Ask Joel Comm Continue Reading

How many times have you shopped at a store or eaten at a restaurant and been invited to take a customer service survey. Usually these survey opportunities are presented by the clerk or waiter who points out a web site at the bottom of your receipt. I have never paid attention to these in the past and often find them to be a nuisance. Sure, Target claims to give away $5000 gift cards. But who... Continue Reading

I have surveyed online business owners a number of times over the years. I have discovered a common thread in the problems that the majority of them are experiencing. 1) They are frustrated with the amount of traffic they get to their websites. Can you identify? 2) They are concerned that their online presence is not generating enough leads and new customers. Does that describe you? 3) They are upset with themselves (or vendors) for... Continue Reading

In order to be successful online, you have to put yourself out there. Running a business online is a very public endeavor, and it differs from running businesses in the past in that you can't just hide behind your storefront or LLC. These days, people want to know exactly who they're dealing with, and social media marketing works best when there is a face and a name. So you steel yourself and start making your... Continue Reading

Recently I went to one of my favorite restaurants for a quick lunch. I called in an order of Chicken Tortilla soup to-go and went to pick it up. While I was there I observed that the restaurant was not busy. It SHOULD have been busy, being lunchtime. But it wasn't. It was then I asked to see if the owner was there. I wanted to speak with him for his benefit. He came out... Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Ray Edwards) So you've got all these info-products you've bought but never used. Some of them you've never freaking OPENED. Here's a way to get back ALL the money you've invested... and feel immensely good about yourself. This is also a way to recoup your losses if you've gotten caught on the latest guru product treadmill (they're only losses if you fail to do something with them). Continue Reading

Here is a tale of two websites. Website #1 is beautifully designed. It has fabulous content. People visit it each day and enjoy what read. Sometimes they come back, sometimes they don't. But the website owner has absolutely no way of knowing who these people are or what they want. And he has no way of monetizing his visitors. They come, they eat, they leave, so to speak. Website #2 is equally beautiful. It also... Continue Reading

It's been terribly dry in Northern Colorado. I can't remember the last time we had a substantial rain. Last week, the big news was the fire in Boulder County that claimed over 600 acres of land and at least 92 homes (nine of them belonging to firefighters.) Fortunately, no one was injured. As we were leaving church Sunday morning, it was impossible to miss smoke rising due west of our town, Loveland. It did not... Continue Reading

When was the last time you called your congressman to weigh in on an issue? When was the last time you participated in one of those surveys conducted by the national chain restaurants? You know the ones where they ask you to call in and reward you with a free appetizer or dessert. And when was the last time you left a comment on a blog? The truth is most of us never take the... Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Joseph A. Michelli, Ph.D.) Recently, I had a very candid conversation with an entrepreneur whom I've known for a long time but who has never shown much interest in elevating service at his business. During that conversation he said something like, "Joseph I know you believe service is an important value proposition and intuitively it makes sense, BUT I can't monetize the value of service." Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Joseph A. Michelli, Ph.D.) Recently, I had a very candid conversation with an entrepreneur whom I've known for a long time but who has never shown much interest in elevating service at his business. During that conversation he said something like, "Joseph I know you believe service is an important value proposition and intuitively it makes sense, BUT I can't monetize the value of service." 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

(Written by guest contributor Christopher Guerriero) Everything I Needed to Know to Make Over $200,000/Month in Online Memberships I Learned Cleaning Toilets in the Health Club Business Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Alan Bechtold) To make compelling offers and to create sizzling copy that sells those offers effectively, you must enter the conversation already going on in your ideal prospects' minds. This is an edict that's been passed down through generations of successful direct marketing masters. It's never been proven wrong. Continue Reading