A few years ago on the show LOST, some guys stranded on an island climbed down a long ladder into an underground hatch where somebody convinced them to push a button every 108 minutes.

And they did. Even though they didn't really know if it did anything.

Somewhere else on the island was station where...
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Every time I post to this blog, an announcement goes out automatically to my mailing list, which tracks how many people opened the email and how many clicked through to read the full article.

I thought I'd start a new monthly feature here, listing the headlines that got the most people to open the email,...
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You've heard about the sleazy tactics used by some ClickBank sellers before -- "get rich quick and easy" products; sales letters claiming "only 250 will be sold", when a single glance at ClickBank's stats shows that thousands have been sold; etc. Apparently, ClickBank is signalling that they're finally going to crack down.

Yesterday, Paul over...
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ClickBank is a cornerstone of affiliate marketing, particularly in the internet marketing niche. They specialize in downloadable products, which is what most internet marketing products are. And a single ClickBank signup is all you need to be able to promote products from thousands of different sellers.

One of the challenges is finding good products to...
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I've been taking a CERT training class at City Hall for the last month or so, learning about how to help in an emergency when the professionals haven't yet arrived or are overwhelmed.

We've learned about emergency preparation, handling small fires (including a live exercise that would have been more fun if the fire had...
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Yesterday, I talked about the difference between persuasion and manipulation. Today, let's talk about the difference between persuasion and coercion.

Coercion is defined as forcing someone to do something against their will. But where is the line between forcing someone to act against their will and persuading them to do something they'd rather not? In...
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Some people say all marketers are liars, all salesmanship is deception, and all persuasion is manipulation. As an ethical person whose job involves marketing, you may struggle sometimes with the question of whether you're violating your own principles.

Obviously, some marketers are liars, some salesmen are deceivers, and some persuasive techniques are manipulative.

But is...
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Marketers are a lot like germs.

They try to transfer ideas into living organisms (customers) in a way that enables them to survive, grow, and spread. But just as many bacteria are good for our bodies (like those that help us digest food), not all marketing is bad.

Healthy marketing helps prospects find products that...
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SETI (the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) has decoded the first message received from outer space, and it contained a big surprise -- something internet marketers here on earth can learn a thing or two from.

The message came from an area of the Andromeda Galaxy referred to as the "Dorsal Fin".

SETI director John Aubrey...
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Google has announced their own rival to the Facebook "Like" button: +1.

Which is better? Let's give them a look.

Facebook "Like"

The Facebook "Like" button appears on a webpage. When a Facebook user clicks it, their name may be listed next to the button, and a note about it will appear on their Wall....
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