How to Verify The Reliability of a Commercial WebsiteWith the rise in internet scams, fraud and identity theft, it makes good sense to research commercial websites that you intend to do business with. As a Personal Assistant, you're likely to be spending other people's money, so verifying the reliability of a commercial website and the standard of security at that site will help to put your mind at ease. The following tips will help you to adequately research an enterprise. 1. Google Search - A Google search is the most obvious way to begin researching a website. Enter the name of the company along with words like "review", "scam" and "history". 2. Whois Lookup - Whois is an internet function that queries Whois databases to find information on domain registration. Whois allows you to query the name and contact details of the registered owner of a domain, and more. If you're having trouble getting through to a website owner, this is an effective way to find an alternative email address and contact details.
3. Make Contact - One of the best ways to establish the reliability of a commercial website is to contact them using their "Contact Us" form and see how long it takes them to respond. This will give you an indication of how well run the business is.
4. Browse Forums and Discussion Boards - Type the name of the industry into a Google search, along with the words "discussion boards" and "forums". These industry specific forums and discussion boards are good sources of information, so browsing for information on a particular business could be fruitful. If need be, post a specific question; this could throw up a lot of valuable information. 5. Post a Question on Yahoo! Answers - Find the relevant networks and communities on Yahoo! Answers, or JustAnswer and ask a question. Anyone can answer your question, so it's a good forum for guaging public opinion on an issue. 6. Look for Badge of Reliability - There are a number of trusted organizations that provide verification of commercial websites, such as Verisign, TRUSTe, BBBOnline, HackerSafe and OnGuardOnline. These organisations evaluate commercial websites to verify that they are fit for purpose, using criteria like security, privacy policy, disclaimer, etc. Obtaining verification from some of these organisations can be a tedious exercise, so if a site displays more than one seal, it suggests they are serious about what they do.
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