The UK and USA consumer market regulators plan to take action against the dangers of bogus ratings, but how did fake online reviews gain such a foothold?
Miscellaneous
Posts that do not have a specific category but are still of interest...
Small Biz Owners “Trapped” Using Email Addresses Belonging to Internet Service Providers 🪤
Don’t build your personal and professional life around the complimentary “free” email addresses supplied by your broadband provider. It shouldn’t need to be said, but apparently it does.
UK Contractors Operating Ltd Companies Should Be Mad as Hell with HMRC and IR35 🧾
HMRC are to squeeze private sector contractors in what has been described as “carpet bombing” taxation measures. The targets are individuals providing their services via a type of Limited Company called a PSC. Are you in or out of the IR35 legislation?
Magazine Advertising Scam: Rogues Impersonate Crime Prevention Officers 🤥
Fraudsters are impersonating the police and telephoning self-employed people to sell advertising in a fake crime prevention magazine. They claim to be partnered with Trading Standards.
Magazine Advertising Scam: Bogus Children’s Cancer Charity Misleading Small Businesses 🤥
Don’t be misled by this classic magazine advertising scam in which small businesses seeking exposure are hoodwinked by ruthless rogues claiming to be running a real charity. This particular operation is called “Kids for Life”. It was heavily criticised on an edition of BBC Radio 4’s “You and Yours”.
Stolen Credit Card Email Scam Targets Small Businesses and Service Providers 💳
Get wise to this socially-engineered credit card fraud operation that hinges on the recipient invoicing someone who is not who they say they are for a project that doesn’t exist.
Return of The Apprentice: Lord Sugar Still Milking BBC & Flogging SEO
Popular BBC business soap opera The Apprentice returns as series 12 and Alan Sugar treat us to more tedious TV. It’s Big Brother in pinstripe and enough is enough…
5 Big Benefits of Using a Virtual Office Address for Your Home Business
Are you running your small business from home? Would you like to project a better outward image? Try using a virtual office address to save money and look good…
Need a Break? My Technology Burn Out & Reset
As of October 2015, I am recovering from general fatigue and a dead PC motherboard. Technology burnout is real and it’s coming to get you…
What I Learned as a Google Search Engine “Rater” 🔍
In 2008 I worked for an Irish technology company contracted by Google to perform search engine testing. Did I learn anything important about SEO?
Make Money as an Internet Day Trader? Think Again…
Can you earn money online as a day trader in the financial markets? I watched the BBC series “Million Dollar Traders” and have noted my thoughts…
Peter Parker, Marketer
How could Peter Parker use his superhero alter ego for legal profit? Modern technology, cool design and genius marketing could keep Spider-Man minted…
Is Business Reality TV Responsible for Business Failure?
Reality business TV seems preoccupied with wacky characters, ego, ratings and entertainment. Is there anything useful to be learned from business on television?
Are People Serious About Starting Businesses?
According to the StartUp Britain website, 2012 had the most business start ups in the UK. But what about the wind-downs and unsuccessful ventures?
Be Your Own Boss – Another BBC Business Candidate
Is there a business reality show where “real” is the operative word? A country struggling with a debt crisis needs small business start ups but apparently it is happening against a backdrop of life-changing “jeopardy” and the sounds of dubstep. “Be Your Own Boss”, the new contender of televised entrepreneurship, squeezes in between Junior and […]