Posted on November 20, 2008 08:00 AM
Online publishing is a business. Like any business it requires work. It requires paying taxes. And it requires investments of cash to keep going.
That last hurdle is the one that many people stumble over.
They think that because the only equipment they need to set up an online publishing business is a computer, that's the only expense they'll ever need to pay.
Wrong.
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 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 September 20, 2008 06:58 AM
I've got some pretty exciting news. I've been asked to write the definitive book on Twitter for business by a major publisher! I just got done with the launch of Click Here to Order, but I have already begun writing this new guide. There's a great demand for it and the time is right. So, would you like to help in my research? I am looking for stories of how you have used Twitter to... Continue Reading
Posted on September 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 9, 2008 08:00 AM
It sounds like a terrible idea. You spend ages thinking up an idea for an article, doing the research and writing it out... then you give it to someone else to put on their website.
They get all the ad revenue and you get... what, exactly?
Well, you get a link and if the site is good that could be worth more in steady streams of traffic than
Continue Reading
Posted on September 4, 2008 03:46 PM
When I was researching "Click Here to Order," there was a story I kept coming across time and time again. Marketers would tell me how they were down to their last penny, ready to throw in the towel, on their way to looking for a day job... when something happened. For copywriter Michael Fortin, who had already declared bankruptcy by the age of 21, it was the discovery of the power of a well-written sales... Continue Reading
Posted on August 25, 2008 08:43 AM
Over the years I have spoken at a number of Internet marketing and personal development conferences.
The one question I am asked again and again is "when are you going to hold you own conference?"
The time has arrived!
On October 24-26, 2008, I am going to welcome fifty (50) people to join me for a 3-day event in Denver, Colorado.
It's called "Elevate 2008"
What is going to take place at this event? Continue Reading
Posted on August 13, 2008 01:31 PM
I was joined today by my friend, Nathan Anderson.
Nathan is famous for developing MetaWebs.com and is now the owner of SEO Club.
Rule #1 of SEO Club? Don't talk about what you learn in SEO Club!
On today's program we discussed search engine optimization, answered questions and had a great time.
Check out the episode below! Continue Reading
Posted on August 11, 2008 11:23 AM
We had a great time in Glenwood Springs. From taking a Segway tour of the area and a day at the world's largest hot springs pool to downtime for rest & relaxation and a trip to a rain-covered Snowmass, my family and I enjoyed our brief vacation. I may put up some video once I get the chance. But I've had a lot of people curious about how the return train ride went on Amtrak... Continue Reading
Posted on August 5, 2008 08:56 PM
When it came time to plan a summer vacation with my family, Mary and I decided we would just do a local Colorado trip rather than fly somewhere. I researched places that would be within driving distance and came upon Glenwood Springs, a popular tourist destination smack dab in the middle of the Rockies. They are famous for having the world's largest Hot Springs pool and it is a beautiful location. Instead of driving, I... Continue Reading
Posted on July 17, 2008 11:13 PM
What do you do if you are 38 years old and told by a doctor that you have just one year to live? That's exactly what happened to my friend Sylie Fortin. Shortly after getting married, Michel and Sylvie were face-to-face with the horrible diagnosis of breast cancer. But if you know Sylvie, you would know that this is not something she would take lying down. She pursued radical treatment and is alive two years... Continue Reading
Posted on July 11, 2008 08:55 AM
The long-awaited day has arrived. Not only is Apple releasing the brand new iPhone 3G phone, which promises to do everything but do your dishes, but they are also releasing the new iPhone 2.0 firmware which promises to bring new functionality to current iPhone hardware. I woke up early today and plugged in my iPhone to find that the 2.0 update had rolled out to my area. I told iTunes to download v2.0, backup my... Continue Reading
Posted on June 18, 2008 12:55 PM
Today's show was very interesting.
I am on my way to San Francisco to speak at a conference, but I really wanted to do my show.
So I decided to broadcast from the back seat of the car that was taking me to the airport!
I was hoping my new Verizon broadband modem would do the trick. From what viewers told me, it worked pretty good. Continue Reading
Posted on June 11, 2008 12:46 AM
I need to back up a bit because I left out Sunday from my journal. On Sunday, I spoke at Chris Howard's "Ultimate Wealth Symposium" on the grounds of the Sydney Olympic Park. I had a fantastic time sharing my story with 800 or so people. I've got to say, the Aussies are a bit difficult to get moving, but I think everyone had a good time and learned a thing or two. I also... Continue Reading
Posted on June 4, 2008 08:17 PM
We departed Los Angeles at 11:30 pm on June 3rd and arrived in Fiji at 5 am on June 5th. Go figure.
I am really glad we paid the extra cash to get seats in Business Class on Air Pacific. It was well worth it!
Check out this video to get a taste of the good life. :-) Continue Reading
Posted on May 26, 2008 12:43 PM
I boarded my flight from Dallas to return to Denver yesterday morning, hungry and certain that my first class seat would get me some sort of meal.
As I boarded the plane, I asked the flight attendant if there would be food service.
He informed me that there would not be and I quietly expressed my disappointment.
I didn't really ASK for food, but I did make it known that I was hungry. Continue Reading
Posted on April 27, 2008 10:38 AM
I was helping my wife clean out the closet yesterday and I've got a feeling I didn't pick up a box correctly.
Yesterday afternoon, my lower back began hurting... all the way down at the base of my spine.
I tried heat. I tried ointment. I tried advil.
I managed to sleep through the night without any trouble, but man am I hurting today! 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 6, 2008 01:39 AM
What is the definition of true success?
Is it having a large bank account?
Is it having a garage full of cars?
Is it having a mansion with so many rooms you can't fill them all?
I would say that all of these material things are an indicator that a person may have succeeded in business, but without one key component I don't believe a person is truly successful. Continue Reading
Posted on April 3, 2008 01:19 PM
In March of 2006 I attended Yanik Silver's Internet Marketing Underground seminar in Washinton, DC. It was a life-changing date with destiny, for it was there that I met my future JV Partner, Eric Holmlund. I was also impressed by the high caliber of people who attended this seminar. It seemed that there was an awful lot of success in the room filled with over 300 people. Two years later and Yanik does not disappoint... Continue Reading
Posted on March 29, 2008 09:36 AM
I'm not a big fan of the major airlines. In fact I have written several entries that demonstrated poor customer service by United and American. However, I had a uniquely good experience on United a couple days ago and wanted to share it with you. I was traveling to Los Angeles with Joel Ownby and Tim Prince, en route to Yanik Silver's Internet Underground conference in Los Angeles. The three of us board the 737... Continue Reading
Posted on March 24, 2008 01:54 AM
I've got a pretty colorful past. I got my first job when I was fourteen-years old, working behind the counter of a fast-food restaurant at Northbrook Court shopping mall in Northbrook, Illinois. After all, I needed to save up money to buy a TRS-80 Model I computer from Radio Shack! Once I acquired my driver's license, I worked in the health & beauty department at Venture. Yes, I was a stockboy. At the age of... 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 18, 2008 12:27 PM
Here we are knee-deep in the political season.
Who will be the next President of the United States?
Regardless of the results, you can rest assured that the political discourse will not cease.
I used to spend a good deal of time discussing politics online.
But I had a hard time finding sites where people would not flame each other. Continue Reading
Posted on March 16, 2008 05:50 AM
I've long been a proponent of using contests, sweepstakes and giveaways to drive traffic to web sites. In fact, if you do it correctly, you can get others to provide all the prizes in exchange for a link back to their site!
Gyutae Park of WinningTheWeb.com has done just that.
Gyutae has pulled together over $7600 in prizes and I am guessing that the amount will grow as more people catch wind of this contest. Continue Reading
Posted on March 14, 2008 12:59 AM
So I've got this great idea for a screenplay. The story goes like this... Due to severe beatings she had received as a child, a thirty-something year old woman develops a strange phobia and doesn't leave the bathroom for two years. I know, bizarre, yes? It gets more interesting. The woman spends the majority of her time on the toilet. Yes, on the toilet. In fact, she spends SO much time on the toilet that... Continue Reading
Posted on March 10, 2008 01:32 AM
I'm about to share a hard truth with you.
I hope you are sitting down, cause here we go...
Most of the people reading this newsletter will never make money online.
Ouch.
Sure, read it again. You heard me right.
Now before you go questioning me, calling me insensitive or flat out cursing me out, let me say this...
Continue Reading
Posted on March 7, 2008 05:30 AM
Wow, what an incredible day! Wait until you hear this. I thought it was going to be a day like every other day. But you never know what kind of curve balls life is going to toss your way. Here's how it started... First of all I wake up and find this email in my box from a producer at a MAJOR cable network ... "Congratulations on your show, 'The Next Internet Millionaire.' We've reviewed... 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 25, 2008 05:54 PM
I've been wanting to meet Jason Calacanis face-to-face for some time. For those that don't know, Jason is the co-creator of Weblogs, Inc., which was sold to AOL for $25 million. I'm at Affiliate Summit in Las Vegas where Jason Calacanis delivered the keynote address this morning. I really didn't know anything about Jason as a person, so I was looking forward to an insightful talk with fresh ideas. Wow, was I in for a... Continue Reading
Posted on February 24, 2008 12:28 AM
I'm in Las Vegas for Affiliate Summit and am looking forward to the a few days of networking and learning. And while I have nothing to say about the conference yet because it hasn't started yet, I do have an experience to share with you. As you know, I enjoy blogging about my customer service experiences... especially the bad experiences. Why do I do this? I place a very high value on customer service and... Continue Reading
Posted on February 22, 2008 12:10 AM
Admit it. You are passionate. Oh, I don't know what you are passionate about. But I guarantee that you are passionate about SOMETHING! You may be crazy about parakeets. Or perhaps you know more about bonzai trees than anyone on the block. Maybe you are one of the world's leading experts on Mt. Everest. Or it could be that you make the best french silk pie in the hemisphere! The point is that everyone is... Continue Reading
Posted on February 21, 2008 12:33 AM
A few months back, I launched this groundbreaking Internet marketing course to the world... The Secret Classroom ... and the feedback has been fantastic! I regularly receive emails from people telling me what an impact this course has had on their online business. I wanted to take a moment today and share one of these emails with you. I think it says way more about the value of The Secret Classroom than I could ever... Continue Reading
Posted on February 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 February 15, 2008 01:20 PM
There is a lot of talk about niche marketing strategies. What are the things that smart marketers do to get their site listed high on the search engines? Well, things online have changed dramatically since I got started in 1995. Back then you could register killer domains for a song and be the first kid on the block to have a site established in a major niche. But as the years have passed, certain sites... Continue Reading
Posted on January 31, 2008 12:07 AM
I'm glad I broke it. I wouldn't be here today if I hadn't broken it. No, I'm not talking about a vase I won in a church raffle. And I certainly don't mean the world 100 meter sprint record. I didn't break a nail, though I could probably use a good manicure. And I didn't break a vow of silence. I'd have to be silent for more than ten minutes for that to take place... 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 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 16, 2008 09:20 PM
I love living in Colorado.
Ever since I moved my family here in February of 2007, I really can't imagine living anywhere else.
I love the mountains.
I love the change of seasons.
I love zero humidity.
And I've met some really great people here.
But there's one thing that is still lacking... 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 29, 2007 07:05 AM
I'm at Will Rogers airport in Oklahoma City, getting ready to make the trek home to Colorado after a week of visiting with family and friends. I've had some time to reflect on the year and would like to take a stroll down memory lane. The year started with a crazy idea. I knew that others had dabbled with the idea of doing an Internet reality show, but no one had really taken the concept... Continue Reading
Posted on December 5, 2007 10:00 AM
The day has arrived! I don't think there has ever been such excitement over one of my product launches, and I am excited to say that the excitement really has nothing to do with me! Instead, this product is all about YOU, and the opportunity you now have to receive the Internet marketing education that can last a lifetime. The Secret Classroom It's not an ebook that overpromises and underdelivers. It's not a software tool... Continue Reading
Posted on December 3, 2007 12:12 AM
You've heard this phrase a thousand times. "It's not what you know, it's WHO you know." Do you believe it? It's true! At the age of 17 I got a dream job at the local computer and video store... ... because I knew the owner. At the age of 20 I got a summer job at an advertising agency and learned a ton... ... because my mother worked there. At the age of 24 I... Continue Reading
Posted on November 23, 2007 12:10 AM
It was only a matter of time.
Google is coming out with their own phone.
But Amazon has beat the Big "G" to the punch with their own electronic device.
It's called Amazon Kindle, and it appears to be a contender for the coolest device of the 2007 holiday shopping season.
Imagine being able to access thousands of books wirelessly and read them on a crystal clear display anywhere you go. Continue Reading
Posted on November 21, 2007 05:11 PM
The finale of "The Next Internet Millionaire" reality show is now online...
... and we have a winner!
Charles Trippy and Jaime Luchuck are the two finalists in the world's first competitive Internet reality show, vying for a $25,000 cash prize and the title "The Next Internet Millionaire."
Who won? Continue Reading
Posted on November 12, 2007 10:55 AM
Do REAL people make money online?
Well, I consider myself real people!
Let's face it, before I became known for my AdSense ebook, I was just another anonymous Internet entrepreneur.
It's true!
Now my success story may seem out of reach...
... but it's not.
No way.
If I can do it, ANYONE can do it.
Trust me. I know myself and am still amazed that people consider me an Internet "celebrity." Continue Reading
Posted on October 26, 2007 12:10 AM
It was a communal moment. I was thirteen-years old, and I remember standing in line with all the others. We were eagerly waiting... anticipating... fully aware that we were about to experience something that would be groundbreaking and revolutionary. Oh yes, there was a great deal of buzz. And we knew it. It was just a matter of time before we would be able to take our seats in the theater... ... and enjoy seeing... 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 23, 2007 09:54 AM
Last month I was in Atlanta for the Big Seminar. Now usually I'm not much of a morning person, but when I took a peek at Friday's schedule, I knew I had to wake up early... Over the past five years or so I'd been hearing the first speaker's name over and over again... "Joel you've got to check out this young kid Jermaine. He's from the inner-city, but Corey Rudl is taking him under his... Continue Reading
Posted on September 11, 2007 12:46 PM
I know I am opening myself up to criticism for this post, but it's been on my mind and I really just want to put it out there.
I dislike the way multi-level marketing has been done by many companies.
I don't dislike multi-level marketers, mind you (well, most of them anyway). I just think that business model has proven destructive to many individuals and families. Continue Reading
Posted on September 3, 2007 12:06 PM
There's no doubt that Google is challenging Microsoft's dominance of the desktop.
Search, office applications, email... the list goes on.
But here's a surprise that was discovered as an easter egg hidden in Google Earth...
... The Google Earth Flight Simulator Continue Reading
Posted on September 2, 2007 08:18 AM
I have a confession to make. I haven't watched the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon in years. And I honestly feel like I am missing something. As a child, I would watch the show religiously, year after year. I remember the parade of celebrities, Jerry Lewis' banter with his guests, Ed McMahon, the volunteers answering phones, and of course, the magical toteboard that would light up with huge numbers indicating that the cure for... 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 28, 2007 11:34 PM
How would you like to be able to discover the all-time top paying keywords for AdSense? Would you like to access search and bid data for over eight million AdSense keywords? Wouldn't it be helpful to locate hot domain names that are still available? It's time to do AdSense smarter! Check out this site now and find out why AdSense Smarter is the best top paying keywords tool available and learn how you can profit... Continue Reading
Posted on August 23, 2007 12:57 PM
I've been doing a lot of radio interviews lately. The media is very interested in The Next Internet Millionaire and I feel like I am spending hours on the phone!
Well, I just got off the phone for a radio interview and was asked what is the first thing that anyone who wants to create an Internet business should do.
My answer came with great clarity and without hesitation...
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 9, 2007 02:11 AM
Put a Google search box on your website and you'll give yourself an opportunity to pick up some extra revenue. You'll also give your site a bit of extra functionality by letting users search your old posts. But you'll also be granting yourself a golden opportunity to create some joint ventures that could land you some finely targeted traffic. When you generate the code for the search box, you'll be asked if you want to... Continue Reading
Posted on July 27, 2007 12:28 AM
You knew it would happen...
Corporate America is making its way into the Internet Marketing community. This industry is growing up!
The doors just opened on a partnership between three Fortune-100 internet corporations and a software tool for online success.
The new software is called Rip2it, the brainchild of Sean Roach and Nathan Anderson and the company's corporate partners.
Continue Reading
Posted on July 13, 2007 10:34 AM
You are invited to a one-of-a-kind webinar that you are going to love! On Tuesday, July 17th, you have the opportunity to listen in and watch as I interview Sheila Simkin, a seasoned world traveler who has been just about everywhere and knows how to travel the world on a budget. There is no one quite like Sheila. Not only does she blog her adventures on her site, but she provides tips that even the... Continue Reading
Posted on July 1, 2007 07:36 PM
Thousands of people start businesses every year.
And thousands of people fail miserably at their businesses every year.
The reasons for failure are wide and varied.
But more often than not, the problem comes down to marketing.
After all, a useless or inferior product can be made quite popular with the proper marketing. Continue Reading
Posted on June 21, 2007 12:10 AM
How long is a piece of string? No one would ever ask such a stupid question, would they? Well, I get asked some pretty silly questions sometimes. Like "How long will it take before I become a successful online publisher?" There's no one answer to that. Not just because it depends on the number of hours you work each day, the quality of your content and your skill at generating traffic. But also because it... Continue Reading
Posted on June 20, 2007 07:13 AM
Let's run down the basic flowchart and checklist for creating a money-making website.
1) Do you have a website?
If so, go to #2.
If not, you need to start right there. The fastest way to get started is with my training, tutorials and templates.
Joel's System 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 4, 2007 10:06 AM
"It was a dark and stormy night." That may as well be the beginning of this newsletter, because I have started writing it five times now. I get past the first line, read it, and delete it. So I figure you just can't go wrong with "It was a dark and stormy night." Well, perhaps if I was writing fiction... The fact is that I've got a lot to tell you this week and I'm... 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 22, 2007 05:56 PM
"Take this job and shove it... I ain't workin' here no more" And so went the lyrics of the popular country-western song belted out by Johnny Paycheck. It is a common practice to place a phone call to a local radio station and ask them to play this song when you "fire your boss" Let's face it. It's a fun tune. And more people than ever before are telling their bosses to "take this job... Continue Reading
Posted on May 10, 2007 12:21 AM
OK... We all know most people are concerned about hackers and the safety of shopping online. And we all know that trust seals can help. But is there a best seal program to address this problem? Are there any real, proven benefits of one over the other? HACKER SAFE is proven to be the most effective trust seal... Ever! Think about it for one minute... * Used by over 75,000 websites * Seen on over... Continue Reading
Posted on May 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 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 4, 2007 12:16 AM
I was on the phone with Armand Morin last night, and I've been thinking about something he said ever since.
We talked about the great ebooks that are out there...
We talked about some of the cool software tools that are now available...
And of course, we talked about AdSense.
But here's what he said that stuck with me. 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 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 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 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 24, 2007 10:37 AM
Saturday morning ramblings.
I know, it might be Saturday afternoon or Sunday... or even Monday, when you receive this. Nevertheless, it's Saturday morning as a write.
So there. :-P
Here come the ramblings, kind of a stew from me to you :-)
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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 14, 2007 08:58 AM
Take a look at some of the most famous web site brands online today. Imagine that it is 1994 and the World Wide Web is a new novelty. What would you name a store that would sell books at discount prices? How about Amazon.com What would you name a site that would become the world's largest garage sale. How about Ebay? What would you call a site that would become a premier portal to the... 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 January 25, 2007 03:27 PM
Here is a tip especially for those who own a Sony Playstation portable (PSP). I love that you can download video to your psp, but I was getting tired of having to download video to my computer to transfer them to my psp. With the help of Joel Ownby, I now have a way to pull video direct to the psp memory card by using the RSS feed feature. As long as you have a... Continue Reading
Posted on January 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 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 7, 2007 09:13 PM
I just got up from the television set to come write this entry, abandoning the program I was watching. I've been a fan of The Apprentice since the first season. I thought Trump's choice of Bill Rancic as his first apprentice was solid. Since then, the show has had fewer truly qualified contestants. I thought a new location would be an interesting twist on previous seasons, so I began watching the first episode of The... 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 25, 2006 03:58 PM
Yesterday, we went to church for Christmas Eve service. And the pastor put a twist on the message that I hadn't really considered before.
He asked "How many of you believe that Jesus is the reason for the season?"
Hands went up throughout the sanctuary.
And then the room when silent when he said, "Jesus is NOT the reason for the season!" 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.
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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 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 30, 2006 03:04 PM
If you read yesterday's entry, you'll see that we had a heck of a time getting home from Chicago to OKC. Our flight was cancelled and we ended up rescheduled for an 8:55pm departure. Of course, the flight didn't leave until closer to 9:30 pm. And then we sat parked outside the gate in OKC for 30 minutes waiting for the plane at the gate to leave. All told, it was twelve hours from door... Continue Reading
Posted on November 27, 2006 12:00 AM
Alright, we are now headlong into the holiday season, and I wonder... Would it be ok with you if I follow a rabbit trail today? I just want to get something off my chest. It may just end up being instructive, but right now I just need to... um... well... er... rant? Yes, that's it. I need to rant. So, if you aren't interested in my little hissy fit, go ahead and delete this email... 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 15, 2006 05:07 PM
Nintendo Wii? Sony Playstation 3? Which is better? And does it really matter? Watch this for my honest assessment and to find out why this video is WAY more important than which game system is the best. Wii or PS3?
Read on for my review... Continue Reading
Posted on November 10, 2006 08:51 AM
Finding what you want online is a daunting challenge. The search engines are PACKED with billions of pages on every conceivable topic. That's why I'm pleased to announce a BRAND NEW search engine just for Internet Marketers! Whether you are looking for information on AdSense, AdWords, copywriting, search engine optimization, traffic generation, product creation, shopping cart systems, content creation or any number of other topics related to making money online, you will want to bookmark... Continue Reading
Posted on October 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.
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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 2, 2006 11:41 PM
I've had a BUNCH of people ask me if Brad Fallon and Andy Jenkins' product, StomperNet, is a bunch of hype... or if these guys and their product is the 'real deal'. I've known Brad Fallon for six years. He and I have shared many meals and spoken at length about what he does... and what he knows. I can say without a DOUBT, that Brad is THE leading expert on search engine optimization on... Continue Reading
Posted on September 22, 2006 01:18 AM
One of the most important things you can do to get traffic to your AdSense sites is to incorporate the use of a mailing list. With a list, you can mail your members and invite them back to your site again and again. With a list, you can profit by sending offers that your members would find interesting and useful. With a list, you have both momentum and leverage, two of the greatest keys for... Continue Reading
Posted on September 11, 2006 01:02 PM
Today is a day of reflection. I can't believe it has been five years since Islamo-fascist terrorists barbarically hijacked airplanes and flew them into the World Trade Center and The Pentagon. Time really does pass by in an instant. As we remember the destruction wrought by evil people, lets take time to remember the lives that were lost and the impact that it has had on so many other people. I'm sure that the trauma... Continue Reading