With the astounding growth of auction-based pay-per-click (PPC) advertising led by Google and Yahoo over the past several years, there is a great deal of discussion about click fraud. I think most people are completely missing the point. Those who are complaining about the issue really have nothing to complain about. Bizarrely, those who are getting screwed haven’t even uttered a peep.Click fraud

Anyone thinking about starting or joining a consumer Internet startup should be able to answer the following question, and if the answer is “d) none of the above,” then I’d suggest looking for a new job.So, here’s the question: does your company attract users with any of these things?an inherently viral ideasearch engine optimized content that grows naturally with usagethe ability to spend money

Download the MP3.

Marketing a startup is tricky business. Every entrepreneur faces the dilemma between allocating time to improving the product and marketing the product. If the two can be mixed just right, then perhaps sterile marketing can go viral. We tackle that issue in part 2 of 3 of our very own Venture Voice Startup Workshop coverage in New York City. David Hornik of August Capital leads the session, but he doesn’t finish uninterrupted as the entrepreneurs on the panel jump in.

On the cover it would seem entrepreneurs and politicians have little in common. One creates value in the economy, the other, um, I'll refrain from any bashing of politicians. But both entrepreneurs and politicians have a lot to potentially gain in the drawn-out election season leading up to November 2008.