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E-Business Secrets
Brian Livingston
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I know the headline sounds like a spam come-on, but it's true. Robert Woodhead, who provides Web site optimization tools at SelfPromotion.com, received $190,000 in calendar year 2000 from reader contributions that he calls "tipping." The way this works can provide a healthy business model for many other kinds of sites.

Woodhead provides an extensive library of information about making your site "search-engine" friendly, but it is necessary to register as a member and make a contribution of "at least $10" to use several of his online tools. During the 12 months ending Aug. 21, a total of 7,959 people took him up on this offer, sending $167,945. (Revenue is down 12 percent compared with the period ending Dec. 31, but that's a pretty minor drop-off in this economy.)

What's interesting is the breakdown, because 60 percent of his members voluntarily sent more than $10:

Amount Contributors Total

$000.01 - $009.99 0137 $00,607

$010.00 - $014.99 3019 $31,268

$015.00 - $019.99 0685 $10,307

$020.00 - $024.99 0930 $18,629

$025.00 - $029.99 1959 $49,000

$030.00 - $049.99 0653 $21,820

$050.00 - $099.99 0502 $26,670

$100.00 - $199.99 0074 $09,644

Sum Total 7959 $167,945

When I interviewed Woodhead, he pointed out that he'd have made far less money if he'd set a fixed fee, such as $25. If the people who contributed less than this never joined and the people who contributed more had limited their amount to only $25, Woodhead would have only 3,188 members sending $79,700 instead of $167,945.

I think a big reason Woodhead is successful is that he makes it clear that's he's a real person. You tip a waiter or waitress, in part, because you can see whom your money is supporting. SelfPromotion.com includes a Web cam that usually shows Woodhead from the back, working at his desk, hence the name "BaldSpotCam."

Aside from its winning business model, SelfPromotion.com can help almost any site with its numerous tools. Keyword Diffuser, for example, optimizes metatags for you. Don't forget to send the 10 bucks (heck, make it $20!).

Tipping as a Method of Optimizing Your Compensation:

http://tipping.selfpromotion.com@31.dk/?3ab1

How Woodhead's Tools and Contribution Levels Work:

http://www.selfpromotion.com@54.vg/?4e39

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E-business technology review: 1gb compact flash drives

RiTDATA, a Taiwan company, will put on store shelves around the first of September a new 1.1GB microdrive to compete with IBM's CompactFlash unit. Designed for digital cameras, PDAs, and other handheld devices, the CompactStor was reported by Digital Photography Review to be coming out at about half the price of the IBM drive, which is currently running at about $450.

RiTDATA will also have a 1.6GB drive in the fourth quarter and says it's developing a 6GB version. I wasn't able to find an online source actually selling a RiTDATA drive yet, but by all accounts one will be soon.

1.1GB CompactStor CF+ Type II Hard Drive from RiTDATA:

http://www.dpreview.com@836.as/?61c1

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E-business book review: Web redesign

Most of us who've designed a Web site know the feeling when we realize the place already needs to be updated. "Web Redesign," by Kelly Goto and Emily Cotler, provides a structure for handling any upgrade project you might want to undertake, with applications that help with the design of new Web sites as well. Goto has worked on strategy for Genentech and Food.com as well as the unfortunate Webvan, but all the experiences add up. You should definitely read this book before you need it, not after.

"Web Redesign: Workflow That Works"

By Kelly Goto and Emily Cotler (New Riders Publishing)

http://www.amazon.com@54.vg/?0735710627

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Livingston's top 10 news picks o' the week

1. Buy.com nears shutdown with credit-processing woes

http://www.latimes.com@5a0.tc/?401

2. Microsoft "grassroots" lobbying campaign backfires

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com@e.la/?7e9

3. Digital police are blocking innocent people's access

http://www.salon.com@a2.tc/?bd1

4. Online chat is more satisfying than phone support

http://www.emarketer.com@31.dk/?4b9

5. Judge: Anti-abortion site can't post medical records

http://www.wired.com@836.as/?13a1

6. Online media consolidation is changing the Internet

http://www.sfbg.com@1c.to/?1789

7. Interactive TV is becoming mainstream in Europe

http://www.newsfactor.com@th.gs/?1b71

8. Nearly 7 in 10 Americans have Net access at work

http://cyberatlas.internet.com@54.vg/?1f59

9. HTML tips: How to add drop caps to your Web page

http://webdesign.about.com@a6r.ms/?2341

10. Internet Public Library is wealth of research tools

http://209.11.43.220@a2.tc/?2729

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This week's 'they can't do that on the Web' page

A hilarious put-on of Windows XP begins with an animated "Windows RG" (Really Good) logo. That leads to a desktop, all within your browser window, with its own twisted versions of the Start button, My Computer, Recycle Bin, and other Windows marginalia. The icons all work, so click them to get the joke. And don't worry; you get messages like, "Required DLL, Windows.dll, was found. So Windows has deleted it," but nothing on your PC is deleted, it's just a Flash animation.

Windows RG (Really Good):

http://128.241.244.96@th.gs/?7549

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Reminder: don't forget to enter my 1-click survey

E-mail the one address below for your favorite section:

Top story: mailto:topstory@secretspro.com

Technology review: mailto:techreview@secretspro.com

Book review: mailto:bookreview@secretspro.com

News picks: mailto:newspicks@secretspro.com

Can't do that on the Web: mailto:cantdothat@secretspro.com

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E-business secrets: Our mission is to bring you such useful and thought-provoking information about the Web that you actually look forward to reading your e-mail.

About the author: E-Business Secrets is written by InfoWorld contributing editor Brian Livingston. Research Director is Ben Livingston (no relation). Brian has published 10 books, including:

Windows Me Secrets:

http://www.amazon.com@54.vg/?0764534939

Windows 2000 Secrets:

http://www.amazon.com@54.vg/?0764534130

Win a book free if you're the first to send a tip Brian prints. Send to mailto:tips@SecretsPro.com.


Brian Livingston , an InfoWorld contributing editor, has published 10 books, including Windows Me Secrets and Windows 2000 Secrets. Win a book free if you're the first to send a tip Brian prints. Send in your tips today, at tips@secretspro.com.



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