I am compelled to write this article because several clients of an unnamed web design company asked me to.  I cannot mention these people's names because there is a GAG on their free speech.   Let me explain...  These people purchased web sites and signed a terms of use that restricts them from voicing any complaints they might have regarding the services they paid for!  In fact, they can be sued for $2500.00 plus $100.00 for each person that reads this complaint.  IT DOES NOT MATTER if this unhappy person is telling the truth or not.  Amazing, isn't it?   I have only truly become frustrated with one company in the last five years of providing web sites to my clients.  THIS is that very company. This same company has received over 300 BBB complaints in the last 18 months, over 5000 negative posts in ripoffreport.com, forced to change their name, and supposedly kicked out of the Better Business Bureau!  I did not know you could be kicked out of the BBB??   Here is the legal wording to watch out for…   Please read...   43. Negative Comments/Slander Client specifically agrees not to engage in negative comments or slander regarding HWS, including but not limited to publishing, or causing to be published, complaints or derogatory comments regarding HWS in any format, including but not limited to, print, newspaper, television, radio or on internet complaint sites, blogs or other public internet forums.  Should there be a breach of this condition HWS will be entitled to liquidated damages in the amount of $2,500.00 for each publishing or posting.  If said breach occurs on an internet complaint site each hit to that website will be considered an individual breach of this condition, and subject to additional liquidated damages of $100 per occurrence.  Further, HWS shall be entitled to litigate this matter, and obtain the money damages together with injunctive relief.  The prevailing party to that litigation shall be entitled to an award of attorney's fees.     For the full Terms of Use please go to; http://tinyurl.com/cgnj87     I know they offer the lowest prices on the internet to build websites, but the lowest price does not make them the best Website Design Company.   When they say they can do everything we can do and offer a CHEAPER price, they can not. They can only offer a CHEAPER Price and Product.   Thanks, Douglas A. Marks Website Marketing Consultant E-mail - dougmarks@websiteforge.com Business - (888) 558.2446 Ext. 208 Fax - (517) 338-5064 Business Hours: (Monday - Friday) 10 AM - 6 PM Eastern Standard Time

eCommerce Shopping Cart Solution   eCommerce Software & Shopping Cart Solution   Customizable Multiple Product Options Color Swatch Functionality Product Input & Management Web-Based Administration Area Advanced Related Product Functionality Customizable Product Description Fields Thumbnail Generator and Unlimited Photos per Product Assign Products to Multiple Categories & Sub-Categories Yearly Automatic Updates & Upgrades Worth Over $200,000   Product Pages - Unlimited   Thumbnail Summary & Detailed View Unlimited Product Options & File Tabs Mouse Over Pop-up Images Change Color in Image Option Product Photo Gallery with Unlimited Images Rotation and Much, Much More!   Import & Export Function   Import & Export data from your site such as Customers, Orders & Emails   Inventory Control   Always know how much Inventory you have in stock. Remove Sold-Out items Add Sold-Out Inventory Watermark on an item.   Invoicing   Admin Customer Vendor   Reporting   Summary # of New Orders Total Active or Inactive Products Payment Types # of Registered Buyers Order Status Order Range Product Popularity   Real Time Shipping & Other Options   Fed-Ex UPS USPS DHL Custom Shipping via Shipping Zone Default Weight lbs Free Shipping Add S&H Charges   Return Customer Tracking   Unique login/password Track past orders Save Customer Order History   Sell Downloadable Products   Keycode Technology Immediate Download Download After Link is E-mailed 1 Click Link Disposal Allow X Amount of Downloads Link Available for X Days   Order Management   Ability to Track Order Type Batch Order Processing Bulk Data Import and Export   Unlimited Drop Shipping Option   Add Unlimited Drop Shippers by assigning your Drop Shippers to the Products they offer. This will send an Invoice automatically to the Drop Shipper letting them know who to ship the product to   Tax Calculations   By State Zone Item Address Add Special Tax Option Apply Tax Only When Option   Payment Gateway Options   2Checkout AlertPay Authorize.net Echo LinkPoint - First Data Global PayPal PayFlow PayPal Standard PayPal Pro SkipJack Manual Request Quote Coming soon - Google Checkout.)   Currency   US Dollar Canadian Dollar Euro UK Sterling   Flexible Search Function   Keyword   E-Mail Status Notifications   Thank You For Ordering Invoices Shipping Tracking Numbers Custom E-Mail Notifications   Extras   Gift Certificates Discount Codes Volume Discount Pricing Bundling Virtual Currency Options   Wish List Set-Up Included   Have returning customers remind them of the items they didn't purchase by having them add products to a Wish List and increase your future sales.   Gift Registry Set-Up Included   Have customers use your site as a Registry for; Baby Showers, Weddings, Anniversaries, Birthdays and more. Includes Gift Wrapping Option & Gift Notes.   QuickBooks Integration   You can export order information into a CSV file and import into QuickBooks. Coming in 2009 you'll be able to import into QuickBooks POS.   StoneEdge Order Manager Integration   You can export order information into a CSV file and import data.   Froogle/Google Base Export   Get your products found faster by more people. (more info click here)

Rose & Greg Allen with www.SimplyCharmingJewelry.com called me last week to assist them in changing their site around a little and to offer them some ideas to increase the amount of traffic to the site from the search engines.   2 of the Keywords they wanted to be found for were Magnesite Turquoise Bracelet & Custom Handmade Jewelry. They were not in the first 30 pages in the search engines for those Keywords.   In just 1 week here are the results...   Magnesite Turquoise Bracelet - NOW #15 in Google! http://www.google.com/search?q=Magnesite+Turquoise+Bracelet&hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS378&start=10&sa=N   Custom Handmade Jewelry - NOW #1 in Yahoo! http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=AhvWZx6.XQpcJSsMNTwTmgCbvZx4?p=custom+handmade+jewelry&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8&fr=yfp-t-701   I welcome you to stop by SimplyCharmingJewelry.com for their custom handmade jewelry and check out some of their sterling silver, swarovski crystals, freshwater pearls, semi-precious stones, swarovski crystal pearls, turquoise and other glass beaded jewelry.   You will find necklaces, earrings, bracelets, watches, anklets and much more.  If you just happen to be shopping for a friend or family member you are sure to find that one of a kind gift for that special someone.   Also, leave a comment about the website here. I'm sure Rose & Greg would love to hear it.   Thanks,   Douglas A. Marks Website Marketing Consultant Website - www.websiteforge.com Business - (888) 558.2446  Ext. 208

Hi Doug,   Do you know how to get a hold of Buyerzone??  I spoke with you a couple months ago and really wanted to go through you for my website.  If you recall, the company I was going through would not give me my money back so I felt I had no choice but to stay with them.  As unprofessional as this may sound, I HATE them.  They are the worst web company I have ever had to deal with.  No, they are the worst company EVER I have ever had to deal with.  I am stuck paying $50/mo for hosting and I am not even searchable on the net!  Can you believe that??  If you have a contact at Buyerzone, would you PLEASE forward it to me so that I can see what I can do about getting out of this contract so that I can take my business to you?  They told me I am stuck with them for 1 year and if not I lose the money I paid to build the website, I lose my domain name and that they have all rights to my website so I would lose that too.   Thank you for your help.   Kind regards,   Veronica   -------------------------------------     BuyerZone.com provides an Online Dispute Resolution Service for all of their buyers. This service is designed to help buyers and sellers resolve issues that may develop during the purchase process.   At BuyerZone, they make every effort to work with high quality, professional suppliers in all of their product and service categories. Your feedback is important to them in maintaining the integrity of their supplier network. If you have a problem with a supplier that was matched to your BuyerZone quote request, complete the Online Dispute Resolution Form.   Please ensure that you have completed all of the required fields and have provided a detailed description of the issue. The more information they have, the more they will be able to help.   After you have completed and submitted this form, a BuyerZone representative will inform the supplier in question of the reported claim and suggest actions to help resolve the issue.   If you have additional questions about the Online Dispute Resolution Service, please contact custcare@buyerzone.com or call Monday - Friday 9AM - 5PM ET at  (888-393-5000)

Scott Neil,   Your websites look professional and well made; however, I may choose to go with a local firm to support our local businesses, which are hurting right now due to the recession. Why should I choose WebsiteForge over a local business to design my website?   --------------------------------------------------   Great Question! I am asked this all the time...   I know how you feel. I asked the same question to WebsiteForge before I had a website built over 7 years ago... 2 years prior to ending up working for WebsiteForge after my last decision to never work with a local web designer based only on the idea that I was keeping someone else employed.   It is a noble idea to keep local businesses in business, but it is an even better idea to keep you in business, right? Please hear me out on this...   I know you think a website is just a website and regardless of who builds that website you are going to have the same results, right? I used to have that same idea in my head too.   That is until I found WebsiteForge...   I have had over twenty websites in my life. None of those sites ever produced a dime without me spending money to direct traffic to my site. It did not matter if I spent $100 or $40,000; the results were always the same until I found WebsiteForge.     WebsiteForge was the only company that ever drove traffic to my site without costing me money!   Why? Because, WebsiteForge was the only company that had Search Engine Technology that allowed the Search Engines to index my site the way that it should of been done in the first place.   Most of these small local design shops do not have a clue about Search Engine Optimization and how to drive the traffic to your site so you make money instead of spending money on advertising to drive traffic to your site.   What I found was, "WebsiteForge delivers results in the Search Engines while others can only make promises" and only then did I make money from my website." Moreover, the technology WebsiteForge provided for me and the Customer Support far out-weighed what I always had received from the local person who never called me back once he had my money and took 4-6 months to build a site and everything else that went along with that.   I found WebsiteForge to be one of the most professional companies ever to work with, so I started referring my clients to WebsiteForge. I referred so much business to WebsiteForge that they made me an offer to handle all their sales for the company... and I have been here for over 5 years now spreading the Website Gospel on why you should choose WebsiteForge over everyone else.   And that is why I feel you should choose WebsiteForge over the local person to design your website, because after all, it's more than just designing your website, it's your business. Thanks, Douglas A. Marks Website Marketing Consultant E-mail - dougmarks@websiteforge.com Business - (888) 558.2446 Ext. 208 Fax - (517) 338-5064 Business Hours: (Monday - Friday) 10 AM - 6 PM Eastern Standard Time

One of the biggest complaints I get, is the fact that our company is much more expensive than a lot of website design companies in the market.   It's said best by a recent complaint via email that I will share with you...   -----------------------------------   Sorry I haven't been able to answer your calls. Regardless, please note that I am not interested in doing business with your company for your exuberant amount of:   $3,499 One-Time Setup $99/mo Managed Services Fee That is absolutely LUDICROUS...   I have found another company to do business with at a far lower price with everything you offer with great discounts and flash thrown in at no price to name one.. Thanks anyway. Kim Henriksen    ----------------------------------- This was my reply.... -----------------------------------   I take it this is your first website? Buying a website is like buying a new or used car, you can buy a low end used car cheaply.  It won't get you very far and it is going to be expensive to maintain.   Low end websites just like used cars need a lot updates and maintenance to keep them going and eventually a complete need engine.   Many think a car is just a car, like a website is just a website.  However,  the technology in the lower end web site products are 5-10 years old and are not easily found in the search engines.   A customer that finds you in search engines is the most important part of having a website! It's like the fuel for your car.  No search engine listings -- No customers. A new WebsiteForge site is like buying a brand new car that gets the latest and greatest features every week!   We add over $200,000 in new technology to your site every year in the form of  2-8 software upgrades weekly.   We provide unlimited service.  Remember your car needs oil and maintenance.  WebsiteForge provides these upgrades at no extra cost!    Best of all -- we provide unlimited gas (search engine features) driving customers to your website to purchase your products and services!   And if there is a chance you doubt what we are saying -- we will guarantee the success of your business or we'll give you your money back. What everyone needs to know is -- There are no successful websites based on the "used car analogy".  Successful web sites spend 10x's more money to try to compete with a WebsiteForge web site! I talk to 600-1000 people a month, most are people who never had a website before.  Typically basing their buying decision on price.   Those who have actually had experience with at least one web site in their past realize the huge benefit of WebsiteForge and our methods.   The combined services and upgrades we provide typically start making money to moment they are found in the search engines! Not long after we set their site up the correct way.   Facts are stubborn things: - Our retention rate is 98.5% - Our cancellation rate is less than .05% which is the best in the industry. - Most web design companies have less than a 50% retention rate and a 25% cancellation rate.    This means, we know what we are doing!  Helping businesses just like you succeed online. Before choosing any business please check Ripoffreport.com and the BBB.org.  Ask for a copy of the company's "terms of use" or "contract".   One large web site company in Utah actually has a clause that states they have the right to sue you if you say anything bad about them.  They can sue you for $2500 per occurrence.   That type of policy conicides with a  "bait and switch tactic". Once you have purchased  you can't get your money back... and you signed a one year contract with them that says you can't voice your outrage. At WebsiteForge, we take the risk out of purchasing a website by giving you an unconditional 12 month money back guarantee for any reason and no contracts! Hopefully you'll find this e-mail useful like many others have over the years. If you do choose another company and learn the hard-way, please contact me so we can get you on the right path to online success. I do wish you the best.   ----------------------------------- This was the response back... -----------------------------------   WOW. You are so right. I did not do any research on this company and I am completely shocked at the reports against them. I have had websites before. I have never had 1 made for me. I have always done my own. Your price is just to far out of my reach. Thanks for the help. Kim Henriksen     ----------------------------------- Summary... -----------------------------------   Other website companies have much lower prices for a reason! They offer a low-end product that will not be found in the search engines, it will cost you a lot to update and maintain, plainly put... you just will not be happy with it because you won't make any money unless you are paying money in advertising to send them to your site.   It's kind of like being nickeled and dimed for everything you have.   Remember... You Get What You Pay For!   Don't be fooled in letting these companies tell you that they can offer you everything that we do but for less... if they did... they would cost the same or even more, because people would be willing to pay the price... instead they just pay the price!   If you can not afford to purchase a website from WebsiteForge, just let me know what your budget is and I will try to offer you a solution with a company that can meet your budget so you won't be Ripped-Off by what I call... the used car (website) salesperson.   I wish you nothing but the best in your online endeavor.   Thanks, Douglas A. Marks Website Marketing Consultant E-mail - dougmarks@websiteforge.com Business - (888) 558.2446 Ext. 208 Fax - (517) 338-5064 Business Hours: (Monday - Friday) 10 AM - 6 PM Eastern Standard Time  

Online spending is up.   US business-to-business (B2B) companies are increasing marketing spending.   According to Outsell, while 13% of B2B companies with over 1,000 employees are increasing spending, 26% of B2B companies with fewer than 100 workers are.   In the aggregate, large firms plan to cut overall marketing spending by 9.7%, whereas their smaller counterparts are cutting only 0.4%.   Online spending, however, will go up for both groups, with the small B2B companies increasing digital spending the most—by an average of 8.2%—and the large B2B companies increasing by only 0.4%.   In a Borrell Associates study, small-business owners claimed certain marketing tactics had proved effective—particularly online. E-mail was judged most effective 80.4%, followed by search 56.8% and display advertising 42.1%.  

What is a Custom Graphic Design   Is a Unique One-Of-A-Kind Custom Graphic Designed Site. Get the look & feel you want with Unlimited revisions until you are 100% satisfied.     A custom designed site incorporates a graphic in the either the header section of the site or in the body of site. The graphic is a custom creation made with computer graphic software by a graphic artist.    Some designs are very simple like the swoosh design shown to the left in the header section and the use of photo's and text graphics on the home page.  Other sites incorporate both header design with the use of the logo and then have custom design done in the body section of site.   Regardless of the style you may want to choose, we will do unlimited designs and revisions until you are 100% satisfied.    Here are a few more examples of a Custom Graphic Designed Web Site:           One way to keep your website cost down and still have a unique site is to go with a Custom Web Site. A Custom Web Site has no Graphic Design it's just a custom shell. You can have an outside border color, inside border color, menu bar color and function, header and footer area.     In this example I have choosen a dark grey border inside border, light grey outside border color, gray menu bar with a metallic shine to it, header content area and a dark grey footer content area with the inside page content area white.     I have my own logo so I'll have that placed in the top header section along with a photo and a gold bar to make it stand out.   I also have my own content and images I'll supply to the design team and they will arrange them professionally on the site.           

Facebook is a social networking platform and it's more than just a fad. Facebook is boosting marketing and sales for businesses all over the world. Here are the five main ways that Facebook can help your business:   1. Build Awareness Facebook offers very affordable, targeted cost-per-click advertising options that can be targeted to the city you do business in or a larger geographical area. You only pay per click, so costs are minimal. Also, a Facebook page or group can be created to help get the word out about your organizations products or services.   2. Distribute Information Businesses can affordably communicate events, news, products and services. Facebook allows you to leverage your personal and professional contacts to share information and for free which is the best part.   3. Create Community Social networking serves to bring people together. Your business can brand, build, and boost business. This allows your community to become your best sales people and free focus group. Read the conversations and post and learn how you can better your organization and the products or services you offer.   4. Offer Additional Customer Service Through Facebook, you can answer questions, receive free feedback, promote events, and provide news to be of additional service to your audience. Facebook gives your prospective and current customers an additional web option to find and connect with you.   5. Boost Sales Businesses have to fight harder than ever to survive in this tough economy, but your business can have a competitive edge with Facebook. Tapping free social networking tools like Facebook to build awareness, share information, educate, build community, increase connection, and enhance customer service will all work in unison to make sales.   When used with the right intention and managed regularly, Facebook can be a no-cost marketing tool to help your local businesses gain a competitive edge. Converse directly with your clients or customers, create a community of conversation, learn, share, and connect all in a fun way.   Facebook has over 350 million users; I am willing to bet that your audience is waiting.