Tuesday 31 May 2011

ONLINE TRUST ( Web Trust )

SIMPLE TOOLS AND TIPS TO BUILD A TRUST ONLINE ( Web Trust )

Is there a term called online trust, or a web trust? Is it a legal requirement regarding online business, online marketing or online advertisement? How can you build a trust online?

One of the most effective concepts and tools that can enhance and develop any online business, activity or transaction is the trust related to your business, activity or transaction. So, is there any way or method that you can apply in order to build such kind of trust online? How to make your online business seems trusty to others? What kind of tools you need?

What is online trust?

Online trust (or web trust) is simply: when others have a confidence on a person, site, online business, service, product...etc via the internet

Is it a legal requirement?

Well, online trust is not a specified term or condition that internet laws set or require in regard with online business, e-transaction, web agreements, e-commerce...etc. In fact, it is deemed as an important element that can assure the legitimacy and the secure of the person, business, service, product...etc that you are dealing with. However, online trust is returned to the online custom as the more you gain trust online the more your business or any other activity deemed legitimate, adoptable and applicable

How to build online trust?

There are many tips and tools that you can adopt and apply to increase or create a well online trust, but the basic tips and tools that you should apply are:

1.      Honest; always be honest about what you provide

2.      Good faith; by applying this important principle you can increase your online trust (web trust) in addition to avoid any illegal responsibilities regarding ignorance or any similar defects

3.      Generosity; be always generous whilst providing any information about the product you sell or advertise. This tool covers (information provided about yourself and your activity in addition to the description of your business, service product...etc)

4.       Clear and specify your aims and goals; do not leave any chance for ignorance, misunderstanding or technical lacks that others might face basing on what you provide

5.      Originality and uniqueness; provide or adopt a new and unique tools, methods, service or products that others might find as an advantage to deal with you

6.      Clarify your obligation before restricting the use of what you provide; assure and protect your users or visitors rights before concerning about yours

7.      Provide a well-written policy; as online users might find it as the guidance of using and browsing your site and service

8.      Avoid hidden links or advertisements; such kind of tools will increase the potential of losing your trust, just be honest and inform others clearly about what you provide and what you asking for

9.       Ask for honest reviews; the more you provide honest reviews the more your trust can be achieved

10.  No risks; do not provide or present risk service or asking for risk actions, as such kind of activities might affect your trust basing on the results of that risk

11.  Provide a well planning or time table process, especially if your business related to long period profit; such tool will show that you have set a well structure to manage your business and others as well

12.  Be flexible; try to follow others tips and advises when they right

13.  Adopt simple methods and consider that your users or visitors knowledge are different

14.  Secure your transactions; by adopting an authentication methods

15.  Set a well recognised signature or logo; in which it can present your assent

These tips and tools will grant to you some sort of trust in which you must work hard to keep and develop thereafter

Online trust, is it hard to gain or adopt?

Well, if you apply and adopt the points mentioned above then I assure you that you will gain a well trust that will help you in your online business or in any other online activity

Hope that you find this post useful and helpful, please evaluate it and give us your valuable view and comment, and if you have any question we will be happy to answer it. Be safe
KEYWORDS: Online Trust, Web Trust, How to build an online trust?, what you need to creat an online trust, online business trust, legitimate trust online, a trust online

Mohammad Al-Thunibat
“E-Commerce Lawyer”

Friday 27 May 2011

Comparative study

Legal Comparative study
How to do or establish comparative studies, regarding law rules and Articles?
What you need? How to start? And how to finish the comparative study?

One of the questions that I received lately was how to compare between law Articles and rules? Therefore, I think it’s better to answer such question in a post that others might find it useful and helpful
In order to make your study ( comparative ) easy and clear, it’s recommended to consider the following tips:

1.      Identify your aims in advance

2.      Collect the related laws

3.      Specify your draft outcomes (what you think or expect from your study, as a draft)

4.      Highlight your main titles (these titles can be changed whilst your study so do not worry)

5.      Set a first draft analysis before your comparative study (this tool will help you to understand what kind of method and topic you are dealing with)

6.      Make a flexible structure to your comparative method

7.      Use legal research method instead of qualitative or quantitative research methods (in order to assure that your study is framed in a legal method)

Now to the main part that any comparative study based on, which is the purpose of the comparative. In order to set a high or a valuable academic study you need to establish or base on legal ground which you want to prove it whether it’s right or wrong, or whether it needs more work or for any other reason you need to highlight or identify; these reasons are the purposes of your comparative study/ studies. Therefore, make sure that such purpose is legally set and clearly understandable
After clarifying the purpose of your study you need to work in accordance of the structure that you have set previously (draft structure) in order to build the body of your comparative. Within this process you need to highlight the main topics or points that the study base on. Although, you need to re-write the outcomes of the analysis study you made previously, in order to present why, how, when and what this study (regarding the comparative between the chosen laws) is about and where it goes
Finally, end your study with the conclusion which should contain the findings of that study and the recommendations (your view and believes)

In order to make it easy for you see this brief example:
Let’s say that I want to compare between two laws regarding the definition of specific term or transaction:

1.      First of all, I will specify the related Articles, (for example Article 1 of the law X, with Article 2 of the law Y)

2.      Then I will read them carefully and analyse them in accordance to their content

3.      According to the analysis I made I will set my draft structure that the comparative shall base on between the X and Y laws

4.      Also, according to the analysis I’ll identify the main titles or topics of my study (X1, X2... Y1, Y2)

5.      After doing so, I’ll start my comparative by writing a brief introduction explains the cause, aim, method... etc of the study

6.      Then I’ll start working on the content of the comparative (by saying Article 1 of the X law said ... while Article 2 of the Y law said ... etc)

7.      During the previous process, I’ll be able to highlight the differences and conflicts between the content of the selected laws, which I’ll be able to use them later in the conclusion

8.      Finally, I’m ready to write the conclusion basing on the study titles and contents, and more importantly basing on the highlighted points that I made during my study. In which I can use in my findings and recommendations at the end of my comparative study

Note: this method can also be applied in any comparative study not only in comparative studies between law Articles or rules

I hope you find this post useful and helpful. And I’m looking forward to read your suggestions and additions regarding how we can improve our skills in such field?
Mohammad Al-Thunibat
“E-Commerce Lawyer”

Tuesday 24 May 2011

Legitimate online business (The Description)

Legitimate online business (the description)

Keywords: legitimate online business, legitimate description, the legal importance of the description, how to set a legitimate description

One of the important elements that might affect the legitimacy of any online activity, business or transaction is the description used by the seller or provider of the service or good. This element consider as one of the fundamental concepts that any electronic transaction or business shall concern and adopt in order to set a legitimate transaction, activity or business via the internet

What we mean by legitimate description? Well, as we all know a description is a brief about specific subject, person, good, service or any similar topics. But the question here is there any legal requirement needed to be applied in any description?

The answer is simply and directly yes. In brief, the main legal requirements that should be applied and provided within any description are:

1.      Honest information; about what you sell (product), about the seller (person/ company/ site...etc), about the business, and such

2.      Contact details; such as e-mail, geographic address, mobile number... etc

3.      Financial information; about the price, delivery, TAX, VAT, or any additional costs

4.      Specific information about the product; such as quality, quantity, defects (hidden defects), how it may use, limitation of use... etc

Although, there are other types or additional features that may apply by the seller or provider which related to the description requirement; for example:

1.      Extra details about the product; by providing an image or video that describe the product

2.      Additional services; such as providing a warranty

3.      Additional details; by providing a review from a previous buyer

4.      Additional information about the delivery process

5.      Additional rights; by providing a test period of the product

In summary, the importance of the description does not stop on business requirements; it goes to cover the legitimacy of that business, activity or transaction. Whereas, any distance transaction or electronic transaction requires a well honest description that aims to present the reality of the provided product - and the other requirements (as mentioned above) - to the buyer in order to avoid the absence of the physical connection or communication between the parties or between the buyer and the product
So, if you are selling online or if you have an online business and you are really concern about its legitimacy, then you must consider this important element or requirement in your business or selling. On the other side, if you are a buyer make sure that the seller or the provider has presented a well description, as it considers as a great sign whether you deal with a legitimate online activity or not

How to provide a well description and how to market your words (description):

1.      Be honest

2.      Make sure that you have included all the legal requirements in your description

3.      Try to attach an image or video about what you sell

4.      Make your description specified

5.      Set a clear time period to the selling process

6.      Try to provide some reviews (gain trust)

7.      Provide as much details about yourself (as a seller or provider)

8.      Provide correct contact methods

9.      Put your personal view of the product you sell (realistic feature)

10.  Do not set a high limitations or restrictions (give your buyers the main rights granted by the law)

11.  Cover all the costs related to the deal (product price, delivery costs, TAX, VAT or other additional costs)

12.  Do not leave a place to any ignorance

13.  Respect your buyers mind (most of the buyers are well familiar with online selling nowadays) so be realistic in your description

Finally, I hope that you find this post helpful and useful. Please leave your comment or addition in order to enrich this post

Mohammad Al-Thunibat
“E-Commerce Lawyer”

Monday 16 May 2011

Online Free Offers , are they scam ?!!

Online Free Offers , are they scam ?!!

One of the common questions that I usually receive is this question. So are they really scam or not? If yes how to know that? or how you can recognise them? And How to protect yourself from such activities?

Online free offer is a kind of service that used by providers (sites) in order to increase the number of their users or to any other similar reason, this kind of offers appears usually as an advertisement or a pop-up through the internet

Regarding to the legitimacy of online free offers, I cannot say that all or none of the free offers are scam or legitimate. Whereas, there are many free offers placed on the internet deem scam, however there are many others consider legitimate (are you confused? Do not be)

In order to recognise the legitimacy of any free offer I recommend you to consider these points and facts: (Basics)

1.      Legitimate free offers do not lead you - when you open or respond to them - to other site contains a list of other free offers or advertisements, instead they lead to the service page or to the provided free offer

2.      Scam free offers usually ask you to pay a sum of money or to present your credit card or personal data in advance in order to get that free offer

3.      Scam free offers do not have the legal rights to the provided offers, for example you may find a free antivirus in a website (provider) which is not the owner of that software and/or which is not permitted to use it publically

4.      Legitimate free offers are presented with a realistic description, while scam offers presented in a suspicious description (too good to be true)

5.      Legitimate free offers placed within protected sites or pages which contained legal information such as copyright, privacy, term of use...etc. This feature would not be provided by the provider of scam free offers

In order to protect yourself from such kind of scams please consider these tips:

1.      Do not pay any sum of money in advance to such kind of offers

2.      Do not give away your personal and financial data easily, whether via the web or through e-mails

3.      Be suspicious while dealing with such kind of online offers

4.      Consult a friend, lawyer, expert or anyone who gain a knowledge in such area before acting

5.      Read the agreement of use of the site that provided such offers

6.      Investigate about the provided offer and the provider (site)

7.      Report the person or the site that provided a scam free offers

Wish you all the best, safe online transactions and if you have any concern in any online activity I and my team willing to help online users to increase their online protection and to legalise their online activities, as this is our aim of establishing this blog

Mohammad Al-Thunibat

“E-Commerce Lawyer”

Wednesday 11 May 2011

Online business between lies and facts

Online business between lies and facts

Lately I’ve received a lot of questions and requests asking me to write again about the legitimacy of online business and marketing; after thinking, searching and reading I found that the best way to provide a legal simple post is by identifying the common lies and facts related to this kind of business

So, let’s start:

1.      Scammers claim that their service or product is beneficial with no consideration to the financial state of the user; so is that a lie or fact???

Well, this claim can be a lie and in the same time it could be a fact. Whereas, you may not need to spend money, in some cases, to sell a product; nevertheless, you may be asked to pay for the owner a sum of money in return of using his/her product or to pay to the site to join its service; in which you should pay a sum of money after all or you must do some efforts to be paid (to be paid you must pay or do something in return)

2.      Online business or marketing does not require time to generate money (no time required or make money now!!!), fact or lie??? It is a lie, as there is nothing called no time to generate money online. In fact, any success requires strategy and planning (TIME); in other words, in order to set or work with a legitimate online business you must spend time to successfully reach your goal. However, I personally deem the use of (no time required) as an evidence that such business is scam

3.      No experience is needed to make money online, lie or fact??? Well, it is a fact when the question refers to html or programming issues as you do not need to be an expert in such areas to make money online. But, it is a lie when its refer to the basics of managing your business; as you must gain experience on how to set a business online, how to sell, how to advertise to whom and where, how to describe your product, how to deliver, how to receive payments, how to negotiate...etc

4.      Wealth and richness, lie or fact??? The fact is you may generate money online but the big question is how much? The answer is simply rely on your product, business, users or buyers, how much you spend of time and effort, the cost of your products, your niche, the uniqueness of your business and product, where when and how you market your business...etc. So, in brief no one can grant to anyone wealth without those basic aspects, in fact no one can give you the true secret of how to legally make a huge sum of money online (as some use illegal methods to make that much of money, if they really do that)

5.      No selling required!!! Lie or fact??? Well, ask yourself this simple question am I working or dealing with a business here or not? Is it hard to answer this question? If someone told you that he is willing to give you money in return of nothing would you believe him??? Well, this is the situation here, with no selling there is no business simply as that. Advertising and marketing is part of the selling process, so if someone told you that all you should do is promoting or advertising his service or product without selling it, then know for sure that this person know nothing about online business or he is a scammer, because such activities deemed part of the selling process

6.      No legal responsibility!!! Lie or fact??? There is no business in this world grant you such thing. The fact is: each one of us is legally responsible about his activities (online activities as well) even if you clearly declared such thing in your terms and conditions as such term will be deemed illegal in some cases or oppressive. Responsibility is a matter of law and society protection which no one can ignore or misuse it

7.     Money in the list, lie or fact??? Well, the use of this sentence has been abused by scammers and spammers. Whereas, it is true that the more contacts you have the more your chances grow, but when you use that list legally. In other words, if you contact someone (by e-mail) to advertise your product and he’s not responded that means that he is not interested in such offer, and if you keep sending to him such offers without his permission you will be treated as a spammer. In brief what I’m trying to say is that the money is not just in the list; my fact is: the money is in you, your business, tools, skills, niche, respect, trust, protection provided to your costumers, respecting others privacy, uniqueness, legit marketing...etc, there where you find the money and that’s how you can make money by, not just by relying on the list

I hope that you find this post useful and helpful. I encourage you to share your valuable thoughts and comments here

Mohammad Al-Thunibat
“E-Commerce Lawyer”