“I Need a Web Site” Ads

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By , July 29, 2009

I’ve been finding some very bizarre Craigslist ads in the “gigs” section lately.

I’m not seeking work as a programmer, web developer, or web site designer, but I often peek at some of these ads when the title seems . . . incomplete.  It’s often good for a laugh. Read more »

North Carolina’s Advertising-Nexus Sales Tax Law

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By , July 29, 2009

It now appears almost certain that North Carolina will become the third state (after New York and Rhode Island) to enact a blatantly unconstitutional “Advertising-Nexus” law, attempting to force out-of-state merchants to collect sales tax if they pay in-state web publishers for advertising.  Although Amazon responded to New York’s secret, retroactive enactment of the law in 2008 by collecting sales taxes from New York residents, the laws are having perverse effects in Rhode Island and North Carolina. Read more »

Social Marketing

By , July 27, 2009

It’s amazing how “buzzwords” and jargon continue to drive attitudes and behavior of companies and investors. For the past year, “social media” and “social networking” have been the hot buzzwords, and everybody wants to hire marketing people with a proven track record in “social media.” The problem? Nobody has figured out a way to profit from “social media” marketing. Read more »

Common-Sense SEO

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By , July 27, 2009

Search-Engine Optimization is probably the single most profitable “marketing strategy” for most e-commerce retailers. The reason is simple: if your SEO strategy works well, you’ll draw traffic and generate sales, without paying anyone for that privilege. But every day, I find retail e-commerce sites that ignore (or fail at) this critically important strategy. That’s very sad, because in my opinion, effective SEO requires very little more than common sense. (Most other marketing strategies are also more effective if the site is optimized for search engines.) Read more »

Advice for Employers Placing Job Ads

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By , July 26, 2009

Here’s some free advice for employers advertising on Craigslist and other employment web sites.  (I’ve spent a lot of time over the past year in the “jobs” and “gigs” sections of Craigslist.org and other employment web sites — mostly seeking consulting work or employment, but sometimes seeking to hire.) Read more »

Are Real-World Bookstores Doomed?

By , July 25, 2009

July 24, 2009 — I decided this week that “real-world bookstores” really are doomed to a much smaller role in our society. Read more »

Joomla 1.5: A User’s Guide (Barry North)

By , July 24, 2009

July 24, 2009 — Last week, I researched a number of options for “content management systems” and decided to try Joomla. Read more »

Consulting for Web Publishers (Affiliates) – Not.

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By , July 23, 2009

I am often asked by web publishers to advise them (as a paid consultant) on how to monetize their sites, including earning from a variety of advertising strategies and affiliate programs.

But I’ve always said “no” to publisher-side consulting. I sure don’t want to pretend that I’m a “guru” or that I have all the answers, or a secret to success. Read more »

Should All Merchants Adopt the “New York Solution” (Advertising-Nexus Tax Laws)

By , July 9, 2009

Okay, I’m going to leap out on a ledge and suggest something that none of us (in the “affiliate marketing” community) like: Merchants should seriously consider adopting the “New York Solution” for all of their web publishers, whether located in an “Advertising-Nexus” state or not. Read more »

Vent: Employment Ad Scams

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By , June 19, 2009

Since I decided last week to quit working on my ‘datafeed project’ and instead focus on paying the bills, I’ve been browsing some employment sites, and I’ve posted my resume on Craigslist.org. I’ve done all of this before (and I’ve found some great jobs and consulting gigs through Craigslist, which I’ve also used to find a car, a treadmill, a computer — and my wife).

I’m seeing many more “employment ads” that seem to be fake, from companies that aren’t hiring but are merely seeking to promote their web businesses, or fishing for free advice. Read more »

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