Are you aware there are more than 5.3 Billion smartphones and tablet devices being utilized worldwide? It's true. And many of the users are downloading new apps weekly, even.... DAILY. Why? Because it's fun for them, and so they'll be able to access "extra value" from their favorite companies, gurus and small businesses locally and abroad. In fact, this mass interest has begun a brand new "gold rush" for creating Mobile Apps. I should know... Continue Reading

"When you are through changing, you are through." - Bruce Barton Change is inevitable. Apart from death and taxes, change is the only thing in this life that we can count on. This past year has found me in the midst of much change. After a number of years as an author, speaker and entrepreneur, I have spent the last year quietly reassessing my life. Taking some time away from work, I've been tending to... Continue Reading

Despite what the doomsayers would have you believe, there is plenty of opportunity to conduct business online. However, there is a big difference between trying to make money online and running a business online. The make money online pitch has unfortunately become synonymous with "get rich quick." The mentality is that you simply create a product and make money selling it. That's NOT building a business. That's trying to make a few bucks. Maybe it... Continue Reading

One of the perennial questions in online marketing is how to get more traffic to your site. Whether you are just starting out, having just launched your site and are now wondering who's going to read it, or have been in the business for awhile and would like to improve your numbers, there is always something you can do to get more readers and site visitors. Here is a laundry list of our favorites. Don't... Continue Reading

The year is 2010. More and more people are getting their news from the Internet. And many traditional media sources are greatly suffering as a result. It's no wonder. Fresh information is constantly at our fingertips. I am puzzled why anyone would watch television news or read newspapers any more. I NEVER watch television news. I NEVER buy a newspaper. But I happened to be in front of a television the other day while waiting... Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Andrew Albritton) To say they're the latest craze in online shopping would be an understatement. Groupon, Living Social, Social Buy etc. have taken the web by storm, revolutionizing how "deal of the day" type websites meet local brick and mortar business. Traditional "Deal of the day" type sites are typically affiliates that have great discounts from advertisers that have a large online presence and may not even have brick and mortar... 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

When the potential of Google AdSense became clear, it was a seminal moment. It was a revolution in entrepreneurial opportunity. You didn't need to be a programmer, a computer whiz or a venture capitalist to make money out of the Internet. All you needed to do was identify one thing that you knew a lot about, write about it, surround your content with ads and if you could bring in the traffic, you had a... Continue Reading

Yesterday, I introduced you to Help a Reporter, a site/newsletter that offers a wealth of opportunities to find publicity. HARO has well over 100,000 subscribers watching for opportunities to get interviewed. That means while the opportunities are ripe, there is a lot of competition to get noticed. Today's site is far less popular, but still offers quality leads for experts wanting recognition. Continue Reading

Have you ever thought of launching an online business to be a lot like running a race, but with plenty of hurdles in the way? I did an interview today and the person asking me questions wanted to know what the biggest hurdle is that people face when running an online business. Is it search engine optimization? Is it social media? Is it product development? I laughed and replied that none of those were the... Continue Reading

I'm not a very good cook, so I tend to eat out a lot. I don't do a lot of fancy dining, but it's not unusual to find me and my family at a national chain or local diner. My experiences as a patron of restaurants has helped clarify what I believe makes a good waiter and what makes a bad waiter. Waiting tables is a difficult job. Hectic kitchens... unruly customers... angry cooks... wrong... Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Chris Harper) When I was about nine years old, my parents won a drawing for a $1000 shopping spree at a local store in my hometown and decided to use the money to buy a camcorder. As I recall, there were only about six to choose from, and they all recorded onto VHS tapes. The only differences to consider were brand, size (though none were small), and ease of use. Needless... Continue Reading

Have you ever been spread so thin that you felt like one little pat of butter in an entire bread factory? There are so many things to do, yet there is only so much time, money, and resources to go around. I've felt this way many times. And when it happens, it should act as a signal that you need to prioritize and refocus your efforts on what is most important. Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Alan Bechtold) This is a continuation of last week's article on getting inside the minds of your customers and prospects. Continue Reading