On the other side of the coin, some of my clients send to hundreds / thousands of targets.  For that I use php scripted database driven lists through our server.  So coming back to this small under 25 management – it was a challenge to get my thinking back to small & ultimately simple. Kind of refreshing actually!

So, the easiest / most basic way I could think of is simply to write the email addresses into a document (like a “Word” or “Publisher” or any text document), save that document, and then copy and paste the addresses into the “To” line of a new email when you want to go to send it.

This is very primiative, but simple and effective method.

Your text document with the email list would look like this:

Jane Doe <nowhere@yahoo.com>, Clyde Lovett <clyde@notarealdomain.com>, Charlie Brown <charlie.brown@fakecompany.com>, John Doe <john.doe@madeupname.com>

and so on, with each address entry separated by commas.

When you want to send an email and you you need the address just copy the whole kit and caboodle into the “To” line and off you go.

The email program will recognize the stuff in between the < > as the email address and the other name info is for your reference.

I can take people to any level of sophistication they want with this, but this is the most basic, easy method to manage a group

Let me know if you need more / different / more sophisticated or if this answers your question.

Cheers,

Clyde

I consider these items must have / must use:

• Time Machine – software included with Leopard+ for backing up files.
• Backblaze – on line backup service (if you have decent internet connection speed)
• 1Password – password management software

Some new prospects:

• Dropbox – file synchronization & sharing service.  Allows you to rebuild from previous versions and create easy photo galleries.
• Jumpcut – saves your clipboard cuttings  - do you have any idea how empowering that is?

If you are registered with CrestoneRegister.com, you can simply shred this duplicitous “invoice” from Domain Registry of America or other similar companies. Invoices should come from Crestone Creations only.

Regards,

Clyde Lovett

Crestone Creations

Domain Name Registration Phishing
Originally Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 8:55 am
Post subject: Domain Registry of America

A: I think that Wikipedia is a good source on the internet for research. I usually begin with Wikipedia as their layout / content delivery is excellent.
Although it is a publicly edited collective, it has been extant for many years now and poor quality posts are more rare as “bogus” information has been weeded out over time with a world of editors working on the various subjects.

For very new or highly specific topics I would not trust any one source, but for general research I use and trust Wikipedia. (eg. I found that on Wikipedia someone had listed the Princess of Japan as the Valedictorian of her high school class. Since she was my classmate I know it was not her, but rather it was Roo Canfield, I edited the Wikipedia document and brought that up to speed).

So I think that ANY source can have bogus information but that the accuracy of Wikipedia is good enough to count it as a source as reliable as any.
I use and recommend multiple sources, always, and I include Wikipedia as one of those sources.

Here is an article on the subject of Wikipedia Reliability

I’m not happy about that kind of blackmail style policy. I use and like Paypal, but I need to work with people who are not in the Paypal system. I could get on board with them and say, well just get a Paypal account – LOL, but no, people should not be so forced.

I understand the Paypal side of it. That Paypal is doing this for “security” reasons and for my “protection,” but it would be nice to have an option to say, “yes, thank you I’ll take my chances.” I know all my clients and trust them. Paypal’s security works for the generic sales, but that does not apply to my situation so I would like to have control over approval / holds. No such luck.

Check this article

Below is the condensed version of the article:

When purchasing or buying products and services online, PayPal is one of the most commonly used payment gateway used by the e-commerce sites to allow customer to pay for the invoices. PayPal secure payment allows users to pay with their PayPal account balance or direct debit from bank account if registered, or by using credit card such as Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express.

However, when users attempt to make a payment by using credit card without logging in to PayPal account, occasionally PayPal will reject, or doesn’t accept the credit card users desired to use with the following error message:
The credit card you entered cannot be used for this payment. Please enter a different credit card number.
The issue is little tricky because the rejection may happen with credit card which previously accepted and worked properly, then suddenly stopped working, or worse, payment will not be accepted even if user changes or switches to any other credit cards.
There are many possible causes that can result in such credit card rejected error, and PayPal doesn’t give specific explanation on how to resolve the problem and make the payment goes through processing again, with the same or different credit card. Here’s some explanations and possible resolutions that suggested by users on Internet.
Credit Card Is Linked or Associated with a PayPal Account
Many believes the credit card is not accepted by PayPal when using it not signing into PayPal account is that the credit card is already been used in a PayPal account. If you’re using a credit card that’s linked or assigned to a PayPal account, try login to PayPal during payment process. You can change the source of fund to make the payment after logged in to use credit card instead of PayPal balance.
Credit Card Is Previously Used in PayPal Account or Assigned in Closed PayPal Account
PayPal remembers a credit card details even when it’s already been removed from the account. The information also been remembered even if PayPal account which linked to the credit card is closed and deleted. In this case, try another credit card, or assigned the credit card to a PayPal account, and pay with account logged in.
PayPal Limit on Non-Member Credit Card Usage
According to PayPal source, there is a limit based on the number of times, the amount of the transactions, the type of merchandise being sold that a credit card can be used within the system without having to verify ownership by opening an account. The restriction is for security and fraud protection reasons. There is no workaround to this limitation, but you should be able to use another credit card. If there is problem, try using another email address. Else, register an PayPal account.
Credit Card or Email Address Raises Flag in the Transaction
Closely link to reasons above, where some part of the transaction raises flag on the server that stop the payment. Two possible flags are on credit card or email address. Try changing either credit card or e-mail address or both when attempting to pay again.
Cookies Problem
Try using another web browser and/or delete cookies and attempt to pay with PayPal gateway using credit card again.
Credit Card Is Not Confirmed in Account
Contrary to some of the reasons above, if the credit card has been linked to an account, but not yet confirmed, try to complete all credit card information such as Card Verification Number or Security Code, and confirm the card by entering the PayPal code shown on the credit card statement on special refundable charge by PayPal.
In all case, the problem won’t arise if you add the credit card to PayPal account, and use it as funding source to pay the transaction through PayPal account.

—–
Update 1/9/10:
Today a client tried to pay their invoice and wanted to use a new credit card – Paypal blocked them and now, instead of having money in the bank I have a frustrated client – I think I will be looking for Paypal alternatives!! Any suggestions?

I found this:

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/fsb/0802/gallery.paypal_alternatives.fsb/index.html

Why Blog?

There have been numerous well written articles which are trying to pound this thought into your business head – get a blog.  So I’m not going to re-babble what has been said in great, glorious detail – go read it:   Here is the primer – the 2008 version of an article first written in 2005  http://bit.ly/1JwiST which has now grown into a blog:  http://bit.ly/16l7FH

But let me get to the point of / summarize Why –    

1. Relationship with your Clients/Readers – let them know what you are thinking, be accessible, add value to your web site with a human presence.
2. Search Engine Benefits – with each blog you add content.  And if you are blogging about website relevant topics, then you are adding search engine value to your site.

How Blog?

“Keeping content fresh is one of the most important things you can do on your small business blog. Consistently putting out quality posts accomplishes two important goals: it turns visitors into repeat visitors and it creates a community around your content. Further, good content builds on itself over time and will slowly increase your blog’s traffic as it becomes more discoverable in search engines. However, blogging regularly isn’t easy, and while it’s true that almost anything can be turned into a blog post, generating ideas for fresh, original, high quality content is difficult, especially for those new to blogging.” from  5 Winning Post Ideas for Your Small Business Blog

Fight it all you want, but there is nothing more real that the maxim by inventor Thomas Edison, ”Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.”

Get Going!

Bad idea: You can get going with a free blog on a 3rd party site … it may help your business some by the fact that you (of course) reference your main web site.

Good idea: the best way to take control of building content on your own web site with a blog is if Crestone Creations installs a blog on YOUR web site.
You want the search engines to find the content on YOUR site so YOUR site gets search engine recognition, not a remote host site of the blog!

Install a blog on your web site today – Crestone Creations will do it for you and you can begin adding value to your web site right away (and go live when you are ready!)

Contact us – click here

After years of doing web sites, I never cease to be astonished at the ways people get confused, hung up, etc. That’s okay. Everyone is different and not everyone wants/needs to be an internet master. I have learned to build for the LCD, the lowest common denominator, in terms of internet/computer experience . I want a web site to be accessible to all

So why put click here or repeat the URL in hypertext?
There are many reasons for this. Here are few that come to mind right away:

1. Lowest Common Denominator: On the LCD subject in addition to what I say above, bear in mind that not everyone processes information the same way. You and I, with reasonable internet experience, may see underlined blue text as a link and know to click on it. Some people don’t. When I make a choice like that I am not posting for myself, I am posting for the lowest common denominator – to make sure that the largest number of people will have success. I have had some experienced users ask about the use of “click here.” It is a similar consideration. 80-90 % of the users know to “click here” but, depending on the site, there may be a percentage who do not know that. I want to make sure things are easy for users – I don’t want them to struggle. I’d rather be redundant than lose some people. Also, someone could be skimming and the URL grabs them whereas the text does not.  Make it easy for them.

2. Printing. If someone prints a page with hypertext and no URL they would not have the URL. Information is lost.

3. Branding. The target URL company will be (should be if they have half a clue) happy to have their info repeated in this variant form. It helps their business.

I say, build a web site to make information easy to access and, where appropriate, offer redundant paths to the important content.
I think it is the right and professional thing to do and to do less does a disservice to the visitor.

With all this said let me back up and say: Know your audience! Determine if this is right for your audience / clientele. If your audience is all a bunch of experienced users then don’t use “click here,” but the URL repeat is still a good idea from a marketing standpoint