PROVO—The practice of censoring the internet may soon be challenged by the World Trade Organization. At issue is the obstruction or restriction of services to internet users worldwide. According to a report released by Reuters, “a WTO ruling could set limits on blanket censorship and compel states instead to use more selective filtering.”
(See WTO Challenge.)
Many countries censor the internet on political or moral grounds, including the United States and China. For example, “China has developed one of the most pervasive systems, in Cuba all unauthorized surfing is illegal, and many Western countries limit access to child porn sites,” according to the report.
Since internet censorship has a significant impact on business, the WTO challenge is welcomed. For instance, in China, it is suspected that Google searches are being rerouted under the direction of Chinese officials en mass to the Chinese search engine Baidu, stealing billions of dollars of search revenue in the process. (Compare www.google.com to www.baidu.com and take note of the design similarities.) In Japan, 90% of the search engine market has been usurped by foreign-owned entities.
In Antiqua, United States laws related to online gambling were recently challenged and decided in favor of Antiqua. (See Online Gambling Dispute.) As a retaliatory measure, the WTO decision suspended intellectual property rights of firms in the United States, setting the stage for increased clout for smaller countries grappling with restrictions from larger ones.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
FCC Seeks New Rules for Internet Providers
Congress has enabled the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish rules designed to keep Internet Service Providers (ISPs) from barring content and applications of rival providers in their service areas.
One of the issues at debate is whether government regulation will help or hurt the industry.
Proponents of government rule-making in the industry argue that large telecommunications companies currently have monopolies in the areas they provide service. Laws that would force them to allow competitors to use their broadband networks would bring in competition and innovation by offering alternatives services than those offered by the area's major ISP, they argue.
Those opposed to regulation argue that government involvement in the market will thwart market forces, hurting industry's ability to stay competitive and benefit from innovation through free market enterprise.
One opponent is Arizona Sentator John McCain. Soon after the FCC's intentions were announced, Senator McCain introduced legislation, called the Internet Freedom Act, in effort to stop the FCC from putting rules into effect.
If rules are made and enforced, this could mean changes to the quality and price of Internet service as well as the availability of alternative services currently being blocked by large telecommunications companies. The Atlantic's Daniel Indiviglio asked whether these rules, which many say are geared toward “network neutrality” might lead to usage-based fees rather than the flat rate currently charged by ISPs.
One of the issues at debate is whether government regulation will help or hurt the industry.
Proponents of government rule-making in the industry argue that large telecommunications companies currently have monopolies in the areas they provide service. Laws that would force them to allow competitors to use their broadband networks would bring in competition and innovation by offering alternatives services than those offered by the area's major ISP, they argue.
Those opposed to regulation argue that government involvement in the market will thwart market forces, hurting industry's ability to stay competitive and benefit from innovation through free market enterprise.
One opponent is Arizona Sentator John McCain. Soon after the FCC's intentions were announced, Senator McCain introduced legislation, called the Internet Freedom Act, in effort to stop the FCC from putting rules into effect.
If rules are made and enforced, this could mean changes to the quality and price of Internet service as well as the availability of alternative services currently being blocked by large telecommunications companies. The Atlantic's Daniel Indiviglio asked whether these rules, which many say are geared toward “network neutrality” might lead to usage-based fees rather than the flat rate currently charged by ISPs.
Monday, October 19, 2009
FTC Requires More Disclosure for Websites
PROVO—Ever vigilant in its mission to “prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them,” the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on October 5 clarified interpretations of the Federal Trade Commission Act (read the Law) aimed at persuading website owners and advertisers—at the risk of a potential lawsuit—to provide disclosure about material relationships and to clearly identify non-typical advertised results from using products (see FTC Press Release).
For business owners who manage websites and other advertising mediums, the new guidelines serve as a wake-up call to provide legitimate, quality products and services instead of peddling false hope and ill-founded expectations. Otherwise, they may find themselves facing sanctions or lawsuits.
Bloggers Beware
To explain, if a blogger is given cash or free products in return for writing a blog endorsement, the specifics of that relationship now must be disclosed by the website owner and the blogger. Through this clarification of guidelines, consumers are better protected from falling into traps where they might not expect such a relationship to exist, and would otherwise place unwarranted trust on a claim that is insincere. Traditional journalists have long upheld the standard of returning or otherwise refusing gifts, but web writers or bloggers have not lived up to, or been held liable to, the same standard. These new guidelines help level the playing field.
Product Claims
Additionally, with the new guidelines in place, advertisers who play up unusual or atypical results of using a product—when the majority of people using it wouldn't experience the same result—must now clearly identify what the “norm” is. Thus, consumer expectations cannot be as easily manipulated to facilitate or encourage the sale of a product that will eventually disappoint.
Celebrity Endorsements
Finally, both advertisers and celebrities must now disclose material relationships and both may be liable for false or unsubstantiated claims should a lawsuit materialize. Thus, celebrities now have a duty to disclose relationships when they discuss products on talks shows or other publicly viewed mediums like social networking sites or blogs.
For business owners who manage websites and other advertising mediums, the new guidelines serve as a wake-up call to provide legitimate, quality products and services instead of peddling false hope and ill-founded expectations. Otherwise, they may find themselves facing sanctions or lawsuits.
Bloggers Beware
To explain, if a blogger is given cash or free products in return for writing a blog endorsement, the specifics of that relationship now must be disclosed by the website owner and the blogger. Through this clarification of guidelines, consumers are better protected from falling into traps where they might not expect such a relationship to exist, and would otherwise place unwarranted trust on a claim that is insincere. Traditional journalists have long upheld the standard of returning or otherwise refusing gifts, but web writers or bloggers have not lived up to, or been held liable to, the same standard. These new guidelines help level the playing field.
Product Claims
Additionally, with the new guidelines in place, advertisers who play up unusual or atypical results of using a product—when the majority of people using it wouldn't experience the same result—must now clearly identify what the “norm” is. Thus, consumer expectations cannot be as easily manipulated to facilitate or encourage the sale of a product that will eventually disappoint.
Celebrity Endorsements
Finally, both advertisers and celebrities must now disclose material relationships and both may be liable for false or unsubstantiated claims should a lawsuit materialize. Thus, celebrities now have a duty to disclose relationships when they discuss products on talks shows or other publicly viewed mediums like social networking sites or blogs.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Introducing HIT Counter Advanced
“Going live” with your website is a huge milestone, but it is only the first step in taking your business online. As with any new business venture, regular assessment is critical. By gaging how customers are using your site, you can work out the kinks and optimize your marketing effectiveness.
HIT Counter, a powerful new product offered by HIT Web Design, can become your resource to understanding and adapting to your customers. This feature does not just count how many visits your site has had, it also provides a wealth of statistics and data all about your visitors.
What It Can Do for You
The HIT Counter creates an array of custom reports—such as where visitors are going on your site, where they are located, how they used search engines to find your site—providing it all in a user-friendly, easy-access format.
HIT Counter can be a key tool to capitalize on strengths and evaluate weaknesses on your site. For example, the HIT Counter map shows where each visitor is located, allowing you to determine where best to devote your marketing resources.
You can also find out exactly what key words visitors are typing into search engines to find your site. This can help you adjust your own content to increase your search engine optimization and bring in more traffic. You also have the ability to track movements of users to learn what areas of your site are more popular and if navigation problems exist. You can learn how long visitors stays in one area, giving you an idea of how effectively your content is drawing them in.
Additionally, HIT Counter tells you what Internet browsers your visitors are using and what operating systems they are using. This can be a fruitful source of information to determine how best to maximize functionality and the convenience your visitors experience.
A Tool for the Long Term
Making a website a productive business tool is not an event—it is a process that requires evaluation and adjustments long after the site is created. A website begins as a blunt instrument, and HIT Counter can help you sharpen it until it becomes an effective and profitable business portal.
For more information, please visit http://www.hitwebdesign.com or call 1-866-211-0743.
HIT Counter, a powerful new product offered by HIT Web Design, can become your resource to understanding and adapting to your customers. This feature does not just count how many visits your site has had, it also provides a wealth of statistics and data all about your visitors.
What It Can Do for You
The HIT Counter creates an array of custom reports—such as where visitors are going on your site, where they are located, how they used search engines to find your site—providing it all in a user-friendly, easy-access format.
HIT Counter can be a key tool to capitalize on strengths and evaluate weaknesses on your site. For example, the HIT Counter map shows where each visitor is located, allowing you to determine where best to devote your marketing resources.
You can also find out exactly what key words visitors are typing into search engines to find your site. This can help you adjust your own content to increase your search engine optimization and bring in more traffic. You also have the ability to track movements of users to learn what areas of your site are more popular and if navigation problems exist. You can learn how long visitors stays in one area, giving you an idea of how effectively your content is drawing them in.
Additionally, HIT Counter tells you what Internet browsers your visitors are using and what operating systems they are using. This can be a fruitful source of information to determine how best to maximize functionality and the convenience your visitors experience.
A Tool for the Long Term
Making a website a productive business tool is not an event—it is a process that requires evaluation and adjustments long after the site is created. A website begins as a blunt instrument, and HIT Counter can help you sharpen it until it becomes an effective and profitable business portal.
For more information, please visit http://www.hitwebdesign.com or call 1-866-211-0743.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Introducing HIT Translator
As of March 2009, there were an estimated 1.6 billion Internet users worldwide and English was the primary language for only 29% of them. Adding support to your store for additional languages allows you to increase your appeal to even more Internet users and take greater advantage of shoppers worldwide.
HIT now offers an incredibly innovative translation tool that can:
HIT Web Design’s translation tool can translate from English into nearly 30 other languages. If you are ready to increase your customer base, contact HIT at 866-211-0743.
HIT now offers an incredibly innovative translation tool that can:
- Translate All Product Information: Includes every product title and description
- Translate Product Information (Changed in last 5 days): Includes only recent product title and description changes
- Translate Site Content: Includes all site content including buttons, site text, defined pages)
- Incorporate any language supported by Google translators and a shopping cart language pack.
HIT Web Design’s translation tool can translate from English into nearly 30 other languages. If you are ready to increase your customer base, contact HIT at 866-211-0743.
Monday, August 17, 2009
HIT Now Writes Your Blog Articles For You
HIT now writes blog articles. Research has shown that as you are establishing your blog, you will want to write an article a day, or at least every other day. Once your blog attracts visitors, two or three blog posts or articles a week should be sufficient. Blog articles will help bring customers to your site. Blog articles and blog posts will keep them coming back.
Why does your business need a blog? Blogs are an affordable way to market your business or a specific product or service. By adding keywords as well as engaging and unique text, you bring people to your site and keep them coming back.
Blogging is a great way to build relationships with companies in similar industries. You link to their blog, and they link to yours. This usually increases traffic on your blog. If you have a blog that is updated on a regular basis, you start to become an expert in your industry. People begin to trust you and your opinion.
Blogging helps put a face on your business. It’s hard to build trust with online companies—especially small online businesses. A blog with regular posts and comments from users is a great way to help potential customers become familiar with your company, increasing trust and sales.
In addition to writing blog articles, for only $170 HIT Web Design will install RSS. This feature creates a link to a visitor's address bar and to your website that allows visitors to, in essence, "subscribe" to the Blog. The RSS Feed will automatically send them updates whenever a new Blog entry is posted. This is a great way to market your company and its products or services.
For more information, please visit http://www.hitwebdesign.com or call 1-866-211-0743.
Why does your business need a blog? Blogs are an affordable way to market your business or a specific product or service. By adding keywords as well as engaging and unique text, you bring people to your site and keep them coming back.
Blogging is a great way to build relationships with companies in similar industries. You link to their blog, and they link to yours. This usually increases traffic on your blog. If you have a blog that is updated on a regular basis, you start to become an expert in your industry. People begin to trust you and your opinion.
Blogging helps put a face on your business. It’s hard to build trust with online companies—especially small online businesses. A blog with regular posts and comments from users is a great way to help potential customers become familiar with your company, increasing trust and sales.
In addition to writing blog articles, for only $170 HIT Web Design will install RSS. This feature creates a link to a visitor's address bar and to your website that allows visitors to, in essence, "subscribe" to the Blog. The RSS Feed will automatically send them updates whenever a new Blog entry is posted. This is a great way to market your company and its products or services.
For more information, please visit http://www.hitwebdesign.com or call 1-866-211-0743.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Introducing HIT Search
Heritage Internet Technologies introduces a search tool that can increase your company’s revenue. How? What if you knew what your visitors were searching for? How valuable is that information? Visitors to your site use HIT Search to look for a product, service, or information on your website. If the search is successful, your customer is one step closer to purchasing a product. If there are no results for the search, the customer will leave your site. But, they will leave with them a list of everything they searched for.
This search tool is placed at the top of your site, so that it is easily seen by visitors. The visitor types in what they are searching for and, within seconds, a list of possibilities appears without navigating the customer away from the page they are on.
In addition to being a great search tool, HIT Search provides you with valuable search reports that let you know which words and phrases your potential customers are searching for. If your visitors are searching for products or services that you don’t provide, add those products and services and watch your profits take off.
Click Here to learn more about HIT Search.
This search tool is placed at the top of your site, so that it is easily seen by visitors. The visitor types in what they are searching for and, within seconds, a list of possibilities appears without navigating the customer away from the page they are on.
In addition to being a great search tool, HIT Search provides you with valuable search reports that let you know which words and phrases your potential customers are searching for. If your visitors are searching for products or services that you don’t provide, add those products and services and watch your profits take off.
Click Here to learn more about HIT Search.
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