(Written by guest contributor Dan Nickerson) In preparation for writing this article I thought I would look for a great quote about learning from your mistakes. You know what...that was a mistake, because honestly there are a ton of them online. They all boil down to one basic principle: You can learn far more from your mistakes than from your successes. Continue Reading

There's a lot of great information out there that will walk you through the nitty gritty details of copywriting. Things like how long to make your sales page, and what elements do the most to drive sales. Think of these things as the scaffolding of your copywriting. Whether or not you choose to use all or just some of them, they provide a general framework around which to write your copy. Continue Reading

As online marketers, we put a lot of stock in social networking, and rightfully so. There really is no better way to get the word out about your business, its mission, and your brand and to build valuable relationships that will create opportunities and help your business grow. Or is there? Back in the day, before Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and even Friendster, all they could do was network the old-fashioned way: face-to-face and in person... Continue Reading

It was a year ago that we were in Estes Park, Colorado with some friends when my son told me he wanted a pair of Vibram Five Finger Shoes. Being completely out of touch, I was thinking "You want vibrating shoes?" "Dad", he said. "They are Vibram Five Finger shows" So I took him to the store and he showed me the shoes. I had seen toe socks before because my teenage daughter would wear... Continue Reading

If text is your message, then your use of text is your tone. Typography is the art and technique of arranging type, type design, and modifying type glyphs. In fact, the aesthetic you create through the use of typography often goes further in creating an atmosphere of professionalism, credibility, and organization than the content of the text itself. This article and next week's will be focused on helping you achieve better results in your designs... Continue Reading

It's been said that the only difference between men and boys are the price of their toys. I don't know if that's still true, but I do know that I've always been into gadgets. Raised on video games (I remember when Space Invaders and PacMan showed up next to pinball machines), I've always had a thing for electronics. I owned the first cartridge-based video game system that didn't require overlays on your television screen. This... Continue Reading

Get your idea noticed by using this clean design principle. Advances in media have created the most ad-resistant breed of consumer to date. Recent studies have found that consumers are, on average, exposed to 3,000 commercial messages per day in one form or another, from the boring copy-laden radio commercials to the flashing skyscraper ads on my favorite websites, from the cluttered newspaper coupons to illegible billboards on the side of the bus and... Continue Reading

I've made a lot of money out of Internet marketing. I live in a beautiful home in a wonderful part of the country. I work with some fantastic, clever, creative people who together generate more profit-making ideas than we know what to do with. And most importantly, I have an amazing family and while I do have a busy life, being my own boss gives me the freedom to enjoy time with them. I feel... Continue Reading

There are two kinds of people in the world. There are people who dream. And there are people who act. Both types of people are important, and both skills are needed when you're trying to succeed. What's rare though is to find both those skills in the same person. Most of us are either brimming with ideas or overflowing with energy. We're either the type who spots opportunities or the type who spots the problems... Continue Reading

As I'm sure you read on my blog or elsewhere on the web, Facebook had suspended my account. After sending a few emails and having some friends with contacts at Facebook work on my behalf, my account has been reinstated. Here is the email I received from them... Continue Reading

"What's the secret to creating a successful online business?" I probably get asked that question about a million times a year. Here's the answer... But first, I should warn you. You're not going to like it... In fact, you're probably going to hate it and run off to Google to look for something else to read. But I have to give it to you straight, so here it is Continue Reading

What is it that makes successful people stand out from the crowd? Or perhaps I should ask the question this way... What are the things that successful people DO that everyone else does not do? I believe we are all dealt a hand in life. On very rare occassion that hand is stacked with a full house, but in most cases we're fortunate if we are dealt a pair of twos. And whether or not... Continue Reading

I've been paying close attention to customer service wherever I go these days. In my business, I tell my support team to go the extra mile when assisting customers. I believe this pays off big time in the long run. But I am amazed at how many businesses do not pay attention to the simplest of customer service details. In the past few days, I have made observations at Best Buy, Gamestop, Qdoba and... my... Continue Reading

I did it. I bit the bullet and picked up an iPhone. I've been a faithful Treo 650 user for two years, but the buzz regarding Apple's new device won me over. So I ponied up $599 + shipping and tax to get one of these puppies in my hands, though I was unsure of what I would find once I actually got to try it out for myself. I may now render the verdict... Continue Reading