I’ve been on the web for a long time. In the early 90’s I would dial into University library systems to research their collections. At that time Windows didn’t exist and you had to type weird bits of code to get your computer to do anything.

I remember looking in amazement through the glow of my orange monochrome monitor and thinking how awesome technology was that I no longer had to actually go to the University library and look through the little index cards.

The web has changed a lot… A LOT!!!

And I still sit in amazement at all the incredible things you can do.

I’ve been a pioneer in online resources for massage professionals around the world. I began BodyworkBiz in the late 90s. At that point in time browsers were still in their infancy, the web was the Wild West and it wasn’t possible to do the things we take for granted today.

I had to come up with ways to use technologies as they became available not only to promote my own massage clinics, but to produce online courses. What started as plain text lessons at BodyworkBiz evolved to audio broadcasting with Massage Therapy Radio and the incredible live telephone/audio/video simulcasts that make up the World Massage Conference.

Because I’ve been on the edge of technology for so many years, people often consider me “the source” when they need to get something done online. I usually know of just the resource they’re looking for to get the job done.

So I’ve decided to share some of my favorite online tools with you. This was going to be a paid e-course, but I’ve decided to make it available to everyone on this blog.

Most of these resources are either free or low-cost. They all are extremely valuable for one reason or another. And they are all kind of cool.

But I’m not all about fun and games.

When it comes down to it, technology is only as useful as the solutions it provides. So as cool as all these sites or services are, they are all extremely useful.

I want to point out that I’m not a “techie” and I hate it when people call me that because the nerds never get the girls. To give you a sense of what a technological Luddite (ninny/caveman/dolt) I really am, I’m going to let you in on a little secret.

To the jaw-dropping disbelief of pretty much everyone, I don’t even own a cell phone.

I don’t have a MP3 player. I don’t have a big screen TV and I don’t have TIVO. Heck I don’t even have cable TV or satellite service.

I bought my son a Wii, but it’s his job to set It up for me. My coffee maker cannot be programmed. It makes one cup at a time and has only one button: “ON”. There’s not even an off button. I don’t have one of those I-jack things or subscribe to a VOIP service.

I did buy a digital camera six years ago, but it doesn’t take still shots, only blurs. So I don’t use it much. My camcorder has two switches: on/off zoom in/zoom out.

What I do know however, is the web. Besides the development of pioneering projects like BodyworkBiz, Massage Therapy Radio and the World Massage Conference, I’ve developed over 100 websites for massage professionals including some of the leading educators in the field and other businesses ranging from software development to restaurants. I’ve also guided hundreds of others develop sites of their own through SpiffyOnline.com.

That’s made me the guy to talk to when you need anything on the web. So it’s with that expertise that I bring you these Really Cool (and Extremely) useful Web Resources. I’ll post a new one to this blog every Friday. Be sure to sign up for the Massage Marketing Tips newsletter and I’ll notify you when new resources are posted for your reference.

Look for the first one this coming Friday. And if you have resources that you love, feel free to post them here or to send me a note.