Tourist in Internet wonderland

I lived in San Francisco from 1990 t0 1998 which spanned the pre-Internet industry days to the heights of dot com mania.

Amazingly, since I moved back east, I've only been back twice, both times with a heavy work schedule that precluded fun and games.

Now I'm back for a visit and the third time is a charm...

The weather has been absolutely glorious and I've been having such a good time, it's hard to go home.

Some highlights:

• Went to a party at Google's headquarters
• Met Internet hero Eytan Elbaz (developer of AdSense)
• Went to a Warriors game with old friend Ed Niehaus (PR guy for Yahoo from 1994 to 2000 and the person Steve Job turned to when he dreamed of turning Apple around in the late 1990s.)

As global as the Internet is,  Northern California is still the center of the universe as far as the Internet industry is concerned.

Just driving up Route 101 and reading the billboards is an education. The local newspaper calls its business section TECHNOLOGY and Business. This has got to be the most "wired"- minded place on earth.

If you're in the Internet biz and have never taken a vaction to San Francisco, do it.  The weather is surprisingly mild in the winter, hotel rates are low, and you'll inhale more Internet business ideas in a week than you might encounter all year at home

Comments

[Ken]

My Bay Area friends have reminded me something I've apparently forgotten over the last eight years: February is not normally a warm, sunny month in Northern California.

Speaking of weather, the day after I got home, 26.9 inches of snow fell on New York City. How much is that in rain?

The old rule of thumb is one inch of snow equals ten inches of rain. According to that standard, that's the equivalent of 22 feet of rain!

I dodged the bullet by leaving the sunny Bay Area a day earlier than I'd planned. Good thing. 520 flights were canceled.

Even in this digital age, the weather is no joke.

Some cool pictures of what the South Street Seaport looks like
after a big snow:

Look for: "Snow, Photography and Poetry"

http://www.crossingmedia.blogspot.com

[Ken]

About midway through this Rocket Boom episode, host Amanada Congdon takes a walk through Central Park. It's speeded up, but you can pause it to look at individual frames.

This is the most recorded snow that's ever falled on NYC in one day and the park looks beautiful.

Check it out:

http://www.rocketboom.com/vlog/archives/2006/02/rb_06_feb_13.html

[peterStralia]

Hi I been in internet wonderland for a few years but as yet have not learned how to make money on the internet although I do have an affiliate site.
Im sending some emails but dont know if they produce anything.
peterStralia

[Ken]

Peter,

There are so many factors involved, but my biggest piece of advice is this, especially for beginners:

1. Specialize and focus intensely on ONE market. Learn EVERYTHING about it.

2. Worthwhile content is the most valuable commodity on the Internet and, in time with consistent promotion, acts it draws traffic like a magnet.

3. From 'Day One' think in terms of building a following of people who know you and trust your opinion.

4. Mail sent to a list like that is generally very productive

Does it take time? Yes. Does it take work? Yes.

I want to go on the record as saying that I am EXTREMELY opposed to the "get rich quick" courses that present Internet marketing as if it were an effortless game.

Anyone who presents Internet marketing to you like that is pulling your chain.

On the other hand, marketing legitimate products and services on the Internet in a business-like way is a darn good business to be in, but it IS a business and like every business, there's an price of admission.

I'm going to make a very biased recommendation and suggest you look into getting our System Smart Beginners Course.

It lays out the business of Internet marketing in a serious, comprehensive way and will give you the foundation you need to be in the business for real:

http://www.smartbeginners.com