Over the past couple years, information marketers have come under greater scrutiny by the United States Federal Trade Commission. The FTC has taken several companies and individuals to task for deceptive Internet marketing practices. As the largest seller of information products online, Clickbank.com is now issuing clearer guidelines for the types of products and/or marketing practices that will be more closely scrutinized going forward. In other words, they are going to be working harder 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

I don't have to tell you how important video is your to sales process. It's a well-established fact that video is one of the best ways to build relationship, enhance your brand, increase conversions and make more sales. I've been using video for a number of years and it has been a very effective tool to accomplish all of the above. From time to time, we have video talent scheduled to film various spots for... Continue Reading

You've heard the old philosophical riddle "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?" Raising questions about reality, this question has undoubtedly claimed countless hours of debate in the halls of our colleges and universities. I find it relevant today as I make changes in my business and life. As I pull back from my business, I begin to wonder what would happen... Continue Reading

Someone recently sent me a link to an information product suggesting I look at their sales letter. It was a typical "make money online" pitch with a well-dressed guy sharing his story of how he went from zero to hero using strategies and methods that he would share with us at the designated price. There was the big house, the pretty girlfriend and the sports car. Ooh. I'm impressed. (Note the touch of sarcasm, please... Continue Reading

We talk a lot on this site about the ins and outs of creating and selling your own information products online, but what about all the information products that are already out there? How do you decide which ones to spend your hard-earned money on and which ones to let go? There is no doubt that there are lots of valuable information products out there that can help you meet your business and personal needs... 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

If you have followed through on the first two parts of this series, you will have discovered a wealth of opportunities to get free publicity. Both HelpAReporter.com and Pitchrate.com are great resources for connecting you with those who are interested in your topic. Today I will tell about a third site which is a must-see... 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

You've come up with a business idea you believe will rock the world. You have built your website... it's so beautiful it brings a tear to your eye. You are the expert in your field and you've got something to say. Now you just need someone to say it to! It's no surprise that the best way to become recognized is to be interviewed by others who want to leverage your expertise for a newspaper... Continue Reading

I've got a confession to make. I am fat. That's not P-H-A-T as in "cool". That's F-A-T as in chunky, large, and overweight. On top of that, I am not physically fit. It's no surprise. As an online entrepreneur who spends a lot of time in front of a computer, I've become sedentary. It's a fairly common story. Once upon a time I was both slim AND physically fit. In fact, you might be surprised... Continue Reading

Earlier this year I received a Facebook message from a person representing a well-known author and speaker who has done quite well in the infomercial space. I was told their group was interested in meeting with me to explore the possibility of creating an infomercial that would feature me and teach people about the opportunity for making money on the Internet. Now I have received calls similar to this many times before. Usually it turns... 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

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