I asked for it. Seth Godin was looking for someone to take over the Z List lens. I volunteered. I want to do my best to make this lens as good as it can possibly be — so your input is valuable. Take a look, add your own site, vote. Thanks! Click here to see The Z List on Squidoo.

Seth points to a spooky McDonald's employee training video from the seventies (via Robin). Seth notes that the video didn't solve the problem. I agree that motivational videos don't get the job done. The question is: what will?

My dog Scooter has gone blind. At first it was heartbreaking. Watching him bump into things, and then seeing him withdraw, sit still for long periods of time… It made me wonder what he must be thinking.

“Ray, what do I sell online? How do I decide?” This is a question I am asked often

I'm doing a survey of my subscribers (like you)…

There are 3 mistakes made by most advertising copy I see that depress sales and response. Correct these mistakes and increase your sales.

Do you worry that your copy might be too “hypey”? Dictionary.com defines “hype” as: “an ingenious or questionable claim, method, etc., used in advertising, promotion, or publicity to intensify the effect.” One of the additional definitions is: “a swindle, deception, or trick”.

The simple, unadorned truth is: the bigger your email subscriber list, the more money you will make from your online business.

Do you find yourself staring at a blank screen, wondering how to get started writing your copy? I've found that I get much better results if I use some “jump starters”–they keep me focused, and get me started on the right track with a copy project.

If you've studied copywriting very long, you know that the most important copy on the page is the headline; that's because the headline is the ad that gets prospects to read the rest of the ad.

If you've been around the direct marketing business very long, you've heard the advice that you must test your marketing. I am frequently asked, “Ray, how do I get started with testing?” Here are 3 simple ways you can start testing today – without complex math, expensive software, or arcane technology.

I was on the phone with Jack. “I just don't think I can make a living online,” said Jack. I was on the phone with Jack because he's one of my subscribers. He sent me an email saying his back was to the wall.