Google does a great job. It's managed to create an advertising system that allows anyone to make money from their website. It's created opportunity, and given it to anyone with patience, a willingness to learn, and entrepreneurial drive. Continue Reading

Carpe Diem, goes the phrase. Literally translated "Seize the Day" from Latin, I first became familiar with the term from the film Dead Poets Society. While the film had a depressing twist, I am coming to understand more and more the need to take hold of the moments in our lives. It seems like just yesterday that my son was born. I remember changing that first poopie diaper as though the smell still lingers in... 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

Every few years we're told that the music industry is finished as some new technology moves faster than the record labels. And every few years we're told that marketing through email is over as viruses and spam fill inboxes. Continue Reading

Lots of people who are just starting out with their online businesses are stymied by a question that is central to the endeavor: What should my online business be about? Since most people have money as one of their main motives, lots of people make the mistake of thinking solely along the lines of what they think will be most profitable. It's not that profitability is bad, of course, it's just that it may not... Continue Reading

There's a very disturbing trend taking place in the Internet marketing world. I am specifically referring to the Infoproduct "make money online" niche. I've had one foot in this market for the past few years, but I am increasingly dismayed by what I see happening. I say "one foot" because my products and services are very diverse and most are not in the IM niche. However, it's time someone came forward to draw a line... Continue Reading

Social media is a revolution in marketing. It allows businesses to identify their most important leads, understand what interests them the most, and talk to them en masse while still making each person feel like an individual. If that sounds like the kind of thing that a good speaker does, there's a good reason for that. Social media and conferences have a great deal in common. Social media marketing doesn't deliver the kind of depth... Continue Reading

When I created my first website, I had no idea where it was going to take me. I really did believe that it was possible to create a regular income online - even without any programming skills - but I didn't have an end goal. I wasn't planning to sell out within a few years, swap my sites for a big bag of cash and head off to Hawaii for the rest of my life... Continue Reading

There are times when I've sat in a conference, looked around a room full of bright, hopeful entrepreneurs and wondered how many of them will become successful. I don't mean how many of them will be successful this time next year or how many will be millionaires in five years' time. I mean how many will be successful at all. Continue Reading

I'm not a big fan of the major airlines. In fact I have written several entries that demonstrated poor customer service by United and American. However, I had a uniquely good experience on United a couple days ago and wanted to share it with you. I was traveling to Los Angeles with Joel Ownby and Tim Prince, en route to Yanik Silver's Internet Underground conference in Los Angeles. The three of us board the 737... Continue Reading

I am currently in Orlando, Florida, attending Michael Penland's Internet Marketing Super Conference. I've been spending time with some great people, including Mike Filsaime, Gary Ambrose, Brian Edmondson, Keith Wellman and Tom Beal. Being here reminds me of how incredibly important it is to attend conferences if you want to be successful. Continue Reading