Re: BAD way you can help hurricane victims...

Very, Very Bad Idea - Here's why...

You make it seem as if all one has to do is put up a website and BOOM, you're making money. Most websites make no money, In fact, if you take into consideration time spent and hosting fees, most websites actually lose money. Most people that do get into internet business do not make money for months and months and months before they see their first dollar GROSS profit.

Even if they do eventually make money with a site, well, that's just it, it will be "eventual". Not to mention that they would need to spend time, money, or both in order to even hope to make a red cent.

With respect, I have to say this is a very bad, unproductive, unhelpful way to help hurricane victims.

And also, realize that MOST people will have nothing to do with running their own business even if it is completely online.

Also, realize that it is not really recommended that anyone without a permanent residence and without a reliable internet connection get into online business. Par to f business is customer service - GOOD customer service. You cannot give good service if you are running around avoiding hurricanes and hopping from one temporary home to residence.

Productive praying would be MUCH more helpful than what you suggested. Again, no offense, but I don't think you gave this much thought. You are better off donating to the Red Cross.

Bob B. - who has been told several thousand times that if he was any more truthful he would not be taken seriously.

PS. Another reason why it is bad is because, in the case that there are some victims that are cool with it, that person might try using the fact that he is a hurricane victim to try to make sales. That is no way to market. Most people look at this type of marketing as fraud, and for good reason. Usually only crooks engage in this type of marketing.

Again, very, very bad idea.

> It occurs to me that one of the things the victims of these hurricanes
> will need is a way to make a living. So...I have some ideas. Let's see
> what you all think etc...

> What if each person or group 'adopted' one head of family who is somewhat
> computer literate and helped them, step by step, to create a working,
> financially productive, website? The mentor could volunteer to offer
> domain and hosting if they were in the position to do so. It would be up
> to the mentor/student team to come up with the product(s) and so on.

> There are tons of free programs that would enable them to create the site
> and so on. Also many people who might volunteer products with resell
> rights or some such. Articles for advertising and other copy could be a
> cooperative effort between copy writers and the folks who need copy
> written for their site and promos.

> If we all pitched in, we could brighten the horizon for some of these
> folks at least. There are several outfits around who are collecting
> donated computers etc for use by evacuees for contacting relatives or
> finding bodies etc...why not for earning a living online? Best of all,
> it'd be a portable business which is ideal for those whose lives are
> unsettled and in transition. We might even find some corporate sponsors
> who would fund basic computer systems for those who have proven their
> persistence at producing an income from the internet.

> What do you think? It should probably be under the sponsorship of some
> group such as the Red Cross or other involved group. They'd likely know
> who might qualify and be able to make maximum use of the hand up.

> Alternatively, we could form a non-profit organization of folks who'd
> volunteer time, skills, and various resources to help folks at every stage
> of the development toward being self-supporting via the internet.

> Suggested name for the effort? A Hand Up! Slogan? How about "Building
> businesses, builds hope and pride".

> I'll be happy to do whatever I can. I have some things I can donate as
> well as assistance with copy writing, for starters.

> Let's REALLY use the internet to help the recovery...and put our skills as
> webmasters and teachers to the test where it really matters. What better
> way than to share knowledge and resources with those who have nothing and
> no way to support their families?

> People come first, and people have to have a way to survive and provide
> for the essentials. Comments? Offers? Additional Ideas?