Try and jog your memory a little to discover and appreciate this major Internet secret for blog success. Think back to the last great movie you saw or book you read. How did you end up seeing the movie or purchasing the book? Did you respond best to the ads or did you make your move because of the recommendations you got from others who had seen the movie or read the book?

Or alternatively, what would you trust, an advertisement or a recommendation, even if it is from a stranger?

The answer is rather obvious and it tells you why sites like Amazon.com have been such a huge success. Folks mostly buy books at the recommendation of others that seemingly have the same taste and inclinations as they do.

Our little experiment also tells you why PR is always so much more effective than advertising. A small favorable mention in a newspaper article or on the TV news show is often much more valuable and effective than dozens of expensive advertisements placed in the media.

It also tells you why affiliate programs have rapidly grown online into the multi-billion dollar industry it is today. It