Whilst at today’s Merchant Agent Risk Forum (www.merchantagentriskforum.com) in London, a topic that frequently came up was that of the types of due diligence merchants* should be undertaking when evaluating an agent* to build and operate a website on their behalf that accepts payments.

It’s all well and good having a shiny website with lots of products and fancy images but if you don’t have the right content running throughout the website, the success of it will be seriously hindered not least by its inability to surge up natural search engine results. From the moment a website is launched, content plays the key role in ensuring your website evolves into a successful presence on the World Wide Web. However, content writing is often an afterthought – something you ‘retro fit’ to your website after it has been built, or been live for a long period of time. So I’ve taken a look at some of the mistakes people make when it comes to website content and the best ways to get the most out of it.

As relentless as the common cold, a slew of brand new viral marketing campaigns are marching across the world entertaining recipients and creating new channels to market for those brave enough to give them a try. But what is viral marketing and how should your business be using it?When people think of viral marketing, it tends to conjure up images of email junk and underhand marketing techniques. Yet for all these negative connotations, it is a marketing tool that should not be ignored. With that in mind, I have taken a closer look at what viral marketing actually is and how it can benefit your business.

To some their life would be empty without it, while for others it is something to avoid like the plague.For those who are already au fait with the likes of Facebook ,Twitter and My Space , you will know how easy it can be to spend hours on end joining obscure groups or seeing what that shy, yet strangely attractive, old school friend is up to nowadays.