Reverse To-Do List

The Daily Hustle I am a list builder. I break projects down into their most granular tasks and write them down in a to-do list on an old school scrap of notebook paper. If you look around my desk, folded and tucked neatly reused as bookmarks into books on my shelf, and in my round file cabinet (aka the trash), you'll find them everywhere. Using to-do lists is reinforced everywhere on the web. The tech industry, in particular, is obsessed with the cult of productivity and to-do lists. There are posts on the 5 best to-do list managers, not-to-do lists, and there are apps for that. The Read more

Why Conferences Matter

A Cynical Conference Veteran's Perspective In the Internet Marketing industry you can go from newbie to conference veteran easily in a year. One, there are so many of them and two, internet years go twice the speed of dog years. Gearing up to Affiliate Summit West I told myself if it wasn't for the fact I had promised to speak on a panel, I wouldn't have gone at all. As a salty conference veteran of 3 or so years, I thought I knew everyone I needed to know and could garner the information provided just as easily by staying at home Read more

Local Lead Plan Review

What is Local Lead Gen? This review assumes you know the basics of Local Lead Gen. If you don't, the first few links in my Local SEO Resources post will get you started. Local Lead Generation How-To Earlier this year Chad Frederiksen (CDFNetworks.com) wrote "Local Lead Plan: A Comprehensive Guide to Running a Successful Local Lead Gen Business." I received the launch email, put it on the back burner while I was doing projects, and totally forgot about it until October. So, like you, I thought “if I can get a list of 83 niches and Adhustler's Local Online advertising series free, why would I Read more

DIY MBA Reading List

Drawing heavily from the Personal MBA and infusing books that are either 1) directly applicable to building a web-based business or 2) have been personally recommended, here is the list in subject-matter Read more

Scaling Local Lead Gen

Good Local Lead Gen info to be found in this game of twitter telephone. Read more
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Local Lead Gen Presentation Slides

Posted on January 13, 2011 by Amanda in Business, Conferences, Local Lead Gen | 5 Comments

In Case You Missed It

Below you can find the Slideshare of my presentation with Adhustler (if you are interested in Local Lead Gen and aren’t following his blog, you’re missing out) from Affiliate Summit West 2011.

Local Lead Generation – Heaven & Hell

View more presentations from Affiliate Summit.

A Few Quick Notes

  • This was my first presentation at an industry conference and (I believe) also for Ad Hustler.  I felt slow at the start but as we became more comfortable with the audience and each other ideas started flowing better and I hope we were able to give the audience some good BTDT tips on local lead generation and clients. If you took any home and implemented them, I’d love to hear about it. Feel free to contact me anytime.
  • Check out my Local SEO Resources post if you haven’t seen it yet. I try to keep it updated regularly. Read more

Why Conferences Matter

Posted on January 12, 2011 by Amanda in Business, Conferences | 11 Comments

A Cynical Conference Veteran’s Perspective

Shawn Collins is a HUGE New England Patriots Fan!

Bad Bet: Shawn dons a Pats jersey at ASW11

In the Internet Marketing industry you can go from newbie to conference veteran easily in a year. One, there are so many of them and two, internet years go twice the speed of dog years.

Gearing up to Affiliate Summit West I told myself if it wasn’t for the fact I had promised to speak on a panel, I wouldn’t have gone at all. As a salty conference veteran of 3 or so years, I thought I knew everyone I needed to know and could garner the information provided just as easily by staying at home and reading things online.

I was wrong.

4 Reasons Industry Conferences are Important if You’re a Veteran

  1. Human relationships matter.
    • Meeting people that I talk to on a near-daily basis is still more resonant than the year of talking to them that led up to our meeting. The internet is great for introductions; but if you want to advance your relationship- be it business or in friendship, the intangibles of face-to-face interaction trump an email, tweet, or instant message 100:1.
    • Working at home is both awesome and horrible (especially for your social skills). It’s good to get out of the house.
  2. Internet Marketing is a HUGE industry.
    • And attending a conference is a great reminder of exactly how big this industry is. Even after 4 years I’ve barely scratched the surface on the number of possibilities, monetization avenues, traffic sources and sub-industries there are.
    • I came knowing what I wanted thanks to Smaxor’s Affiliate Tradeshow Floor Tips
  3. Speaking FTW.
    • By increasing your visibility you also increase the surface area of your monetization platform. You get approached more for business interests, have more of a “presence” and your thoughts carry more weight if, say, you get shafted on a commission by an affiliate network.
      • (This assumes you know what you’re talking about.)
    • It’s really rewarding to help others. Seriously.
  4. … Read more

Minimalist Conference Travel Packing Guide

Posted on December 28, 2010 by Amanda in Business, Conferences | 14 Comments

He who would travel happily must travel light. -Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

If you don’t see the obvious advantages to bringing less to conferences like Affiliate Summit West, let me give you…

8 Good Reasons to Pack Light

  1. Avoid the long line to check bags and get your boarding pass.
  2. No need to worry about your bags being delayed or lost.
  3. No annoying $25 +/bag surcharge. This adds up especially if you have to switch airlines or pack oversized luggage.
    • You also avoid having to tip the guy at the curb and hotel for helping you with your bags.
  4. No waiting for your luggage at baggage claim on the other end.
  5. Increased Flexibility. If you need to change a flight or if your flight is delayed, no worry about leaving your checked bags behind in your last city or them making it ahead of you to your final destination.
  6. All your valuables are with you.
  7. There is really nothing you need that you can’t buy in a pinch.
    • Once you’ve made it through a trip on one bag and realize most of your “but I need this because…” anxieties never came to fruition – it’ll be easier on subsequent trips.
  8. More room for swag.

3-4 Day Conference Trip Packing List Read more

Complete Cheapskate’s Guide to Affiliate Summit West

Posted on November 29, 2010 by Amanda in Business, Conferences | 15 Comments

Headed to Affiliate Summit West 2011?

Good; if you are in the CPA or CPS space it’s hard to find a conference that can rival the networking opportunities available.

But if you are just starting out, going broke Christmas shopping, or just looking to conserve some capital for ad spend in the lucrative New Year’s Resolution market- here are 8 quick tips to save some cash.

8 Simple Ways to Save Cash

  1. Don’t Stay at the Wynn Read more