(Written by guest contributor Tim Golen) The other day I was asked by a colleague why developers in general have a hard time setting firm deadlines. I thought it was a valid question. I am by no means an authority on this issue, but I can speak for myself and for others that I have witnessed and talked to. I think that there are several reasons why developers find it difficult to set a firm... Continue Reading

So you've got your website up and running, complete with some key products and ads and maybe even a sales page. So now what, you just sit back and wait for the sales to roll in, right? Well, in your rush to get online, you may have overlooked the importance of a key task that just might be the single most vital thing you do as a marketer: split testing. This, in a nutshell, is... Continue Reading

There are certain aspects of web design that you should make absolutely sure you are getting right. Here is a short list of the most important ones: Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Jared Newgent) 'Bots and Spiders?? Oh my... Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Chris Harper) Live video broadcasts using Ustream and podcasts each have their pros and cons. I've had some experience with both, and I want to share with you what I see as the plusses and minuses of each. In the end, you can decide which method might be best suited for your needs. Continue Reading

When Chitika brought out its Premium units in 2008, it did something unique. And a bit selfish. The company raised its conversion rate by filtering out those users who were least likely to buy. Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Sarah Beek) Meetup.com is the perfect confluence of online social networking and in-person social networking. Social networking websites are great, but they really can't compete with the power of meeting and connecting with someone in person. Actual social networking solidifies relationships and often seals real business deals. That is why we recommend conferences so highly. But if you don't have a couple of grand lying around to attend a conference right... Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Andrew Krzysiak) If you're like me and the vast majority of users, you have established your web presence through a combination of sites like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Coroflot. I love these sites because they allow me to interact with my family, friends, coworkers, and other professionals in a way that simply isn't possible on my own website. This realization leaves me wondering, "Why do I need a personal website, and... Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Andrew Albritton) No, it doesn't have anything to do with armed agents kicking down doors. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats, and doing a SWOT analysis on your business is an essential step in the process of branding and marketing your product or service. It also helps you come up with business strategies. SWOT analyses help you to identify and capitalize on your strengths, and they can help... Continue Reading

We are living in challenging times. If you are not feeling the economic pinch, you at least know others who are. Some blame the politicians, both Republicans and Democrats. Others blame the legal system. And many wag their finger at corporations who have failed to serve the customer in lieu of their own desire to become wealthy. Regardless, the end result is that unemployment is up and more people are having a difficult time making... Continue Reading

There is nothing that undermines a company's image and recognition faster than the distorted or inconsistent use of an identity. Whether you are part of an established business or launching a new enterprise, defining your company's graphic image now will save you both time and money in the future. Continue Reading

I probably don't need to tell you how important it can be to have a successful product launch. The launch of a new product can set the tone for how that product will be received down the road. It is important to hit the ground running on product launch day so that you can capitalize on that momentum and keep it going. In this article, I will be looking at a product launch from... Continue Reading

Meetup.com is the perfect confluence of online social networking and in-person social networking. Social networking websites are great, but they really can't compete with the power of meeting and connecting with someone in person. Actual social networking solidifies relationships and often seals real business deals. That is why conferences come so highly recommended on this site. But if you don't have a couple of grand lying around to attend a conference right now (or... Continue Reading

Things change fast in this business -- that's nothing new. Change can be your best friend or your worst enemy depending on how you deal with it within your organization. Maintaining flexibility is cliché (and usually overstated) and in my opinion rarely defined in a specific context. An expert in a particular area of focus laying out a roadmap for maintaining flexibility is incredibly valuable. A keynote speaker telling you he achieved success by... Continue Reading