Question 1

What is Clear Communication in Email?

Accepted Answer

Every day, emails are sent that don’t get results. Part of the reason is that people aren’t receiving the information they need. This video explains the problem and how to fix it by asking three simple questions. It teaches:

Why writing effective emails can be difficult
What prevents recipients from seeing or responding to email
How to get the recipient’s attention
How to respect the recipient’s time
How to get the results you want from email

Video Transcript:

Think about it this way… When you speak with someone in person, you can tell a lot about them. You can see if they are happy, sad, or in a hurry. This information helps you adjust what you say and how you say it. For example, if someone looks confused, you might try using different language or examples.

With email it’s difficult to make these adjustments because you can’t see the recipient. And if your message doesn’t account for their needs, it could be ignored.

That’s why it’s important to write emails in a way that’s very clear and helpful for the recipient.

You can do this by answering a few basic questions for them. What is this about? Why am I receiving it? Is there anything I need to do?

When your email appears, this busy person will quickly need to decide if it’s a priority.

Next, your recipient will wonder why they are receiving the message. In the beginning, quickly explain the situation. You might write, “I’m writing to update you on the project.” or “I’d like to schedule a call.” Be specific and direct and they will notice.

Lastly, they will wonder if they need to act. Be sure to state your request clearly. This might be a request for a response, a link to a website to review or a number to call. Consider using bold font to be sure your request is noticed.

By considering these three questions, you can communicate clearly, get results and respect the time and attention of those who receive your emails.

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This FAQ library was created by Eran Bucai. Eran is an online entrepreneur who is passionate about helping people find success building a profitable business online without the high ticket prices and without the marketing hype.

Eran has a tech support membership which you can learn more about here: https://www.dotcomtruths.com/

Eran helps people choose the best software for their business which you can find out more by visiting EranFunnels.com/software.

Question 2

What is Ransomware?

Accepted Answer

Like a kidnapped person, the information on your computer can now be held hostage by criminals, who demand a ransom to release it. This is called a ransomware attack and, unfortunately, it’s a growing problem. This video explains ransomware. It teaches:

Why ransomware attacks happen
What actions can lead to an attack
How criminals access your computer and data
What criminals want in exchange for your data
What can be done to prevent ransomware attacks

Video Transcript:

Imagine a hostage situation. A criminal has kidnapped a person, tied them up and is now talking to the police. The kidnapper has a demand. He will trade the hostage for money.

This is called a ransom and it’s essentially a trade - the criminal wants payment for the freedom of the hostage. Today, this same idea can apply to our computers and devices.

Instead of kidnapping a person, criminals lock your computer, and demand a ransom from you to unlock it. This is called a Ransomware attack. Here’s how it usually works.

In order for a criminal to get access to your computer, you usually have to click on something like an email attachment or a link on a criminal website.

To encourage you to click attachments, criminals will try to make the email look official, or familiar, as if it came from a trustworthy source.

The attachment may look like a harmless document or photo. The same is true for websites with dangerous links. When when you click it, a program runs on your computer that locks your files and prevents you from accessing them.

Usually, a message appears on your screen that alerts you to the problem and includes instructions for solving it.

In most cases, the criminals demand a ransom to unlock the computer and require that payment is made in a way that is untraceable, like through Bitcoin. If payment is made, the criminals usually provide a code that can be used to unlocked the computer and files.

More sophisticated ransomware can also infect your computer through a network or by finding security holes that may not even require a click from you. Ransomware attacks are similar to other threats like viruses, worms and trojans.

Problems can be prevented by being a responsible computer user. Keep your operating system, browsers and applications up to date. And awareness is key. Only open attachments when you know the source and be suspicious of messages asking for privileges to access your computer. The criminals are sneaky.

Most antivirus programs can help you detect ransomware when it arrives and may be able to help you remove it. And finally, always keep a backup of your files on a hard drive or online service so you can recover if your computer remains locked.

Ransomware is a reality of using computers and the internet. With awareness and responsible computer practices, you can avoid problems and prevent your files from becoming hostages.

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This FAQ library was created by Eran Bucai. Eran is an online entrepreneur who is passionate about helping people find success building a profitable business online without the high ticket prices and without the marketing hype.

Eran has a tech support membership which you can learn more about here: DotComTruths.com

Eran helps people choose the best software for their business which you can find out more by visiting EranFunnels.com/software.

Question 3

What is Evaluating Information Online?

Accepted Answer

This video walks through the basics of evaluating a website to find quality information. It encourages viewers to evaluate websites in the way an editor would review an article. By thinking like an editor, we can be our own gatekeeper and learn to find the most trustworthy information. It teaches:

Why editors matter in helping books and newspapers ensure quality information
How the Web has allowed most people to publish without an editor, creating inconsistency
Clues everyone could learn from editors that help them evaluate a website's trustworthiness
Consideration of bias and controversial subjects

Video Transcript:

Finding accurate and useful information on the Web can be frustrating. With so many websites, it’s difficult to know what is trustworthy and factual. To solve this problem, you need think like an editor. Let me explain.

Back before the Web, books, newspapers and journals were the main sources of information and like today, they were usually trustworthy. This is partly because these resources are expensive to produce. Publishers need special equipment and staff, and a way to ensure that they only print trustworthy information. If they print bad information, the business could fail.

This is the job of the editor, who acts as a gatekeeper. Editors ensure that everything that’s printed meets the organization’s standards.

Today, things have changed. Almost anyone with a computer and Internet connection can be a publisher, no printing press or editor required. For most websites there is no gatekeeper. This means that you, as a reader, now have to think like an editor and take an active role in deciding what websites you can trust. Here are some things to consider:

Editors and journalists often depend on existing facts and information in their work. When an article states something as a fact, like “The annual rate of inflation in 1980 was 13.58%” that information can be sourced from the U.S. government - and that source matters. If an article names high quality sources of facts along with the article, it’s a good sign.

And reputation is important to editors. They consider the reputation of the publisher and author, when the information was published, and more. As a reader, ask yourself: Do you recognize the website or author? Are they a known authority? Is the information current? These answers matter and can help you find the best information.

When a news event happens, editors look for eye witness accounts. If two people witness the same thing, it can often be considered a fact. The same is true for websites - if you can find the same information on multiple trustworthy websites, there is a better chance it’s accurate.

Editors also work toward fairness in covering controversial subjects like politics. A single subject can be viewed from multiple perspectives and they work hard to understand all sides before publishing. Smart readers do the same with websites, where conflicting opinions are common and often productive.

Consider the author’s goals and biases. Ask yourself: Are they selling something? Is he or she representing an organization or group?

Answering these kinds of questions are all part of being your own gatekeeper for the information you read. And once you start thinking like an editor, you’ll be better able to make your own projects the best they can be.

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This FAQ library was created by Eran Bucai. Eran is an online entrepreneur who is passionate about helping people find success building a profitable business online without the high ticket prices and without the marketing hype.

Eran has a tech support membership which you can learn more about here:DotComTruths.com

Eran helps people choose the best software for their business which you can find out more by visiting EranFunnels.com/software.

Question 4

What is Public Domain?

Accepted Answer

What it teaches:

Using an example of a song written three generations ago, this video shows why it makes sense that public domain exists and what it means when a song, photo, artwork, document or other creative work is in the public domain. This video teaches:

The basics of copyright law and how it gives creators control
Why copyrights expire over time
How public domain works are available for use without payment or permission
Why creators and organizations contribute to the public domain
How to find public domain resources

Video Transcript:

Imagine for a moment, you’ve written a song and people love it. Because you wrote it, you own it and can use it to earn a living and control if and how it is used by others.

This is the basic idea of copyright law.

These laws make it possible for creative people to earn a living from their creations. But copyright has limits.

Let’s fast-forward to three generations from now. By this time in future, the song lives on and could be useful to others, but you’re not around to control ownership or make money from it.

The question becomes: If someone wants to use your song after so much time, should permission still be required?

Or, does it make more sense for the copyright to expire after a period of time and for the song to be open for use by everyone without permission or payment? This is one way to think about works that are not copyrighted and in the public domain.

In most countries, creative works can only be owned for a period of time. Once that time passes, the story, diagram, song, photograph or any other creative work becomes part of the public domain and is available for use without payment or permission.

This means a huge amount of older creative work is available for use. Want to use a song in your commercial? If the song is in the public domain you can use it for free and without permission!

Want to use an old image to create art? Public domain photos are available without a fee or permission. But the public domain contains much more than old articles, songs and art.

The owner of any creative work can choose to make it part of the public domain at any time.

Many creators contribute their work to the public domain to encourage use by others and contribute to a publicly shared resource.

Further, some organizations don’t use copyright for their publications, making them part of the public domain. For example, most works created by the U.S. government like reports and statistics are not copyrighted as a matter of policy and are free to use in the U.S.

The real beauty of the public domain is that it is a truly public resource that is not controlled by any government, organization or person.

You can find huge collections of public domain materials with a simple online search.

And unlike copyright, which requires permission from the creator, public domain works can modified, reproduced or distributed without payment or permission.

If you’re ready to get creative, works in the public domain may be a perfect place to start.

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This FAQ library was created by Eran Bucai. Eran is an online entrepreneur who is passionate about helping people find success building a profitable business online without the high ticket prices and without the marketing hype.

Eran has a tech support membership which you can learn more about here:https://www.dotcomtruths.com/

Eran helps people choose the best software for their business which you can find out more by visiting EranFunnels.com/software.

Question 5

What is GetResponse?

Accepted Answer

GetResponse, in operation since 1998, is one of the oldest and most well-known email marketing companies in the world.

Getresponse is an email marketing app that allows you to create a mailing list and capture data onto it create newsletters that can be sent to the subscribers on your mailing list automate your emails to subscribers via the use of autoresponders' view and analyse statistics related to your email marketing campaigns open rate, click-through, forwards etc.

Recently however, Getresponse has shifted its emphasis considerably: the product now aims to be more of an 'all-in-one' marketing solution rather than just an email marketing tool.

Accordingly, in addition to email marketing, Getresponse now also provides e-commerce features, webinar hosting, landing pages and automated sales funnels.

I have personally used GetResponse since August 2018.

Their customer support is 5-star. They have 24/7 human support, which is rare. They are always available and helpful.

Their email deliverability is great.

Being a long-standing software, they are easy to integrate with many other tools out there.

This is my number 1 recommendation for anyone starting online. Their basic plan is reasonably priced, it is easy to use, and has 24/7 support - which when you are getting started or technically challenged, is invaluable.

I personally do not find the value in their additional services of funnels, landing pages, webinars, etc. I simply use their basic plan for my autoresponder automation and sending broadcast emails to my list.

It integrates with EranFunnels too, with a simple copy and paste.

Question 6

How do you use a domain name?

Accepted Answer

There are 3 things you can use a domain name: (a) create a professional email; (b) create a website; (c) forward to another page, like a social media account. Watch this video to learn more (and transcription provided below too).

While I greatly appreciate the wonderful explainer video created by GoDaddy, I do not recommend them as a company to buy products from. The company I presently recommend to buy domain names and hosting from is called SiteGround.

Transcript from the video (italicized):

*We’re gonna show you three ways that you can use your new domain name.

Did you go with the classic .com, or claim a sly new extension like .guru, either way, your domain name is a powerful little piece of text.

You’ve purchased the perfect domain name ready to put it to work for you. The first way you can use your domain name is to create an email account. Already have an email account?

Most people do. Chances are sometime in past you signed up for a free email account - it was enough for keeping in touch with friends and creating your online dating profile.

But now you’re a grown-up; and you do grown-up stuff, like running your small business. Isn’t time to up your email game? You can use your domain name for a custom email address.

Think about it; if you want your business to stand out from the crowd, which email address is going to get it noticed: the free one you’ve had since college, or the customized one that uses the name of your business.

Using your domain name for your email address not only looks more professional, it’s a great way to promote your business!

Customized email is great, but like most people, you probably got your domain name to create a website for it, which is the second thing you can do with your domain name.

Using your domain name for a website gives you a dedicated, branded space to introduce your business to anyone, anywhere, who can connect to the Internet.

Even better, your website will give your business almost boundless marketing reach. People from Arizona to Zimbabwe will be able to can find you online with just a click of the mouse.

But what happens if you’re so busy running your business that you just can’t find the time to build your website, or even find someone to do it for you.

You might consider forwarding your domain name to somewhere else on the Web, until you get site up and running. This is the third thing you can do with your domain name. Confused? Let me explain.

It’s not uncommon for small businesses just starting out to create a Facebook business page.

If you have a Facebook business page or another social media account on the Internet, you can use your domain name to forward visitors to that page, until your website is up and running.

With forwarding in place, anyone who navigates to your domain name in their browser, will be automatically forwarded to a web page you currently have – like a Facebook business page.

Clever, right?

And there you have it.

With all the power and potential your domain name has, why would you ever let it just sit there and collect dust.

Use it for your email address, a new website, or to forward visitors to an existing website, but put it to work for you now!*

Question 7

What are the benefits of Investing Money?

Accepted Answer

What it teaches:

This video introduces the potential benefits of investing money in the context of taking risks. It describes multiple types of investing and what they all have in common, including:

Comparing saving and investing in the context of risk
Being prepared to lose money
Examples of investing in business, stock market and antiques
How to know if investing is right for you

Video Transcript:

Most of us look forward to a comfortable future. To get there, you’ve got to be smart about using your money to make more money.

We know that putting money in savings helps you make more money over time thanks to interest. It’s predictable and based on an interest rate. However, there are ways to make more money if you’re ready to take risks.

Consider this. You’re here and you want to be here. You have a choice between two options: going around the mountain, which usually takes 5 hours. It’s very predictable. Or going over the mountain, which can shorten the trip to two hours. It may seem like an easy choice. You can get there 3 hours earlier by going over, but there’s a catch. You might get stuck in the snow, which is a risk that can make the trip even longer than going around the mountain.

The best way to deal with risk is to be informed. If you do your homework, like checking the weather reports, you’ll have a better chance of making a smart decision.

Now, of course I’m not talking about getting from town to town, but reaching your financial goals. Having a savings account is predictable. It grows steadily with interest. Investing, on the other hand, can grow your money much faster, but there’s also a chance you could lose some of it.

There are many ways to invest. Let’s say your friend is opening a coffee shop. She needs money to buy the beans and supplies. Because she can’t afford everything, she asks people like you to be investors. You can see that this is a big risk, but you do the research and find that a new coffee shop could do very well.

So, you give her company money and you become an owner in a tiny part of the company. That bit of ownership represents the money you invested. If the coffee shop business is slow, your investment may shrink. But if the coffee shop is successful, your investment could grow with the company. It may take time to see the outcome, but you’ve bet that your money would grow faster in an investment than the modest earnings in a savings account. That’s what makes it risky. It’s hard to know how an investment will do over time.

The same is true for the stock market. When you buy stocks, you’re buying a tiny portion of a large business and betting that the business will do well over time, increasing the value of your investment.

Now, the stock market and private businesses aren’t the only kinds of investing. Let’s say you’d like to invest $500. You find antiques that you believe will be worth more in the future. If you’re right, you may be selling them for $750 in a few years. If you’re wrong they may be worth only $400. By investing you’re taking a risk, and you have to be ready for both outcomes.

Whether it’s a friend’s coffee shop, the stock market, or antiques, the big ideas are the same. Savings accounts are predictable and may be a good choice. But if you’re ready to take the risk that you might lose money, you could put your money into an investment that has the potential for a much bigger payoff.

Investing is serious business, and every investment comes with different risks. Do your homework, and discuss your plans with a financial professional before getting involved. If you plan for the long term, you may find that a comfortable future isn’t too many years away.

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This FAQ library was created by Eran Bucai. Eran is an online entrepreneur who is passionate about helping people find success building a profitable business online without the high ticket prices and without the marketing hype.

Eran has a tech support membership which you can learn more about here:https://www.dotcomtruths.com/

Eran helps people choose the best software for their business which you can find out more by visiting EranFunnels.com/software.

Question 8

What is Image Resolution and Pixels?

Accepted Answer

This video follows the story of Neil, who learns why he can’t enlarge and print a photo that was taken with his phone. Using an analogy of a blanket, the video illustrates what happens when a small image is enlarged and what’s needed for printing larger photos. It teaches:

The basics of pixels in digital images
Why the number of pixels can limit a photo’s size
Why a photo with a small number of pixels can’t be enlarged
How megapixels and resolution affect print size

Video Transcript:

These days, we’re all photographers. We take digital photos with cameras, phones and even computers. And some of us love to share them in printed form or on websites. But getting the most out of digital images means understanding how they work.

Neil just started learning about photography and for now, he’s just using the camera on his phone. Recently he took a photo that was his best work. He envisioned a big version of it on his wall for all to see. So, he saved it and took it to a photo center to have it printed. After taking a look, the photo guy showed him the options. The largest size he could print for this photo was 4X6. Six feet wide seemed big enough to Neil. But the photo guy apologized with a chuckle, he meant 4 by 6 inches.

Neill was crushed. The photo looked so good on his phone. He didn’t understand why this photo couldn’t be enlarged. Seeing his despair, the photo guy gave him a little lesson in digital images.

Strangely, he started with blankets, just like at grandma’s house. He said to imagine a blanket that’s 4 feet by 4 feet. When someone knitted that blanket, they used 8 packs of yarn. When the blanket is this size it looks great and keeps you warm because the yarn is packed tightly together. But when you stretch it out to 6 feet by 6 feet, you can see the holes and it stops looking so warm. Stretch it even more and it looks more like a net than a blanket.

His point was that yarn matters. Only blankets made from a lot of yarn can be stretched without becoming useless. He then explained that Neil’s photo is like a blanket with too-little yarn. He could stretch the image and make it bigger, but it would start to look blurry. This is because, like blankets made of yarn, digital photos are made of pixels. These are tiny bits of color that make up the image. When the pixels are stretched, the image quality suffers.

After a bit of research, Neil found that his cameraphone has 1 megapixel camera, which means it captures 1 million pixels in an image. The image may look good on a small screen, but this number of pixels is only enough to print a small picture. For large prints, he would need a camera that captures millions more pixels. For example, a 5 or 10 megapixel camera, even on a smartphone, could capture more than enough pixels, especially if he learns the basics of lighting and composition.

The only problem? Cameras and devices are expensive for Neil. For now he’ll just stick with his cameraphone and even print photos at home. Who knows, one day soon his wall may become a statement after all.

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This FAQ library was created by Eran Bucai. Eran is an online entrepreneur who is passionate about helping people find success building a profitable business online without the high ticket prices and without the marketing hype.

Eran has a tech support membership which you can learn more about here: DotComTruths.com

Eran helps people choose the best software for their business which you can find out more by visiting EranFunnels.com/software.

Question 9

What is Digital Footprint?

Accepted Answer

Like footprints left on a trail in the woods, our digital footprints leave evidence of what we do on apps and websites. This video explains the concept of digital footprints, why they matter and how to reduce the risk of digital footprints in the future. It teaches:

What it means to have digital footprints
Why digital footprints are tracked and saved by organizations
What actions leave digital footprints
How your digital footprints could be used in the future
How to reduce the risks of digital footprints

Video Transcript:

Let’s pretend, for a moment, that you are a detective trying to solve a crime. You and your hound find the trail of a criminal in the woods and notice footprints. Because of your training, you can tell what direction they were headed, how fast they were going, what size shoe they wear, what kind of shoe, approximate weight and more. This is valuable information for the investigation - the criminal didn’t even know that clues were being left behind automatically.

Something similar happens on the internet. When we visit websites, search for information, leave comments, upload videos, like pages and more, we leave another kind of footprint that’s also valuable. This is your digital footprint.

To understand why your digital footprint is valuable, we have to consider how business works on the web. Organizations depend on collecting and analyzing what people do on their website. That information can help the website, make recommendations, inspire helpful features, connect people, sell products and more.

The organization may also be able to sell the information to advertisers. The bottom line is that your digital footprint is being tracked and saved because it’s valuable.

And leaving tracks is unavoidable. By simply using the web, we leave digital footprints by default. And for the most part they are harmless. However, digital footprints do come with risks.

Unlike a footprint left in the woods, our digital footprints don’t get washed away. Your digital footprint leaves tracks across the web that lasts much longer than we can remember.

That comment you left on a blog five years ago? It’s still there. This means your digital footprint is part of your online identity and doesn’t go away.

The problem is that your digital footprints could be discovered and used to make decisions when you apply for school or a job. What seemed like a funny video to share 3 years ago could seem inappropriate today - and keep you from getting a job.

So, if digital footprints are unavoidable and saved by organizations, what can we do? First, we can choose to be respectful and responsible online. Before posting on a public website, imagine how it would look to a future employer or on the front page of a newspaper.

Second, we can take steps to protect our privacy. This means understanding how our favorite websites and services collect and use our information. Find the site’s privacy settings and choose a level that works for you.

Third, consider having more than one account or persona online. This could be a professional account and personal account. By consciously switching between accounts, you can keep private information private, but still have an online presence that can be found easily.

Our digital footprints can be both helpful and a risk. As you use the web for work school or to be social, keep in mind that your actions are being tracked and it’s your responsibility today to prevent problems in the future.

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This FAQ library was created by Eran Bucai. Eran is an online entrepreneur who is passionate about helping people find success building a profitable business online without the high ticket prices and without the marketing hype.

Eran has a tech support membership which you can learn more about here: DotComTruths.com

Eran helps people choose the best software for their business which you can find out more by visiting EranFunnels.com/software.