Whether or not your online business plans include you writing anything, there is a lot to be said for developing a consistent journaling habit. Many, many people (especially those who have to be creative on a daily basis) attest to the fact that doing a morning "brain dump" of all of your worries, ideas, plans, etc. by writing them down helps to clear you out to do your best work later in the day. This... Continue Reading

If you look around at successful online businesses, you will see many things that they all have in common. Maybe they have a good design, have a well-written blog, convincing sales pages, or some combination of these and other characteristics. But many successful sites an businesses share another characteristic: they know and take advantage of the power of a unique business idea. Because let's face it, you can have all the other pieces in place... Continue Reading

If you have a book up your sleeve, or maybe even already written, a logical next question is how to bring your book to the world. There are more options out there these days than there ever have been before, but sometimes the various options can be paralyzing, especially for someone who's never published anything before. (And maybe even for those who have.) When you are considering the following options, always keep in mind what... Continue Reading

I recently enjoyed a meal with my daughter at Hu Hot Mongolian Grill in Fort Collins. It's our favorite place to enjoy build-your-own stir fry. Very tasty. As we were leaving the table, I heard my name called out. "Joel"... I turned around to a gentlemen looking at me. I didn't recognize him so I am scanning the recesses of my brain very rapidly to try to recall where I know him from. As it... Continue Reading

Starting your own online business is a lot like a long journey. You will need perseverance, stamina, and some faith, and you will reach your goals. But lots of people burn up all of their energy right out of the starting gate. Have you ever gotten really excited about a business idea or an online mentor, thrown a lot of money at it, and then never done anything or really learned anything from it? There... Continue Reading

Still sitting on an idea for a blog without having done anything about it yet? It's probably time to get rolling. Get some hosting, buy the domain, and find a theme you like (we're partial to Socrates), and you're ready to start in on the content. But before you jump in, here are a few things you should be ready for before going live with your new website: Continue Reading

There is a counter-intuitive truth to monetizing websites and online businesses: the more you give away for free, the more money you tend to make. Sounds crazy, but it has proven to be true time and time again. The reason is that through giving away your knowledge and possibly even products for free, you build customer trust and loyalty and you solidify your brand. Since your readers and fans don't have to worry about you... Continue Reading

Lots of people set out to make money online by selling a product whose audience they don't fully understand. They might make some logical conclusions based on a set of facts and decide that a given product has the potential to make a lot of money. But do they really put themselves in their customers' shoes? Not only do you need to know your niche inside and out, you also need to understand your competition... Continue Reading

Have you been putting off starting your online business because you can't decide what kind of business to start? If deciding on which direction to take with your online business feels like trying to map the desert, you need to list out some of the more obvious possibilities and then pick one. It's time to get moving. One of the first steps to getting going is to take some time to outline a rough business... Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Tim Golen) So much to do, so little time. You've been working on a project for weeks, and the end still doesn't seem to be in sight. The deadline keeps getting pushed back further and further, but you must press on. You're beginning to feel overwhelmed and your productivity is steadily declining. You probably find yourself wasting more time than usual and you try to find excuses to leave your desk... Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Loral Langemeier) Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night with such a great business idea that you sprang out of bed and made a mad dash for a pen and paper to write everything down as fast as you could? Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Sarah Beek) There is nothing worse than sitting down to work on a project only to find that what you attacked with exhilaration the day before now seems about as appealing as a box of rocks. You check your email again, waste a little time on your favorite time-wasting blogs, think of something that needs buying, and then proceed to spend precious time researching and buying it. What is this kind... Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Fletcher Groeneman) It can be said that consumers are persuaded to purchase by their perception of the product and not by the actual product itself. What promotes the idea that every need can be satisfied with the goods or services from a given company? Effective and creative advertising is a skill that every corporation desires yet few succeed in mastering. What makes some ads so successful and others just pathetic? A... Continue Reading

Perhaps it is the way creatives are wired or the difficulties of collaborative projects, but too often creatives have a file management system that is.....well, "creative." Organization is often not one of our strengths. Yet keeping advertisements, stock photography, designs, proofs, versions, illustrations, and production files organized will maximize your efficiency and your ability to collaborate with all the members of your team. Continue Reading