+ There is, and it's held every Monday, 9 AM to 10 AM Pacific Coast time, right here. It's called Frankel's Free Clinic, where Rob Frankel donates his time to anyone who drops in for any kind of business help. This is your chance to get real, professional, no-nonsense help for free.

Click the Conference Room links to the left to get there. Or use this URL:
http://frankelbiz.com/conf/CNFcalendar.php?m=conf


It's 60 minutes, every Monday, and covers everything about business and the web: It could be branding, marketing, tip, business or advertising tactics or bouncing ideas around. The FrankelBees are all available to chime in and offer you tips and leads, too. We get a lot of business done here.

Frankel's Free Clinic and its archives are available to the public via the Library and Archive link or at this URL:
http://frankelbiz.com/lib/LIBsearch.php?m=lib
.

+ Yes, sometimes. The Moderating Dictator can preview all comments before they hit the screen, if he so chooses.

+ Yes, the archives for the Free Clinic chats are free to anyone who wishes to view them, although they have been edited to exclude any e-mail addresses (to prevent harvesting and spamming). Interestingly, the archives tend to be the most searched content of FrankelBiz.

+ FrankelBiz is a moderated email business transaction list devoted to establishing a supportive online business community. When it began, it was NOT intended for discussion, however, as of May, 2005, topical discussion IS allowed. Asking for professional opinions and solution is still NOT permitted (See FrankelTips for that) .

1. All discussion posts must be pre-pended with either "QUESTION", "COMMENT" or "ANSWER", followed by the issue they're addressing.

2. By default, answers will be published to the entire list. However, the FrankelBiz address -- and only the FrankelBiz address -- of each participant will still be posted so that they may be contacted directly.

3. All other rules still apply. Remember, just because you send it in doesn't mean it will get posted. Everything still must be approved before it goes out.

4. If you who want immediate answers are advised to switch to IMMEDIATE mode. If you who want all the day's activity in one issue per day (maximum) are advised to choose DIGEST mode.

It is also home to Rob's irregularly published newsletter, in which members receive Rob's latest articles and rants free of charge, along with:

* Rob's reviews and networking of online business, software/hardware and resources

* Discount programs for software/hardware and business resources

* Basic gossip and other professional means of communication

FrankelBiz exists to go beyond the mere discussion of doing business via the internet, to establish a high-level network of ethical associates who may transact business with one another. We are here to do business, instead of whine about it.

In addition to sharing information, list members may enjoy additional benefits, including discounts from participating vendors on products and services offered by our sponsors and participants.

Topics posted on FrankelBiz include the introduction of members, establishment of business relationships, the offering of goods and services, sharing of successful tips and strategies, queries for resources and professional evaluations/advice. Discussions of ethics and practices may be acceptable, but are considered a by-product of the list and not its main focus.

We're here to do business, but we're here to have fun while we do it. That having been said, you should be aware that this is a moderated list, controlled by a benevolent Dictator. Although you may get kicked off for any reason, the most prevalent crimes punishable for banishment are: annoying posts, questionable business practices, spamming, flaming, anti-social behavior or anything else that might piss off the list owner or diminish the atmosphere of people doing deals.

To be brutally honest, this list is NOT for beginners, although they are encouraged to join, lurk and learn before posting. Members should be serious about making the internet work for their businesses, rather than educating others about elementary business issues. While a certain amount of education benefits everyone, you should set your educational barometer at the "real world after college" level. Again, this list is NOT academic by nature or design. Posting a TIP on how to do business in a smarter way is as blatantly educational/self-promotional as you'd want to get (see #5).

Remember, too, that Frankel & Anderson provides FrankelBiz as a meeting place for you. Your membership, activity and participation is YOUR responsibility. BY SUBSCRIBING TO FRANKELBIZ, YOU HOLD HARMLESS ROB FRANKEL, FRANKEL & ANDERSON, INC., AND ANY OF EITHER'S STAFF, ASSOCIATES OR EMPLOYEES FROM ANY LIABILITY WHATSOEVER, IN ANY AND ALL MATTERS.

This is an on-line country club where we schmooze and talk and help each other make deals. List membership should be considered something like a Badge of Honor -- pinned on your lapel by Groucho Marx.

This is a Private List, meaning that no members' names or e-mail addresses are available for review or analysis by remote command. The membership list of FrankelBiz is considered the property of Rob Frankel/Frankel & Anderson and not available for public scrutiny or exploitation other than "embedded ads" which may support the list (see below).

Rob Frankel/Frankel & Anderson exclusively owns and retains the right to publish and re-publish any part or all of the content found on FrankelBiz. No other party may re-publish any content found on FrankelBiz without the express written consent of the list owner.

FrankelBiz is owned by Frankel & Anderson, a California corporation. It is operated by Rob Frankel. Please direct any administrative or technical questions to rob@robfrankel.com.

+ For members, the answer here is a limited yes, but only if your product or service relates to offering a business opportunity. If you really want to advertise, there are two ways to go:

1. Big budget advertisers should check out http://www.RobFrankel.com/advertise.html for details.

2. Cheapskates can buy a one day Frankelink ad for $25, but you must register with FrankelBiz to do so. Click on "Frankelink" in the Member Menu to the left after logging on and you're on your way.

You may also tag a header with a one-time "INTRO:" to introduce yourself and your company, or "UPDATE:" to let people know about an important development, but keep it within reason. Excessive use can really tick members off.

Your best bet for success on FrankelBiz is offering business opportunity as well as fulfilling them. If you offer business, someone else is bound to offer some to you.

If you feel the readers of FrankelBiz would benefit from an informative message you may do so, but keep it very short.

The list owner reserves the sole right to embed a list sponsor's ad(s) in the header/footer of each post broadcast by FrankelBiz.

If you object to ads you see on FrankelBiz, please respond directly to the poster, not to the whole list

+ You can, but not on FrankelBiz. There are a couple of ways you can ask for a site critique:

If you want members to critique your site, you might as well get real data out of it. That's why we're creating a Suvery/Polling tool. Check out that link and you'll get the critique you're looking for, with data to back it up.

If you simply want reader feedback or comments from Rob, you want to post your request to FrankelTips, which is what that list is designed for.

+ We don't allow any recruitment of any kind on FrankelBiz, with one exception:

If you're looking to hire or partner with someone for your own business. And believe me, those posts get scrutinized the hardest.

Affiliate programs are not a part of FrankelBiz, nor is anything resembling MLM, networks marketing, pyramid schemes or anything else that the Moderating Dictator deems icky.

+ Currently, there are no archives for FrankelBiz. That's why you want to subscribe, and check out the opportunities as they arrive every day.

There are archives of Frankel's Free Clinic, however, which are Rob Frankel's free, open to the public chat sessions held every monday, from 9 AM to 10 AM, Pacific Coast time.

+ Yes, you can have all of the day's FrankelBiz notices sent to you at one time, in one e-mail. That's called DIGEST MODE.

The default setting for subscribers is IMMEDIATE, meaning that messages are sent the moment they're approved. That's to help get the opportunity out for you as quickly as possible.

You can set your DIGEST/IMMEDIATE mode via the Newsletter link, where you subscribe and change settings for newsletters.

+ Split-issue posts are summarily rejected because they request more than one item. If you have more than one issue to request or offer, put each one in its own post.

If you put more than one offer or request in a post, you risk having the entire post rejected due to one offer's error. You also risk getting tons of responses without knowing who sent for what.

+ A Frankelink is a one day, 180 character text ad that appears at the top of every FrankelBiz post for one 24 hour period. Frankelinks are just $25 and are available ONLY to subscribers to FrankelBiz. If your post keeps getting rejected for being too self-serving (an ad), this is the way to get it to run. It still has to qualify under FrankelBiz ethical guidelines, however, reaching thousands of highly responsive prospects.

You can purchase a Frankelink by clicking "Frankel Store" and then clicking "Purchase mailing list ads".

It really works.

+ There are no archives for FrankelTips. That's why you want to subscribe, and read it every week. Every ten or more issues of FrankelTips is compiled into a downloadable e-book, available at the FrankelStore.

There are archives of Frankel's Free Clinic, however, which are Rob Frankel's free, open to the public chat sessions held every Monday, from 9 AM to 10 AM, Pacific Coast time. Click on the searchable Library & Archives to find them.

+ To subscribe to FrankelTips click the Newsletter link to the left. That's pretty much it. But you have to be registered user to subscribe, so you may want to do that first.

+ White Papers are your chance to educate others to what you do, how you do it -- and quite frankly -- why they should hire you to do it for them.

We strongly recommend that you create your White Paper in a format that everyone can handle, something like Microsoft Word, a text file or a PDF document. Then go nuts with it, plug yourself like crazy, but keep it under five pages.

Once your White Paper is ready, you can upload it (and a JPG of the cover) for a modest charge to the FrankelBiz Library & Archives, where it can be searched and downloaded for FREE to other members.

Once in the library, it appears with your cover shot, your name and contact info.

Cool, eh?

All White Papers are subject to approval.

+ Nothing. Zippo. It's free. The whole point is for good, ethical people to help each other build their businesses via the web.

The only thing you have to do is register. After that, you're set to go.

+ Different people have different uses for the Photo Gallery. Some people want you to see what they look like. Others -- quite wisely -- prefer not to show themselves.

On FrankelBiz, we tend to think that the Photo Gallery offers you an opportunity to show others what you produce or how you produce it.

If you sell products, this is a dandy way to show them off. If you sell a service, it's a good way to display some visual results. Logos, graphs, designs, ads, books, or whatever.

All gallery submissions are subject to the FAQ's.

+ Oh yeah. Sometimes, knuckleheads try to get cute and think the rules don't apply to them. These people spam other members or make unethical offers or simply renege on their commitments.

WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU REPORT ANY ABUSE IMMEDIATELY

Once you report it, the Moderating Dictator launches and Inquiry, where the offender gets a chance to explain his/her/its actions. If the matter is settled, it's settled. But if there's no response or an inadequate explanation, the sucker gets fried off the list by public execution. That’s really ugly:

A public execution means that they are banned forever, after which the entire Frankelbiz Branded Community is publicly warned as to what happened, who did it and why you should never do business with them again.

Think that's harsh? That's not harsh. Trusting someone with $30,000 worth of business and getting hosed, THAT'S harsh.

+ I knew you'd ask that. The only reason we even have the service is for you to provide what YOU want others to know about you, not about what we can find out. Note that each section has a check box, so you can show as much or as little as you wish.

Filling out your user profile simply speeds things up for you, for example when you want to contact someone else via Private Message or download a file.

Fill out as much as you like, it's totally secure.

+ FrankelBiz is a free list devoted strictly to business opportunities. There is no discussion of any kind on FrankelBiz. FrankelBiz is delivered daily.

FrankelTips is a ridiculously inexpensive list devoted to discussion about business matters. Many people think of FrankelTips as the cheapest way to get Rob Frankel to answer questions they have about their own businesses. FrankelTips is also where you can read Rob's commentaries and strategy columns. FrankelTips is delivered every Monday.

+ Once you've registered, you may e-mail your post to:

editor.frankelbiz@frankelbiz.com

where it will either get edited, approved as is or bludgeoned to death, depending on the Moderating Dictator's mood.

+ The best way to make this list work for you is by sharing the stuff that makes you and other list members successful at doing business on the internet, preferably with each other. That means sharing leads, ideas and opportunities with other members in the group.

Where possible, use a clear identifying tag in your subject line of your post. For example, if you're an exporter, and you know a smart way to save money on freight forwarding, your initial post might read "TIP: Bribe customs agents in dollars, not yen". Your post will help others on the list and will show off your expertise in a credible, friendly manner. TIPS can be about any business or marketing-related manner. The more you post, the better -- for you and the list.

List member are STRONGLY encouraged to share their FrankelBiz business success stories with the list. By posting your successful experiences with other list members to the list (with a tag like "THANKS, BETTY: Found three-toed sloth" or "RESULTS: Got a new computer cheap!"), you encourage other list members to come forward and participate. This is the purpose of FrankelBiz.

The following Dictator's Edict spells out the revised Acceptable Post policy for FrankelBiz, so please read it carefully:

Every post begins in the Moderator's Dungeon. If, after being flogged, it still passes the test, it makes it on to the FrankelBiz list. In order to make it on to FrankelBiz, its content must meet the following criteria:

A. Provide an opportunity for legitimately expanding business to network and build our web-connected businesses. That means you are seeking help from others with a business need you have. These messages should be preceded by "HELP" or "NEED" in the Subject header of the post.

B. Provide a solution for list members that you believe may be helpful. That means you have a product/service/ability that you believe can further the businesses of others on the list. It does NOT include self-serving messages that do NOT further the business interests of other FrankelBees. So for example, if you represent a shipping company and can get us all really cheap rates on Federal Express, we want to hear about it. But if you simply are looking to sell more bottles of Earthworm Droppings, you're out of luck, doomed to fester on the floor of the Dungeon with all the other rejected posts. I recommend including a value-add or a discount offer to the list, but if you do, please make it meaningful and exclusive to the FrankelBees. None of this "Free air with every order" crap. I'd rather have NO offer and a compelling post than puffery.

C. Special Cases: As I always say, "Life is a branding problem." Not everything in life falls neatly into place according to plan. So there are some exceptions to the rules. Say, for example, that it's gift giving season and Earthworm Droppings are very popular gifts to give clients. In that case, you are providing a true service, because you are positioning your product/service/ability as a method of promoting others' businesses.

D. Requests for critiques of ANYTHING are prohibited (with the exception of Frankelinks), as are contests, recruitment posts (except to fill a position for your own business staff -- se Job Announcements, below), software downloads and posting on behalf of third parties.

To post on Frankelbiz, you must be a registered subscriber, posting from the EXACT user name with which you have subscribed. Personal attacks, disparaging remarks or flames are not allowed on FrankelBiz -- unless they're REALLY FUNNY. That's the risk you take. So as the big guy says, "Don't be a schmuck." Stay cool and try to do business. A certain amount of emotion is acceptable, but an annoying, petty attitude can get you booted off FrankelBiz.

Incidentally, THERE ARE NO WARNINGS. A "gentle reminder" nudging at your email in box may appear, but list members are advised that death to the offender on FrankelBiz is swift and unannounced, and that the list owner is not obliged to fire off any kind of notification of impending doom.

Like you would in any club, if you have an issue with any one member, take it outside, or in this case, off-list. E-mail the person directly so the rest of us don't have to put up with you. This is NOT a forum for Multi-Level Marketing operations, Get Rich Quick schemes, contests, MAKE-MONEY-WHILE-YOU-SLEEP quackery or any other enterprise that the list owner may, at his own discretion, deem dubious, unethical, illegal or just plain stupid. DON'T use the list address to signoff. If someone does this, ignore them. The list owner will take care of them.

DON'T send one-on-one conversations to the list. If the subject only concerns you and one or two intended recipients, send your email to your targets directly. This will generally require that you type in their address and not use your email 'reply' function.

DO include your REAL name and email address at the bottom of all messages to the list. Some mail systems don't include it in the headers AND FrankelBiz DOES NOT ACCEPT UNSIGNED OR ANONYMOUS POSTS. All posts must include the name of the real, live human being posting.

+ Here's the list that's strictly forbidden:

1. Multi-Level Marketing
2. Network marketing
3. Anything that the Moderting Dictator considers to be a get Rich Quick Scheme
4. Postings for third parties. Everyone posts for themselves. If your friends need to post something, have them register and post.
5. No recruitment advertising.
6. Nothing that even hints of harvesting people's information.
7. Free downloads.
8. Self-serving ads.
9. Discussion.
10. Surveys.
11. Social, political issues or charities
12. Anything the Moderating Dictator decides he doesn't want to approve. After all, it's his list. He gets to do what he want.

+ ONLY REGISTERED SUBSCRIBERS CAN POST TO THE LIST. Once subscribed, you may send a message for review to be published to everyone on FrankelBiz, to editor.frankelbiz@frankelbiz.com .

If you are replying to a previous message, know that you should only send your email to the individual who originally sent the note. You should investigate the behavior of your email software by looking at what address is produced for the From: field. If the list address doesn't appear there you may type in the list address by hand, or possibly get your software to supply it by using a "Reply to All" command or icon, or a "Group Reply" function.

When you do reply, it's preferable that you cite the post to which you are responding so that the recipient can follow along.

+ The answer is "yes" for resumes, but only if you are an individual seeking employment for yourself. When you post your resume, include the keyword "RESUME:[position title]" on your subject line. For example:

Subject: "RESUME: Brand Manager"

Also include contact information in the body of the E-mail message for interested readers. Employment agencies and other third party postings are not allowed.

Surveys are not allowed on FrankelBiz, with the exception of those administered by the list owner. A low cost survey feature is being planned which will be announced.

+ You can't. This isn't for discussion. It's for business opportunities and helping others to build their businesses. To post, however, follow these guidelines:

(1) Start by describing your business opportunity/situation. Tell the readers of FrankelBiz how you fit in to the opportunity and describe the need you are trying to fill.
(2) Describe the market factors, potential upside and downside. DON'T EXAGGERATE YOUR CLAIMS. We're all pro's here and can smell road apples from three miles out.
(3) Tell the list about your background and why you think your proposition is such a good one. If you have a need to be filled, ask the list for solutions, suggestions or leads. If someone helps you out, consider cutting them in on some part of the transaction. After all, this is business and you're entitled to it.
(4) If you need a connection to a person, industry, come right out and ask for it. Just be sure to explain fully why and what you need the connection for.
(5) If you're posting a TIP, explain how your solution is a smarter, more efficient method than usual. Mentioning the potential disastrous consequences of alternative methods, or telling your own experiences are helpful illustrations and boost your credibility. We rarely publish these.
(6) Offer the gang a special rate, deal or bribe. They're doing the same for you.

Remember that no one on FrankelBiz owes you anything. All participation is voluntary. Make your request entertaining rather than demanding.

+ The answer is "yes," but only if your firm is the hiring company, or if you're helping another individual out. Recruiters and employment agencies DO NOT fall into this category and are not permitted to peddle their flesh. If you have any questions, contact the list manager at rob@robfrankel.com.

When you post your job announcement, include the keyword "JOB: [position title]" on your subject line. For example:

Subject: "JOB: Product Manager"

Include contact information in the body of the E-mail for interested readers.

+ The list administrator is ruthless in unsubscribing anyone if there is a "mailbox full," "user unknown", "host unknown" or any other mechanical/internet error. The machine tries a number of times, and if it fails, it removes anyone whose mail is undeliverable. Normal transmission problems and delays will not cause you to be unsubscribed. The server will attempt to deliver mail to each user for up to 5 days, so an intermittent system problem should not cause you to lose messages or be unsubscribed.

You may also have been kicked off for being annoying or violating the FAQ's. Habitual offenders may be barred from resubscribing. If you feel that is your case, and you have been unjustly cast out into the ether, you may always plead your case for reinstatement to rob@robfrankel.com.

+ Because this is a business community, not a carnival. If you want people to patronize your business, let's face it, it's not going to happen on a lottery basis.

Serious business is done for serious reasons. You can have a good time and make some good friends doing business, but it won't happen because you handed out lottery tickets.

Make your brand and your offer compelling.

The right people will respond -- and the freeloaders won't.

+ We reject messages posted for a third party for a variety of reasons, the main one being liability. If you post for someone else, we have no way of knowing if that person truly authorized you to post on his or her behalf.

If someone you know wants to post something, twist their arm into subscribing and let them post their own.

+ FrankelBiz is NOT where Rob answers questions, because it's a business opportunity list, not for discussion.

There are several ways to get Rob Frankel's help, though:

1. Subscribe to FrankelTips, the weekly discussion publication where Rob offers a weekly commentary, answers subscribers' questions and moderates discussion amongst subscibers. A really good value and very handy.
2. FrankelCall/FrankelMail are two services that Rob offers, where you can buy one or two hours of his time, respectively. For more information, go to http://www.RobFrankel.com/frankelcall.html
3. If you require more help, check out http://www.RobFrankel.com/about.html where you'll find a variety of plans and offerings.

+ Almost everything Rob Frankel has written or recorded is available here, mainly through the FrankelStore link. If you can't find what you're seeking here, be sure to check http://www.RobFrankel.com, Rob's home site.
If you're looking for Rob's book, The Revenge of brand X: How to Build a Big Time Brand on the Web or Anywhere Else, you'll find that at http://www.revengeofbrandx.com, along with The FrankelTapes, Volume One

+ To leave the list or change your settings, go to Newsletter link to your left.

+ Just go to your User Profile page and check or uncheck the appropriate boxes.

+ The best way to subscribe to FrankelBiz is to go to Newsletter link to your left That's pretty much it. But you have to be registered user to subscribe, so you may want to do that first.

+ For years, FrankelBees have requested a means by which they could post what they do and how they do it. The problem was that there was no acceptable way for us to showcase them.

Well, now there is. It's called a White Paper.

Once you submit your White Paper, you WILL be allowed to announce its availability to the list as a "WP" post. So it would appear as "WP: New White Paper on Web Marketing" and then you can plug away so that other FrankelBees can get the file.

Pretty cool, eh?

Here's how you can submit your own:

A White Paper -- a really good one -- ISN'T a sales brochure, although they are designed to ultimately get your business. A White Paper is an educational piece that explains what people should and shouldn't do in your neck of the woods. By educating people, they get to know who you are and how you work. It helps them make the decision on what to buy and who to work with.

White Papers are free for everyone to download. There's a small, one-time fee for uploading them. But they stay up there for as long as you want them up there.

All White Papers are subject to the FrankelBiz FAQ's, so please keep them all legit. Each White Paper is subject to approval, just like every post to FrankelBiz. But you know what you're doing, so that shouldn't be a big deal.

I strongly recommend that you submit your White Paper in PDF format, mainly for security reasons: you can submit a text or Word document if you like, but those can be edited by anyone who downloads them. If you don't know how to create a PDF document (that can be read by anyone), here's where you can learn and do it for free:

https://createpdf.adobe.com

Also, you don't have to write the Great American Novel. Since these are free to the FrankelBees, they can be one page or twenty, your choice. Just keep the file weight light enough so that they can be downloaded quickly. My first WP is 300K, but anything under 1 MB or so is fine.

+ Nothing. Totally Free, if you're a FrankelBee.