| script type="text/javascript"> ch_client = | | | | At first glance, this will make you look bigger than |
| "articlealley"; ch_type = "mpu"; ch_width = 590; | | | | you are. For example, your address may be, "123 |
| ch_height = 250; ch_non_contextual = 4; | | | | Smith Avenue, Suite 300." Sounds like a street, but |
| ch_noborders = 1; ch_vertical ="premium"; ch_sid = | | | | actually it's 123 Smith Avenue (the FedEx store |
| "590x250 Article Mixed Top"; ch_alternate_ad_url = " | | | | location) and mail box 300 (you have mail box 300, of |
| var ch_queries = new Array( ); var | | | | potentially hundreds of other boxes, inside the |
| th)); if ( ch_selected < ch_queries.length ) { | | | | building). |
| ch_query = ch_queries[ch_selected]; } I'm building a | | | | In addition to giving a false sense of largeness, |
| business on a miniscule budget. I'm learning and | | | | there's a big benefit to doing this: Google Local and |
| problem solving as I go along, floundering at times, | | | | Yahoo Local require a street address, not a P.O. Box. |
| but emerging somewhat wiser (almost) every day. In | | | | Apparently, they haven't cross-referenced against |
| this blog, I'd like to communicate some of the things | | | | the list of FedEx locations, because these boxes |
| I've learned, to try to help others who are starting or | | | | count. You can get an instant local presence on the |
| thinking of starting their business. First piece of | | | | web. |
| advice: If you're starting a coupon site, don't! There | | | | I didn't select this option for Couponfield.com, for |
| are easier ways to make money. | | | | two reasons: 1) It may seem a little deceptive, if |
| Part I: Mail Options | | | | someone realizes what the address really is. For |
| If you don't have a physical address, you have two | | | | example, a polling firm called Strategic Vision has been |
| options in addition to having everything go to your | | | | charged with very credible claims of extreme |
| residence: P.O. boxes and FedEx store boxes. You'll | | | | dishonesty (making up their survey results from |
| pay about $50 a year for a basic box at the post | | | | scratch, to fit political objectives) and they use a |
| office, and you'll experience the occasional annoyance | | | | FedEx box for their address. When people learnt that |
| of FedEx and UPS packages requiring delivery at a | | | | they weren't located at whatever number, whatever |
| different location (they cannot deliver to their | | | | street, but simply had a mailbox, it added to their |
| competitor's facility). This is what I did for | | | | overall essence of deceptiveness. I didn't want to |
| Conventional wisdom may have suggested something | | | | take this risk with Couponfield; remaining credible is |
| else. | | | | absolutely necessary. 2) With a FedEx box, you now |
| With FedEx store boxes, you can actually get a | | | | have a local presence for Yahoo and Google. |
| physical address, and the cost is around $250 a year. | | | | |