Almost!

I don’t know why, but for some reasons, my wsftp software is configured to MOVE whole directories once you drag them instead of just COPYING them as the plus-sign in the little squared box indicates. So, as I wanted to make a copy of the blog installation for backup purposes I suddenly realized how file after file vanished while taking a glimpse at the progress screen. Heartattack is a word to soft for the bump in my chest.

So, I stopped it and after 10 minutes of fear found out, that there was a copy of the site on my pc. However it was not where I dragged it to (desktop) but in some temporary directory from ws-ftp. Weird.

Putting it back online took then again an hour an I was stunned meanwhile, staring at the screen, but as it turned out, everything went back to normal operation. Lucky me.

T-1

Almost done. I’d say we are ready to go with our first real attempt at making some bucks from the eBay community. Some tweaks done to the site, the content is defined and ready. Now only some pages need to be made nice and then…we should give it a start!

This will however not be before Wednesday as I am out for Diner tomorrow with a dear friend. No blog either, but after todays shock I have earned myself an evening in peace

Anyone knows Keyser Söze? I bet so,m but for those who don’t here is a little update before I explain why he can teach us an important lesson:

Keyser Söze was truly born, however, when rival smugglers working for the Hungarian Mafia invaded his house while he was away, raping his wife, and holding his children hostage, killing one of them when Söze arrived to show him they were serious. They then threatened to kill his wife and remaining children if he did not surrender his business to them. Rather than give in to their demands, he shot and killed his family and all but one of the Hungarians, whom he spared knowing that the survivor would tell the mafia gang what he was planning to do. After burying his family, Söze went after the Mob, killing dozens of people, including the mobsters’ families, friends, and even people who owed them money, as well as destroying their homes and businesses. He then “went underground”, never again doing business in person and remaining invisible even to his henchmen, who almost never knew who they were working for.

So, what does this has to do with our storyline? Well, let’s analyse some of the important characteristics of Keyser Söze (who is a fictional character by the way, from the great movie “The Usual Suspects“. Just in case someone thought I would talk about a colleague here or some friend.). Keyser Söze tells us, that if you plan to do something, you should really be determined to do it right, no matter the consequences and the price to be paid.

So, what we can learn from this is, that in order to be successful, you need to be a bit recklessly sometimes. I was wondering, what Keyser Söze would do, if he would be in our situation and I reckon, that he would probably spent some time on resolving the issue with the competition. As we all know, that the major part of our business concept is about some foreign company establishing a german bank account in order to receive payments for goods sold from domestic customers on their homeground. So, what would kill the competition? Right, the loss of their domestic accounts. So, we need to make ourselves some thoughts, how those accounts can be closed down, as they are anyway just illegitimate and probably used solely for money laundry

On the other hand, if our competition can get Keyser Söze’d, so can we. This shows, that we need to lay out every crucial instrument of our operations double and more times redundant. 3 eBay-Accounts, 3 german bankaccounts, 2 international payment gateways, 3 reliable e-mail services. Maybe even two internet lines at home. As well as two mobile phones. We will definitely have to spent some time on the backup-plan.

Regarding our general proceedings, I am almost ready to submit my EntrePass application. We currently have a hell of a workload at the office, so we can not even meet up to jointly finalise the required documents. It is crazy. For over half a year, there is more time than anything, and all the sudden you are overloaded with work again, just when it does not fit at all. Well, that is what weekends are for.

Google-AdSense doing well, Text-Link is a waste of money

Great News from the AdSense front. They are bringing in klicks now 4 klicks in the last 2 days, that is a good ratio. Text-Link on the other hand is quite a moneywaster. 2 clicks in 8 days is quite low, especially for 40$ for 30 days. In the end I might get like 10 clicks in total, which is like 4$ a click. Not very interesting to be honest. Furthermore, they should really improve their customer service as well, as I told my account manager Julie Zare about this. Up to today, no one has gotten back to me to at least explain, why the ratio is that bad and what they would do to improve this situation. Maybe or better most likely, they have no idea themselves. So, spare your money, learn from my experience and go with Google instead.
Design Poll

Well, every eBay-shop needs professional designs. Here are some concept studies. Please leave your comments, as I would really be interested how we could improve our look. Test 1, Test 2, Test 3, Test 4 and Test 5.
That’s it for today, I am tired as hell but at least I kept my promise for today and made a post to the blog. It is all about discipline and determination, that’s what Keyser Söze would say

2 Days no posts, despite my promise to keep this site updated everyday. But sometimes, things happen that keep you from keeping your promises. I never told you until now, but I have some very special pets. Hamsters. Since 5 years we have kept 2 or 3 of them at a time. Woody, Jimmy, Otti and Pippi all have gone into the big hamsterwheel some years and months ago. But on Thursday it was time to say goodbye to Egon, our little hamsterlady. As I approached her cages (each of our hamsters has a three room appartement), she was just lying there, lifeless. It is probably the best way of all to leave the stage, but it is nonetheless a very very sad experience. She was 2 years old, which made her a little old lady regarding a hamsters lifespan. Welived with her since she was 6 weeks old as we took her home from the pet shelter where someone left her as she did not seem to be an ideal pet for his kids. For us, it was just pure luck to have met her that day and to get her into our little family. She has brought us so much joy and I just hope that we have given her as much back as she has given us. Tomorrow, she will take her final rest where all of our little friends have taken their final home. Under a big old oak in the woods, right besides a field with wild flowers and corn. I am pretty sure that this is a place that she would have chosen herself. Goodbye Egon, we love you and miss you.

So, you see that we have a life besides business and if you have a hamster yourself or wish to know anything about them, just ask. I guess we have gotten quite some experience over the last couple of years and we are eager to help out no matter what the problem is.

Besides the private trouble, we had some great amount of work at the office too, which made H. and me work until late night as we had to prepare a very presentation. So, besides the change in the layout, which we have gotten by headsetoptions, and a new mp3-player functionality, there is not much new.

So, prepare for tomorrow, when I will have worked out our product catalogue for the launch of our singaporian eBay activities. Stay well.