Internet Marketing Business Forum

I received an interesting query via e-mail today. Here's the question:

I am not a business owner, just a regular online shopper who would like to avoid being taken in by fraudulent businesses. A great number of companies operating businesses online don't appear to follow your advice about being transparent. I am curious to know if there are any regulations in place to monitor the legitimacy of these companies and if they are required to register their business or obtain a licence? As a consumer is there a way for me to check that a company is registered and has a licence?

Here's the reply I sent back ...

I've not come across registration/licensing for online businesses but given the size of the internet I'm sure there must be one.

The key place to look would be search engines - do a search on the product name, company name or the name of the person featured on the site you are looking at. This will throw up any links or mentions on forums (good or bad comments) so it’s a good place to start.

If you have no luck here, then seek out online forums focused on your niche or area of interest, and post your question as to the legitimacy of the product/service.

Look out for testimonials on the site - if not e-mail and ask for them. Whilst testimonials are easy to fake, look out for ones which quote names and/or websites. Ones quoted as 'TJ from Dublin' don't ring true. You will see on my site I use full names (with permission of the people providing the quote) and this makes it feel real.

Do they provide a clear money-back guarantee? It's simple to put these words up and not honour it but at least it's a step in the right direction.

Hope that helps.

Anyone come across such a scheme? Sounds a great idea if there isn't one!

__________________
Web Design

Email marketing

SEO