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

The following email was sent to me by one of the creators of The Internet Marketing World Cup. I told them I would consider updating my previous blog entry based on what he shared with me. After further consideration, I thought I would just let IMWC's point-of-view speak for itself. With that said, here is the entire email sent to me. It is thoughtful and I admire the IMWC team for proactively contacting me and... 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

If you're experiencing a bit of sticker shock when it comes to your software needs, don't fret. Even if you are just getting started, you don't have to drop loads of cash on software right off the bat. 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

I had the privilege of delivering the keynote speech at AffCon2010 in Denver this year. The show was visited by hundreds of merchants and affiliates, so there was plenty of great networking to be had. The WebMasterRadio.fm crew was there, so I have took the opportunity to do my radio show live from the tradeshow floor. Speaking with attendees alongside Dan Nickerson, the show was quite fun to do. To listen to a replay of... Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Kevin E. Houchin Esq.) Last week we talked about the importance of understanding the various aspects of business formation and patents. This week we cover copyrights and trademarks. Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Kevin E. Houchin Esq.) Let me get right to the point. The reason our economy is in the tank today is that too many people are focused on creating money instead of creating real products and services. To correct this problem, we need to get back to the basics of creating products and services that people need or want, and let the money come as a result. That's the business of... Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor David Nour) In my last several prospective client meetings, a consistent conversation has centered on the need for a social media policy. Whether you work for a progressive organization or a conservative, risk-adverse one, it seems that everyone has an opinion on the best approach. Here are some prevailing camps: Continue Reading

So you have a business up and rolling. Now, how about establishing a sure-fire way to grow sales with little to no risk? If you are thinking affiliate marketing, the answer is yes! Affiliate marketing's pay-for-performance model makes it a low-risk, high-reward venture; it's a no-brainer for businesses looking to drive qualified sales or leads. The more complicated part is how to actually get affiliates to not just opt to join your program among the... Continue Reading

Let me get right to the point. The reason our economy is in the tank today is that too many people are focused on creating money instead of creating real products and services. To correct this problem, we need to get back to the basics of creating products and services that people need or want, and let the money come as a result. That's the business of creativity, and it's going to be the... Continue Reading

The Internet has grown at an incredible rate. Online business is big business. And wherever there is big business there are bound to be scam artists. Due to the sheer number of people being deceived by unscrupulous marketers (though I hate to even call them marketers), the Federal Trade Commission has seen fit to intervene with a new set of regulations due to go into effect on December 1st, 2009. If you do ANY kind... Continue Reading

What do people see when they look at you? Initially, they see your physical appearance. However, I believe our bodies are really a small part of who we really are. Man is a three-part being. We are body, soul and spirit. The body is just a casing (or an earthsuit as John Eldredge likes to say) to give our real selves something to walk around in during our brief stay on this planet. And yet... Continue Reading

Last week the FTC dropped a bomb on the marketing world. They released new guidelines for the use of testimonials and endorsements in marketing. I immediately contacted my attorney, Kevin Houchin, to get his take on the latest guidelines. With Kevin's permission, I am republishing the entire text of his interpretation. It is essential that all marketers, online and offline, pay attention to this content. And understand that if you have ANY questions, you should... Continue Reading