Posted on November 29, 2008 08:00 AM
Whenever I attend a conference I always try to listen to as many of the other speakers' talks as possible.
I can't think of a single talk that hasn't taught me something.
But some of the most powerful and valuable information that I've learned at conferences didn't come while sitting in front of a professional marketer. It came while sitting in the café afterwards and chatting with my students.
Continue Reading
Posted on October 22, 2008 01:02 PM
Here's a campaign ad that goes directly to the heart of this election.
Who knows better how to spend YOUR money and run YOUR life?
You or Government?
We're at a crossroads.
I pray we make the right choice. Continue Reading
Posted on October 3, 2008 08:34 PM
I don't go to the movies much. I enjoy movies, I just don't enjoy the theater experience. Why pay top dollar to sit in a crowded cinema with chatty teens and people noisily crunching popcorn and nachos when I can buy or rent the DVD for less and enjoy the peacefulness and comfort of my home theatre. I choose to go to the Metrolux today in order to get a glimpse of An American Carol... Continue Reading
Posted on September 20, 2008 06:58 AM
I've got some pretty exciting news. I've been asked to write the definitive book on Twitter for business by a major publisher! I just got done with the launch of Click Here to Order, but I have already begun writing this new guide. There's a great demand for it and the time is right. So, would you like to help in my research? I am looking for stories of how you have used Twitter to... Continue Reading
Posted on September 8, 2008 09:16 AM
There are millions of blogs on the web, but there are only a handful that are creating content of value. I learned about Tyler Cruz a few months back and have been paying close attention to his latest projects. One recent project is proving very useful to those in the affiliate marketing industry. It's called Publisher Spot and it is a directory of Internet ad network companies. It is a valuable resource because it provides... Continue Reading
Posted on September 2, 2008 10:42 PM
What a fantastic book launch day!
My book, Click Here to Order, took Amazon.com by storm on Tuesday, September 2nd, moving up the charts at record pace!
As of this writing, the book has taken #1 in several categories, including Movers & Shakers, Web Marketing and Ecommerce.
The book is currently sitting at #18 of ALL books available on Amazon.com! Continue Reading
Posted on August 20, 2008 03:31 PM
When Apple released the iPhone in 2007, they effectively announced "game over" to the rest of the cell phone world. With the release of the 3G and the iTunes App Store, Apple puts another nail in the coffin of wannabees who will arrive late to this party. The moment I saw the App Store, I realized that I had to begin producing applications that the installed user base of 10,000,000 iPhone users would embrace. I'm... Continue Reading
Posted on August 5, 2008 08:56 PM
When it came time to plan a summer vacation with my family, Mary and I decided we would just do a local Colorado trip rather than fly somewhere. I researched places that would be within driving distance and came upon Glenwood Springs, a popular tourist destination smack dab in the middle of the Rockies. They are famous for having the world's largest Hot Springs pool and it is a beautiful location. Instead of driving, I... Continue Reading
Posted on July 19, 2008 11:17 PM
While attending an Internet marketing conference in Chicago, I spent a lot of time networking with my peers. As I sat at the dinner table last night, I noticed that a bunch of us were twittering on our handhelds. Simon Leung, Donna Fox, Eric Farewell, Anik Singal and several others had their PDAs or phone out and were twittering away... sometimes to each other other, even though they were sitting across the table from each... Continue Reading
Posted on July 11, 2008 08:55 AM
The long-awaited day has arrived. Not only is Apple releasing the brand new iPhone 3G phone, which promises to do everything but do your dishes, but they are also releasing the new iPhone 2.0 firmware which promises to bring new functionality to current iPhone hardware. I woke up early today and plugged in my iPhone to find that the 2.0 update had rolled out to my area. I told iTunes to download v2.0, backup my... Continue Reading
Posted on July 4, 2008 10:29 AM
What is hype?
From dictionary.com, one definition is "exaggerated publicity"
For example...
"The amazing super-duper fantasmagorical stapler can save thousands of dollars each year in lost time and help you lose 30 pounds in three minutes!"
Ok, that IS over-the-top hype.
What about where Internet marketing products are concerned?
Is there hype?
Continue Reading
Posted on June 11, 2008 12:46 AM
I need to back up a bit because I left out Sunday from my journal. On Sunday, I spoke at Chris Howard's "Ultimate Wealth Symposium" on the grounds of the Sydney Olympic Park. I had a fantastic time sharing my story with 800 or so people. I've got to say, the Aussies are a bit difficult to get moving, but I think everyone had a good time and learned a thing or two. I also... Continue Reading
Posted on May 31, 2008 12:56 AM
I'm currently in Los Angeles for the annual Book Expo America, otherwise known as BEA. Why BEA? I have a book coming out on August 1st and I showed up to support my publisher and do some networking. Now I must confess. I am a trade show junkie. I love the vast conference centers with aisles and aisles of vendors hawking their goods and services. I'm especially a sucker for the freebies and swag. It's... Continue Reading
Posted on April 29, 2008 10:54 PM
When Mike Filsaime visited last week, he suggested that I get a the DVD documentary, "The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters". It is the story of a the men who are completely dedicated to owning the world record for the highest score in the videogame, Donkey Kong. Yes, you heard me correctly. There are people who obsess about having the high score for a videogame. After all, there is an entry in the... Continue Reading
Posted on April 28, 2008 12:51 AM
I'm going to let you in on a little secret...
I can't write computer code.
It's true... I can't code my way out of a paper bag.
Well, maybe that's not a big surprise, but here's another secret...
I can't do graphic design.
That is, unless you count stick figures. I can draw those.
May I tell you another secret? Continue Reading
Posted on April 5, 2008 12:55 AM
It was fall of 2005 when I was scheduled to speak at Robert Puddy's Focus 4 the Future Internet marketing conference. It was the first time I had spoken at an event and I was on a roster with Mike Filsaime, Gary Ambrose and Craig Perrine. Yes, I was nervous. But why should I be? My AdSense ebook was a huge success and my name had begun to spread in the Internet marketing community. The... Continue Reading
Posted on March 29, 2008 09:36 AM
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
Posted on March 25, 2008 12:00 AM
I love to experiment with technology. And on Wednesday at 1 pm EST, I am going to give you an opportunity to experiment right along with me! You've participated in teleseminars... And you've participated in webinars... But now I invite you to join me for the very first "Joel Comm LIVE!" TV show streaming direct to you over the web! During this one-hour program, I will be answering questions from viewers in real time. Simply... Continue Reading
Posted on March 15, 2008 12:05 AM
I'm currently in Atlanta for Matt Bacak's Marketing Madness conference. I'm set to speak to 150 or so people tomorrow. So Dan Nickerson and I are in our hotel room right next to the airport. I mean DIRECTLY next to the airport. Our balcony overlooks all the runways, so we've enjoyed the sights and sounds of planes continually taking off and landing. But as we were coming back from dinner tonight, I noticed lightning in... Continue Reading
Posted on March 13, 2008 01:53 AM
There's a fun game people like to play that goes like this. Take any sentence or phrase and add the words "in bed" as a suffix to make it funnier. For example, "John ate a steak... in bed" or "Jill picked out the latest hat to wear... in bed" It's especially fun with fortune cookies, where the game has become part of our pop culture. For example, "You have very good skills and exceptional talents... Continue Reading
Posted on March 11, 2008 12:15 PM
Google is a behemoth that continues to swallow everything in its path.
Back in April 2007, Google offered Doubleclick over $3 BILLION to buy them out.
Today the transaction is complete...
I received this email from Kim Malone at Google today... Continue Reading
Posted on February 28, 2008 10:18 AM
On Sunday at Affiliate Summit, I bumped into Shawn Collins in the hallway. He had rented a Segway scooter for the day and I had an opportunity to take it for a test drive. It's really an amazing device! It takes just a few seconds to find your balance the first time and then to get a handle on how to make it move. But in just a matter of moments, the Segway becomes an... Continue Reading
Posted on February 25, 2008 05:54 PM
I've been wanting to meet Jason Calacanis face-to-face for some time. For those that don't know, Jason is the co-creator of Weblogs, Inc., which was sold to AOL for $25 million. I'm at Affiliate Summit in Las Vegas where Jason Calacanis delivered the keynote address this morning. I really didn't know anything about Jason as a person, so I was looking forward to an insightful talk with fresh ideas. Wow, was I in for a... Continue Reading
Posted on February 22, 2008 12:10 AM
Admit it. You are passionate. Oh, I don't know what you are passionate about. But I guarantee that you are passionate about SOMETHING! You may be crazy about parakeets. Or perhaps you know more about bonzai trees than anyone on the block. Maybe you are one of the world's leading experts on Mt. Everest. Or it could be that you make the best french silk pie in the hemisphere! The point is that everyone is... Continue Reading
Posted on February 21, 2008 12:33 AM
A few months back, I launched this groundbreaking Internet marketing course to the world... The Secret Classroom ... and the feedback has been fantastic! I regularly receive emails from people telling me what an impact this course has had on their online business. I wanted to take a moment today and share one of these emails with you. I think it says way more about the value of The Secret Classroom than I could ever... Continue Reading
Posted on February 19, 2008 12:58 AM
Today's entry may be one of the most important ones I have ever sent out.
Why?
Because your response to this newsletter is going to help guide the direction of all future newsletters!
This is the day that I am asking for participation from every one of my readers...
... and I am counting on you! Continue Reading
Posted on February 16, 2008 11:58 PM
World of Warcraft has now occupied a part of my life for three years.
No, I am not one of those people that plays hours each day, let alone every day.
But I do enjoy the game and am eagerly anticipating the next expansion set titled "Wrath of the Lich King".
Apparantly I am not alone.
There are now over 9,000,000 people around the world who play World of Warcraft. Continue Reading
Posted on February 5, 2008 12:17 AM
I'm a big fan of Amazon.com. I spend far too much money there but they also give me a fair bit of money too through book sales and affiliate links. I think they've done a fantastic job of selling products online and helping website publishers earn from their content. They might be the Walmart of Internet retailing, but they're definitely not the Apple of whiz-bang gadgetry. Their new Kindle book-reading machine is a great idea... Continue Reading
Posted on January 15, 2008 08:06 AM
I make no secret of it. I am a 43-year old man who loves playing computer and video games. And why not? I was a teenage when Space Invaders, Asteroids and Centipede took over the arcades. I was sixteen when I bought my first computer, a TRS-80. It was great for primitive gaming. And I've got a great collection of old computer software in a special room in my basement. Perhaps I'll do a video... Continue Reading
Posted on November 29, 2007 10:13 AM
It's a sad moment, but it was easy to see coming.
Google has now officially killed off site targeting.
The function that allows advertisers to choose to advertise directly on your Web pages still exists. But now it's called "placement targeting."
There are two differences. Continue Reading
Posted on November 27, 2007 12:50 PM
A few months ago I wrote an article discussing why I dislike network marketing.
One of the main reasons is because many organizations suggest that you recruit your family and friends to join you in your quest to get rich.
Bah. I just don't like that.
BUT, as I mentioned on my blog, the Internet now affords an opportunity to get involved in network marketing without having to sell to your "warm" market. Continue Reading
Posted on November 23, 2007 12:10 AM
It was only a matter of time.
Google is coming out with their own phone.
But Amazon has beat the Big "G" to the punch with their own electronic device.
It's called Amazon Kindle, and it appears to be a contender for the coolest device of the 2007 holiday shopping season.
Imagine being able to access thousands of books wirelessly and read them on a crystal clear display anywhere you go. Continue Reading
Posted on October 5, 2007 08:05 AM
I recommend a lot of products to people, and sometimes I get emails from readers complaining that they can't possibly buy everything I recommend. I don't expect you to. Not all of the products I recommend suit everyone. All of them though will help someone. If you decide not to buy a product I recommend, that's fine. Just make sure that you're not turning down something that could genuinely help your site to grow and... Continue Reading
Posted on October 2, 2007 02:32 PM
Over the years, I've made a tidy sum by investing in domain names. We're talking thousands of dollars for less than $100 spent to purchase the names in the first place! There is a plenty of cash to be made in domain names, and I want to tell you how you can go about profiting from them. I've got a brand new 30-page report called, "Buying and Selling Domain Names for Profit", and I want... Continue Reading
Posted on September 13, 2007 12:05 AM
I like to call episode 4 our "fear factor" episode. Eric Holmlund, my partner and the Director of The Next Internet Millionaire, insisted that we include a task that would dare the contestants to do something they would not want to do.
What did they do?
You'll have to watch to find out! Continue Reading
Posted on September 1, 2007 12:34 AM
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
Posted on July 10, 2007 03:52 PM
I'm not a negative person.
Generally, I've got a smile on my face and a bounce in my step.
But the moment I got off the plane in Miami for Affiliate Summit, I felt like I needed a shower.
No offense intended to any of my subscribers or friends that live at the tip of Florida, but I found it to be just a notch below absolutely miserable. Continue Reading
Posted on June 27, 2007 12:40 AM
A couple months ago, I shared the Bookwise opportunity with you. It appeared to be a solid MLM with potential.
I've seen some people jump on board this, but the past few weeks I've been skeptical that they could really make it work.
I've been using the domain BookWiseProfits.com to build my BookWise business.... until today. Continue Reading
Posted on June 14, 2007 11:02 PM
Pssst.
I've got a secret.
Actually, I've got a LOT of secrets.
Do YOU want to know the secret?
No, not THAT secret. "That" Secret is the biggest bunch of nonsense served to the public on a shiny platter all year.
But that's a topic for another newsletter. ;-) Continue Reading
Posted on June 5, 2007 01:08 AM
I can't take it any longer.
I've seen a few trends taking place in Internet marketing lately, and I don't think they are right.
It's time to take off the gloves because I've got something to say.
I'm throwing caution to the wind because I think someone has got to stand up and speak the truth. If I take heat for it, so be it.
Here goes...
Continue Reading
Posted on May 19, 2007 01:15 AM
You asked. I answered. You have made it clear that you want direct answers on a number of topics related to Internet marketing, AdSense, list building, advertising, joint ventures, affiliate programs and any number of other topics under the sun. I believe that video is the wave of the future, and I intend to use it to its maximum potential. That's why I am pleased to announce the launch of AskJoelComm.com, a video-based blog designed... Continue Reading
Posted on May 17, 2007 12:00 AM
Thanks for reading my blog today. I've got a problem and I really need your help. The problem is that I receive SO many questions about making money online there is simply not enough time in the day to answer them. So I realize that I need to focus the direction of my site to make sure I am serving as many people as possible in the time that I have. I sincerely want to... Continue Reading
Posted on May 10, 2007 12:21 AM
OK... We all know most people are concerned about hackers and the safety of shopping online. And we all know that trust seals can help. But is there a best seal program to address this problem? Are there any real, proven benefits of one over the other? HACKER SAFE is proven to be the most effective trust seal... Ever! Think about it for one minute... * Used by over 75,000 websites * Seen on over... Continue Reading
Posted on May 2, 2007 02:56 PM
Here's a hot tip...
Actually, TWO hot tips!
First... If you want your website to have lots and lots of traffic, you need... links.
Okay, that didn't sound so hot, did it?
But it is hot, because so many people ignore it.
I'm not talking about incoming links. Everyone remembers that they have to work their fingers to the bone to get those.
I'm talking about outgoing links. Continue Reading
Posted on April 21, 2007 12:22 AM
I like to think I've come a long way. It didn't happen overnight and it didn't come easily. But there's a world of difference between where I am now and where I was when I put up my first website. For one thing, I've now got more than one website. For another, I have a lot of speaking appointments, a small staff to help me and I've written a lot of books that -- best... Continue Reading
Posted on April 14, 2007 08:23 AM
Financial Success - Purpose = Meaninglessness It's a formula you can't deny. If your goal is just to succeed monetarily, but you don't have a real reason for wanting that success, what's the point? I don't really discuss how I choose to spend the money I earn. That's between me and my God. But you should know that I have goals that go beyond earning a few bucks. It's not the money that is the... Continue Reading
Posted on April 5, 2007 12:34 AM
Work in any industry long enough, and you'll find that there's a knack to it. Get that right and it doesn't matter what else you do, you'll always make money. For retailers, the rule is to treat the customer as king. For racing drivers, speed is king. For Internet publishers, content is king. And for Squidoo publishers? Well, that's a little different. I've been having a lot of fun with my Squidoo lens recently. I've... Continue Reading
Posted on March 29, 2007 01:03 AM
I recently received an email from a reader. May I share it with you? "Joel, I appreciate your newsletters and great tips. Out of all the so-called gurus, I feel like you deliver more real value in your email than anyone else. But I am feeling very confused about all the different ways you discuss to make money. You tell us about a new software tool that is the supposed answer to our problems, but... Continue Reading
Posted on March 14, 2007 11:09 PM
I love it when people add comments to my posts. Sure, I write a blog to share my information and tips... and to tell the world what I think sometimes too. But it helps to know that someone out there is actually reading what I'm saying. It helps even more to see what they think about what I'm saying! But comments at the end of articles aren't just a nice boost for the writer of... Continue Reading
Posted on March 13, 2007 11:58 AM
Andy Warhol once said that every person gets their fifteen minutes of fame.
I don't know if that is true, but I do know that every person has a story to tell.
I am in the process of writing a new book centered around Internet marketing and individual success stories...
... and I am looking for real life stories to include in the book!
So what's your story? Continue Reading
Posted on March 9, 2007 07:31 AM
Last time I visited Arizona, I had the pleasure of visiting the Grand Canyon. Undoubtedly, one of the most moving experiences of my life, there is absolutely nothing on the face of the earth that compares to standing on the edge of the canyon face and looking down one mile into it's deep, deep enormity. It was an experience that actually moved me to tears. (Hey, when you spend the majority of your life on... Continue Reading
Posted on February 23, 2007 12:51 AM
Five days ago, I wrote about my experience with American Furniture Warehouse in Fort Collins, Colorado. It was not a glowing moment for their customer service team. This morning, my home phone rang and my wife informed me that American Furniture Warehouse wanted to speak with Joel Comm. I had been anticipating a call from them. Surely they monitor the web for mention of their name, and just 48 hours after blogging about my experience... Continue Reading
Posted on February 19, 2007 06:01 PM
I'm going to do something I've never done before.
No, I'm not talking about sky-diving or bungee-jumping. I'll leave those for my friend, Yanik Silver.
I'm talking about giving you an opportunity to resell one of my best-selling AdSense ebooks...
... and keep 100% of the profit!
Here's the deal...
Continue Reading
Posted on January 25, 2007 03:27 PM
Here is a tip especially for those who own a Sony Playstation portable (PSP). I love that you can download video to your psp, but I was getting tired of having to download video to my computer to transfer them to my psp. With the help of Joel Ownby, I now have a way to pull video direct to the psp memory card by using the RSS feed feature. As long as you have a... Continue Reading
Posted on January 18, 2007 01:17 PM
People have been asking me three questions about the AdSense program, and their new terms of service and AdSense support team have now clarified all of these issues. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Question 1) Does Google allow other ads to run on the same page as AdSense Ads? Answer 1) The official word is a qualified "yes". You may not run ads that are designed to resemble AdSense ads. For example, Yahoo! Publisher Network ads look very similar... Continue Reading
Posted on January 11, 2007 09:07 AM
Ack! It was the only word uttered by Bill the Cat of Bloom County fame. If you don't know who I am referring to, here's a quick refresher course. Bill the Cat And now that we are on the same page, I felt a bit like Bill the Cat yesterday when I received questions about my Monthly Templates membership program. They were very GOOD questions. And I can't believe that I blew it by not... Continue Reading
Posted on January 10, 2007 01:13 PM
Take a look at your calendar. You probably have it marked up with important dates. Many calendar manufacturers do us a favor by including holidays and other special days preprinted for convenience. Christmas New Years Day Valentine's Day President's Day Groundhog Day Yes, they take time to remind us of the furry little rodent that somehow is able to predict the weather every February 2nd. Whatever. Now, I don't suppose the calendar's will ever come... Continue Reading
Posted on January 3, 2007 01:54 PM
Happy New Year! I'm very excited about what this year is going to bring, and from the comments on my blog, many of you are as well! I'll be announcing the winner of my contest tomorrow... Many have indicated that they are going to get serious about building their business online in 2007. Yet, a fair number are without direction. Let's face it. Without a compass, it can get awfully tricky to find your way... Continue Reading
Posted on December 15, 2006 11:47 AM
How would you like to get 10 hours of EXPERT Internet marketing coaching for just $25? And what if you knew that your small investment would not only help put money in your pocket, but would also benefit a very worthwhile cause? Read on, my friend... For many, Christmas morning will be met with the joy of exchanging gifts and seeing the smiles on the faces of children. But there are many children who won't... Continue Reading
Posted on December 14, 2006 01:09 PM
I've got a Christmas gift for you!
No strings attached.
It's a gift, pure and simple. :-)
As you are probably well aware, Google AdSense is not the only way to generate money on your site with contextual ad services.
I've written a brand new report called:
"Contextual Ad Systems: Earning Beyond AdSense"
And I want to give it to you for free...
Continue Reading
Posted on November 25, 2006 04:05 AM
I’m always going on about the importance of great content. I don’t apologize for that. You can have ad units that are perfectly optimized, blended completely into your site and packed with high-paying ads. But if your content’s garbage, no one’s going to click on them because no one’s going to come to your site. I meet so many people who dream of getting rich with AdSense but never give a thought for building a... Continue Reading
Posted on November 20, 2006 05:19 AM
When I first started playing around with AdSense, I knew nothing. Now, I like to think that I know a few things about AdSense, but I am still learning. Want to design direct-mail flyers? Don’t ask me. I haven’t a clue. Need to know how to fill a restaurant to the rafters every night? Never owned a restaurant. Not my thing. Want to build a deck? Follow my advice and you’ll just end up with... Continue Reading
Posted on November 18, 2006 11:27 AM
The business-in-a-box. You've heard of 'opportunities' like this before. Usually, all you get is a box... ... and no business. When Paul Smithson (of XSite Pro fame) approached me with his "Build an Empire" business-in-a-box, I was VERY skeptical. In fact, I ALMOST didn't it listen to what he had to say. However, when he mentioned an industry that I happen to know is one of the fastest growing industries next to digital music, he... Continue Reading
Posted on November 10, 2006 08:51 AM
Finding what you want online is a daunting challenge. The search engines are PACKED with billions of pages on every conceivable topic. That's why I'm pleased to announce a BRAND NEW search engine just for Internet Marketers! Whether you are looking for information on AdSense, AdWords, copywriting, search engine optimization, traffic generation, product creation, shopping cart systems, content creation or any number of other topics related to making money online, you will want to bookmark... Continue Reading
Posted on October 25, 2006 12:08 AM
We live in a reciprocal Universe.
All of us are trained at a very young age to take.
Hopefully, we are also trained to give.
Give and take.
Someone asks you how you are doing...
... and you ask them how they are doing.
Someone gives you a gift...
... and you are more likely to give them a gift in the future.
Give and take.
That's the way the Universe operates.
Continue Reading
Posted on August 19, 2006 10:58 AM
On September 27th, I am going to award FIVE people with a free one-year membership to the Premier AdSense Coaching Club, my members-only site designed to help people increase the profitability of their web sites.
How can you enter to win one of these five memberships?
Easy!
I present you with...
The AdSense Code Sightings Contest!
Here's the deal... Continue Reading
Posted on August 11, 2006 11:08 PM
Here are some quick answers to questions that have been recently submitted at AskJoelComm.com. I read in your book "The Adsense Code" about taking ebooks and making them as free content website(s) and adding Adsense to the pages. I have several books I have authored over the years. Should each book (topic) be its own website or is a one "master" website with pages or directory by topic okay? This is a great way to... Continue Reading
Posted on July 24, 2006 01:12 AM
Omakase is a Japanese word meaning 'leave it up to us'. It is commonly used in Japanese restaurants for a meal where the chef uses their experience and knowledge to select and prepare the meal for a customer without specific directions.
And with the beta launch of Amazon.com's new contextual ad service, Omakase takes on a new meaning.
DId you just say, Amazon.com and contextual ad service in the same breath?
Yes... yes, I did. Continue Reading
Posted on June 23, 2006 07:13 PM
Remember the pixel ad craze started by milliondollarhomepage.com last year? It was definitely a novelty that fuled a huge windfall for the owner of the site and a bit of notoriety for some of the sites that bought pixels. However, there was ultimately no linking benefit to the sites that paid for the pixels. Enter 500Words, a site that takes linking to the next level... one that should be of far greater interest to those... Continue Reading
Posted on June 15, 2006 09:21 PM
Who would have thought that my post about Arbonne would have generated so much discussion? Admittedly, it does get heated from time to time. But I have allowed the post to be a forum for free speech as long as people keep it clean and don't abuse each other. If you try to read it, expect to spend at least an hour... it just keeps going and going... A few months ago, I put up... Continue Reading
Posted on June 10, 2006 12:40 AM
If you've been following my life at all, you know I've been working with my mother to help her build her website, TravelsWithSheila.com.
Acting on my advice, my mom has issued a press release today. Continue Reading
Posted on May 7, 2006 11:29 PM
Lara Croft is back. And this time she means business. Back in the late nineties, Lara Croft came on the scene in the game Tomb Raider. A female "Indiana Jones"-style character, Lara spelunked tombs in ancient ruins of Rome, Mexico, Egypt and Atlantis, fighting off creatures and bad guys while on the hunt for priceless artifacts and treasure. Rather than just shooting to kill stuff, Tomb Raider challenged the player mentally with a series of... Continue Reading
Posted on April 16, 2006 11:13 AM
There are so many ways to promote business online. Adsense is a focus for me, because it has been so lucrative, and because there are so many businesses building their brand through the Adwords program. What's very interesting is that there are entire worlds of promotion outside of the Adwords Pay Per Click model. "Sponsorship" type programs are one example, which can bring traffic to not only your web site, but to your brand, through... Continue Reading
Posted on April 4, 2006 10:36 AM
I am currently in a top-secret location with an unnamed group of people.
What do we have in common?
We are all online entreprenuers.
Why gather?
Because when people get together and begin discussing their lives, powerful stuff takes place. Continue Reading
Posted on March 20, 2006 04:10 PM
I remember receiving an email from someone in early 2005, just after the first edition of my ebook had come out. He asked me if I was interested in doing a "JV".
Being mostly ignorant of Internet marketing jargon at the time, I only knew JV to mean Junior Varsity.
Since that time, I have found out that JV means Joint Venture.
And Joint Venture means MONEY. Continue Reading
Posted on January 21, 2006 07:32 AM
When I was in Las Vegas, I spent a little time with Paul Colligan. Paul is an expert in Affiliate marketing. But recently he has began beating the drum for podcasting.
Now admittedly, I have been slow to come to the podcasting table. However, after spending some time with Paul and Declan Dunn in Las Vegas, the light has turned on above my head. Ding! Continue Reading
Posted on January 14, 2006 12:52 AM
I'm in San Francisco, which is over 1000 miles from home. I'm attending Harlan Kilstein's Six-Figure Copywriting conference (which I am scheduled to speak at tomorrow and Sunday). The conference is taking place at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport Hotel. I had a serendipitous event take place around 10 am. Continue Reading
Posted on December 14, 2005 12:40 AM
Two totally conflicting stories out of Hollywood today that explain absolutely everything you need to know about how out of touch Hollyweird is with the American mainstream. Continue Reading
Posted on December 1, 2005 02:08 AM
I've gone the majority of the year without a compelling computer game to buy. Of course, I purchased World of Warcraft in 2004, so that doesn't count. But things have taken a turn for the better this past month. Look at what is now in my PC gaming queue. Continue Reading
Posted on November 8, 2005 03:01 PM
I just got back from one of the the most educational and inspiring seminars of my entire life. My friend, Jeff Walker, suggested that I go to Armand Morin's Big Seminar in Los Angeles. On his advice, I registered just a couple weeks ago. It cost $2000, but I trust Jeff and took his advice.
Words cannot describe the weekend I just experienced. Continue Reading
Posted on September 21, 2005 12:33 AM
Google AdSense ads have become ubiquitous. It's hard to find many sites that aren't running their contextual text advertisements. However, there ARE other options available for site publishers wishing to monetize their web pages. I recently came across a site called Kontera. They have a different approach to contextual advertising. Rather than display ads directly on the site, their engine looks at a web page and highlights certain keywords on the page by placing a... Continue Reading
Posted on September 19, 2005 05:06 PM
World of Warcraft may be the most popular MMORPG ever. Over 3.5 million people are now playing worldwide. Tons of fan sites have popped up, celebrating this massive online fantasy world. And some people are quite creative with the resources provided by the game. No, I am not talking about the Chinese farmers who find the best places in the game to loot gold and resell for exhorbitant prices on ebay. I am talking about... Continue Reading
Posted on August 17, 2005 12:47 AM
Growing up with the Muppets, I did not hesitate to buy this DVD. After watching 30 minutes of it with my 10 year-old daughter and wife, we turned it off in disgust. My daughter said, "This is NOT the Wizard of Oz". And my wife and I repeatedly exchanged glances as we could not believe the inappropriate humor that was laced hroughout this movie. Jokes about being sexy... jokes about nipples... jokes that do NOT... Continue Reading
Posted on July 17, 2005 04:31 PM
When I first heard that Tim Burton was doing a version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I thought "Oh no. He's going to butcher it." Don't get me wrong. For the most part, I like Tim Burton's work. Yes, he is bizarre, and probably somewhat twisted. But I like his creative flair. I enjoy his unusual characters and camera angles. But I also have read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and thoroughly enjoyed Willy... Continue Reading
Posted on June 23, 2005 12:01 AM
A few months back I really got sick of my computer always being slow and having system errors. As it turned out, many of the problems I am having are related to the Internet Explorer browser (surprise, surprise...) Some friends told me about a new browser called "Firefox". Continue Reading
Posted on April 13, 2005 12:59 AM
I am sick to my stomach after reading this story about some High School punks sexually abusing a 16-year old disabled girl while other students stood by and watched. Rather than rehash the incredibly disgusting story (and the castrated administrators and teachers who have NO business being in the educational system), I want to address the real problem. Our society has not only become to permissive, but corporations and many leaders are now endorsing immoral... Continue Reading
Posted on March 29, 2005 06:40 PM
It is true. I am an Arbonne consultant. (Actually, that may be past-tense by the time you read this...) For those unfamiliar with Arbonne, they are a fast-growing company focused on health care and skin care products. They claim the products are all natural and most of the people who try them truly love them. The downside is that they are ridiculously expensive. Still, you get what you pay for. For the record, I have... Continue Reading
Posted on March 23, 2005 12:05 AM
Finally, a documentary about the left that I can't WAIT to see. This just in from Drudge... HBO MOVIE SHOWS RADIO 'AIR AMERICA' CHAOS HBO is set to air a behind the scenes look at the launching of liberal radio network AIR AMERICA. The DRUDGE REPORT has obtained a director's cut of LEFT OF THE DIAL, a grossly entertaining docu-drama of life on the other side of the AIR AMERICA microphone. The doubts. The lies... Continue Reading
Posted on March 19, 2005 05:01 AM
We have just returned from Spring Break vacation with the kids. It's good to be home! We spent the week in Ruidoso, New Mexico, a quaint village in the southern Rocky Mountains. Near the base of Sierra Blanca (elev 12003), Ruidoso is a blend of old west charm, mountain wilderness and desert atmosphere. Known for being the stomping grounds of Billy the Kid, Ruidoso is also home to the Mescalero Apache Indians (who operate the... Continue Reading
Internet World" href="http://joelcomm.com/internet_world.html" rel="bookmark">Internet World
Posted on February 26, 2005 01:39 AM
I love DMOZ, the open-source directory. It's free-spirited and unbound by the constraints of the commercial giants. Often you will find some very interesting things. Since Yahoo doesn't keep up their directory the way they used to, DMOZ is the go-to site. Internet World has a new template to house the DMOZ directory. It's lean, attractive and gets you where you are going. Check it out. Internet World" href="http://joelcomm.com/internet_world.html">Continue Reading
Posted on January 10, 2005 09:49 PM
We are in the process of designing a new home which we intend to build this year. A few years ago, we bought two acres of land in our city. We have been holding on to it and think the time is ripe to place a home on the property. My father is an architect, so he is drawing the plans. Thanks Dad! But I thought it would be a fun thing to play with... Continue Reading
Posted on January 7, 2005 05:20 PM
Say it isn't so! Imagine this if you will. Hillary Clinton's campaign finance director, David Rosen, did a big no-no. The indictment of David Rosen, unsealed in Los Angeles, focuses on his fund-raising for an Aug. 12, 2000, gala for Clinton in Los Angeles. The New York Democrat was still first lady at the time. While the event allegedly cost more than $1.2 million, the indictment said, Rosen reported contributions of about $400,000, knowing the... Continue Reading
Posted on December 28, 2004 12:10 PM
The body count continues to climb in what is undoubtedly the greatest tragedy of human loss in my lifetime. As of this writing, it is estimated that upwards of 44000 people have been killed by the massive earthquake and tidal waves in Indonesia. The concept of waves moving at nearly 500 mph is staggering. This graphic demonstrates how this takes place. The whole thing seems so distant, yet is brought home by the heartbreaking photos... Continue Reading
Posted on December 16, 2004 09:07 PM
The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown is absolutely everywhere. It's been on best-seller lists for ages. It's on the front racks at all the bookstores. Many people are buying into this work of fiction as though it were truth. Some in the Christian community are having a good time pointing out that it is indeed nothing more than fiction. The book has spawned a catalogue of additional works discussing the original. And Ron Howard is... Continue Reading
Posted on October 3, 2004 10:18 PM
Mary and I had the opportunity to enjoy a "date night" on Friday. First we enjoyed a nice dinner at Johnny Carinos Italian restaurant. Next we went to the mall and pigged out on ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery (superior to Marble Slab in case you are wondering). Finally, it was on the cinema to take in a showing of Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. I received a great deal of chastisement... Continue Reading
Posted on August 31, 2004 03:32 PM
The pioneering spirit of the Internet continues to inspire people to build a better mousetrap. Nowhere is that spirit better exhibited than in the now ubiquitous search engine known as Google. While not the first search engine on the scene, Google has now surpassed all the rest to become the most useful tool for finding what you want on the web. Today's site highlights a new free download which makes the Google experience ever more... Continue Reading
Posted on June 17, 2004 03:56 PM
I rented Mystic River this week, as I have been wanting to see it ever since it received critical acclaim. This Clint Eastwood directed film has been dubbed his "masterpiece" by many, with Sean Penn and Tim Robbins both winning Oscars for their performances. Mystic River was a very moody and layered piece. Three boyhood friends are forever changed when one of them is abducted and abused for several days. The 10-minute boyhood prologue sets... Continue Reading
Posted on June 10, 2004 12:01 AM
A Review of the IBIZ Virtual Keyboard Up until now, portable keyboards for PDAs have been clunky and fragile This review is being written on a device the size of a cigarette lighter with a keyboard that is invisible. I am speaking of the IBIZ Virtual Keyboard, a new device from IBIZ Technologies that combines infrared and laser technology to deliver a keyboard that is both functional and portable. Using a standard laser, the VKB... Continue Reading
Posted on April 17, 2004 12:05 AM
The Republican National Committee launched a new web game today that illustrates the massive tax increases required to pay for John Kerry's promised spending. Earlier this week the RNC unveiled the Index De Le Miserables, which calculated Senator Kerry's promised spending, promised tax increases, and unidentified tax increases. Senator Kerry's IDM was 20.46 the same as Carters MI in 1980. "John Kerry has promised $1.9 trillion in new spending and that’s just on the... Continue Reading
Posted on April 16, 2004 12:15 PM
We interupt our regularly scheduled blog for this public service announcement. GPlay is the Internet's place to rent video games online. Simply select the games you want for your Playstation, Playstation 2, X-Box, Gamecube or Gameboy Advance, and Gplay will ship them directly to your home. There are NO late fees, NO due dates, unlimited rentals, free shipping (both ways) and over 1900 titles to choose from. Get a FREE two week trial now! Rent... Continue Reading
Posted on March 23, 2004 12:00 AM
Coming soon to a zoo near you? This from the Ananova news wire Visitors to a zoo in eastern India have been banned from laughing after a state politician said he found it offensive. It happened after members of a local 'Laughter Club' visited the Sanjay Gandhi Botanical Garden and Zoo in Patna. Laloo Prasad Yadav, the former chief minister of Bihar State and president of the ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal party, complained about the... Continue Reading
Posted on March 20, 2004 12:57 PM
I am WAY overdue on this entry in my 15 Best Movies Ever series. Sorry about that, but I wanted to watch the film again before writing about it and recently got around to it. I know, I know. You were checking my blog every other minute just hoping the review was forthcoming. Wait no longer! #9 is a love-it or hate-it film by Monty Python alumnus Terry Gilliam. The only American in the troop... Continue Reading
Posted on March 17, 2004 12:22 AM
The Passion of Christ continues to dominate the box office for its third week straight. This amazing phenomenon has grossed over $267,000,000 in the U.S. in the first 20 days of its release. It is now #22 in all-time box office gross. It would not surprise me to see it pass the $400,000,000 mark by the time the dust settles. If that happens, it will be challenging Spiderman for the #5 spot. Box office numbers... Continue Reading
Posted on March 1, 2004 03:18 PM
I saw The Passion of the Christ last night. I have to agree with something Glenn Beck said after viewing the film. It's unreviewable. Yet, there is so much to say. I hope you will endure my babbling to find something worthwhile in the words to come. By now, you have heard about this movie. I have been writing about it for nearly 9 months now as the opening day has drawn closer. One entry... Continue Reading
Posted on February 27, 2004 12:00 AM
Michael Medved is not alone in speaking out against those who would attempt label The Passion of Christ as "anti-semitic". Rabbi Daniel Lapin, known on the national airwaves as "America's Rabbi", has written a thoughtful article taking his fellow Jews to task. Lapin states: Those Jewish organizations that have squandered both time and money futilely protesting Passion, ostensibly in order to prevent pogroms in Pittsburgh, can hardly be proud of their performance. They failed at... Continue Reading
Posted on February 19, 2004 01:34 PM
Several years ago, I came across an incredibly useful site which has continued to stay on my hitlist. Alexa.com has since been purchased by Amazon.com and they offer a free toolbar which I find indispenable. Not only does Alexa give you more information about who owns a site, but it also provides a popularity ranking, links to similar sites AND a FREE popup blocker (which is highly customizable). Naturally, it wouldn't be an Amazon.com product... Continue Reading
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