My first (successful) web venture was “Internet Business Builders” (ibbltd.com) but there is no archive I can find of it anywhere.  It went online in 1997.  I simple sold website design, and it was easily successful since almost NO BUSINESSES had websites yet back then.

However, here are some of the websites from LONG AGO.  Most from 1999…  Actually it is really all a part of one website, PIYB but the domains were different — it was a network…

(note: some of the links on the sites still work, so it is fun to see what is there!)

This was the ULTIMATE AD CAMPAIGN, a product sold through a (very successful) network I had developed called “The People in Your Brain“.

Here is DOMAIN-X a domain name exchange.  These are very successful now, but back then — the web was still young.  But, as I had expected back in 1999, the .com has become the “new real estate” with domain names selling for over FIVE MILLION DOLLARS!  Geez, I was so ahead of my time… lol!

Here is a national print ad co-op I had created.  I knew you could use the power of the internet to SHARE common advertising.  This today is seen on TV…  Have you ever seen one of those generic commercials “I made money at this website”.  They literally say “this website” because a bunch of websites SHARE the commercial and when you go to the domain name, you get one of the co-op sites.  Whoda thunk I had this model in place in 1999!

PIYB EVOLUTION -> PIYB DESTRUCTION

Here you can see my first real web-baby, PIYB (People in Your Brain) grow, evolve, and eventually crash-and-burn.

• Original, Jan 1999
• After Growth, April 1999
• 2nd Generation, Nov 1999

We stop temporarily at Gen2 because this is where PIYB really took off.  In its prime it was making a WHOPPING $3000 PER DAY.  Notice I don’t say I was making this money, because as you will learn, the unscrupulous “Card Service International (CSI)” would KEEP ALL OUR MONEY!

At PIYB Gen 2 you will see the bread-and-butter.

Classified-X was a classified ad exchange and was built on my belief that classified type ads work better than conventional banner ads.  Later a company called Google would come along and prove this point.  BTW, this was my first official SOFTWARE development.

I also realized that many people could use a simple, web-based email because pop3 email at the time was confusing and difficult.  Later a service called “Hotmail” would revolutionize the world of email.

PIYB also included something new at the time “Search Engine Submission” and “Search Engine Optimization”.  Search Engine Optimization, what is that!?  This NEVER BEFORE HEARD OF TERM was a PIYB original!  At PIYB we would optimize your website to get a better listing on the popular search engines.  A concept that is now the HOTTEST thing in online marketing.  Of course, at the time we were worried about the huge players like Excite.com and Hotbot.com, WebCrawler.com, even DogPile.com…  Google?  Who cared that was just some experiment…!!

But, sadly in early 2000, THIS became the PIYB homepage.  What happened you ask?  Well, our credit card processing company, CSI, was supposed to take payment and then transfer it into our bank account.  They decided instead to KEEP the money.  Ok, not keep it, just HOLD IT INDEFINITELY!

Yes, we went to lawyers, yes we fought with them…  No, we never saw the money.  I should say we did see some money at the beginning (which allowed us to hire a staff that worked from our apartment) but once the income became very large, CSI got scared by this “new internet thing” and decided that for their protection it was best to keep the money.  We would later find out that we were far from the only startup that had this problem.

So, we contacted our customers and told them to CHARGE BACK THEIR CARDS.  And, request refunds.  Since this is the only way to keep CSI from keeping the money.  They still had to honor refunds and chargebacks.

Next time I will post about YourICC.  A “radical new” search engine in the year 2000 that introduced crazy new concepts like Pay Per Visitor advertising (or what the web would come to call Pay Per Click), search keyword target advertising…  Even some really new concepts like the ability for people to show our search results on THEIR website to earn commissions!

Chris Avell is an internet phenomenon–a one man powerhouse of marketing and programming savvy that you don’t often find.  When asked for one answer he responds with five.  When asked for minor advice he gives you an education, all at the drop of a hat.

I requested assistance with a simple blog which Chris not only informed me was sub-par, he apologized for telling me the truth and then designed an entire new theme around my niche seemingly instantaneously.  Better than expected?  I wasn’t prepared for anything close.

To say I highly recommend working with Chris is a grave understatement.  He is a breath of fresh air, especially in this economic climate where you are LUCKY to get what you paid for from anyone.  Over-delivering is his raison d’être.

Russell Levine
http://easybeginnerpianolessons.com

I met Chris over 5 years ago through a mutual friend.  Over the years I have always been impressed with his broad range of knowledge of anything related to a computer, software, and especially the Internet.   Chris’s combined knowledge of any of these disciplines is greater than anyone I have ever met.  (Quite a feat, because I also have rubbed shoulders with “celebrity internet gurus”)

Chris can take something he is passionate about from a thought to a successful online business in a matter of weeks- sometimes hours.   Along with his strong found foundation of knowledge he has an even stronger foundation of values that he operates from. Putting his family and community first isn’t a saying for Chris…it is a lifestyle.  If you get the opportunity to work with Chris, it will not take long to see how fortunate you are to have him as part of your team.

Lee Kolaski
www.MLMLeadSopt.com

I have known Christopher Avell for over 11 years. In the beginning, he was a vendor and I was a customer. The more I got to know him, the more I realized our common interests in magic, theatre, and of course, the online world would create a friendship that would transcend business.

There are a million stories of people who have risen out of the ashes of setbacks and challenges. Chris is no stranger to adversity. I won’t spell out the details of his adversity out of confidentiality, but suffice to say, nobody I know would trade their past setbacks for the ones he has been through. Chris is a real trooper.

Perhaps one of the most amazing things about Chris is his genius. His modesty prevents him from saying so, but I know people with superior intellect-some of them Mensa members. Chris is definitely in the upper stratosphere of knowledge, wisdom and creativity. When he offers his advice on all things marketing, sales, or technology related, you won’t be disappointed in what he has to share with you. Above all else, listen intently. His wisdom doesn’t come from simply reading about someone else’s failures or success. Chris has been down both roads and knows what he is talking about.

With the internet changing faster than the common person can keep up, Chris’ intuition and knowledge of both the human interaction AND background programming is a rare combination. No matter what questions you may have about business, marketing, sales, the Internet and life, Chris will provide a unique and RELEVANT perspective that you need to play close attention to.

Go ahead and “Ask Chris”…just be sure to take good notes. You’ll need them later.

Doug Crowe
http://bexsi.com