Joel. It's not a common name. In fact, it is the 280th most common first name. The Old Testament contains a book of Joel. He is referenced as one of twelve Minor Prophets. The word "minor" has to do with the length of the book, not implying that Joel was a small guy or that his prophecies were in any way less significant. I mean, let's face it... a Word from God is a Word... Continue Reading

I'm going to try something new. Typically, I write articles designed to inspire or educate. Occasionally I'll discuss a product or service I think you'll find valuable. And from time to time I share a little bit of my own life with you. I have an idea for a weekly "roundup" of sorts that I'll use to discuss things that are happening with me, my business, in the industry or whatever else crosses my mind... Continue Reading

What is the most frequently asked question that I receive, so often that I can expect to hear it daily from one source or another? "How do I make money online?" I get asked via Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Google Buzz. I get asked via forms on my web sites. I get asked on my blog. Clearly, this is a question people want answered. But they don't want the same old answers. They don't... Continue Reading

Whenever I teach people about making money with AdSense, I make sure to let them know how easy it is to get started. Once they understand that their original content can translate to a revenue stream, they usually want to know what to do. For someone who has never blogged before, I recommend they set up a Blogger account. Not only is it easy to use, but it is also free. And since Google owns... Continue Reading

Tragedies have a way of helping us forget our differences and of reminding us how vulnerable we all are. The massive earthquake in Haiti has claimed tens of thousands of lives and devastated the very small country. Thankfully, support and aid is pouring in from all over the world. With so much need, it's hard to believe that every little bit makes a difference. But it does. Thanks to the leadership of Justin Williams at... Continue Reading

So you have signed up with Twitter account and uploaded your profile picture. You've even tweeted your first tweet. Pretty soon you'll be hooked. Or maybe you are a Twitter veteran, with scads of followers hanging on your every word. Either way, make sure you aren't overlooking one of the best features that Twitter has to offer... The ability to create your own Twitter background! Continue Reading

Who are your favorite online marketers? I've got a number of people that I follow, not just because they have great ideas, but also because they entertain me. Once you've got a product or service that can bring value to people's lives, successful marketing of that product or service is determined by how well you tell a story. I know that some people will insist that the product is the most important element, but I... Continue Reading

It was only a matter of time. After the Nobel Foundation presented the President with a Nobel Peace Prize (for what they HOPED he would accomplish and not for anything he has actually done), it appears I was next in line to receive the award! Some day I am going to do something really big. When I do, I will have earned this prize. I want to thank the Foundation for seeing so much potential... Continue Reading

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

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

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

As of this writing, There are over 13,000 applications in the iTunes app store. There are games, utilities, novelty apps, lifestyle apps, social networking, weather and several other categories. New apps are appearing every day. Some apps are original, but many are just more of the same. That's why I am excited to announce an entirely new genre of apps. Several months ago I and my team were considering ways to deliver our content to... Continue Reading

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

Invesp Consulting has been taking nominations for their list which includes one-hundred marketers from around the world. Based on the number of votes received, they have ranked from one to one-hundred. I ended up receiving an award and coming in as #62. Thanks to all who voted for me. I didn't even know it was taking place. They even gave me a cute little badge... aw.... Click here to see entire list of winners Continue Reading