Posted on November 16, 2009 08:52 AM
Nearly one year after the release of iFart, the app continues to sell like clockwork.
I believe that iFart is also the most-referenced app in iPhone history.
It seems like every week one media outlet or another is referring to it.
A Google search for iFart now turns up 106,000 results. Continue Reading
Posted on November 10, 2009 08:00 AM
Creating a successful Internet business is all about bringing in users and turning them into cash. The more of those users you can convert, the more money you'll make. Your clickthrough rate - the percentage of users who click on an ad - is a measure of your ability to convert your users. A good website will have a clickthrough rate (or CTR) of around 3 percent. Or to put it another way, even a... Continue Reading
Posted on October 28, 2009 07:36 AM
Hardly a day goes by that I don't hear about a new Twitter app, web tool or other utility created to make the use of Twitter easier or more interesting. It's pretty hard to keep up with them. And it's pretty rare that I endorse a tool or app. Just as I wait to see new sites pick up steam before jumping on board, I usually don't start using new tools until they demonstrate widespread... Continue Reading
Posted on October 27, 2009 03:15 PM
Some of you may know that I own one of the web's oldest and most popular deal sites, DealofDay.com
I've watched the growth of online shopping and deal sites over the years and trust me... it's not slowing down.
That's why I was intrigued by the launch of The Blastoff Network recently. It's a cashback shopping portal which also pays you on the purchases of those in your network. Continue Reading
Posted on October 26, 2009 08:00 AM
Since I've been online, I've seen some amazing changes take place on the Web. Perhaps the biggest though is how easy it's all become. Building a website used to be a chore that took months of planning, preparation and coding. By the time you'd finished putting it all together, the programming language was out of date, the design was old fashioned and it was time to start again. These days, you can put up a... Continue Reading
Posted on October 15, 2009 10:24 AM
I've got a question for you. What do you want to be when you grow up? No, I am not asking this question of children. Heck, as a child I went through a phase where I wanted to be a dentist. Nothing against dentists, but I can't even begin to imagine myself in that profession! You know, it's sad, but many people can't answer this question. I've accomplished a lot in my forty-five years, But... Continue Reading
Posted on September 23, 2009 08:00 AM
Big changes don't usually happen overnight. There are usually a few quiet moves first -- little tweaks and adjustments that no one really notices.
And then suddenly, one more little change makes a huge difference, pushes it over the tipping point and forces everyone to pay attention. Continue Reading
Posted on September 9, 2009 08:00 AM
Affiliate products make up a large part of my income. They're one of the revenue streams that I use on my websites and I often recommend selected products to the people on my mailing list. I use them for all sorts of reasons - and money is only one of them. Sure, an affiliate commission will always be worth more than an ad click but that's only the start of it. I also like the... Continue Reading
Posted on September 3, 2009 08:00 AM
Twitter looks so easy, doesn't it? You don't have to plan and research like you do when you're writing a blog post. You can write whatever's on your mind and hit the Update button. Random thoughts make for perfectly good tweets. You don't have to think about search engine optimization. Tweets do turn up on Google but links in tweets don't count towards page rank and there's no way - or reason -- to optimize... Continue Reading
Posted on August 5, 2009 08:00 AM
Twitter divides people into two camps. To those who use it, it's a whole new Internet. There's the Web of pages and content, and there's the Twitter of people and connections. Both are valuable and both are enjoyable, but they do different things and they do them in different ways. To people who aren't on Twitter though, the service looks completely bizarre. It's a place where people go to tell strangers what they had for... Continue Reading
Posted on July 23, 2009 08:00 AM
People create Internet businesses for all sorts of reasons. Some of them are looking to give up their J.O.B.s. Some dream of being of being their own boss. And others can't wait to make tons of cash, retire to their private island and leave the work of traffic generation, content production and ad monitoring to their staff. That's all fine. I don't have a problem with any of those reasons. Provided they're all accompanied by... Continue Reading
Posted on July 18, 2009 08:00 AM
One of the most exciting developments that has occurred on Twitter in the months since I put together Twitter Power has been the release of all sorts of statistics about the site. We've learned, for example, that many of the site's users are middle-aged, high earning business types rather than the kids that create pages on MySpace. We've found that only a small proportion of Twitter's users are writing most of the tweets while the... Continue Reading
Posted on July 7, 2009 08:00 AM
What do users really want?
It's a question that publishers ask themselves all the time. We look at the comments our articles receive. We review our stats. We check the popularity of keywords. We ask for ideas on Twitter. And we do all sorts of other things that try to second-guess what's going through our users' minds so that we can deliver content that interests them most.
But maybe we're asking the wrong question.
Continue Reading
Posted on June 12, 2009 08:00 AM
I've been talking about social media a lot lately and one of the questions that comes up time and time again is how effective it is. It's not an easy question to answer. Ask me how effective an AdSense placement is and I can open my AdSense journal, look at the stats and tell you exactly how much extra I earned when I moved an ad unit on that page from here to there. I'll... Continue Reading
Posted on June 7, 2009 08:00 AM
There's a rumor going around.
It's growing. It's dangerous.
And I think I may have encouraged it.
People are starting to believe that Twitter is a sales tool. They see the site as a valuable resource that allows them to broadcast their sales messages and land new deals.
Continue Reading
Posted on April 17, 2009 08:00 AM
Here's something you're not going to hear too often these days. I'm glad I don't have a job. I'm happy that I don't have to commute to someone else's office, make nice to the boss, wonder what I have to do to move up in life... and hope and pray that I still have my job next month. That's the situation for many people these days, and I'm so happy that I've discovered that it... Continue Reading
Posted on April 16, 2009 08:28 AM
With Twitter becoming such a powerful force on the social media scene, there are those who get it and those who don't get it. There's a certain number of the "don't get it" crowd who will invariably take an outright aggressive posture and make a statement like this... "Twitter is a waste of time. Who cares what you had for breakfast?" Many on Twitter will hem and haw about the content of the question, almost... Continue Reading
Posted on April 13, 2009 08:00 AM
Every time I go to a conference or take part in a seminar I meet a bunch of amazing people.
I meet people who are experts at marketing. I chat to entrepreneurs who are wizards at search engine optimization. I swap ideas with other bloggers who are making six-figure incomes on the strength of their posts.
Every one of those people is special.
But they aren't successful because they're special.
They're special because they're successful.
Continue Reading
Posted on April 11, 2009 10:26 AM
Now that my book, Twitter Power, is moving up the charts (#15 on Bookscan last week!), I have a lot of people asking me how effective Twitter actually is for business.
Certainly, it is difficult to put a price tag on relationships that have been built on Twitter.
It's also very hard to quantify the effects of branding on a Twitter profile page correctly designed.
But the question remains...
Does Twitter use convert to sales? Continue Reading
Posted on April 8, 2009 08:00 AM
I like to think I've come a long way since I first started turning The Dallas/Fort Worth Software Review into WorldVillage.com. I now have a string of profitable websites. I speak regularly at conferences across the country. I've produced a top-selling iPhone app. And I've written a bunch of books, including a New York Times bestseller. But I know I didn't do any of this alone. Not only did I always have the support of... Continue Reading
Posted on April 5, 2009 01:15 PM
This week, I had the pleasure of being asked to speak to Microsoft employees on the subject of Twitter. Eckhart Boehme invited me to talk about how businesses are using Twitter, demonstrating that Microsoft is taking a very engaged position on social media. I was treated quite well by Eckhart and his team, and I met a number of very bright Microsoft people. The campus is ENORMOUS. I saw buildings numbered all the way up... Continue Reading
Posted on April 4, 2009 08:00 AM
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
Posted on March 17, 2009 08:00 AM
I've seen some really clever things done with ads on the Web. I've seen some pretty dumb things too, like whack-a-mole banners and flashing skyscrapers that make you want to look anywhere but at the ad. But some of the ideas have been incredibly creative. When Kontera first wheeled out its system, I loved the fact that its ads were so unobtrusive. When Chitika created its eMiniMalls and then its Premium ads, I thought the... Continue Reading
Posted on March 14, 2009 08:00 AM
You've heard the saying about not being able to fool all the people all the time.
You probably also know then that you can't please all the people all the time too.
It's an impossibility. It doesn't matter how good your content, how wonderful your website or what a great job you do, you're always going to get people who write in and complain.
Continue Reading
Posted on March 10, 2009 08:00 AM
Whenever I sit down to write a book or prepare a talk, I always have one goal in mind.
I want to make it easier for other people to achieve success.
That's easier... not easy.
I know my limitations. And I know Internet marketing.
And I know that there's no such thing as a successful Internet business that was built easily.
Continue Reading
Posted on March 4, 2009 12:43 AM
It's a national holiday!
I know, it's not on the calendar. But I am declaring a national holiday.
In fact, I am calling it a GLOBAL holiday!
What's the special occasion?
It's Twitter Power Day!
Yes, that's right.
Today is dedicated to recognizing and embracing the power of Twitter to build relationships, enhance branding and grow your online business...
... and it's all FREE! Continue Reading
Posted on February 27, 2009 08:00 AM
I can't tell you how many times I've done it. I reach a website, enjoy the content, then head for the search box to look for more. I type in the keywords, hit the Search button... and find that I'm searching in the subscription field. Now I have to look for the search box and start typing all over again. Or more likely, I'll give up and look for another website. Putting the RSS subscription... Continue Reading
Posted on February 11, 2009 08:00 AM
There are lots of great things to say about being an Internet entrepreneur. You get to be your own boss, setting your own hours and working from home if you want. You get to define your own goals and connect your earnings directly to your efforts. And you get to be in full control of your life, instead of working a J.O.B. that you just can't stand. All of those things are true but there's... Continue Reading
Posted on February 9, 2009 08:17 PM
When John Wiley & Sons asked me to write the definitive guide on using Twitter for business, I knew we would have a best-seller on our hands. The pre-orders on the book are strong and the buzz is spreading without me doing any real promotion. So I've decided to do something very special to celebrate the launch of Twitter Power. On Thursday, February 19th, I will be conducting the world's first live broadcast Tweet-a-thon! The... Continue Reading
Posted on February 6, 2009 08:00 AM
Online publishers wear all sort of different hats. They have to be marketers and managers. They have to be programmers and designers. They have to be buyers and sellers. And they often have to be dog-walkers, soccer coaches, family cooks and 9-5 day workers too. But perhaps the biggest challenge is that they have to be content creators as well. That's a very specialized job and because it's at the heart of what makes a... Continue Reading
Posted on February 1, 2009 11:07 AM
A few weeks ago when iFart was at the height of its popularity, I was contacted by Rob Walker. Rob writes the Consumed article for the New York Times Magazine, published every Sunday.
He thought that the success of iFart was an interesting barometer of American pop culture and asked if I would do an interview.
Of course, I was delighted to provide whatever information he wanted.
The article was just published in today's edition! Continue Reading
Posted on January 26, 2009 08:00 AM
You've probably noticed that some of my websites don't have any AdSense units at all. Some people certainly have. They find it surprising.
After all, I make a living teaching people how to use AdSense. I get fat checks from AdSense every month. I think that AdSense is the greatest money-dispersing invention since the automated telling machine.
And yet I still don't put AdSense on all my sites. Neither should you. Continue Reading
Posted on January 23, 2009 10:36 AM
I've been a fan of Facebook for a couple years. I think it's a great way to network with others and build your business. I've used the site create my own groups, build a fan page, post videos, interact with family, friends and fans, and basically enjoyed its functionality. I've always abided by their terms of service, even though thousands of people break the rules every day. I'm a credible marketer with a 15-year history... Continue Reading
Posted on January 23, 2009 08:00 AM
It shouldn't be a difficult question. If you want to know whether your site is a success, you don't have to look further than the last line in your AdSense stats. If you're happy with the amount that's going to appear on Google's check this month, you're successful. But what if an advertiser asked how successful your site is. What would you say then? You wouldn't tell him how much you're earning each month, would... Continue Reading
Posted on January 10, 2009 11:48 AM
It doesn't happen often.
But it does happen. And when it does, I have to shake my head and wonder what some people are thinking.
What am I talking about?
Well, let me set the stage for you with a little anecdote. Continue Reading
Posted on January 7, 2009 08:00 AM
You already know that most small businesses fail. It's a warning that's been given out to every entrepreneur with an idea, drive and the imagination to succeed for as long as people have been saying, "I should be working for me." Well, here's something you probably don't want to hear. Most blogs die too. People start them with the best of intentions. They tell themselves that they'll write every day, they'll pick up masses of... Continue Reading
Posted on December 31, 2008 08:00 AM
It's all changed. It happened so fast, we hardly even noticed. But looking back, it's incredible how different everything is today. When I started out in Internet Marketing, no one had any idea who I was. No one needed to. All they had to do was know where my websites were and enjoy the content I was putting up. It was impersonal and it worked both ways. My users might only have thought of me... Continue Reading
Posted on December 26, 2008 08:00 AM
AdSense has a weakness. It's not very good at handling images. Fill your blog or your website with pictures of your cat, your family or your vacation in Yosemite and you might please your readers, but Google won't know what to make of it. Unless you have a sizeable amount of text on your Web page, its robots won't be able to decide what you're talking about. You'll get Public Service Ads that don't earn... Continue Reading
Posted on December 17, 2008 12:01 AM
How many people REALLY use Twitter?
And what percentage of people account for most of the activity on Twitter?
These are questions I posed on Twitter today.
I asked "Would you say that 1% of Twitter members do 99% of the tweets?"
Some answers from my followers and some of my own research has uncovered some interesting data. Continue Reading
Posted on December 9, 2008 08:00 AM
"Focus on what's meaningful, not what's measurable." I wish I'd said that. It wasn't me though. It was Warren Buffet, a man much smarter -- and a great deal wealthier -- than me. And not surprisingly, it's great advice and it's especially important for online marketers. The Web gives us access to all sorts of figures. Our AdSense stats tell us our clickthrough rates, our eCPMs, how our channels are doing and of course, our... Continue Reading
Posted on December 4, 2008 03:54 PM
Here's a new time-waster that may be fun.
The application is called Photoswap.
The concept is simple.
Take a photo with your iPhone and send it.
Photoswap will send it to a random user who is also taking a photo.
They get your photo, you get theirs.
Continue Reading
Posted on December 4, 2008 08:00 AM
It happens even before your site really starts to make money. You post articles, market your content, pick up comments and find that other sites are talking about you. All of a sudden, you've moved from being one person with ideas you want to share to being the center of a community, part of a circle of online friends with a keen interest in what you have to say. Continue Reading
Posted on December 3, 2008 09:14 AM
I've been a huge fan of Amazon.com since Bezos launched the site out of his garage. When the pundits said "It'll never work", I said they were clueless. Of course it will work. I spend more money on Amazon then any other online store, as do many of you. I'm also a huge fan of my iPhone and I've used it to shop at Amazon many times. I joined Amazon Prime a couple years back... Continue Reading
Posted on December 3, 2008 08:45 AM
The Internet has opened up business in all sorts of ways. It costs nothing to start a website. Anyone can write a blog. Putting ads on your pages takes minutes and requires no selling, no effort and almost no work at all. And the revenues can be fantastic. Millions of people have joined the Internet business revolution and have either swapped their day job for days of writing articles, or are enjoying some useful extra... Continue Reading
Posted on November 26, 2008 08:00 AM
Life must be hard for television executives. To decide how much to charge advertisers and whether they should commission another season of a show, they have to know the size of their audience. The only method they have to do that is by using a survey. The Nielsen ratings track what television viewers watch and then, based on demographics, make certain claims about what everyone else was watching at the same time. Those figures could... Continue Reading
Posted on November 14, 2008 04:11 PM
Ron Matthews pointed this video out to me yesterday, telling me it was totally worth 16 minutes of my life.
He was so right.
It's worth 16 minutes of your life, too.
Enjoy :-)
Continue Reading
Posted on November 13, 2008 08:00 AM
There are times when I really don't like surfing the Web. I'll toss a search phrase into Google, get a list of results that look interesting and when I click on a link... I'll get a junk page that's stuffed with ads. Back I go to Google to try again. I know, I could have clicked an ad. I could have done, but I didn't. In fact, I often won't even read the content on... Continue Reading
Posted on November 6, 2008 08:00 AM
No, this isn't another invitation to a webinar. (There will be another of those along soon, don't worry.)
And it's not about another live video release. (There will be another one of those soon too.)
In fact, it's not about me at all. It's about you. Continue Reading
Posted on November 3, 2008 08:00 AM
There's a huge amount to learn when you set up an online business. You have to know how to build a website, how to bring in traffic, and how to monetize your visitors so that your site gives you an income.
There are plenty of very experienced experts around who can teach people how to do all of those things.
There's one thing though that no one ever has to teach a new business owner. Continue Reading
Posted on October 20, 2008 08:00 AM
There's a reason that online publishing is profitable. It's a fantastic reason and it's one of the things that makes earning income as an online entrepreneur so enjoyable. People want to learn. They want to know how to be a better gardener, a better dad, a better soccer coach, a better entrepreneur too. Anyone who can provide that information can make some money -- and help others too. And anyone can do that. You might... Continue Reading
Posted on October 16, 2008 08:00 AM
Did you ever walk into one of those old mom-and-pop hardware stores, the sort of place where piles of dusty boxes filled with metal things are stacked from floor to ceiling and nothing's got a label on it? You walk up to the counter, explain what you're trying to do and the store owner nods, starts bringing down boxes and in no time at all finds exactly the widget you were looking for. Those people... Continue Reading
Posted on October 13, 2008 08:00 AM
Become an Internet publisher, and you'll need to learn a whole bunch of new marketing skills. You'll have to unwrap the mysteries of search engine optimization, figure out how to make pay-per-click advertising pay for you and get to grips with "link bait," banners and keywords to name just a few. None of it is really very difficult and all of it can be learned but for anyone just starting out, it will all be... Continue Reading
Posted on October 9, 2008 04:29 PM
Google AdSense. Over the years, I've generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in passive income with this incredible program. Believe it or not, there are a lot of people who have no idea what it is all about. The fact is Google takes in $15 billion (that's Billion with a B!) dollars each year in advertising revenue. The best part is that they are sharing a portion of that revenue to people like you and... Continue Reading
Posted on October 8, 2008 08:00 AM
I often talk about the different tools that you can use to complement the AdSense units you put on your site. Sure, AdSense is always going to be the most effective ad system on your pages. But you also want to earn for your impressions, and from affiliate links too.
A mixture of different revenue generations systems will help to increase the value you receive for your users.
Continue Reading
Posted on October 6, 2008 08:00 AM
I've written a lot of content since I became an online publisher. I'd like to think that I've got better and better as the years have gone by but sometimes I'm not so sure. Although there are plenty of posts that still make me proud when I read them again, there's also no shortage of articles that really make me wince. They might have sentences I want to rephrase, points that aren't made clearly, and... Continue Reading
Posted on September 30, 2008 08:00 AM
If you do your job well, you shouldn't get paid anything at all for it. That doesn't sound fair, does it? But as an online publisher, that's exactly what should happen. Your job is to provide information to your readers. That could be information that educates them. It could be information that makes them think. And it could be information that just makes them happy to read it. If the information that you're offering is... Continue Reading
Posted on September 29, 2008 08:00 AM
Want to know the difference between a successful entrepreneur... and an entrepreneur who wants to be successful?
It's really very simple...
An entrepreneur acts. An entrepreneur who wants to be successful thinks of acting.
But successful entrepreneurs don't just act. They act at the right speed.
Continue Reading
Posted on September 25, 2008 08:00 AM
This is a hugely exciting time to be an online publisher. It used to be the case that if you wanted to earn from ads on your website, there was only one thing to do.
You signed up to AdSense, pasted in the code, optimized the units and brought in traffic while following your stats.
You still have to do that.
But these days that's just the beginning.
Continue Reading
Posted on September 18, 2008 08:00 AM
I'm going to tell you a secret.
It's the secret of continued success that every successful publisher knows and benefits from them.
Here it is...
The secret of continued success is.. to be successful.
I know, it doesn't sound very helpful, does it? Continue Reading
Posted on September 15, 2008 08:25 AM
If you were publishing a newspaper, you wouldn't care who read it. As long as the number of readers was nice and high, it wouldn't matter too much to you whether they all read one article or absorbed everything from cover to cover.
That would be true even if you were publishing a free newspaper.
Continue Reading
Posted on September 15, 2008 08:00 AM
There are easy ways of bringing traffic to your website, and there are hard ways. Most people focus on the hard ways. They spend hours playing around with their keywords and their Search Engine Optimization. They spend vast sums on AdWords and other forms of advertising. And they send out email after email in an attempt to swap links and create exchanges. That's fair enough. It's all part of the job of being an online... Continue Reading
Posted on September 12, 2008 08:00 AM
I've got no idea how many blog posts, articles and pages of content I've written for the Internet. I've been doing it for years, so if you're wondering if there are ever times when I sit in front of the computer and wonder what I can write about today, the answer is...
Yes.
Continue Reading
Posted on September 11, 2008 08:00 AM
I'm always going on about the importance of networking at conferences. That's because I don't know of any strategy that can improve an online publishing business's success rate faster. Networking puts you in touch with opportunities that you can't find any other way. It builds the sort of business relationships that can last for many profitable years. It really does make running a business fun. And there's just no better place to do it than... Continue Reading
Posted on July 27, 2008 10:34 PM
Social Media is all the buzz right now. It started with MySpace, continued with YouTube and has brought about Facebook, Twitter and a host of other sites promising the help people interact in new ways. These sites have become very popular and two were purchased for a tidy sum. Rupert Murdoch's News Corp purchased MySpace for $580 million and Google bought YouTube for for $1.65 BILLION. I'm sure the boys from Facebook and Twitter have... Continue Reading
Posted on July 20, 2008 12:21 PM
Twitter is one of the web's leading innovative sites. People are just discovering new ways to interact with others, build relationships, share ideas AND market themselves and their products/services online. I've put together a 30-page report that will give you an overview of Twitter and how you can use it to help accomplish your goals. Things are changing VERY quickly online, so forgive me if some of the material is dated by next month! What's... 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 2, 2008 12:05 AM
Life is a funny thing.
Sometimes the most unexpected things take place, and often at the strangest moments!
Somehow my name has gotten around and... well, someone thought I should be nominated to run for President!
When you look at the two non-choices we have in this contest, I guess it's not surprising.
But I didn't even know this was happening!
Here's the cool thing... Continue Reading
Posted on June 19, 2008 12:47 AM
Have you ever wondered what people did BEFORE they become Internet marketers? It's pretty cool to see that the greatest success stories are people just like you and me. I will tell you this about me. I used to be a DJ. Yup, I worked in the nightclubs to begin with, but then the entrepreneur in me discovered that there was more money to be made in playing music at private events. So I started... Continue Reading
Posted on May 13, 2008 12:08 AM
Several years ago, I had the privilege of meeting a gentleman who I have sinced dubbed "The nicest guy in Internet marketing." His name is Ken McArthur and he is the chief architect behind the highly successful JV Alert Live conferences. You see, Ken is incredibly successful because he continually pours himself into the lives of those around him. Whether it launching careers of other marketers or freely sharing his knowledge and expertise with anyone... 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 16, 2008 09:43 PM
On January 30, 2005, website owners all over the world rushed to pick up a copy of Google AdSense Secrets. It was the first edition of the ebook that has now become the definitive guide to making money with AdSense. That summer, I released a second updated version of AdSense Secrets. In March 2006, the much-demanded third edition hit the virtual newstand. Checking in at 199 pages, it is the bible of the industry and... Continue Reading
Posted on April 13, 2008 11:04 PM
Shopzilla is one of the largest online shopping sites. You've probably used them before for their price comparison tool. Recently, Shopzilla has been beta-testing a contextual ad program that would allow site publishers to place Shopzilla ads on their pages and get paid every time someone clicked on an ad, in the same vein as AdSense. I'm impressed with their program and I decided to research them further. My research led me to write a... Continue Reading
Posted on April 10, 2008 12:53 AM
Can I be honest with you?
I have written the first few lines of this entry several times and I just can't seem to find the words to tell you what I want to tell you today.
The fact is... I'm so freakin' excited about something I just came across that I couldn't wait to share it with you! 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 31, 2008 12:59 AM
If you were publishing a newspaper, you wouldn't care who read it. As long as the number of readers was nice and high, it wouldn't matter too much to you whether they all read one article or absorbed everything from cover to cover. That would be true even if you were publishing a free newspaper. You'd just want know how many people your publication reaches so that you can charge advertisers the right price. Online... 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 21, 2008 07:26 AM
I am a victim of BSOS.
What is BSOS, you might ask?
Bright Shiny Object Syndrome.
Yes, I am easily distracted by whatever amuses me.
A few weeks ago, Dan Nickerson came to me with an idea for a new product. He pointed out that the product would require a domain and began seeking out the domain.
I'm always on the lookout for new domain names. Continue Reading
Posted on March 20, 2008 02:18 PM
I just uploaded a new video to my YouTube channel, designed to encourage people to subscribe and follow my latest videos.
Go to my channel and watch the one-minute featured video on the main page. Check out the very cool video production in the middle. You'll know it when you see it!
Mad props to Chris Harper, my video producer. :-)
Click here for my YouTube channel Continue Reading
Posted on March 12, 2008 02:54 AM
I try to be very transparent about the ways I make money on the web. It's really no secret and I've nothing to lose by sharing this information with you. I don't like to hold back as that doesn't contribute to your success at all. So I'm about to reveal one of my biggest secrets for profiting online. Ok, it's really more along the lines of "incredibly obvious", but I'm amazed at how many people... Continue Reading
Posted on March 6, 2008 12:02 PM
Whenever something big happens in the world of online advertising, I'm left scratching my head and wondering what it means for me. It doesn't get much bigger than Microsoft offering tens of billions of dollars for Yahoo!. So what does that mean for me... and for you too? At the moment, nothing. Yahoo! has rejected Microsoft's bid and probably holding out for more money. If the deal goes through, it won't happen overnight. Even then... Continue Reading
Posted on March 4, 2008 03:58 AM
Do you ever go to Google to search for your name?
A search for David results in 719,000,000 web pages. Zoiks!
A search for Brenda presents 31,500,000 results.
And search for Fred will get you 120,000,000 results, including a stock chart for Fred's, Inc, whoever that is.
Last year, I Googled my name to see where I came up in the results. Continue Reading
Posted on February 29, 2008 12:57 AM
You can have a great idea for a web site. And developing the site can be a very rewarding experience. But without one thing, it doesn't matter how nice your site is... That thing is traffic. Traffic is really the "life blood" of our business. Without traffic you can't make sales, you can't generate affiliate commissions, you can't build a list... (you get the picture). So today I want to focus on traffic, and tell... 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 18, 2008 10:13 AM
I am finding Facebook to be a great tool for networking and connecting with people. Since I started using last fall, I have connected with old friends, family members, new associates and some pretty big names. With Facebook, you can make contact with people who might otherwise be very difficult to reach. I've added over 1000 friends, started a handful of groups and have discovered how to post items so others can see what I... Continue Reading
Posted on January 29, 2008 11:05 AM
Psst... want to know a way to get tons of free users to your website instantly? And when I say tons, I mean the sort of numbers that will crash your servers, send your page views spiking through the roof and make you dizzy when you look at your AdSense stats. Here's how to do it... Just get your Web page on the front page of Digg.com. I didn't say it was an easy way... Continue Reading
Posted on January 28, 2008 09:29 AM
I wish I had thought of this.
It's so simple, yet it's brilliant.
If you are like me, you own a few domains.
Ok, you may own a LOT of domains.
I own approximately 400 domain names.
The problem is that most of the those domains do not have a web site on them.
They are "parked" pages. Continue Reading
Posted on January 25, 2008 05:46 AM
I've had several people ask me what I'm going to be up to in 2008. I'm very excited, because this is going to be a breakthrough year for many people who will increase their online revenue. AND, I am excited because I am going to be doing several things that have never been done before! That's kind of a mantra with me. I don't like to do what everyone else is doing. You have to... Continue Reading
Posted on January 24, 2008 11:23 AM
"Get Google Pay-Per-Click Ads for Free" was the title on the report that promised an amazing way to advertise on Google AdWords without having clicks ding your wallet.
This ebook was #1 on Clickbank's Marketing & Ads category, so curiousity got the best of me and I paid $97 to see what it was all about.
Want my honest assessment? Read on... Continue Reading
Posted on January 21, 2008 01:17 AM
Yesterday, I blogged about my experiences with American Airlines Aadvantage desk in regards to a change I needed to make with a ticket.
Thanks to everyone who empathized with my plight. It appears I am nowhere near alone.
Apparantly, Google is showing me some love.
Check this out. Continue Reading
Posted on January 11, 2008 03:18 AM
I love quick and easy changes that make a significant difference.
A few months back, I learned of a contextual advertising service that was compatible with Google AdSense.
It took me less than 15 minutes to place their code on my pages.
In my first month, I made an additional $1000 just from that fifteen minutes.
Not bad!
And it gets better... Continue Reading
Posted on January 9, 2008 11:57 AM
Which of these would you say is true? A) Google Knows All and Sees All B) Google Will Not Rank Duplicate Content C) You Must Get Links From Related Subject Sites to Rank D) Your Site Must Focus On One Subject To Rank E) High PageRank Means Good Rankings F) To Maintain Good Rankings, You Must Add New Content G) Ranking In Google Is Hard! H) All of the above I) None of the above... Continue Reading
Posted on December 24, 2007 10:44 AM
'Twas the Night Before Christmas
An Internet Marketing Adaptation for 2007
-----------------------------------------
'Twas the night before Christmas
and all cross the 'net
Marketers were hoping
that clickthroughs, they'd get.
The products were finished
and ready to go
outsourced and prepared
by those "in the know"
Continue Reading
Posted on December 18, 2007 10:35 PM
I'm a huge fan of developing online communities for revenue generation. The wonderful thing about community sites is that the members create the content for you. However, it can sometimes be tricky to kickstart your forums in order to get people posting. If you launch forums and people visit only to find that there is no activity, odds are they aren't going to register, post or return. This is the primary reason most forums don't... Continue Reading
Posted on December 17, 2007 05:13 PM
Buzzword. Defined as a word or phrase connected with a specialized field or group that usually sounds important or technical and is used primarily to impress laypersons. But Buzzword is more than that now. Look out Microsoft Office... there's a new player in town. Adobe announced the launch of their free online word processor, Buzzword. And I gotta say, it is a class act. There is a simple registration requiring your name, email address and... 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 25, 2007 12:59 PM
Did you know Google is on track to make $14 billion in ad revenue this year? And while no one knows the exact percentage they are paying out to AdSense publishers, it is estimated to be in the ballpark of 60%-70%. Only Google knows for sure. And you know I am big fan of AdSense. I've made a lot of money with it. BUT, and that is a big BUT... ... there ARE alternatives to... Continue Reading
Posted on November 19, 2007 12:40 PM
When I was at Blogworld last week, I came upon the booth of a company called "Entrecard." Their display caught my attention and I introduced myself to the CEO, Graham Langdom. To my surprise, Graham is also the creator of The Million Dollar Wiki. The reason I was surprised is that I had become familiar with that site the week before and had purchased a few pages on the site! Anyhow, knowing how innovative Graham... Continue Reading
Posted on November 14, 2007 11:49 PM
Google is continually looking for ways to put the kabosh on click fraud. It is important that they protect the rights of their advertisers by making sure each click is an intentional click. That is, they want to be certain that the person clicking the ad is doing so deliberatel. Otherwise, the advertiser is paying for a visit that is not purposeful. So it has recently leaked out from a number of blogs that Google... Continue Reading
Posted on October 25, 2007 12:13 AM
The blogging world is cursing the big "G" and scratching their heads as their Google pagerank has suddenly taken a turn for the worse. Not unlike a stock market tumble, this change caught everyone off guard and has left many bloggers and content-based sites wondering what they did wrong. The pagerank algorithm has been a supposed indicator of the authority and value that Google has placed on a web page. On a scale of zero... Continue Reading
Posted on October 15, 2007 09:11 AM
Cost-per-click advertising, contextual advertising, cost-per-mille advertising, domain name investing, affiliate networks, joint ventures, resell rights, floating ads, banner ads, video ads...
It's enough to give anyone a headache.
There are so many ways of monetizing a website these days that it can all get a bit overwhelming. How can you tell which ads would best match your content and which system you should be using to squeeze the most out of your pages? Continue Reading
Posted on October 10, 2007 11:52 AM
A few years ago, making money on the Internet was a breeze. All you had to do was open the dictionary, register each of the words you saw on the page as dotcoms and sell them to someone in California for the price of a South American country's national debt. It doesn't quite work that way any more. These days, domain name buyers want to see figures. They want to know how much traffic a... 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 7, 2007 12:26 AM
One penny.
One cent.
1/100th of a dollar.
Uno centavo.
That's all it takes for you to instantly own your own Internet store!
Yes, I'm serious.
My customers have been asking me for a simple solution where they can tell people about great products and earn easy commissions...
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 August 21, 2007 11:02 AM
Everyday I receive emails from people telling me that they have the best product since sliced bread, and asking me to do a joint venture with them. It is physically impossible for me to promote every product that comes my way. In fact, I am becoming more and more selective, making sure that I only share products with my customers if there is great value. Honestly, you wouldn't want to see a lot of the... Continue Reading
Posted on August 13, 2007 07:08 AM
I like to keep things short. I know that you're busy. I know that you've got a million things to do today. And I know that if you're reading this, you're not building your online publishing business. So I don't want to take up too much of your time. That's why I tend to keep my posts brief and to the point. In general, my philosophy is that if I can't say what I want... Continue Reading
Posted on August 10, 2007 12:21 AM
May I get your opinion please?
I am giving away a FREE autographed copy of my book, The AdSense Code, to one person who will give me feedback on a one-minute video I have created.
This will literally take just a couple minutes. Continue Reading
Posted on July 15, 2007 06:16 PM
I've Got Three Little Words To Say To You... No, not those words (although I'm sure you're very nice). I mean these three little words... Just do it. I know, Nike got there first. But they were right. You get nothing by doing nothing. Back when I started out on the Web, becoming an online publisher meant buying a book about HTML the size of the Yellow Pages. It meant spending half a year reading... Continue Reading
Posted on July 9, 2007 12:03 AM
If you've created some new AdSense code recently, you've probably noticed that you now have an extra decision to make. Once you've picked your format and chosen your color schemes, you have to decide how you want the corners of your units: square, slightly rounded or very rounded?
For most of us, the answer to that question is going to be "Who cares?" Continue Reading
Posted on July 4, 2007 12:07 AM
Google's referral programs have never impressed me very much. Although the commissions are now fair, they started out very low. But even at the new(ish) rates, few sites are going to benefit from them. They're only good for publishers who aim their content at other publishers. That's always been the problem with Google's referrals: there were too few products aimed at too few topics. But Google has been working on a whole new referral system... Continue Reading
Posted on July 2, 2007 01:07 AM
I've got some. In fact, I've got a few.
They've helped me get to where I am today, and they keeping me moving forward all the time too.
Know what I'm talking about yet?
Role-models.
Continue Reading
Posted on June 28, 2007 12:00 AM
Recently, I told you that I was pulling out of the Bookwise program. It looked like a good opportunity -- it still does look like a good opportunity -- but when they objected to the domain name I was using to profit from it, I decided to leave. One door closes... and another one opens. I've been playing around with AuctionAds, and I have to say, I've been very impressed. AuctionAds lets you put eBay... 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 25, 2007 12:09 AM
I wish I could tell you that becoming a successful AdSense publisher is easy. I wish I could tell you that all you need to do is sign up to AdSense and hey presto... at the end of the week, you'll be lighting your barbeque with hundred dollar bills and using fine china dishes as Frisbees.
But it doesn't work that way.
Optimizing your AdSense units is hard work. And it's work that never ends. 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 13, 2007 12:02 AM
It's one small change for Google. It could be one giant leap in your income.
Or at the very least, a nice little increase.
Google has changed its policies (again).
Want to know what the change is and what it could mean for your revenue stream?
Read on... Continue Reading
Posted on June 8, 2007 12:31 AM
I've been pretty lukewarm about Google's referral products. They've been pushing them pretty hard but I haven't been impressed. I'm not convinced that the Google Pack contains anything worth writing home about. I don't care enough about Mozilla to recommend that everyone downloads Firefox. And the commissions that Google is offering for its downloads just aren't big enough to take up real estate on my Web pages. I'd rather put together a joint venture with... Continue Reading
Posted on June 6, 2007 11:17 AM
One of the challenges of building pages for AdSense is that until the page is up and running, you can't really tell which ads you're going to get.
And that's vital information.
Apart from the fact that you can't know which ads to filter out if you don't even know which are going to show up, seeing the ads before you go live can help you decide which keywords to focus on. Continue Reading
Posted on May 23, 2007 12:03 AM
When Google takes action, they really take action. The forums have been buzzing recently with news that Google is in the middle of a content "quality initiative." There's nothing about it in the AdSense blog, but Jennifer Slegg of Jenstar.com has reported that a number of publishers have received emails telling them that they have "an unsuitable business model" and that their account will be closed within two weeks. They will be allowed to keep... Continue Reading
Posted on May 18, 2007 12:03 AM
Thank you to those who submitted questions on my blog yesterday. I really appreciate your input and will be sharing some exciting news with you soon. By now, you probably know that I like to provide as much free information as possible. There is a lot of worthless junk passed off as valuable in the Internet marketing niche, and I like to make sure you get good stuff for absolutely nothing when possible. In celebration... Continue Reading
Posted on May 15, 2007 12:08 AM
Darren Rowse's blog at ProBlogger.net is always worth a read. He's a guy who's making a great income out of online publishing, and he's not afraid to share his knowledge. Recently, Darren put up a very interesting post about giving a second chance to old content. Sometimes, he points out, you'll put up a post that you're sure will get lots of traffic only to find that it dies away without doing anything special. There... Continue Reading
Posted on May 14, 2007 12:20 AM
It's a basic AdSense strategy. One page. One topic. One group of nicely targeted ads. But what if your website covers more than one topic? Suppose you have a blog that's about cars, for example, and occasionally you like to write about satellite radios or travel destinations. Is it enough to put an off-topic post on a separate page or should you put it on a whole different website? You'll need two pieces of information... Continue Reading
Posted on May 8, 2007 08:09 AM
Google has been doing a bit of spring cleaning lately. First it redesigned its ad units. Now it's changed the look of the AdSense home page.
What effect have all these changes had on your revenues?
Almost none, I would think.
The new ad units are slight more attractive than the old ones. But I doubt if the new look is worth more than a click or two each month. Continue Reading
Posted on April 26, 2007 05:11 AM
What is The Secret?
No, no... not THAT Secret. That's an email for another day.
MY secret is actually going to be revealed live at Armand Morin's Big Seminar on Friday morning.
And the buzz is building. Everyone is asking me "What IS it, Joel?"
My reply? You'll have to wait until Friday to see... just like everyone else. Continue Reading
Posted on April 23, 2007 12:00 AM
Nickelmania strikes again!
Right, I know. What the heck is Nickel-Mania?
It's the brain child of Gary Ambrose.
Basically, Gary releases one of his tremendous products and starts the price at a nickel. That's just five cents!
And with each person that purchases, the price of the product goes up a little bit at a time. Continue Reading
Posted on April 20, 2007 10:45 AM
There isn't a day goes by that I don't receive at least two or three emails asking me to do a joint venture. Everyone and their mother (and their mother's dog?) has a product, ebook, software, telecourse or some other idea that will make me a zillion dollars. Now don't get me wrong. I am all for people pursuing their dreams and fervently believing in their product. It's just that I can't possibly look at... Continue Reading
Posted on April 16, 2007 12:33 AM
Internet publishing is a strange thing. On the one hand, you can do everything yourself. It doesn't take two people to write a blog post. It doesn't take a team to design an attractive website. And it doesn't take an entire office to optimize your ad units. But on the other hand, it does take thousands of other publishers to place links to your site on their Web pages to push you up the search... Continue Reading
Posted on April 12, 2007 12:34 AM
A few days back, I told you I was working on some very significant projects. I am now prepared to reveal the first of them. What I am about to show you will be valuable to you on several levels... 1) When you see what it is, you will immediately want to use it on your web site. 2) Others will want it as well, and I will pay you 100% commission to share it... Continue Reading
Posted on April 11, 2007 12:22 AM
You've probably already noticed it. The look of your AdSense units has changed. No, you didn't push the wrong button and accidentally wipe out all your formatting. And no one hacked into your code and played with your Web page. Google has redesigned its ad units. The changes aren't radical but they do offer a couple of small advantages. First, the "Ads by Google" tag is now at the bottom of the unit instead of... Continue Reading
Posted on April 6, 2007 12:06 AM
As an AdSense publisher, I've become accustomed to earning passive income.
And in doing so, I've trained myself to watch for revenue-generating opportunities.
Late last year, I told you about Agloco, a new company that would be releasing a viewbar that would pay you to surf the web.
The naysayers thought it would never happen. Continue Reading
Posted on April 2, 2007 10:35 AM
The Million Dollar Template.
Is there such a thing?
You know I am a big fan of templates. Each month, hundreds of subscribers receive AdSense templates from me so they can shortcut the creation of their web sites and get down to the business of building original content.
Apart from the ones I have created, I have not seen any templates that are really worthy of emulating...
Until now! 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 28, 2007 01:04 PM
Last July, I wrote about how Amazon.com was breaking into contextual advertising with its Omakase program. Now they're at it again with another context-based advertising system.
This time though, they've taken a leaf right out of Kontera's books.
Instead of placing ads in ad units, they're linking to keywords in the text and serving floating ad balloons. You can see samples here and here. Continue Reading
Posted on March 26, 2007 08:14 AM
Everything has changed.
I remember when I first discovered computers.
I was in high school when Radio Shack came out with their TRS-80 Model I personal computer.
I remember going to the store and staring at it... ogling it... feeling the power of its keyboard...
Hey, I guess I just wasn't into girls yet. That time came along eventually as well. ;-)
Oh, those were the days. Continue Reading
Posted on March 24, 2007 12:00 AM
I treat my online businesses pretty seriously. I have to. They feed and house my family and that's a pretty serious business. But sometimes I wonder if I'm not missing something. Just surf at random around the blogs at Blogger.com and you'll come across a bunch of sites that have been put up for no other reason than to make the people who write them smile. They might make the half-dozen or so regular readers... Continue Reading
Posted on March 22, 2007 08:37 AM
It seems like everywhere you turn, people are talking about Web 2.0. What's the deal with Web 2.0 and why should we care? In the past weeks, I have shared with you how I built my lists, increased my visibility and made more sales by using Squidoo. Many of you have written me thanking me for the free report on the topic as you are seeing results from using this new web technology. But did... Continue Reading
Posted on March 21, 2007 12:09 AM
Ever since Google changed its Terms of Service to allow publishers to place other ad programs on AdSense pages -- provided those other ads don't look like Google's ad units -- publishers have been wondering how to make the most of this bonanza. It's like telling a child he can put as many different types of cake on his plate as he wants. On my blog for example, I'm using Kontera's text links to supplement... Continue Reading
Posted on March 19, 2007 11:58 AM
I love to write my own newsletter. It gives me an opportunity to share my thoughts and feelings with you in a very personal way. However, my friend Eric Holmlund has written such a brilliant piece that I have asked him if I can reproduce it in its entirity. Being a great guy, Eric said no problem. With no further ado, here is Eric's post... ---------------------- I want to tell you about a young woman... 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 12, 2007 12:49 AM
When I talked recently about Darren Rowse's poll into the reasons that people unsubscribe from RSS feeds, I mentioned the biggest issue: the number of posts that publishers send to subscribers. That issue took up the first two reasons that people unsubscribe. But in third place was a much tougher question, and it's one I often wonder about: whether to include the whole article or just part of the article in an email or RSS... Continue Reading
Posted on March 10, 2007 12:15 AM
Buzz!
No, you didn't get the answer wrong.
In fact, that would be impossible since I haven't even asked a question yet.
I'm talking about a different kind of buzz.
I'm talking about the kind of buzz that has generated over 1500 comments on one blog in just one week.
I'm talking about the kind of buzz that indicates something BIG is about to happen.
Here's the buzz... and the big news...
Continue Reading
Posted on March 9, 2007 07:28 AM
You already know that ad units placed above the fold tend to get the most clicks.
But did you also know that Google automatically places the highest-earning ads in the first ad unit on the page?
That's very helpful. Before you've done any optimization, you're already getting the most valuable ads in the best spot on your page.
The problem comes when you start optimizing. Continue Reading
Posted on March 8, 2007 08:18 AM
There's something you should know about me.
It's kind of embarrassing, actually.
I am terrible with my hands.
More specifically, I am not mechanically inclined.
In simple english, don't ask me to build stuff.
Don't get me wrong. I can fix absolutely anything
Continue Reading
Posted on March 6, 2007 12:29 AM
One of the most frequent questions I am asked is, "How many sites do I need in order to make money with AdSense?" The answer is simple... just ONE site can do it! The truth is, I make the majority of my AdSense income from just one of my sites, though I do enjoy a little here and a little there from some of my other sites. With that said, I know of several people... Continue Reading
Posted on March 4, 2007 12:06 AM
Important.
Urgent.
Critical.
Essential.
Crucial.
There are so many words I can use to describe how imperative it is that you read today's email, and listen to what I have to say... REALLY listen, because this comes from the heart.
Continue Reading
Posted on March 2, 2007 11:23 AM
Google is very protective of its AdSense code. Start changing bits here and there and you can't expect to keep your account open for very long. But there's one exception to that rule and it's a very important one. You can put this code on your Web pages: <script type="text/javascript"> var random_number = Math.random(); if (random_number //your first ad unit code goes here } else { //your second ad unit code goes here } </script> <script type="text/javascript... Continue Reading
Posted on February 28, 2007 12:05 AM
Do you remember the television commercial for a hair shampoo where the key concept was viral marketing? The phrase in the commercial went... "They'll tell two friends... and they'll tell two friends... and so on, and so on..." Yes, it was a very clear example of viral marketing. And whether we are talking about shampoo, automobiles, candy bars or web sites, viral marketing still works! If you were able to take your next visitor and... Continue Reading
Posted on February 26, 2007 07:51 AM
There are over 29 Billion web pages in the world.
There are over 108 Million web sites in the world.
There are over 85,000 Squidoo sites in the world.
And mine is now #3...
...in the world! 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 22, 2007 09:30 AM
Momentum.
From Dictionary.com...
"A force or speed of movement; impetus, as of a physical object or course of events: The car gained momentum going downhill. Her career lost momentum after two unsuccessful films."
Let me throw in one more example...
Continue Reading
Posted on February 21, 2007 04:50 PM
I've got a room with a view! My family and my office staff are finally settling in to our new home in Colorado, and it is stunningly beautiful. Every morning I awake to a new view of the mountains and every evening the sun sets behind them. This isn't heaven, but it will do for now. :-) I've put a webcam in my office, so you can see just a small portion of what I... Continue Reading
Posted on February 20, 2007 12:04 AM
Ever since Google changed its Terms Of Service to allow other contextualized ad systems on the same pages as AdSense, I've been busy taking another look at its competitors. And what I've found was that Kontera has been pretty busy. Kontera has created an ad system that turns keywords on a Web page into double-underlined links. When users mouse over those links, they get a floating tool box containing an ad. It's unobtrusive and looks... Continue Reading
Posted on February 13, 2007 12:21 AM
The writer Anne Lamott likes to tell a story of how her brother had to create a school project describing a huge number of different birds. He didn't know how he was going to complete it. Lamott's father had some wise advice. He told his son to do it "bird by bird." Lamott used that analogy to describe the process of writing a book. You can think of it as a way of creating a... Continue Reading
Posted on February 10, 2007 03:07 PM
Let's face it.
Google's AdSense program is absolutely ingenious.
It's not perfect, but it is ingenious.
Occasionally, an ad will display that is not relevant to the content on the page. But more often than not, the AdSense bot knows what ads to show.
This was never truer than the ad I saw displayed on my blog entry from yesterday.
Continue Reading
Posted on February 7, 2007 12:00 AM
I love the way Google works. The company has created a fantastic system for turning space on Web pages into fat checks. Even though it's got a bunch of competitors all with their own methods of delivering contextualized ads, Google is still top of the pile. But not everything Google does is as big a success as AdSense. Its referral programs, for example, never brought me a great deal of revenue. I haven't heard of... Continue Reading
Posted on February 5, 2007 08:24 AM
I hope it got your attention, because what I am about to share with you can be HUGE. And I have THREE things I need to share with you. So be sure you read all the way to end or you might miss out on the best stuff! Ok, here's the deal (pardon my excitement, but this really is big!) As you know, AdSense is not the only contextual advertising service on the web. Google... Continue Reading
Posted on February 2, 2007 12:59 AM
So when was the last time you checked AdSense's TOS? I know, I know, it's all small print. It's boring. It doesn't change very often. And when it does change, the changes don't mean anything. Right, right, right... and wrong. Very, very wrong. The Terms of Service of any program, especially contextual ad programs, might be about as fun to read as the ingredients list on a TV dinner but they're important. They're important to... Continue Reading
Posted on January 31, 2007 05:33 PM
When you sign up to an ad program, one of the first decisions you'll have to make is where to put your units. Should you cram them into the sidebar? Place them above the fold? Embed them into the text? Or relegate them to the end of the page? Although there are some general guidelines you can follow, the best way to decide which are the best spots on your Web pages for your ad... Continue Reading
Posted on January 24, 2007 10:21 AM
I'm sure you've heard the 'buzz' about social networking and Web 2.0. Millions of people have signed up for their own MySpace site, including me! Have you actually discovered how to make *REAL MONEY* with it and generate TONS of free traffic with MySpace and other social networking sites? Recently I managed to get hold of a "private" two-hour telephone conversation featuring two 'under the radar' experts discussing how they are driving BIG traffic and... Continue Reading
Posted on January 21, 2007 11:21 PM
I love checking my server stats. It always turns up a ton of great information. Sure, I can see how much traffic I’ve received, where my users are in the world and, more importantly, how they reached my site -- and all of that information is hugely valuable. But mixed into all that data is often a bunch of details that just have me scratching my head. Like the search terms that have brought people... Continue Reading
Posted on January 19, 2007 12:49 AM
Creating a successful online business is tough. Sure, creating a site is simple. You can buy a domain name, find a hosting service and use a template to have your site up and running within a day or two (or even less) of first thinking up your business idea. Affiliate systems and contextualized ad programs can then have you earning without ever touching a product or a shipping form. That's the easy part. The hard... 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 17, 2007 10:59 AM
I hate it when it happens. I'm sure you do too. You've set up your site, you've optimized your ads, you've watched your income rise and at last you're getting your rewards. Each month you receive a nice fat check from the generous people at Google. And then all of a sudden, the numbers start to shrink. You haven't changed a thing. Your ad units are still in the same places. You're still discussing the... Continue Reading
Posted on January 13, 2007 09:43 AM
There’s More To Marketing Than SEO... It’s the first thing most online publishers do. Right after they’ve built their site, picked the images and added the content. They start optimizing for the search engines and working a million hours a day to get the top spot at Google. Search engine optimization is always going to be an important part of marketing your website. After all, the only thing better than targeted traffic is free targeted... 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 31, 2006 12:06 PM
It's time to drag out the cliches.
"Wow, can you believe it's 2007 already?"
"Man, that year zipped by so fast!"
"Before you know it it'll be 2008..."
You get the picture.
It's another turning of the page. Continue Reading
Posted on December 28, 2006 09:05 AM
I'm always going on about the importance of great content. It really is the most important thing you'll put on your website. Sure, the way you format your AdSense units is important. The affiliate products you choose to promote will affect your earnings. The design and layout of your page will determine whether it looks professional and invites users to stick around and come back for more... or send them screaming back where they came... Continue Reading
Posted on December 22, 2006 01:06 PM
Don’t you just hate it when someone comes along and spoils all the fun? For a long time now I’ve been recommending that publishers put little images next to their AdSense units to draw users’ eyes. So if you were showing ads for televisions and cameras, then you could put pictures of televisions and cameras right next to the ad unit. Your unit would have all the eye-catching attention of a graphic ad without the... Continue Reading
Posted on December 20, 2006 04:19 PM
Building a successful website doesn’t happen overnight. You have to create the pages, write the content, optimize your ads, drive traffic. You can be up and running within minutes but to earn the sort of revenues that make the whole thing worthwhile (and more) you’re going to have to invest time. And much of that time is going to be spent troubleshooting. A poorly-designed, badly-optimized site might make a little bit of money. A site... Continue Reading
Posted on December 17, 2006 11:20 AM
I love giving gifts.
I can't help myself.
I am one of those who prefer watching others open presents on Christmas morning to opening my own.
There's just something special about seeing a smile on someone's face when they open a present I've given them that brings joy to my heart.
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 December 11, 2006 09:41 PM
Deck the Halls with boughs of holly...
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way...
Frosty the Snowman, was a jolly happy soul...
You'd better not pout, you'd better not cry...
You get the idea! Christmas is coming!
And you can spice up your AdSense blocks with a little holiday cheer using their "themed ads".
Want to know how? Continue Reading
Posted on December 7, 2006 01:46 AM
If you haven't heard of MySpace by now, chances are you have been living in the outermost reaches of Siberia.
And if you don't have a MySpace page of your own, you probably will soon.
Yes, even I have a MySpace page.
Anyhow, if you are wanting to know how to master the ins and outs of MySpace, here's a handy online guide to help you along.
MySpace Revealed Continue Reading
Posted on December 5, 2006 12:55 PM
He beat me to it.
I'm not angry... it's not my style.
But I am just a little.. bit... um... er... envious?
Ok, I said it. I'm envious.
And I think I have a right to be.
Continue Reading
Posted on December 4, 2006 10:54 AM
As an AdSense publisher, one day can be much like another. Each day, you update your content, check your stats and make sure that your traffic is flowing freely. With users coming, clicking and giving you income all day every day, it can be very easy to forget which day, week or even season it is. That’s a waste of an opportunity. It’s also not true that Internet time is separate from real time. You... 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 24, 2006 12:01 AM
You know, I haven't always taught people how to make money online. In fact, I didn't write my first ebook until January 2005. But I've been creating content-rich sites since 1995. One of my most popular sites is perfect for this time of year when everyone is looking for great deals and coupon codes DealofDay.com has become one of the web's leading bargain-hunting sites. With dozens of new coupons, bargains, discounts and special offers added... Continue Reading
Posted on November 22, 2006 07:48 AM
Like most things on the Internet, marketing can be divided into two distinct periods: Before Google and After Google. Before Google, getting a link to your site on other sites took a huge amount of work. You'd have to write to each publisher separately. You'd have to try different CPC networks until you found one that worked for you. And you'd have to create a new Web page just for reciprocal links. After Google... well... Continue Reading
Posted on November 21, 2006 07:17 AM
The results of my experiment are in! Over the past week, I've told you a bit about the power of video to get traffic to your web site. Now I can demonstrate conclusively that video does indeed work to get your pages listed higher in the search engines, thereby driving more traffic to your sites. Watch this 4-minute video that shows you exactly how I got over 2700 new visitors to my web site in... 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 11, 2006 10:03 AM
Remember the hype about "The Death of AdSense" a few months back? Of course, that turned out to be a load of silliness because AdSense is more alive than ever before.
So what are we to think when Mike Filsaime releases a free report called "The Death of Internet Marketing"?
At first glance, I thought Mike was going to give away this report and then try to sell me something.
Guess what? 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 November 9, 2006 09:53 AM
I regularly receive questions from my readers and subscribers. In fact, I get WAY too many questions to even begin to address them all.
Today, I have a question for YOU! In fact, I am soliciting your input.
First, a little history... 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 October 23, 2006 12:54 AM
I've been looking back at what's been happening in the world of AdSense over the last ten months or so... and I've been amazed at what I've found. I was able to count at least fifteen innovations that could affect the way publishers earn through AdSense. Some of those changes, such as larger image ads, are relatively minor. Others, such as video ads and multiple channels for ad units, have the potential to radically change... Continue Reading
Posted on October 16, 2006 01:24 PM
One of the most frequent comments I got during the launch of Instant AdSense Templates was how good the copy on the page was. Tons of people told me that the offer was just irresistable and that the copy sizzled!
Some of the best Internet marketers have learned what they know about writing copy from Dan Kennedy and Bill Glazer.
Continue Reading
Posted on October 15, 2006 11:20 PM
Traffic.
It is the one thing that anyone with a website hopes for again and again.
You can have first-site site design.
You can have incredible content.
You can make sure your pages are totally optimized to be search engine friendly. Continue Reading
Posted on October 10, 2006 11:40 AM
It's here.
And it's a work of art.
Not like a DaVinci or Rembrandt.
But a work of art nonetheless.
Three months ago I took a survey of my customers and asked many questions related to Internet marketing. In particular, I was interested in what they wanted in a revenue-generating product. Continue Reading
Posted on October 5, 2006 12:21 PM
Time to dig into the mailbag and answer questions from readers... Question 1) I've got ads on my site that I don't want. How do I block other sites from showing their ads on my site? Answer 1) That's easy! Go to your AdSense account at www.google.com/adsense and click the "AdSense Setup" tab. Then click the "Competitive Ad Filter" link. Simply enter the url that you want to ban and it will disappear within a... Continue Reading
Posted on October 4, 2006 02:44 PM
Tick... tick... tick...
Can you hear that?
It's the sound of the countdown clock leading to Tuesday, October 10th.
At 12 Noon EST on that day, I will be revealing my greatest AdSense product EVER! Continue Reading
Posted on August 23, 2006 10:38 PM
I've been getting a LOT of email about Google's new policy change related to their AdWords program. Thousands of advertisers had the prices per click raised DRAMATICALLY overnight. It has been very costly for some, perhaps unfairly so. Are you one of the people that got hit by this Google "slap"? Are you still trying to recover and to find your lost traffic? Many people have pleased with Google to let them have the lower-cost... Continue Reading
Posted on August 22, 2006 04:11 PM
Eric Holmlund has been telling me about HyperVRE. He's like, "Joel, this is perfect for your AdSense students... and it's free!"
I said, "Reeeeally..."
So I took a look at it. And I am impressed. Eric said that I could show you his video that demonstrates exactly how this free tool works.
HyperVRE 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 August 7, 2006 11:00 PM
I've gotten to know Mike Filsaime over the past year, and consider him a good friend. Not only is he an incredibly smart marketer, but he is a good-hearted guy who really wants to see people succeed. When Mike launched Butterfly Marketing earlier this year, he hit a huge run. Not only did he sell tons of copies of his course, but the results have been equally impressive. Testimonial upon testimonial of success stories find... Continue Reading
Posted on August 3, 2006 12:11 AM
I've added something new to my blog today, and it gives me an international flair.
See the flags of the world above this post? You can click one of them and the page will be translated into another language!
In fact, there are eight languages in all, including Italian, German, Spanish, French, Chinese, Portugese, Japanese and Korean. And this same code is available to anyone who wants to have their pages translated as well. Continue Reading
Posted on July 31, 2006 02:48 PM
Wouldn't it be great if we could optimize our websites for AdSense then just kick back and enjoy the income? We wouldn't have to worry about trying new ad formats or checking new strategies or wondering what else we could be doing to increase our revenues. We certainly wouldn't have to watch out for the sort of change that could radically affect the way our pages are arranged. One such change could be just around... Continue Reading
Posted on July 29, 2006 10:23 PM
The kids have gone to bed and it is getting late. I decided to check in to the database of questions that have been asked recently at AskJoelComm.com and attempt to answer a few of them here briefly. As you might imagine, I receive more questions than I have time to answer. So if don't get to your question, please don't think I am ignoring you. There just isn't enough of me to go around... Continue Reading
Posted on July 28, 2006 10:51 AM
When I give talks explaining how people can use AdSense to earn high revenues, I focus on some very specific strategies. I do the same in my book. I explain which ad formats work best, discuss where to put them, how to blend them into the page and how to influence the ads that appear so that you can make sure you’re always earning the highest revenues possible.
Continue Reading
Posted on July 10, 2006 12:22 AM
Did you know that MySpace.com is one of the most popular sites on the internet with teenagers? And are you aware of the type of content that MySpace users are regularly accessing? If you are a parent, you might be SHOCKED to find out what your kids could be viewing! If you have teenagers that could be using MySpace, I want you to RUN, not walk, and download a copy of... "My Space 4 Parents... Continue Reading
Posted on July 3, 2006 11:17 PM
After the huge success of 500Words.com, niche word sites are starting to pop up on the web. Here are just a few of the ones you might want to look at grabbing a word on... 300 Jobs for Moms - This is a great one for work-at-home moms who have job opportunities to share. Why not grab a word and link it to your opportunity? 500 Top Blogs - If you are a blogger, this... Continue Reading
Posted on June 29, 2006 02:13 PM
This software is no longer available. Continue Reading
Posted on June 28, 2006 04:34 PM
The word page fun continues as the blogosphere is discussing 500Words.com.
Today, PRWeb phoned me to create a podcast interview which you can now listen to online or via itunes.
Check out writings by Adam Viener, Brad Waller and Jim Kukral Continue Reading
Posted on June 26, 2006 08:33 PM
I knew my word cloud advertising page, 500Words.com would get some attention. I had no idea that it would be as big as it is!
In the first 12 hours that the site has officially launched today, more than one-third of the words have been claimed!
Traffic is pouring into the page and I see no end in sight. It may very well sell out its first week.
So what's next? 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 14, 2006 08:09 PM
About six years ago, I met a guy named Todd Vinson. Todd is one of the most incredible people I have met in my life because he has dedicated his life to serving others. In particular, he has a heart for helping teenage boys who are displaced or whose families are in crisis by providing a long-term home solution where they will be properly cared for. This happens at Willow Springs Boys Ranch in Chandler... Continue Reading
Posted on June 13, 2006 10:42 AM
Search the web for AdSense and you will find an absolute avalanche of products and services related to Google's popular contextual advertising service. Most of the these products are software or tools designed to game the system, taking advantage of the weaknesses in the search engines in order to generate a quick buck with AdSense. You know what I am talking about. These are the tools that build "garbage" pages that exist for no reason... Continue Reading
Posted on June 7, 2006 12:07 AM
If you have a site and want to get your visitor's attention, this is really cool stuff...
Over 86% of web surfers have some sort of popup blocker installed. If you want to gather email addresses or request your visitors take some other action, popups have become ineffective.
Until now...
Impact Popup gets around popup blockers to display a very slick popup that you can install on your site in a matter of moments. Continue Reading
Posted on June 1, 2006 09:23 AM
Stop the presses!
Jeremy Gislason just sent me an email telling me that the Marketing Main Event 2 is now available for 1000 people.
What is the Marketing Main Event?
Only the largest collection of membership reseller licences, private label rights, master rights, resell rights, contributed products, instant sales pages and sales links, exclusive joint ventures, special offers, V.R.E. content generators, training and learning zones EVER! Continue Reading
Posted on May 29, 2006 12:05 AM
I received this question via AskJoelComm.com Joel, I can't find my passion. I have been a workaholic my whole life in areas that I do not enjoy. I don't even know what I enjoy doing. To make matters worse, my experience is not something that can become a product unless I compete with the top corporations. I have gathered and researched a lot of information on how to market, sales pages, setting up websites, etc... Continue Reading
Posted on May 28, 2006 05:22 AM
So, I am at this conference in Orlando and Paulie Sabol says, "Joel, you have the most recognizable face on the Internet". He is referring to the fact that my face appears as an avatar on Yahoo! Games. Recognize this guy? I'm pretty amused at the thought. I know that Brad Fallon is the coolest guy in the world (go ahead, Google the term "coolest guy in the world", but I hadn't heard of anyone... Continue Reading
Posted on May 17, 2006 08:40 AM
Just how much money can you make with Google AdSense?
In January 2006, I had the opportunity to speak to a group of copywriters on the topic of AdSense. In the video clip that follows, I share the story of how I initially failed with AdSense... and then I share what happened next. Continue Reading
Posted on May 9, 2006 01:09 PM
Here's a copy of the news release that went out on PRWeb today. Edmond, OK (PRWEB) May 9, 2006 -- With Internet publishers looking for ways to monetize their sites, Google has become one of the most revered sites due to their contextual advertising program, Google AdSense. This text-based ad service is generating four, five, and six-figure incomes for many website owners. With this increased interest in this revolutionary revenue-generating program, site owners are looking... Continue Reading
Posted on May 8, 2006 04:49 PM
Friday, May 5th, was my 42nd birthday. So I decided that I would throw a virtual birthday party and invite some of my readers to join me!
I scheduled a teleseminar and began thinking of who I wanted to interview as a special guest for my birthday.
Now, I could have called up one of my Internet marketing buddies, but I decided to invite an "unknown" to join me for the call. Continue Reading
Posted on May 6, 2006 12:09 AM
Got a question? I've got an answer.
I'm not promising the RIGHT answer. But I do have an answer.
If you ask me who won the World Series in 1978, I'd have to do a little research.
But if you ask me a question about the best affiliate programs online, I could tell you off the top of my head.
That's why I have launched AskJoelComm.com Continue Reading
Posted on April 28, 2006 11:09 PM
Google AdSense is currently the reigning King of contextual advertising services. But the King always faces challengers to the throne. Kontera, Chitika and Intellitext have managed to absorb a small piece of Google's market, but they've barely made a dent thus far.
So who can take on the 100 pound gorilla?
Only another gorilla.
Enter Yahoo! Continue Reading
Posted on April 25, 2006 11:40 PM
I've been home from Kauai long enough to really begin missing it. The island and resort were so beautiful. It was difficult to come home.
We spent the week at the Kauai Marriott Resort and Beach Club in Lihue. It was a top-notch resort with gorgeous surroundings, an enormous swimming pool and a nice beach tucked away in Kalapaki Bay. Palm trees, tropical breezes and the sounds of crashing surf... ah... Continue Reading
Posted on April 8, 2006 12:55 AM
With over 65,000,000 members, Rupert Murdoch's My Space is a juggernaut in the online world. Sure, it is largely a wasteland of 18 to 22 year olds trying to "hook up" with each other. But I can see where the networking tools of the site can be used for those who aren't just looking for a "date". Continue Reading
Posted on March 29, 2006 01:25 PM
I occassionally receive email that looks like this... "Dear Joel, I have purchased your ebook and applied your strategies to my web pages. It's been a week and I am not making any money. It just doesn't work" Welcome to our microwave society. We want our popcorn done in sixty seconds. And if we can get someone else to put it in the microwave and prepare it for us, all the better. So what is... Continue Reading
Posted on March 28, 2006 02:27 PM
Kiss your free time goodbye. Cute, furry creatures are about to dominate your desktop.
Don't look now. It's Chuzzle. 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 March 6, 2006 07:06 PM
When I came out with "What Google Never Told You About Making Money with AdSense" in January 2005, I never imagined that it would become so popular. Since that time, I have released a second edition, several other ebooks, a member site, a telecourse series and find myself booked for multiple speaking engagements. Life is funny... Today marks another milestone for me as I am pleased to announce the revised and expanded third edition of... Continue Reading
Posted on March 4, 2006 11:12 PM
My friend, Scott Hamlin, just told me about a cool site that allows other website owners to download games and place them on their pages for their visitors to enjoy. The site is called Pixel Toys and it has several family-friendly games that can be downloaded instantly or played online. Check it out! Continue Reading
Posted on February 27, 2006 04:21 PM
If you are an AdSense publisher, you know that Google tells you very little about your ads. They tell you how many ads you have displayed. They tell you how many ads have been clicked. And they tell you how much money they are paying you. If you use channels, you are able to gather a bit more data regarding the success or failure of a page or an ad to deliver revenue. But other... Continue Reading
Posted on February 19, 2006 05:25 PM
Ok, so Dick Cheney accidently shot a guy.
The mainstream media has had a grand old time focusing on absolutely nothing. I figured by this weekend it would be over.
Not so. Continue Reading
Posted on February 8, 2006 11:53 AM
Ever since I attended Armand Morin's Big Seminar in Los Angeles last November, I have been telling others about the incredible experience and value of this bi-annual Internet marketing event. I can say with no reservations that Big Seminar CHANGED MY LIFE! The conference opened my mind to new possibilities and revenue streams that I had under my nose all along. And the networking opportunities... the people I met... were the most valuable part of... Continue Reading
Posted on February 7, 2006 01:07 AM
I love finding promising online businesses and bringing attention to them. Last year, one of my clients introduced me to a product that he was creating called Got-Zip. As a long-time affiliate to many merchants, I took special interest to this new service as it turned the affiliate system on it's ear. Instead of paying out commissions for sales that orginated on a link through your web site, Got Zip levels the playing field and... Continue Reading
Posted on January 25, 2006 12:53 PM
We' ve all seen the commercials of orphaned children on late night television. The images tear at our hearts, but it is so easy for us to turn a blind eye to their plight.
Ken Surritte is a great friend of mine. Not only is he a great guy, but he also has an extremely compassionate heart for people who are in need. Continue Reading
Posted on January 22, 2006 12:41 AM
Just the other day I was telling you about Glenn Dietzel from Awaken the Author Within. I had the opportunity to spend a couple days with Glenn. We had a fabulous time getting to know each other and at the last minute decided to put together a podcast as I was driving him to the airport so he could catch his flight home. Since we recorded this in the car, I am calling it a... Continue Reading
Posted on December 19, 2005 12:31 AM
I remember a story on the cover of Time magazine about ten years ago. It had the following headline which was just a tremendous shocker to me. It said... Continue Reading
Posted on December 15, 2005 01:55 AM
Several months ago I was going through email from readers. As you might imagine, people have a lot of questions, not just regarding AdSense, but also related to other areas of Internet business.
I began noticing a recurring theme in these emails. 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 November 3, 2005 11:20 AM
About two weeks ago, I told you about a new advertising service called Chitika. What makes Chitika unique is that they have implemented features which make it completely compatible with AdSense. That means you can run it on the SAME PAGES as AdSense.
I have been testing Chitika for these past weeks and I have come to the following conclusion... Continue Reading
Posted on November 2, 2005 02:08 PM
In 1978, I was just a youthful fourteen-year old. But I knew the future when I saw it, and I wanted a piece of it.
It was this year that Tandy released their first home computer, the TRS-80, via their Radio Shack stores. As soon as I saw this black and gray beauty, I knew I had to have one. Continue Reading
Posted on October 31, 2005 07:53 AM
Here's a cool way to find all kinds of information on just about anything you can think of. The site is called HelpFox. Go ahead, click the link and enter something in the search field. You'll instantly have access to pages that contain the term in a number of categories, including encyclopedia, news, links, blogs, shopping and more. Your term will be highlighted in yellow everywhere it shows up on the page. Continue Reading
Posted on October 8, 2005 12:12 AM
Since I became an Ebook author, I have realized the importance of each detail in the process. The topic, sales letter, price, marketing plan and other choices all have a significant bearing on whether or not the ebook will succeed. One commonly neglected area is the graphic design for the cover of the ebook. I am very pleased at how my covers have turned out, and I cannot recommend highly enough the designer who created... Continue Reading
Posted on October 7, 2005 02:00 AM
If a conservative would have said what Howard Dean said on Hardball with Chris Matthews, the mainstream media would deem it worthy of front page mockery. But since it was far-left wacko Dean, he gets a pass. That's ok. The entertainment value is to good to pass up. So what did Howie say? On the October 5th edition of "Hardball with Chris Matthews", the chairman of the Democratic National Committee was asked this question in... Continue Reading
Posted on October 6, 2005 01:46 PM
One of my best friends in the whole world is Mark Jones. I met Mark and his wife Rebecca when attending Trtinity Bible Church in Richardson, Texas. Mark was the worship pastor and we just gravitated towards each other. He and his family are the definition of kind and trustworthy. I love him like a brother and would do absolutely anything for him. *Though he did NOT ask me to do this...) Continue Reading
Posted on October 4, 2005 10:54 PM
In a move that has brought criticism from both sides of the political aisle, President Bush has nominated White House lead counsel, Harriet Miers, to the highest court in the land.
Though Ms. Miers has no paper trail related to judicial decisions (as she is not a judge), she does appear to be a pro-life Christian, and one with definitive views towards the Constitution. Continue Reading
Posted on October 1, 2005 10:40 PM
I received an 8 1/2" x 11" envelope today addressed to my business. Real official looking stuff. I open it up and it is a notice of estimated cash payment and claim form for a class action suit. Apparantly, my company is a member of the Class in the Visa Check/MasterMoney Antitrust Litigation. Don't ask me how I got in the class. I have no idea. The cash payment that I am entitled to as... Continue Reading
Posted on September 29, 2005 12:50 PM
My primary website, WorldVillage.com, turned ten years old this year. Wow, it's gone by fast. Starting today, I am announcing the WorldVillage Blogger Network, a new portion of WorldVillage that allows bloggers to write articles for WorldVillage and share in the revenue that their article pages earn! Anyone can apply to write for any category within the range of topics available. Major categories include Home, Health, Arts, Business, Sports, Recreation, Computers, Science and Society. Within... Continue Reading
Posted on September 26, 2005 11:13 AM
I've been playing around with a few automated page generator programs to see what they are capable of. These programs allow you to build an entire web site based on keywords. For example, Help Desk, Wifi World and Enterprise Portals were built using Cash Page Builder. Essentially, the software finds similar keywords and proceeds to build many pages containing news feeds and products related to the keyword. It's not a great way to build a... 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 15, 2005 01:19 AM
Z is thirteen now and he is ready to start learning the family business. So I have put him to work adding a new offer to a blog each day. Check out I Found Great Stuff! to see the fruit of his labor. So far he is doing a great job, and getting paid for it!
Take advantage of one of the offers on the pages to support his college fund. ;-) Continue Reading
Posted on September 5, 2005 04:56 PM
After the devastating hurricane hit Louisiana and Mississippi last week, I knew I had to do something to help raise money for the victims. I am pleased to say that I have now got a site up and running. If you run Google AdSense ads on your web pages, would you consider joining our relief efforts at ReliefSense? Here's how it works. Sign up and pledge to donate whatever you earn on Monday, September 14th... Continue Reading
Posted on September 2, 2005 02:21 PM
Man, I've been wanting to get my hands on one of these babies for quite some time. Now that I've got one, you ought to see the smile on my face. The photo probably doesn't do it it justice as you can't get the overall sense of scale. But this 24" Dell Widescreen LCD Monitor is just what the doctor ordered. Crisp picture 1920 x 1200 resolution Plenty of desktop space to spare Dell charges... Continue Reading
Posted on August 19, 2005 08:01 PM
So much of having a successful Internet business is dependent on getting your sites indexed on the search engines. When someone types a keyword into Google or Yahoo, where does your site come up on the page? Many people make a living in the search engine optimization (SEO) field, helping sites optimize their pages to be more search engine friendly. So how do you get to the top of the search engines? Here is a... Continue Reading
Posted on August 16, 2005 12:54 AM
Building a web site is easy. Getting traffic to it is a whole different beast. Google, Yahoo! and MSN rule the roost of the search engine market, but figuring out how to show up at the top of the results is no easy task. My friend, Rick Butts, has come up with a killer tool that I starting using today. When I say killer.. I mean killer. If you have a web site, you've got... Continue Reading
Posted on August 4, 2005 01:05 PM
A friend pointed this little diversion out to me today.
Want to be Google-fied? Go to Logogle.com and make your own start page.
Check this out! Continue Reading
Posted on July 6, 2005 11:44 PM
For nearly ten years I have provided useful resources for parents who want to keep their kids safe online. With the overwhelming amount of pornography, predators and violence on the Internet, how can wise parents allow their children to surf the web, check email and instant message without fear of these modern-day ills?
I've written an ebook on this topic called "Internet Safety Secrets". Continue Reading
Posted on June 27, 2005 10:10 PM
Last week, I was contacted by a gentlemen asking me if I would take a look at his product. He claimed that his CD presentation would help anyone start a web business by following his simple instructions. I said, "sure, go ahead and send it" I now have previewed a copy of EZ Web Business Builder, and I have to say that it is a truly fabulous product. The author's name is Jim Daniels, and... Continue Reading
Posted on June 25, 2005 11:08 PM
Here's a site that grabs you by your psyche, tosses you about like an emotional spin washer and causes you to marvel at the tremendous pain in the world. The site is called Post Secret. What is it, you ask? Imagine your deepest, darkest secret. Imagine that you couldn't tell a soul. But what if you could create an image on a postcard and anonymously mail it to a web site where your secret could... 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 June 21, 2005 12:00 AM
Last week, I had the privilage of meeting Rosalind Gardner at an affiliate marketing conference in Las Vegas. I had heard of Rosalind in the past as she is known as an affiliate marketing guru. I had heard how she made over $400,000/year selling other people's product and was astounded. What I found most incredible is that Rosalind had NO previous business expereince! She told me that she had been an air traffic controller for... Continue Reading
Posted on May 17, 2005 09:28 PM
Sick and tired of going to web sites and seeing nothing but content? Don't you hate when you are looking for ads and an article gets in the way? Do you long for flashing banners that throw you into epileptic fits but are constantly distracted by news and weather on a web page? Finally, there is a solution! Google Content Blocker will fix your web browsing experience so that no more annoying content haunts your... Continue Reading
Posted on May 14, 2005 12:04 AM
I love my blog. I love that I can share whatever thoughts and ideas come my way and that people actually enjoy reading it. And I guess it really doesn't matter who reads it. I just enjoy blogging. It's my little corner of the web. However, my site is about to get a face lift. I have deciding to test the waters of Internet consulting. After all, I've got ten years of Internet experience and... Continue Reading
Posted on May 11, 2005 01:13 AM
Well, my new dating ebook is almost ready to go. In fact, I have a web page up for it now and it is actually available now. It still needs a little fine tuning, but I think it is a great value for the money! If you are single and interested in online dating services, you'll definitely want to pick up a copy of Online Dating Secrets: The Guide for Real People Who Want Real... Continue Reading
Posted on April 15, 2005 12:01 PM
I've been slaving away attempting to make sense of this thing we call the Internet. In order to put things in proper perspective, I have composed this paper which I hope will prove useful. Continue Reading
Posted on April 12, 2005 12:12 AM
Since my ebook has become popular, I have been inundated with emails from people wanting me to look at ebooks and Internet tools. Many of them are a waste of time and money. But occassionally I come across something of real value. Today's entry is about one such tool. The tool is called Search Automator and, to be candid, it is one of the most incredibly useful, and powerful new tools I've seen this year... 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 21, 2005 12:56 PM
Want to know how to make money with Google Adsense? I am going to be sharing my secrets in an EXCLUSIVE FREE Teleseminar hosted by Ezine Marketing Expert, Christopher Knight. The live teleseminar is scheduled for Tuesday, March 22nd, 2005 at 7 pm CST. If you have a web site, you'll want to sign up for this FREE live event that will cover: An overview of why Adsense can work for your site Who typically... Continue Reading
Posted on February 20, 2005 08:59 PM
This year, WorldVillage.com turns ten years old. Yup, that's TEN big ones. An eternity in Internet years. For all that time, I have been giving of myself to millions of visitors. Giving, giving, always giving. And what do I get? Email complaining about this feature. Posts whining about that web page. Blah blah blah. (Oh, I get paid a few dollars for advertising, but does that count?) Now people can really show their appreciation for... Continue Reading
Posted on February 15, 2005 10:18 PM
I had a nightmare of a day yesterday, mostly due to problems with one of my web servers. The computer kept slowing down to a crawl and then locking up so that no one could access any of my pages. I had two techies look at the site and it wasn't until this morning that my webmaster solved the problem. As it turned out, a feature of the site was no longer functioning properly. When... Continue Reading
Posted on February 12, 2005 11:54 PM
Google Adsense text ads have become ubiquitous on the web. You can even find them on this web page. Just look for "Ads by Google". Many web site owners are generating extra cash by placing Google ads on their web pages. But very few know the secrets that are generating enormous cash flow for some sites. I have written an ebook that reveals Google Adsense Secrets. It shows how sites are multiplying their Google Adsense... Continue Reading
Posted on February 10, 2005 03:24 PM
Are you a teacher or a webmaster? Do you have your own personal web site? Did you know that you can add a variety of fun games to your pages? It's a great way to build content and invite others to visit your web site. Barb Feldman has written a fabulous eBook called "How to Add Games to Your Web Site". It contains a boatload of fabulous tips and specific steps to take in... Continue Reading
Posted on January 6, 2005 02:07 PM
I've been reviewing the log files from this site and found out some interesting stuff. Following is a list of the most popular blog entries, along with reasons why the entry received lots of reads and/or comments. Tsunami Video - I originally linked to a video which was then taken offline. But people searching the web for the keywords "Tsunami Video" found my site and visited by the thousands. The Passion: Mel Gibson's Labor of... Continue Reading
Posted on December 29, 2004 02:19 PM
Supposedly, there is a 30-minute video out there that captured the incredible tsunami tidal waves. One site had it up and then pulled it.
I did manage to find this video which was taken in Phuket Beach, Thailand. Watch and see this beachside resort get completely flooded. Continue Reading
Posted on December 24, 2004 10:29 AM
What a great Christmas Eve present! President Bush is going to renominate the qualified judges that were arrogantly filibustered by the Democrats in Senate last term. The Dems can still attempt to do the same thing this time around, but hopefully they will remember the fate of Tom Daschle, and they will think twice before standing the way of the majority. Of course, some Senate Democrats are already crying out about this, claiming that Bush... Continue Reading
Posted on December 21, 2004 08:53 AM
Are we creating a generation of mutants? While reality TV may be hazardous to our health, I am talking about a different danger. Recent studies have shown that electromagnetic radiation from cell phones may be causing permanent physical damage. What they are finding is that there is a significant break to single and double DNA strands when animals are exposed to this form of radiation for extended periods. Think about it. We are continually wearing... 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 30, 2004 01:33 PM
By now, everyone and their dog has seen the hilarious Election 2004 political parody at JibJab.com. Their "This Land is Your Land" parody of Bush and Kerry, et al, stormed the Internet and skyrocketed their web site to instant fame. JibJab has since come out with another parody, "Good to Be in D.C.", another must see. But the funniest parody of all is found at LOL Fun. The name of the parody is Political Bohemian... 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 August 23, 2004 12:51 AM
It was just like any other day. I booted up my computer and started to check on my web sites. And as happens from time to time, my sites were not coming up quickly or at all. My first thought is that a server is down. I test another server and see that it is not communicating either. Now I start thinking my T1 to the office is down. So I apply the test to... Continue Reading
Posted on August 21, 2004 01:41 AM
A few years ago I purchased a site called Funstarters.com. It is nothing more than fun pages with entertaining, sentimental and humorous sayings, highlighted with images, animations and music. Tonight, I finally got around to putting it together and getting all the pages online. It's good clean fun!
Click here! Continue Reading
Posted on August 20, 2004 12:59 AM
Remember the Rocky and Bullwinkle show? "Hey Rocky, watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat!" Among the other characters that were featured on this classic cartoon were a pair named Sherman and Mr. Peabody, in a bit called Peabody's Improbable History. In this toon, Mr. Peabody (the dog) would send Sherman to a period in time to see living history. The machine he used was called the WABAC (pronounced "wayback" machine). Fast-forward to... Continue Reading
Posted on August 18, 2004 11:23 PM
">Ok, this doesn't really fit in the "free stuff" category, but it is ALMOST free. ">Restaurant.com offers discount gift certificates to restaurants around the country. You can buy $25 gift certificates for as little as $10. But if you have the secret code (which I happen to know), you can save an additional 40% on your certificate! I have already tried this, ordering a $25 gift certificate for Coach's Restaurant in Edmond. It cost... Continue Reading
Posted on August 16, 2004 11:29 PM
What do you want? This is the question that we must ask ourselves, digging deep into our souls to discover that which drives us onward. In The Journey of Desire, John Eldredge ignites that spark that may light the flame of desire within, moving aside all that we think we want in order to make room for the deeper desire that can bring us true fulfillment. Eldredge writes in down-to-earth terminology. He communicates eternal truths... Continue Reading
Posted on August 14, 2004 10:25 PM
Here's a great domain name currently up for bids at ebay.
BushCheney2004.info
Seems like someone would want to grab this one during this heated political season! Continue Reading
Posted on June 23, 2004 04:29 PM
I just finished reading Shadowmancer by G.P. Taylor. I bought it for my son to read and he really enjoyed it. On his recommendation, I gave it a read. A fantasy novel with a spiritual twist, Shadowmancer turned out to be a pretty good read. In the past, authors such as Frank Peretti and Randy Alcorn have managed to write some excellent Christian fiction that dealt with the spiritual dimension, that being the world of... 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 June 7, 2004 01:12 AM
Parents, hide your children. Children, hide your parents. The computer game industry is turned on its ear with a game so vile, so addictive, so hazardous, that we have called upon the U.S. Government to impose new regulation banning it from the internet. Is it the latest incarnation of Grand Theft Auto? Is it the upcoming Doom 3? No, ladies and gentlemen. This is a stealth game. It looks harmless, but it pulls you into... Continue Reading
Posted on May 25, 2004 05:47 AM
Over the past few years, Google has come on strong as a leader in the Internet search engine industry, giving Yahoo!, MSN and AOL a run for their money. With an initial public offering just around the corner, can anything stop this behemoth? I hope not. I love Google! One of their most recent additions to the site is their pay-per-click advertising program, Google Adwords. Here's how it works. You advertise your site on Google... Continue Reading
Posted on May 22, 2004 12:05 AM
Satellites are roaming the atmosphere, seeking out interesting sites. Actually, Microsoft's Terraserver contains 3.3 tera-bytes of high resolution USGS aerial imagery and USGS topographic maps. Basically, you can get an up close and personal aerial view of just about anywhere in the United States. Here is our home town of Edmond, OK. Zooming in reveals our house. It is the house on the bottom with the white car in the driveway. It's a great deal... Continue Reading
Posted on May 8, 2004 08:17 PM
Why? Because I care about you!
Todays News - updated throughout the day - headlines and categories
Internet Filtering Software - to protect your family online
Fun Pages
Mesothelioma - resource for those who know what it is or want to know what it is
Tupperware - It's all about the "burp" Continue Reading
Posted on May 3, 2004 03:28 PM
A couple months back, I discussed my trials and tribulations with Spyware, the insidious software that automatically installs itself on your PC when you visit certain web pages. Once installed, it proceeds to hijack your machine by delivering annoying pop-up advertisements, unwanted browser toolbars, and generally causing havoc with your computer. I have recently discovered a new program which has been extremely effective in removing spyware from my computers (yes, I had it on THREE... Continue Reading
Posted on April 30, 2004 12:14 AM
I hate dealing with insurance. When you pay a premium, you are betting that you will need to make a claim. With health insurance, you are betting that you are going to get sick! About eight years ago, I bought a policy with Fortis, one of the world's largest banking and insurance companies. At that time, we decided that all we needed was a major medical policy. So we choose a $2500 per person deductible... Continue Reading
Posted on March 24, 2004 02:08 PM
Want to do a good deed? Here's an opportunity to help someone in need with one click. Coty-Girl is a dog that was featured on 11Alive News in Atlanta, GA. Coty-Girl has been diagnosed with Cushing's Disease and she requires a very expensive diet. Her owner is strapped for cash but knows that Coty-Girl needs the food. Prescription Diet is currently running a contest for a one-year FREE supply of food for the winner. Coty-Girl... Continue Reading
Posted on March 19, 2004 01:45 PM
As a follow up to my entry on VeeGeez.com, I am still holding a position in the company, now renamed GameZNFlix. The company is trading on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol GZFX. The new GameZNFlix.com is going to go up against NetFlix, the leading online place to rent DVDs. GameZNFlix has a different plan. They will be renting DVDs AND video games for one low monthly fee. This is a great plan, in... Continue Reading
Posted on March 7, 2004 12:42 AM
What happens when you combine one the best-selling rock albums of all time with one of the best films of all time? Strange stuff. Filmed in 1939, The Wizard of Oz is an enduring classic from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Who hasn't delighted in the wonderful tale of Dorothy Gale and her journey into the weird and wonderful land of Oz? Dorothy, Toto, Tinman, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, Wicked Witch of the West, Glinda the... Continue Reading
Posted on March 6, 2004 12:39 AM
Roses are red,
Violets are blue
I hope you enjoy
These links just for you
John Kerry's waffles
Wordsearch Puzzle Maker
Parental Control Software (used in my home!)
Inspiration for Moms
Seussical the Musical (I am taking my kids to see this next week) Continue Reading
Posted on March 3, 2004 09:28 PM
Are you an information junkie, like me? I love to scour the web for the latest news and hot topics. Here's a site that brings all the hot topics to the main page.
Information Please provides today's latest news and a complete list of topics of the day. The list of topics is long, so check it out and see what peaks your interest! Continue Reading
Posted on March 2, 2004 04:53 PM
Here's an incredibly useful site for you. DictionaryWords.net is a fantastic reference resource. Do a search for a single word or term and it will pull up results from several sources, including The CIA World Factbook (2002), WordNet, Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, The Virtual Entity of Relevant Acronyms, The Jargon File, Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary, The Collaborative International Dictionary of English, The U.S. Gazetteer, The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, Elements Database and Easton's 1897... Continue Reading
Posted on February 29, 2004 11:17 PM
My son pointed out to me that February 29th would be the worst day of the year to be born. Perhaps he is right.
Here are some entertaining and amusing Leap Year/Day pages.
Leap Year Birthday
Why Leap Years?
Leap Year Headlines 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
Posted on February 17, 2004 10:40 PM
As the World Wide Web enters its second decade of existence, .com has become a ubiquitous surname. From the obvious pets.com and business.com to the unique sendmeadollar.com and hollywoodjesus.com, it is clear that .com has become King of the domain roost. .net and .org have been around almost as long, but they are like the red-headed stepchildren at K-Mart. (No offense to red-headed kids, but all offense meant to K-Mart.) .net was initially intended for... Continue Reading
Posted on February 14, 2004 10:40 PM
I have been into computers since the TRS-80 Model I came out in the late seventies. I am not a programmer, but I can put a PC together from scratch, install an operating system and just about any software. I can tweak a machine under the hood and have been able to solve just about any problem I have encountered. To my family, friends and associates, I am the local computer guru. But even I... Continue Reading
Posted on February 5, 2004 12:00 AM
Don't you love it when you go to look for a web page and you get those pesky 404 errors, "page not found"?
404error.info has the remedy to cure these headaches once and for all. It's a beautiful thing. Continue Reading
Posted on January 17, 2004 05:04 PM
Doing some surfing just for fun? Check out these links:
Urban Legends Reference Page - Check here to see if that email virus is a scam
Yorkiephiles - A celebration of the world's cutest pooch
Babel Fish - Que pensez-vous à ceci ?
Doom Buggies - An Unofficial Tribute to Disneyworld's Haunted Mansion
TheFroce.Net - More Star Wars info than you can shake a light sabre at Continue Reading
Posted on January 11, 2004 09:15 PM
A few interesting links for casual viewing...
Spongebob Arena - All things spongy, yellow and funny
GoldNCrackle Bread - A surprisingly tasty treat!
The Amazing Send Me a Dollar Web Site - You can look, but don't touch. If you want to send someone money, it should be me.
The Fawlty Towers Multimedia Page - the funniest British comedy... ever.
The Movie Spoiler - why pay when you can read the whole story line here? Continue Reading
Posted on January 8, 2004 10:28 AM
Another great Walmart story brought to you courtesy of the "whats-in-it-for-me" crowd... A Mt. Pleasant Township couple wants Wal-Mart to pay for foot and toe injuries they claim were caused by canned goods and condiments that tumbled from an overfilled plastic grocery bag. According to a two-count civil lawsuit filed Wednesday in Westmoreland County, Brenda and Ronald Sager contend a plastic bag they brought home from the East Huntingdon Township store last month was deficient... Continue Reading
Posted on December 22, 2003 12:59 AM
On the first day, God created the heavens and earth... and so goes the first words of the Bible. Take an animated multimedia tour through the first seven days of Creation through this very cool flash movie. The Art Mill has produced several other animations on the page, so be sure to check out several of them. Be sure not to miss the one titled "The Arrival" as it is highly appropriate for the Christmas... Continue Reading
Posted on December 21, 2003 12:00 AM
Here's some great links to make your weekend more meaningful ;-) DVDFile.com - the best place on the web for all things DVD HomeStarRunner.com - funny and on the edge - great stuff for wasting time Ira Goldklang's TRS-80 Revived Pages - my very first computer immortalized on this fan page. I owned a Model I with 4K of RAM. Sweet. Lateral Thing Puzzles - In the middle of the ocean is a yacht. Several... Continue Reading
Posted on December 20, 2003 11:01 AM
The web now boasts BILLIONS of web pages, making it challenging to find the "good stuff". My friend, Randy Cassingham, has been creating "good stuff" online for many years. His site, This is True, deals with bizarre-but-true items culled from the world's newspapers. Randy provides plenty of excellent content and gives it a humorous twist with his commentary. If you need something useful in your email box, this will provide a needed respite from the... Continue Reading
Posted on December 18, 2003 08:45 AM
M. Night Shyamlan is a modern day Alfred Hitchcock. To date, he has made several films, including Unbreakable (with Bruce Willis) and Signs (with Mel Gibson). I thoroughly enjoyed both of these pictures, but it is his first film that has stayed with me as unforgettable. I am speaking of #12 in my series of The 15 Best Movies Ever, The Sixth Sense. In this film, Shyamalan proves he is the new master of suspense... Continue Reading
Posted on November 30, 2003 09:20 PM
Let's face it. Since Michael Eisner took the helm at Disney, the "Walt" has literally been taken out of the Walt Disney Company. In the past decade or so, Disney's motion picture studio has continually promoted and released dozens of films that are anything but family-friendly. The theme parks have celebrated alternative lifestyles by promoting "gay days". Money has become the absolute bottom line and many supporters have protested this direction. Well, things are shaking... Continue Reading
Posted on November 23, 2003 03:37 PM
Mary and I had the opportunity to escape for a rare "date night" last night, and what a great night it was! We started the evening with dinner at Cascata Ristorante, a fine Italian dining establishment in Edmond. The atmosphere was charming and it was a pleasure to be waited on by a very professional wait staff. It all looked quite good so we decided to order two plates and share them. We ordered the... Continue Reading
Posted on November 19, 2003 09:32 PM
We start my list of the Best Movies Ever (from my personal DVD collection) with an unlikely candidate. That Thing You Do (1996) makes the cut at #15 because, well, it just makes me feel good! Written and directed by Tom Hanks, That Thing You Do manages to take a trite, cliched storyline, add a perfect supporting cast and a hook that won't let go, and turn it into pure movie magic. The film tells... Continue Reading
Posted on November 14, 2003 03:07 PM
A little background... I LOVED The Matrix. I was confused by my first viewing of The Matrix Reloaded, though a a second viewing helped me assimilate the film a bit more. I still thought it was very weak next to the original. Yesterday, I placed the reviews of the critics behind me and decided to take in a viewing of Matrix Revolutions without preconceived notions. I was pleasantly surprised! --- WARNING - SPOILERS! --- Am... Continue Reading
Posted on November 11, 2003 09:35 PM
And I thought only the liberals in our government were interested in punishing achievers. I have been a Tupperware representative for over a year. In that time, my online business has managed to sell a good deal of product and I have recruited several dozen new salespersons. Tupperware has created a web site system whereby any rep can have a Tupperware sales site. Every site begins with "my.tupperware.com" and is followed by the representatives name... Continue Reading
Posted on October 22, 2003 09:57 PM
We did not want to go through the trial of commuting into NYC again today, so we took it nice and easy. We opted for a leisurely lunch at the food court at the mall, the kids did their schoolwork and I had a little playtime on the computer. I haven't said much about Socrates in my blog, but he is having a great time "running with the pack". He's a good dog, except when... Continue Reading
Posted on October 17, 2003 09:12 PM
We got to sleep in a bit this morning. After the kids did their schoolwork and I did some work, we went to lunch. Next stop was the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Museum and Library, south of the city. It is a beautiful building designed by I.M Pei. I was only two years old when President Kennedy was assasinated, so this was a great opportunity to learn more about this man that was much loved and... Continue Reading
Posted on October 16, 2003 09:45 AM
Several months back, I blogged about Mel Gibson and his upcoming movie, The Passion. The comments thread has gotten extremely long on that page as a spirited discussion between Catholics and Protestants has evolved. I have created this new entry so the conversation may continue. As a primer for Catholicism and its many errors, I highly recommend Proclaiming the Gospel. As a dedicated Roman Catholic for over 30 years, the site's creator, Mike Gendron, speaks... Continue Reading
Posted on October 12, 2003 09:15 PM
Finding a church to worship at while out of town is always a challenge. You just never know what you are going to get. As it turned out, I opened the yellow pages, placed a call to a church, asked a couple questions and decided that I had found a place. Redeemer Bible Church is a medium-sized church about five miles from the falls, just off the highway. The church placesa high emphasis on music... Continue Reading
Posted on September 22, 2003 11:28 AM
Here's the story. A sick cartoon in which cuddly characters are maimed and decapitated is coming to UK audiences. Happy Tree Friends features a series of happy-go-lucky woodland animals which end up ripped to shreds in pools of blood in each short episode. Click here for full story There is an image from this cartoon, but I did not put it on the main page because it really is disturbing. Feel free to click here... Continue Reading
Posted on August 18, 2003 05:39 PM
Ok, so now Al Qaida is taking credit for the blackouts on the East coast. The one paragraph that really stuck out to me was this... "The statement, which Al-Hayat obtained from the website of the International Islamic Media Center, didn't specify the way the alleged sabotage was carried out. The communiqué read: 'let the criminal Bush and his gang know that the punishment is the result of the action, the soldiers of God cut... Continue Reading
Posted on July 29, 2003 12:25 PM
I decided to go check out the new Aspen Athletic Club that is opening just 1.5 miles away from our house. Mary and I have been talking about joining a club for a while, so I thought I'd stop be on my way to work. The actual club is still being built, but they have a temporary facility set up where they can sell memberships. I don't like long sales pitches and I had more... Continue Reading
Posted on July 24, 2003 10:45 PM
What a busy day! Jenna and I started the day with a one-hour horseback ride. She rode Questa and I rode Buck. They took us 600 feet up the mountain on a sometimes precarious trail. It was a great deal of fun. Socrates got to meet one of the horses as well. He wanted to see them until he got up close. He must have been thinking, "That's the biggest dog I've ever seen!" Afterwards... Continue Reading
Posted on July 5, 2003 08:28 PM
Get on the treadmill. You are getting fat again.
Don't get too addicted to Star Wars Galaxies, even though your character is starting to rock. Oh, and watch out for wamprats.
Work smart. Accomplish something.
Remember to floss.
Try not to embarrass yourself.
In case you were thinking about piercing your tongue, don't. The side effects seem to be getting worse. Continue Reading
Posted on June 17, 2003 02:46 PM
Back to the story... just jumping in? Catch up here... You'll forgive me if the order of events is not completely accurate. Around this time, Ken and I met with an attorney who shall be named Hal. We sat down with Hal to pick his brain and discuss raising capital. Essentially, we shared our over-inflated plans to take over the world via our little web site. We had put together a business plan reflecting the... Continue Reading
Posted on June 11, 2003 12:18 AM
It's been a week since the last entry. To catch up on the story so far, Click here. Next came the logo, created by Josh Williams. I printed out a large version of the image and ironed it on a tshirt. Josh also created the next generation image map for our front page. Check it out. We never did use this one on the main page, but it gave us a good idea of what... Continue Reading
Posted on June 10, 2003 12:04 AM
What pooch doesn't love to go for a ride with the windows down? Apparantly, the automobile ride is quite popular amongst canines. Jerome Turner maintains Dogs in Cars and claims that he still "has a life". I'm not sure about that, but his site is a hoot. The site is exactly a titled, photos of dogs in cars. There are several hundred photos on the site as of this writing. Visit the "about" page for... Continue Reading
Posted on June 4, 2003 03:17 PM
After the week I had last week, the icing was put on the proverbial cake yesterday afternoon. I found that I have been paying way too much for my health insurance thanks to my agent at Al Boenker insurance (The link is there so you know to avoid them). He is no longer with the company, but I was ticked just the same. I left the office at 2 pm and came home to find... Continue Reading
Posted on June 3, 2003 01:02 PM
First-time visitor? You may want to Click here to read the story thus far. I can not recall where we met the guy who would be our first link to the net, nor can I remember his name. All I remember is the company was called "Powernet", and they had a multi-level marketing scheme for Internet dial-up accounts. I think I have blocked out much of what took place with these people because they left... Continue Reading
Posted on May 23, 2003 01:01 AM
If you are just joining us on this story, you may wish to click here to read so far. Continuing... Those were the days of BBS's, bulletin board systems, where you would dial in to another computer with your blazing fast 2400 baud modem in order to post messages, download software and play text-based games online. It was also the time when AOL, Compuserve, Prodigy, GEnie and Delphi were battling it out to see who... Continue Reading