I am in the process of writing an article for Connect Magazine about now being the best time to start a business in Utah.  Colin Kelly and I are meeting with the Governor next week to discuss this topic and to get his take.  We’ve got 30 minutes to get it all on the table.  What would you ask Governor Huntsman if you had the chance to sit with him for 30 minutes? 

Send your questions to me at ctknud “at” gmail.com and I’ll see if I can get your question into the interview.

I am very excited to be involved in the U|Tech Conference on Internet marketing for small business.  This all day event will be held on October 18th at the Miller Innovation Center in SLC.  The event will feature Paul Allen as the keynote.  Sponsors include PR Web and 10x Marketing.  Other speakers will talk about utilizing the Internet to grow your small business. Topics include, Internet based public relations, search engine marketing, pay per click strategies, blogging and affiliate programs.  This conference will be centered on “show” not “tell” so come prepared to learn.

The cost to attend this all day event is $149 if you register before September 18th. For more details on the show visit the U|Tech Conference site.

If you’ve been wondering how to capitalize on the Internet then this show is for you. 

Also, if you are a Utah Blogger, please blog about this event.

Does anyone out there know a good graphics guy who is also relatively inexpensive? I know a lot of good computer programmers but I have not had a lot of experience with graphics guys.  If you are a good graphics guy or know of one drop me a line at ctknud “at” gmail.com. 

Sometimes stepping up to the plate to do what is right means stepping down. 

Over two weeks ago I initiated a conversation with Paul Allen about stepping down as CEO of 10Speed Media. Why would I do such a things when things are going so well?  10Speed Media is a winner.  This company will be huge someday and the exit will be huge.  Its by far Provo Labs best bet.  Herein lies the issue.  This business really needs a CEO who has been around the block before. Someone who has raised a lot of capital. Someone who has had a large exit.  Someone who knows what it takes to get a business from $0 to $100 million in three years.  Frankly, that person is not me.  In order to see the maximum value out of my stock I have agreed to swallow my pride and turn over the keys to someone else.  That said, I will still play an active role in the business moving forward. I have agreed to stay on in some capacity for the foreseeable future to help in a number of areas as well as evangelize the business to the infomercial and affiliate industries. I will also be working with several other Provo Labs companies on strategy and business development.

Beyond 10Speed Media and Provo Labs, what’s next for me?  At the moment that is unknown.  I have considered several other start ups and thought about going back to consulting.  I’ve even been considering a PhD (I teach as an adjunct professor at Westminster College). Next week I’m going on my first vacation in a long time and frankly I can’t see beyond that.  I just need some time off to think, relax and play with my kids.

Overall its been a great ride - one for the books. Stay tuned for cool and exciting things.

This is the funniest video that I have seen in long time.  Senator Ted Stevens who heads the Senate’s committee on commerce, which oversees Internet regulations and rules has no clue about what the Internet is.  Besides being very funny its also very scary!!!

It time for this guy to hang it up!

I am proud to announce that 10Speed Media and PRWeb have finally launched the much anticipated PRWeb.TV.  This was a monumental task completed in only a few short months.  Congrats to all the people who worked on getting PRWeb.TV up.  You have done a great job!

If you are looking to use PR Web’s services including PRWeb.TV.  Contact Judd at 801-602-8384.

I never really knew how difficult being the CEO was until I became one. Imagine that!  I’ve always known that its a hard job but I’ve only known that from observation.  I looked at it in the same way one would look at the President or the Pope and think that they must have a hard job.  I looked at it in a very ignorant and detached kind of way.  Once I got in the position, I quickly realized that people were looking at me much the same way I used to look at the CEO’s I worked for.  Gulp.

I used to be one of those guys who was quick to bang on the CEO when he looked like he was blowing it.  I existed in my own little world and thought I knew everything.  Frankly, I was a fool.  When you are the CEO you are forced to be a generalist and you have to trust leaving the details up to the specialists. Sometimes this can get you into trouble because there is simply too much going on for you to be aware of all that’s happening inside the company at any given time. It becomes very easy for the specialist to find fault in what you are doing. The specialists really have no idea of what it takes to formulate and execute an overall strategy.  Most specialists are just a bunch of Monday morning quarterbacks. Its a very convenient place to be when passing judgment on another’s actions.  Personally, I would rather be remembered as a failure of a CEO then a successful purchasing agent, customer service rep, or accountant.  At least I tried.

So to all the CEO’s I have ever worked for, I offer you my apologies.  I was ignorant and arrogant and that hurts to admit.  I had no right to criticize you for the job you were doing.  In fact, most of you did a very good job.  Thanks to Eric Mosteller, Reggie Hughes, Jeremy Hanks, Lana Porter, Jack Blount and John Winterholler for directly and indirectly showing me how its done.  At times it was done very wrong but I will never criticize you for that - it was an excellent learning experience for me.  I respect you a hundred times more than the clock punching Monday morning QB. 

Marty Fahncke introduced me to Dave Taylor at the Affiliate Summit.  What a great guy to talk to.  Dave runs the site AskDaveTaylor.com.  Its a fun place to check out the Q&A on every conceivable question Dave’s 300,000 monthly unique visitors can throw at him. Check it out…

If you are smart and lucky you could be one of the few, the proud, the super affiliate.  What is a super affiliate?  Simply put, a super affiliate is one who works full time selling others products or services online.  If you know what you are doing you can become very successful as an affiliate marketer.  Utah local, Jeremy Palmer claims a seven (yes, more than $1,000,000) figure yearly salary as a super affiliate. I’ve met guys here at the Affiliate Summit who are in the $10k up to $60k monthly incomes as super affiliates.

Rosalind Gardner, author of the super affiliate handbook had a great session this morning.  Apparently, a lot of people have gotten into the affiliate marketing game and many are failing.  She says that the industry has forgotten the basic principles that make affiliate marketers successful.  Here are several points she discussed:

• Have a legitimate looking Web site. Most people can detect sites that look like they’re just out to make a buck and they won’t buy from those sites.
• Have a contact page, about page and privacy policy.  These things make you legit.
• Have a logo and tagline.
• Content is key! No keyword density tactics.
• Brand yourself.  People will trust you and buy from you.
• Collect opt-in email so you can email offers and discounts.  This is how many super affiliates are making their money on the Web.
• Add a forum.
• Do telaseminars.
• Conduct survey’s.
• Put out a monthly newsletter.
• Use video on your site.
• Blog.
• Work directly with merchants to negotiate the best possible commission.

If this seems like common sense stuff to you then maybe you ought to get in the game.  Its a great second income that can become a full time gig if you are good.

The Utah online marketing conference is coming together. I heard today that its on for October 4th. Mark your calendar and plan to attend.

Here’s an interesting note from the Affiliate Summit. 

One of my sales guys ran into the crew from 888.com at an Affiliate Summit mixer.  Most people don’t realize how large and pervasive online gambling has become.  888.com is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange. They had $271 million in net gaming revenue. They spent $100 million on sales and marketing.  Last year they put $65 million in their pocket and they are just one of hundreds (if not thousands) of online gaming companies.  Those are incredible numbers for any business.  Fortunately, you don’t have to be in the online gaming business to achieve that type of success.  There are other services that are just as profitable and much more ethical to operate.

For the record, 10Speed Media does not work with online gaming companies.