Answer Guy Central &#187; answerguy

Free is Bad!

Or Not, but think about this . . .
Everyone loves a bargain . . . no one more than me. I won’t trade quality for price, though, and so while you may find me in Wal-Mart I only go there for certain things. Towels and Sheets not among them.

In the Internet Age, Free seems to be the new Black. Everyone is trying it on, and more than a few people are making money at it. Directly, they might sell your e-mail address, for example, and indirectly they give something away in the hopes of convincing you to buy something else, or even . . . Better!

That’s fine, right? Most of the time, yes it is. But here’s where free becomes a problem:

No one is listening any more.

In “the old days”, if you wanted to get someone’s attention you sent out a piece of mail. And even when that mail was going to someone who had no idea who you were, the experts said you had about a 3 percent chance of making a new friend, and a one-in-three likelihood of selling that new friend something in short order.

What are the returns now?

Using email, the chance of your communication ever getting opened is about one in twelve, and that’s for the ones that make it to your target’s in-box. SPAM filters make many emails go away altogether, so the real number is way worse.

Even “wanted” communications are often ignored now. This newsletter is IGNORED by between 60 and 80 percent of all its recipients. As in . . . never opened. And everyone who receives it knows us!

We pay to get those statistics, so it isn’t free for us to do this. And we pay to deliver it in a safe and secure way, but what we don’t do is pay by the piece. And that looks more and more like it matters.

What can you do?

Two choices: either send out a tremendous amount of garbage (ugggh . . . please don’t go with that choice), or spend time actually reaching out personally, on a regular basis.

We’ll show you how, by the way, by the way . . .

Enjoy your free newsletter, now . . .

TAG(ged), You’re It!

And Wow, Do You Not Want To Be

Have you received an e-mail in the last month or two from an operation called Tagged.com? Did it tell you that someone you knew wanted you to see their new pictures? Did you click through only to find that there were no pictures, and then get a note from someone else later one telling you that YOU had “sent them pictures” that they couldn’t see?

Welcome to the latest big scam.

Tagged.com (notice I’m not linking to them) sets this little trap, and when you take the bait, they then grab the contents of your address book and send a note to everyone you know. And no, you don’t even give them permission first.

This one’s quick . . . it’s just a cautionary tale about e-mails from people you don’t know. And sadly, it doesn’t have a “here’s the solution” ending because the only way to be sure you avoid this is to never ever open email you weren’t expecting. Good luck with that.

Here’s the thing, though: We can help. Drop us a line and let us show you how to adopt safer email and computing practices.

In This Issue

Free is Bad

Tag(ged), You’re It!

Spotlight On: Blackberry Etiquette

Tell the truth: you’re tethered to your Blackberry, iPhone, or some other device twenty-four hours a day.

In a fascinating article in the New York Times, Alex Williams looks at the new rules. And much as I hate to admit it, they make sense.

What made me think this? I’ve been using a PDA to take notes at meetings for over a decade now, and it occurs to me that when people ask what I’m doing now it isn’t because they’ve never seen someone do that, or are so enamored of my time-saving skills (look, Ma, no transcribing notes!).

They think I’m texting!

OK, for the record: I don’t text. At all. And I rarely surf the Internet while I’m out. And personally, it drives me nuts when my kids text at the dinner table; Can we please pay attention to the person we’re with for just a few minutes?

But there are valid reasons to look down at a mobile communications device. Maybe someone needs a piece of information right now, or maybe you think of something that will add to the conversation/meeting you’re involved in. Fine. Look down, do you’re thing, and look up.

And then, stay engaged, because even in a world of disengagement, it’s how we stay civil. And Make friends. And money.

About Virtual VIP

PC-VIP Inc.
Business and Computer Care for Those with Better Things To Do

Virtual Assistants, Business Coaching and Consulting, and Rent-a-C.O.O. Services

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PC-VIP Inc.

+1 646 827-3800

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Virtual VIP Newsletter, June 2009

The Answer Guy ( Jeff Yablon ) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:57:00 +0000

Virtual VIP Tips

June 2009

PC-VIP Inc./ Virtual VIP Business and Computer Care for Those with Better Things To DoNew York City . . . and Your Desktop!

Welcome to the June 2009 issue of Virtual VIP Tips. We try to say “hi” this way about once a month, and I want to say that I’m always here if you need help, too. Read on, and have a great day!Sincerely,
Jeff Yablon
President & CEO

Gimme a Quarter!
Actually, feel free to do it . . . but I need at least 35 cents . . .
I’ve quoted Seth Godin before. The man is one of the most amazing marketers of all time, which may bother you at some level, but should absolutely earn your awe and respect.And . . . I kid you not, Seth is so good at what he does that he has an action figure. I’ve seen it in a store in Manhattan. And yeah, I’m guessing he had it made as a marketing gimmick. I say “good for him”.Recently, Seth wrote on his blog about a panhandler with an ingenious play. The short of it was that after exchanging four quarters for the man’s dollar bill, he was asked for a quarter. Too late to say he had no change!

Getting people’s attention in the business world has become just like this. No one is listening, no one wants to be interrupted, and every approach is viewed suspiciously. But once you’re in . . . well, you’re in.

So get in. Find ways to be helpful to strangers, and they’ll want to engage you in return. Do it like a mercenary if you must (do it more altruistically if you can), but do it. Reach out. Make friends.

Oh, and if you want to give me a quarter (you’re here already, after all), just send it to me via PayPal: j...@pc-vip.com. But since they charge 30 cents for the transaction plus a piece of the action, I’ll need at least thirty-five cents, to keep four.

Let us help you get your thirty-five cents, by the way . . .

Just in Time!
When Else Would You Buy Something?

How much inventory do you carry?

Just after World War II, Toyota did something that was considered groundbreaking: they started building cars when they need them for sale, rather than months ahead of time for later distribution. Of course, that means they had to change the way they took possession of parts, too, and how they engaged their labor force.

Ever notice that employees are like car parts? They sit around until you need them, and only then do they get used. The benefit to you is that by having them on hand you can use them as you wish, but you have to pay them to be there.

Even if they do nothing.

I’m not suggesting you fire all your employees and going to an all-contractor business model, even if it’s one I believe in. I’m saying that the world is changing, and you have to be ready for whatever it throws at you. It’s kind of being that contractor. Which we all are. All of us.

It only took sixty years for the reality that Toyota figured out to sink in.

Virtual VIP can help you negotiate this changing world. And the price of admission? Let’s start with that thirty-five cents!

About Virtual VIP PC-VIP Inc.
Business and Computer Care for Those with Better Things To Do Virtual Assistants, Business Coaching and Consulting, and Rent-a-C.O.O. Services

New York City, and On Your Desktop

PC-VIP Inc. +1 646 827-3800

In This Issue

-Gimme a Quarter!

-Just in Time!

Spotlight

Watch Those Markets!

Most experts agree that the stock market has bottomed out. Most non-experts, too.Oh, and good luck deciding which is which. I stopped trying to figure out the markets a long time ago. I’m still in, mind you, but I accept that it’s a crap-shoot.

And I can’t be more specific than that; it’s just like being in a casino. Do some research and show me some professional pundits with a consistent winning record over time. I won’t hold my breath waiting for you.

One of our clients pointed out that on June 1, the day when General Motors declared bankruptcy, the Dow Jones Average actually rose 220 points.

Keep your indicators rising: understand that the new economy is nothing like the old one, and that business is a different sport than you were “taught”.

Testimonial

I’m making more money, and working fewer hours. My employees are happier, and my cash flow is up.
Thanks, Virtual VIP!

-G. Green, Tucson

Related to This:

Virtual VIP Newsletter, April 2009

The Answer Guy ( Jeff Yablon ) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 17:41:44 +0000

Virtual VIP Tips

April 2009

PC-VIP Inc./ Virtual VIP

Business and Computer Care for Those with Better Things To Do

New York City . . . and Your Desktop!

Welcome to the April 2009 issue of Virtual VIP Tips. We like to say “hi” about once a month, and I want to say that I’m always here if you need help, too. Read on, and have a great day!

Sincerely,

Jeff Yablon

President & CEO

Does WHO Sends a Message Matter?

Or Even Who Makes a Product?

I used to be a Computer Geek.

OK, I’m still a computer geek. But I used to be paid to talk about geeky stuff. I wrote for big-name magazines, TV for CBS News and a radio program, both as The Computer Answer Guy, I wrote software . . . like I said, I was a geek.

So I still read a few geeky things, and I’m still in touch with some old geeky friends. And I’ve just read an article that make me really pay attention. It’s by John Dvorak, one of the oldest, crankiest, and geekiest of the bunch, and you can find it here .

John makes a great point: if you develop a reputation for bad stuff, even your good stuff will be viewed as bad. And if you are a “good guy”, well . . . let’s just say that as much as I like iTunes, I don’t like Apple, but I’m in the minority on that.

Are you a good guy, or a bad guy? Make sure it’s the one you want it to be, and then guard it like it’s the most important asset you own.

Because it is.

Social Media is Like Teen Sex

Everyone Wants to Do It . . .

. . . No one actually knows how. When finally done, there is surprise it’s not better

WOW, I wish I had written that. For that matter, I wish I could tell you who did.

Welcome to the new reality.

I came across that line here. The author I was reading found it on this blog. And that person acknowledges that he read it on Twitter, but has (intentionally!) chosen not to reveal who wrote it originally.

I expect I could find the author if I cared enough to check. I don’t, even though I think that quote is brilliant, and that’s (part of) the point.

We’re now operating our businesses in a world where everyone is talking at everyone else, quoting and requoting, sometimes revealing sources and sometimes not.

The curmudgeon in me wants to rant about “these kids today”, or complain about the strange new way we’re creating an even stranger new world. That’s not my point, though. This is:

PAY ATTENTION TO ALL THOSE SILLY ARTICLES ABOUT TWITTER. And Facebook. And LinkedIn. The Virtual World is not virtual any more. It’s here. It’s Real. And you live in it.

Oh: and you need to wear a condom. Even though it’s Virtual.

Virtual VIP can help you manage your changing world, but nothing happens until you decide it’s time . . .

Spotlight

The Final Word on Marketing

OK, not really. But after I polled you on the subject of ethical marketing I got this response (on LinkiedIn) from Pete “NetDoc” Murray.

It’s beyond a question of ethics and into a question of futility. Why on EARTH would you send out an e-mail to an unqualified group? That’s like fishing for trophy bass in a brand spanking new retention pond. The only effect you can have is to make people think less of you for trying. It really doesn’t matter HOW you got the e-mail addresses. What matters is if you are simply wasting more time and generating ill will at the same time.

And I agree.

By the way: Pete received my note by mistake, and I suspect he thought I was spamming him when I sent it.

So . . .

Well, just keep talking, please . . .

About Virtual VIP

PC-VIP Inc.

Business and Computer Care for Those with Better Things To Do

Virtual Assistants, Business Coaching and Consulting, and Rent-a-C.O.O. Services

New York City, and On Your Desktop

PC-VIP Inc.

+1 646 827-3800

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March 2009 Virtual VIP Tips

The Answer Guy ( Jeff Yablon ) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:20:26 +0000

Virtual VIP Tips

March 2009

PC-VIP Inc./ Virtual VIPBusiness and Computer Care for Those with Better Things To Do

New York City . . . and Your Desktop!

Welcome to the March 2009 issue of Virtual VIP Tips. We like to say “hi” about once a month, and I want to say that I’m always here if you need help, too. Read on, and have a great day!

Sincerely,
Jeff Yablon
President & CEO

Reality and Business Choices

Financial Corner
Sell a Thing-a-ma-jig, Pay Your Taxes Ever wonder what the government thinks of you buying and selling stuff in Virtual Worlds?Of Course not. You’re not a kid; you don’t even know what that means. Well listen up, because you may be digging into your pocket.

On Page 213 of the US Taxpayer Advocate’s Annual Report to Congress, there’s a recommendation that the IRS get aggressive about collecting taxes on income earned when one user sells things to another while playing on-line computer games. Yes, seriously. Sell something that doesn’t exist, pay taxes with real money. And this is from your advocate.

I’m not sure I even understand it. Except for the part about the government reaching into my pocket. Again.

Sure do hope your accountant is up to date on THAT part of the tax code!

What’s the lesson? One we preach all the time: Things are changing. And you have to pay attention, and change, too. And maybe pay taxes, as well.

Here’s a simple, fairly inexpensive idea: try selling at a trade show off in the far reaches of the dimly-lit booths. Talk about a Virtual World! Not a trade show in your industry, by the way . . . trade shows from other industries where your services might be needed. DO SOMETHING. Now.

The world is in a constant state of flux. Virtual VIP can help you manage that change, but nothing happens until you decide it’s time . . .

In This Issue

Sell a Thing-a-ma-jig, Pay Your Taxes

Spotlight

Guilt Enslaves. Responsibility Liberates.

Think about it.

Shut off the voices you’ve been listening to since you were a child and start moving toward what you want, not what you’ve been told you’re supposed to want.

Forgive those around you for the things they’ve “done to you” . . . and move forward. You’ll feel great, and your results will be great.

And matter. To you.

Testimonial

GREAT results. My business is transformed, and I have Virtual VIP to thank.And my family’s happier, too!

-M Wildstrom, San Jose

About Virtual VIP PC-VIP Inc.
Business and Computer Care for Those with Better Things To DoVirtual Assistants, Business Coaching and Consulting, and Rent-a-C.O.O. Services New York City, and On Your Desktop

PC-VIP Inc.+1 646 827-3800

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Ethics, Morals, the ‘Net and . . . what is SPAM, really?

The Answer Guy ( Jeff Yablon ) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:00:56 +0000

How Do We Communicate in 2009?

An interesting conundrum:

You receive a piece of e-mail. It’s from someone you’ve never heard of. It’s blatant marketing/sales stuff. No pretence about anything else, no content that you (with any luck) find at least a little bit useful in the hopes that you are encouraged to stay in touch. Just a sales pitch. No opt-out link on the e-mail, even.

And then you notice that your e-mail address is in the “TO:” line, along with that of several dozen, or hundred, or thousand others. You can see them all. They can all see you.

You “respond to all”. You express your opinion about getting the email in this way. The fact that it was spam? No big deal. The fact that your e-mail address has been revealed to all those other people? Sloppy, unprofessional, and opening you up to inclusion on that many more lists.

A couple of people respond back, negatively. You’re accused of being as bad as the person who sent out the original letter. It’s only a couple, so you presume those were his real-world friends trying to make an example of you for having the moxy to call him out publicly.

You then do exactly what you were thinking was going to happen to you: you include your new peers on your own mailing list, and you send notes like this one.

And you hear from the same couple of people. They are angry and indignant. They demand you remove them from your mailing list. They could have removed themselves by using the “unsubscribe link” clearly visible in the email. You don’t lecture them, and you don’t ignore their wishes; you remove them.

The Big Question:

HAVE YOU DONE ANYTHING WRONG?

I’m interested in your answer, and if you have an opinion I hope you’ll share it with me.

The business world has changed. Heck, the entire world has changed. Find me a parent of a child between the ages of 11 and 19 and I guarantee they’ll tell you how they really, really, really just don’t understand this new world with texting instead of talking, multiple simultaneous IM sessions, and “C U L8R”s .

So is being opportunistic by making new contacts the way I described above cool? Or is it crossing a line. Or lines?

You may hit “delete” now.

Related to This:

February 2009 Virtual VIP and PC-VIP Newsletter

The Answer Guy ( Jeff Yablon ) — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:57:42 +0000

Virtual VIP Tips

February 2009

PC-VIP Inc./ Virtual VIP

Business and Computer Care for Those with Better Things To Do

New York City . . . and Your Desktop!

Welcome to the February issue of Virtual VIP Tips. We like to say “hi” about once a month, and I want to say that I’m always here if you need help, too. Read on, and have a great day!

Sincerely,
Jeff Yablon
President & CEO

You Call that Marketing?
What’s the REAL Story? Maybe by now you’re heard of Seth Godin. Seth’s one of this decade’s most noted marketers, and while I personally prefer the add-some-wit style of Malcolm Gladwell to the almost-too-much-wisdom approach that Seth puts forth, this man is the real deal.

A few weeks ago, Seth put a post in his blog that you must read. Seriously . . . right now, click this link.

Coffee. Who Cares?

Well, Starbucks cares, and they serve an awful lot of the stuff. And YOU CARE, TOO. Everyone knows what coffee does. Everyone knows when and why and by whom it’s consumed. And somehow, a message that says “let me tell you what I think of me” is still how this is getting sold.

Wrong.

Your clients care about you at some point. If you’re selling certain types of service they care about you somewhere during the sales process. Your prospects, though? They don’t care about you, and if you want to convert them to clients you need to let them know that they’re the important ones.

For the record, you’re important to Virtual VIP, and to PC-VIP. But we’re not that important to you. Until you decide otherwise.

Financial Corner
Amazon to Collect Sales Tax in New YorkDon’t live there? Think you don’t care? Think Again

Unless you’re one of the lucky few businesses thriving on the things you do in your home territory (read: one country in Europe, one state in the USA, etc.), this one could be a problem for you.

The New York State Supreme Court has upheld a decision that makes Amazon.com responsible for collecting sales tax on sales to people in New York, even though Amazon has no physical presence there. Sounds wrong? Well, the decision essentially says that people who sell through Amazon are part of Amazon, so that means Amazon “has a presence”.

Never mind that there are multiple agreements between Amazon and their marketplaces partners stating that there is no relationship of this sort. Never mind that in establishing this precedent the day when Amazon has to pay benefits to their new “employees” might not be far off. Never mind that as soon as the first lawsuit alleging that relationship drops the whole infrastructure will implode. Just . . . pay up.

The world is in a constant state of flux. Let Virtual VIP help you manage that change.

About Virtual VIP PC-VIP Inc.
Business and Computer Care for Those with Better Things To Do

Virtual Assistants, Business Coaching and Consulting, and Rent-a-C.O.O. Services

New York City, and On Your Desktop

PC-VIP Inc.+1 646 827-3800

Amazon to Collect Sales Tax in New York

In This Issue

You Call That Marketing?

Spotlight

A worthwhile quote (slighty truncated):

Don’t look for outside validation. Today everything’s personal. Doesn’t matter what the magazine says, most people aren’t reading it. Movie reviews no longer matter, bad flicks do boffo like “Marley & Me”. No one’s paying attention and there’s no coronation when you reach the supposed milestone. You’re no longer a star, you’re a musician. And that requires practice and innovation and delivering every night. You’d better enjoy playing, because the trappings are less than they used to be, and in most cases they’re just not enough.

Big Ups to Bob Lefsetz. If you’re not in the music business you probably haven’t heard of him. Bob’s one of those been-around-forever guys who is still able to look forward. You need to look forward, too.

Testimonial

GREAT results. My business is transformed, and I have Virtual VIP to thank.And my family’s happier, too!

-M Wildstrom, San Jose

Related to This:

Virtual VIP Newsletter, January 2009

The Answer Guy ( Jeff Yablon ) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:52:49 +0000

Hi there. I’m baaaack!

I never make New Year’s Resolutions. I could explain, but my guess is that those of you who agree with me will find nothing worth reading, and those who don’t will think you haven’t, so . . . onward:

The PC-VIP Inc. Blog has laid fallow for over a year, as I’ve been busy doing other things, like building Virtual VIP into what we believe and have been told is the most amazing Business Consultancy anywhere.

Starting now, we’ll be replicating our monthly newsletter here. You can subscribe to the newsletter for immediate delivery using this link:

Here’s January 2009:

Subject: Tips and Help from Virtual VIP

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Virtual VIP Tips

January 2009

PC-VIP Inc./ Virtual VIPBusiness and Computer Care for Those with Better Things To Do

New York City . . . and Your Desktop!

Dear Jeff,Welcome to the latest issue of Virtual VIP Tips. Our friends tell us we’re really helping by saying “hi” a few times a year, and I want to say that I’m always here if you need help, too. Read on, and have a great day!Sincerely,
Jeff Yablon
President & CEO

PC-VIP Inc./Virtual VIP

Is Your Word Good?EmbargoesOnce upon a time, and for quite a few years, I worked in the press. I did, radio, TV, print, Internet . . . everything. People quoted me on stuff.

Every now and again I was asked to accept an embargo on information; I wasn’t allowed to talk about it until a particular date, but because I needed lead time to do my job and serve the needs of those I wrote about I needed information early. I signed those embargoes because I had to, and because it made my professional life better and served the needs of the people who relied on me for information.

There’s been some talk lately about how the Internet has changed the world, and it’s true. If you’re a blogger and trying to get known, you must be ahead of everybody else; the days of “waiting for the next issue” are over.

I accept that the world has changed. And you need to accept it too. And move accordingly.

A few weeks ago, though, Michael Arrington came out publicly to say that his organization will no longer honor embargoes. They’ll sign them, but they’ll then ignore them.

Mr. Arrington is very successful. But editors before him (and he is an editor) have been successful and still honored their word. So I don’t think this is about success corrupting people.

I also don’t think it’s about there being a new breed of ever-more-arrogant executives out there. And I have no comment about Mr. Arrington in particular.

My comment is for you: this is a tough world, and getting tougher by the minute. It’s changing at the speed of light. You’ve got to be ready to make decisions, and you’ve got to make them.

And you still need to keep your word. You’re a V.I.P., aren’t you? It may stand for Important in most readings, but it’s also for Influential.

Influence everyone you know. And do it the right way. It pays off.

Financial Corner
Dilbert and the End of Capitalism Do you know Dilbert?A very funny daily comic strip by a very smart man, Dilbert looks at the world through the eyes of a cubicle-dwelling engineer at a big company. And Scott Adams, that smart man, writes a blog that examines . . . pretty much whatever is on his mind.

Recently, Scott talked about one of the many ways the (business) world is changing.

Go read it. Give it some thought. And then tell me what you think.

The world is in a constant state of flux. Let Virtual VIP help you manage that change.

About Virtual VIP PC-VIP Inc.
Business and Computer Care for Those with Better Things To DoNew York City, and On Your Desktop

PC-VIP Inc.

+1 646 827-3800