Popularity and increased use of the Internet has brought many wonderful benefits. The availability of information at speeds often more quick than our brains can transition is sometimes hard to wrap our heads around. In this age of advancement, the question of copyright is an obvious one. Once you put your words out there for the benefit of others, are they still yours? At what point is information to be shared and information to be cited?

The answer is not as vague as the questions make it seem. Your work is your work. Plain and simple. If you take the time to create original content, it is not ethical (nor is it legal) for another person or company to use the content as their own. The sad news is that this dishonest practice is occurring more and more. What can you do if someone uses your content? Thankfully, there are steps you can take.

Do you know who has taken your content and used it without permission? If not, you’ll need to do some research. You can lookup the website owner via a Whois search, or check the PAD file if software is the content in question. While you’re researching, find out who is hosting the site. Check the host’s Terms of Service (TOS) and Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) to get an idea of how cooperative the webhost will be. Often, there will be information on how to file an abuse claim.

Before you start firing accusations, verse yourself in title 17, U.S. Code on copyright. Make sure that the content in question applies under this law and be able to specify the violation using terminology here. Note that only “works” can be copyrighted- not “ideas.” Information in an article can be the same, but the words used to express the ideas cannot be identical.

Have print copies of all documents in hand. Screenshots are excellent sources of documentation as well. A great source for information is www.archive.org. This site allows you to enter the URL of the website and gain information on when specific content was added to their site.

Compose a letter to third party providers notifying them of the suspected violation. These providers can include associations, download sites, online ordering, hosting, and organizations. Be sure to send the same packet of information to each group, specifying the action you want them to take. Often, these groups will conduct their own investigation, so you may not receive immediate action. Be patient. They should respond and keep you abreast of developments in your case.

In the meantime, send a letter of Cease and Desist to the offending site owner. Tell them your feelings of copyright violation along with your expectations for content removal and further action.

Most often, these actions will be enough to get the content off the web. However, if not, be sure to follow up with third party organizations to ensure your rights and your work are protected.

Regardless of the myriad of free templates available on the Internet, opt for custom business card printing. Remember, the purpose of a card is to communicate pertinent information while standing out in a crowd of commoners. To be memorable, you need to move beyond the cut and paste template.
Get price quotes from several designers. Your local copy center often has an onsite designer to assist you. Many companies offer deals if you bundle services together, e.g. cards, brochures, and direct mailers. For an even more economic solution, consider the services of a freelancing college student in graphic design.

Website design is becoming increasingly easy; you don’t even have to understand html code anymore to have a working site! Even so, there are still the areas of layout and design to consider. If you don’t have a keen sense of graphic design, your site could suffer. There are also advanced features that will pull traffic to your site. Trust a design expert to set up your company website and watch your hits increase.
Of course, there are those of you who will insist on designing your own site. If you do, choose a content management system that provides ample customer support so that you can get feedback and help when you need it.

There’s an app for that. But that doesn’t mean there should be. Of the more than 50,000 iTunes apps, many are not used. Even with an app design program to build the application itself, you still need a mobile strategy to experience app success. Before you decide you need an app, ask yourself what you hope the app will accomplish. If the application merely helps users find your brick-and-mortar store, leave that to Google maps.

If your app has a clear and necessary purpose, find a mobile app developer with experience in your business genre. Allow your developer to guide you in design and marketing strategy. And, before we forget- let go of the dream of being more popular than Angry Birds.

In the SEO world, content is king. To have quality content, you need to pay quality content prices. Offering a professional writer $4 for a 500-700 word article will get you poor quality work. Poor quality content will translate this same lack of value to potential customers. Instead, invest in the services of a professional writer and pay them what they’re worth. Quality content prices can range from $10- $30 per article depending on the specificity of the content and the research required.

If hiring a full time writer isn’t an option, utilize freelance boards or other classified sites such as Craigslist. Ask potential writers to provide clips of previous publications so you can see if their style and voice match what you are seeking.

If you have maxed out the capabilities of Google Docs for your business purposes, it may be time to invest in software. This is especially important in the area of finances. A major headache can be prevented when you invest in accounting software.