answers (Question six: "Can your product really make snail breeding easier?".... Answer: "Yes, it can, because we use...")
   
   
6. An "about us" - This can include more info than you would initially think. This is a great place to tout your business philosophy, your goals, your awards, certifications. This can be one page, or it can have several components.
   
   
7. A page with contact info - And put your phone number there - I'm stunned by how many businesses don't want you calling - because they have to pay someone to answer the phone. You not having a phone number says "we don't give a @#$%"
   
   
8. A links page - Yes, you should have links, and you should be linked-to by others. Preferably, other professionals.
   
   
9. Be succinct and interesting – Do all of this without boring me, and without droning on and on about you. If you can't write, hire me (or another copywriter).
   
   
10. Last, make sure your design is nice – Unless you're really good, leave the design to professionals. Don't hire your neighbor's son or an intern – it will show. Even I'm having a new website made by a pro because my site screams "1998" (about when my web design skills peaked) - look for my new site around the end of this month.
    

Just watched "The Departed" on DVD the other night. Great movie.

Not much I can add to the already glowing reviews (and the Oscars, especially for the well deserving Martin Scorsese), but I do have to say, "Gimme Shelter" is one of the best songs ever made. No song quite fits a movie like this Stone's classic does in the above mentioned film (and Goodfellas as well.)   

I got asked yet again to promote someone's product here on my website.

For doing this, I'd make about 40% of the product's cost. All I had to do was setup a link and that's it - the cash would start rolling in.

Affiliate marketing - the wave of the future? I dunno - I'm not so sure.

I do know that from a manufacturer / developer point of view, it's great. You get an army of eager salespeople pushing your product. For free, basically (just set your price so the commission doesn't bite into your planned profits.)

But you know, there's something about affiliate marketing from the "affiliate" point of view that bothers me... follow me for a second.

I remember once a friend asked me to attend a meeting to see this new business opportunity. Essentially, people would buy and sell products to/from each other, and make a little commission in the process. Hey, you were going to have to buy toilet paper anyway, why not you and a friend make a small commission off of it?

In other words, I attended an Amway meeting.

And that's what bothers me about this. Listen, I wouldn't mind promoting a product that my particular website audience might be interested in. A product that I actually used and liked. That I have no problem with.

But this affiliate thing is just out of hand - it seems every other website I go to has tons of links to products and/or other websites. It's annoying. In fact, some are nothing more than "affiliate websites" with no real content save for affiliate links. In short, the website in question has nothing to offer except links to products. Ok, it works for "Amazon dot com". But I expect that when I go there.

I know the internet has been full of commerce for years now, but recently it seems to me that all of a sudden, it has turned into a giant Amway business. Everybody is buying and selling stuff for a small commission. Affiliate marketing has turned into the new "get rich quick."

I don't know if affiliate marketing is ultimately going to turn into something as far as a moneymaker (I doubt it - just like Amway, a scant few will make money, and a million other poor souls have little more than huge cases of toilet paper.) But I DO know that I don't really like it as a money-making venture. If I see a bunch of affiliate and obvious "money making" links on a website, I tend to trust the site less.

Again, this is in an overall sense. I have no problem with someone (or myself) offering something they found useful, and is targeted to their website's audience. Perhaps a neat, problem-solving piece of software made by a small developer - hey, that's great. I think that was the intended spirit of affiliates in the beginning. But once the get rich quick brigade came in, it completely ruined it.

Now, here's a quick tip for those of you who do have affiliate links - make sure they open a NEW window. Because the little commission you make isn't worth sending visitors away from your website.

Free time is at a premium this week (hence the slow blog week.) One of my online Fantasy Football leagues is starting our initial draft tomorrow. This means my non-work time has been spent talking football and doing research. 

You'd be stunned how much actual "work" this hobby (Fantasy Football) is. This league is a dynasty league, meaning you keep all of your players until... well...  you decide to get rid of them. So that running back you draft first tomorrow might be with you for years and years. So choose wisely.

I pick tenth in a 12-team draft. Lots can go wrong at the ten hole. The number one through three picks are a given... it gets murky after that. I'll post my team after I draft (it's an online draft with a 12-hour clock, which means it'll probably take us about 2-3 weeks to get through 24 rounds.)