It would appear that I am completely incapable of just staying away and keeping my mouth shut.

There was an excellent guest post on Copyblogger about social media skepticism by Bob Hoffman. As we are pretty big fans of skepticism here at IttyBiz HQ, I figured I’d come on out and open my pie hole.

The premise of the post is that from a marketing standpoint, social media and the internet in general are not as interactive and social as we’re making them out to be.

“But for the vast majority of internet users – the ones who don’t have blogs and don’t have their own websites – it is mostly another passive medium. And it’s getting passiver.” (Anybody who uses a word like “passiver” is welcome to stop by for a beer any time they like.) Read More

Hello, y’all. I know I said I’d be taking the week off from blogging but I have something very important to say.

Over the next little while, your favorite home business website will be rolling out some affiliate links. (For those of you who aren’t hip to the internet marketing jive, affiliate is code for commission.)

I won’t be whoring out anything I don’t already own. Hell, I won’t be whoring out anything I couldn’t give you a tutorial on. But the kids need Shiraz just as much as we do, and they’re reaching an age where we can’t water down the booze anymore.

If you ever buy anything through an affiliate link here and it sucks, send me an email and I will strongly consider giving you your money back myself. Read More

This is a guest post by the charming and handsome Nick Cernis. He forms the lesser-hinged half of Goburo. He writes at Put Things Off, the laid-back productivity blog.

“You’re fucking mental.”

I’ve just told my best friend that I’m quitting my cushy day job to start a home business, pimping me and my partner out as a graphic design and web development duo. My partner’s ditching her job too.

“You’re both fucking mental.”

I inhale the vapour from my bittersweet hot chocolate and seek solace in the silky oblivion where full-fat cream and rich, Venezuelan Cacao become one with the crushed chilli I’ve laced into the devilish mixture.

Two thoughts slap me harder than a fat balding man with a cold wet fish:

1) I dearly love my friend
2) She’s absolutely right Read More

Hi everybody! Just a quick update to let you know that as of June 1st, IttyBiz prices are going up.

The IttyBitty package — two hours of phone consultation in one big chunk or as many little chunks as you need to get your ass kicked into marketing high gear — will be $199.

The Retainer — the same two hours of phone consults plus email support and general badgering throughout the month — will be $300.

The Press Release — and holy moly, is it just me or does everybody and their beagle want a press release these days? — will be $199.

If you want to lock in the May prices ($129, $200, and $129, respectively) you’re not totally screwed. You can pay now (by Sunday) and we’ll hook you up with a later slot. We’re booked until most of the way through June at the moment but there are a few slots left if you’re not picky on time of day. Read More

First, if you haven’t already read it, go read Is StomperNet a Scam? A Home Business Cautionary Tale. Second, I haven’t had any coffee yet. If I’m not lucid, you know why.

After taking a little more of a look around StomperNet last night — because why spend time with your family or read a good book when you can obsess about your home business? — I made an interesting discovery.

Turns out, there are actually 117 videos — really core and valuable concepts — that they mail you on DVD at the beginning. If you don’t want to wait for them, you can get them all online, now and forever, for free. These videos are pretty necessary before the premium content will even make sense. Read More