More Bootstrapping: VirtualTourist.com Co-Founder J.R. Johnson (Part 3)

SM: What was your plan for monetizing the site? How did you do it?

JJ: During that time I convinced GoTo.com, which later became Overture.com, to allow us to take their paid links and put them into our content. I made the argument that a user who had to click six times to get down to our London page was a better advertising target than someone typing in “London hotels”. >>>

How Jagmohan Dalmiya Commercialized Cricket (Part 6)

SM: From where you sit, where do you think cricket needs to go next?

JD: Nobody can say for sure, as it is still very early. I see a lot of countries like India and Pakistan where cricket is moving fast towards club cricket, like league football. >>>

More Bootstrapping: VirtualTourist.com Co-Founder J.R. Johnson (Part 2)

SM: When did you launch VirtualTourist.com?

JJ: In 1999 I started talking to Tilman [Reissfelder], who is now my partner. He had the website, which at the time had a clickable map, some open source content, and some paid links. Reflecting back on my travel experiences, I suggested we build something that gave people a platform to share their travel-related experiences, ideas, and desires. >>>

Obama/McCain Tax Policy Analysis

Here is a good analysis of where Barack Obama and John McCain stand on tax policy issues. >>>

Rules For Bootstrappers (Part 1)

By Greg Gianforte, Guest Author

[SM: On the heels of my Weapon Of Mass Reconstruction column, I’d like to welcome Greg Gianforte, CEO of RightNow, whose interview you have read recently, to share his perspective on bootstrapping.] >>>

How Jagmohan Dalmiya Commercialized Cricket (Part 5)

SM: When you were president of the ICC, what were the main areas you wanted to improve?

JD: Everything. Coaching, umpiring, and everything associated with the game, and I needed the money to do that. >>>

More Bootstrapping: VirtualTourist.com Co-Founder J.R. Johnson (Part 1)

VirtualTourist.com is a Web 3.0 travel community where users and locals share real travel advice and experiences. It is a source of unbiased, user-generated travel content and a premier resource for travelers seeking an insider’s perspective on their upcoming travels. Real travel tips, reviews, and photos are provided by a community of over 1 million users, bring real context to travelers as they plan their next journey.

SM: Let’s start by going back to the beginning. Where does your journey start?

JJ: I was born in Manhattan Beach, California but raised in Westlake Village, a middle-class suburb on the Ventura County/L.A. County border. >>>

Forbes Column 08: Weapon Of Mass Reconstruction

My new Forbes column, Weapon Of Mass Reconstruction, is one that Barack Obama and John McCain should read for a much-needed education on entrepreneurship and economic policy. >>>