If your online business includes a blog (and it should), and especially if that blog is envisioned as one of the main ways you will make money and pull in readers / customers, then we need to talk about keeping things fresh. Coming up with content on a regular basis is probably going to be challenging if you've never done it before, and it's probably going to be tempting to just fill up the space... Continue Reading

How do you get people to want what you're selling? Sure you have a quality product or service, but most of the time people buy things for other, more intangible reasons. If a certain company is all class and professionalism, then people might buy because they want to appear classy and professional themselves. This, in a nutshell, is branding. It is cultivating consistency in the message you put out to the world about who you... Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Joseph A Michelli Ph.D.) Last week we talked about the importance of having a customer-centric business approach. But how exactly do you go about becoming a business like The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company that adds value though service excellence and desired experience? I take my clients through a very systematic process with delivery of that process adapted to the needs of their business. Typically this journey begins with an honest assessment of... 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

(Written by guest contributor Joseph A. Michelli, Ph.D) I love buying things online! What I am not fond of is the service, or should I say the lack of service, I often receive after the sale. The great speaker and human development expert Earl Nightingale once noted, "Our rewards will always be in exact proportion to our service." However, with the world markets injured by those who focused more on profiting themselves than serving the... Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Chris Harper) Have you ever seen a television commercial that just drives you nuts because of the spokesperson they use? I can think of at least two regional companies here in Colorado that fall into that category for me. In both cases, the "actor" has a close tie to the company being advertised. For one it's the owner, and for the other one it's the owner's kid that serves as their... Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Fletcher Groeneman) If you are looking to create a distinct and memorable brand for yourself or a product, you will more than likely discover thousands of techniques and strategies to aid you in the process of branding. Branding is what defines you in the mind of the consumer; it is your calling card. Without it, you don't exist in the world of commerce. Discover the foolproof method for developing your brand... Continue Reading

A 2006 study found that viewers made subconscious decisions about the quality and credibility of web pages in just 1/20th of a second. In this blink of an eye, viewers did not have enough time to read text or even recognize photos, but instead were reacting only to the site's layout. Even when the participants had more time to look at the site, the research found that they only attempted to reinforce this initial conclusion. Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Carrie Wilkerson) I know just enough to be dangerous. Seriously. 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 few months ago I came up with the idea of creating a simple app that entrepreneurs would enjoy. Being a big fan of buttons that make sounds (eg: The Easy Button), I thought a bit about what that app would be. Since I've got a book called "KaChing: How to Run an Online Business that Pays and Pays" coming out in the Summer, why not create a digital KaChing Button? That's exactly what I... Continue Reading

Since Apple has opened the iTunes App Store, my company has released a number of applications. iVote was one of the first 500 apps released. iFart has gone on to become what is perhaps the most-often referenced app in iPhone history. And we also had the pleasure of creating apps for Mashable, Charles Trippy and MC Hammer, among others. I love creating apps and we've got some pretty cool stuff on the way. Continue Reading

One of the most frequent questions I am asked is, "How many sites do I need in order to make money with AdSense?" The answer is simple... just ONE site can do it! The truth is, I make the majority of my AdSense income from just one of my sites, though I do enjoy a little here and a little there from some of my other sites. With that said, I know of several people... Continue Reading