Andy Bourland

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Andy Bourland was cofounder and former publisher and CEO of ClickZ. He and Ann Handley launched the site in 1997 and sold it three years later to INT Media Group. In columns he wrote for ClickZ from 1998 to 2002, Andy provided practical advice to online marketers and publishers alike, frequently weaving in takeaways from real-life on- and offline experiences. Andy launched his own blog, Bourland.com, in 2005, continuing to write about online marketing up until his disclosure that he was facing a terminal illness. He died Feb. 16, 2009, at the age of 53.

Recent articles by Andy Bourland

The Meditations of Chairman Pud
Guilty pleasures. We all have them. If your repertoire includes F**ked Company, you needn't feel too guilty. Just bear in mind it's often better to have a guilty pleasure than to be one. May 7, 2002

The Master Speaks!
Get them to pay... pay more... and pay happily? Tae kwon do is a good place to start. Apr 23, 2002

Creating Must-Have Content
ClickZ's cofounder and erstwhile publisher looks at an online publisher getting the free-to-fee thing right. (And it just happens to be our parent company.) Apr 9, 2002

Making the Leap From Free to Fee
He's ba-ack! Andy Bourland returns to ClickZ to dissect online publishing models -- specifically, how to monetize content. Paid subscriptions? Premium content? Syndication? Read all about it... Mar 26, 2002

New Approaches to Ad Banners
Are you looking to survive and thrive while your site-publisher brethren are dropping like flies? Well, it's time to deliver value as if your life depended on it. Feb 9, 2001

Develop Your Own In-House Creative Team
Want to ensure the long-term viability of your e-zine? Here's how to avoid becoming a commodity by standing out from the rest and offering more, not less. Do it all by developing your own in-house agency. Jan 26, 2001

The Challenge of Online Publishing: Content Worth Paying For
ClickZ writer Dana Blankenhorn thinks a publisher's challenge is to extract value for his or her marketing partners in creative ways. Andy thinks if we can't create content worth paying for, we may not have a viable business. Jan 12, 2001

Tough Decisions in 2001
Online publishers may have to consider stating upfront to subscribers that the price for free content is agreeing to receive marketing emails from select partners. No "opt" about it. Jan 5, 2001

Contrary Words Worth Hearing
Andy gets a lot of mail from web site publishers struggling to make their sites more "sticky." The best advice he can give? Take a deep breath. Relax. And listen to your customers. Dec 29, 2000

Dealing With Whoopass From the Business Gods
The business gods just laid whoopass on us. Let's admit our mistakes and learn not only from our screwups but also from those who preceded us in other industries, eras, and walks of life. Dec 22, 2000

More articles by Andy Bourland ...