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58 Responses to “What if Acne.org got really big?”
wellll i think that that would be great. because a lot of people just don’t know what to use and what to do and not do in order to help their acne, and that just really suckss. even though acne alone sucks. i think one way that could happen is probably just people telling their friends about it, and to really look around the site and try the regimen and read reviews and such. it also might help if more advertisements go up, like on myspace or gmail, that makes acne.org really appealing. like just the acne.org logo and something about the non-bias reviews and help to get you to clear skin…but not the regimen since that would kind of i think encourage people away from it because they are so sick of (if they have acne) of looking at bogus regimens that just don’t work. but yeah.
I would say, that would be awesome! Maybe then people would actually take acne seriously as a disease and not just something teenagers suffer with for a few years. I would also be afraid though that if you started airing commercials it would just be annoying like those std commercials or other medicine commercials, and people would make fun of them, and then make fun of acne more- which wouldn’t be a good thing. But I think that the more exposure and “openness” you give to a prickly and embarrassing problem, then the more chance there is to help people who have it. I think that what makes acne.org special is that the regimen works, and it isn’t some infomercial program…its actual proven science, so the more people that know about it the better! And the only way to dream is to dream big! All things are definitely possible!
I know it will become a BIG thing, It was until I discoverd acne.org that my acne has been under control. I even got my 8 year old daughter hooked on the daily blog, i tell her if she ever has the same acne problem I have she will get the best advice on acne.org! you dont have to dream dan i”m sure you will get there!
Hi Dan, first of all, I love to watch your daily blog while I wait for my BP to dry at night.
Second, about acne.org getting big: I have had moderately/severe acne since early high school and I was so embarrassed (big surprise). I felt like something was wrong with me and hated talking about it, even when people were trying to help me.
So when anything acne related came up (Proactiv commercials, etc.), I ignored it, partially because I thought it was another bogus ploy (like audrey above said) and also because I didn’t need to be reminded of it all the time.
However, I want acne.org to get big because it’s not a ploy, so I think advertising online would be good. Websites like facebook and myspace would be ideal, and pushing the “Come here for info” idea is a good approach.
Also if you could get your products in just a couple stores at first like Walgreens and Walmart where people pick through the acne products, then yours is bound to “rise to the top” and soon every store will be begging you to stock your product!!
I think acne.org growing as big as it can without developing a cheesy image is good for all.
Whatever’s good for business is good for me. Dan you know how you made a Accutane page? Could you like do a supplement page, like about the benefits of this vitamin and that pill or that supplement… I’m waiting for those shirts to come out…
Yeah, I definitely imagine your products in stores Dan! Acne.org is growing bigger and bigger everyday in my opinion, and it’s only a matter of time before it becomes huge!
I think Acne.org being big is inevitable, not only are the products great but the site itself has loads of information to help anyone with acne. I agree stay away from TV for now, and away from cheezy banner ads on web sites.
It seems like it is just a matter of time. If it is working for so many people, it is bound to happen. I think people will find Acne.org appealing because it seems like you really care. It isn’t just some site where there is no personalization, and you are required to be on an automatic re-order system. Not only do you use the product, but the whole community on this site makes one feel less embarrassed and more confident that acne is something they can fight, and that they are not alone.
I just got the whole regimen in the mail today, and I ordered it on Friday night! That was fast.. of course I am in Sacramento though… I am excited to start, and feel like I have a support system because of this site. I’ve never had acne until this last year, and I am a 25 year old female. It is frustrating searching the internet for help and finding nothing but what I felt were sales ploys and gimmicks. Until this site that is. Dan, I’m sure what ever you want to take acne.org to, you will.. and it seems like you would have the resources from all over the world to manifest your dream. Hey, if I get clear, I’m only 2 hours away from the bay, and I’ll work for acne.org! Anyway, I’ll let you guys know how it goes… here’s to the regimen tonight!!!
I would say that it just takes time, and that there is nothing preventing acne.org from eventually being ‘big’. Agreeing with some of the other comments, TV and other ads are usually not what I’ve ever wanted to see when I was still struggling with acne (well, still struggling technically, but at least I’ve now got the upper-hand), but perhaps like what Pythagoras said above, the ‘come here for info’ tactic would probably work best. It’s hard not to be skeptical when you know how many scams and ads there are for products which simply aren’t effective. I certainly thought and feared I was doomed to just live with it somehow… until I became absolutely desperate and found acne.org
And you know, even word of mouth I think can carry far eventually. Personally, I’ve told my friends about acne.org, but then again they don’t have acne either. I seem to be the only person I know with a major acne problem, and I’d feel tentative about telling strangers with acne about it unless it wasn’t out of the blue. I mean I know how embarrassing it is, even if no one talks to you about it you know that they must be staring at it — so acknowledging it might be touchy. But I’m not sure. Either way, I’m positive that acne.org has global potential.
That would be fabulous, Dan … being able to get fresh acne.org regimen supplies locally, quickly would be ultra convenient and serve to help considerably more people who suffer with acne.
One request, though, Dan: I’ve been purchasing acne.org regimen supplies for the last 4 1/2 years and there is a difference (not a positive difference) in the BP of today vs. “back then”. PLEASE, PLEASE bring back the original formula … it most definitely worked much better for me that what is offered now. And finally, the tubes were the best … hands down, bar none and would very much appreciate you bringing them back as an option (with the original formula).
Thanks for all you do, Dan. I can say with certainty that you and acne.org change this 44 year old’s life in most wonderful ways.
That would be great. I am 31 yrs old and still have mod/severe acne and HATE IT! And think the regimen is working if I could just stop picking my skin! Anyway…I think people would try it if they heard more about it.
I would love to share the love of acne.org to all over the world. I think what makes the regimen so special for me is it not only works but also i feel encouraged by watching the blogs and feeling part of something great that helps me want to stay on track with my skin care. I feel as though it would be easy for this aspect of acne.org to be lost in growing too big too fast.
It would be great indeed, but there are a lot of potholes one can stumble in. I have great hopes for the future that this site and its regimen will become known on a much larger scale, but then I think growing naturally would be the best.
The best way of advertising is by word of mouth, or in the sense of using the internet; but by people who have tried the regimen and saved their life, or people who did not know what to do exactly, how many times to wash your face etc. not as an advert. People don’t buy a product because they see it on TV: people buy products or regimens that have been recommended to them or have read many reviews which are clear to be sincere.
If all the people who have tried the regimen and have succeeded in achieving clear skin would tell others or create blogs on the internet, then this site would grow much faster. I think using sites like youtube or facebook more would be a very good starting point without being salesy.
About the stores thing, I think a starting point would be to open a store in Europe where you could stock things and those ordering from Europe or Africa can have better shipping price. Europe is the farthest place from America, and there are a lot of Europeans here (me for one =]). The products themselves are not expensive, but together with an expensive shipping become so.
P.S. I have just started using AHA+ for 4 days now and i got to say its INCREDIBLE!
acne.org truly is an awesome website. first of all the products are all top notch, for the first time ever i feel that the products are actually focused on being effective instead of making money. but in my opinion the greatest thing about acne.org in addition to the regimen is the message boards. ive been on this site for years now, and the community is awesome. it brings us all together, and makes us feel not so alone. as a kid i remember feeling sort of like a freak because of my acne but it makes me think much more positively knowing that so many other people have the same problem and we are all working together to try and achieve clear skin. and anyone is welcome to come on the message board and talk about their experiences, share tips or just talk about pretty much anything. a big thankyou to dan and everyone at acne.org. this site rocks
From the size of the forums, I think acne.org is already big. But I know you’re talking about national media. I keep expecting to hear/see that exposure any day now. As well as the Regimen works, I can’t believe everyone isn’t on it! But I also know that everyone’s skin is different & perhaps BP works for you or it doesn’t. If it DOES, then the Regimen is the least irritating way to go.
Sometimes I think the size of the forums & the massive amount of exchange of peer information dilutes the Regimen message. I appreciate your wanting to provide access to any treatment that helps, but only if that is the ultimate goal (to cover everything.) Sometimes doing one thing really well is better than trying to do many things just so-so.
You’ve grown this much by using the internet (where young people congregate & everyone goes for health research.) Targeting your main demographic is key, but there’s so much adult acne out there that you’ll want to add in places we’d go as well…like magazines, etc.
Dan, Indeed ACNE.Org has D Global ACNE web page l i believe there are many international Users like me . I don’t know how i came upon ACne.Org ~ 3 years ago but YEAH! DAN we’re giving u our fullest support in ACNE.ORG!
I think it could be bad if acne.org got so big that it had public shareholders or something: you’d be forced in their interest to make as much money as possible… I can imagine how, if you had a lot of people to answer to, choosing for instance to not sell a salicylic acid product wouldn’t go over very well because, simply, if a million people are reading the site, there’d be lots willing to buy it just because they’re so used to seeing SA products.
I think it would be great for EVERYONE! And it’s almost inevitable…I mean…the more people who try it and have successful results are going to send their friends to acne.org. It’s not really fair to people who go to the store thinking that the stuff on the shelves are their only options, when you are selling awesome products online that many people are unaware of.
As long as we spread the word, and you keep making reliable products AND reliable information on how to use these products, then we should be seeing your products all over the place in the near future
I think it would be great if everyone knew about acne.org and would love it if I could go buy your products here in the UK in a store. But I worry that it would mean that you wouldn’t be as hands on because you would be so busy. This is one of the reasons I love this website because you really seem to care and you make your video blogs and read our comments.
I think commercials could be ignored by people because I know I tried everything I saw advertised in the hope it would help but nothing ever did until I found acne.org. All the ads and websites with before and after photos etc which promised clear skin and none of the treatments ever worked. When I came across acne.org the only reason I tried your regimen was because my doctor had prescribed me BP cream which did help compared to anything else I had tried. So I knew you were probably telling the truth about BP working and decided to try your regimen.
This is why I would be happy to wear one of your t-shirts if it helps to get the word out about acne.org.
Absolutely Dan! Dream BIG!!!!!! I just came on the website to reorder my stuff. I’ve been using your regime as well as tea tree oil for a year now and have seen an incredible improvement in my complexion. I am totally excited about the product and the website. You have my support. All the best!
seriously though, i just have faith in this website. when you think about it, i think this website just has a really comfortable, approachable way about it, and you can’t buy that. i’m actually really surpised it’s not bigger. GOOD THINGS!
hahah i guess what i’m trying to say is, i don’t think being huge would effect this website as much as some people think, i do believe you have the best interest in everyone and it’s a beautiful thing
I think “monoplozing” the acne industry is necessary. The bigger this site gets, the closer we will get to one ultimate solution. Even without a single miracle solution, having everyone come to one spot is better than having everyone leaving feedback at various spots. I am a business student, and am I very creative, out of the box thinking, intelligent individual, and out of everything Ive seen devoted to acne, this is the place to be. Everything from a passionate figure-head, to an appealing brand and site design, to the proffesionalism and devotion put towards helping others, this is the ultimate acne solution. Thanks for everything, there is nothing but potential here, and its not a matter of what if, but when.
I think you should consider that even though your regimen works, people tend to write a lot on the forums about their skin getting flaky/red and the like. So when more people use it, more people will also experience these problems, and maybe it’ll have a negative impact on what people will think when they hear about acne.org, like “Oh, isn’t that that product which gives you very irritated skin?”, simply because most people who stick to the regimen are people who have tried everything while people who hasn’t just use it as they like which of course will end up giving them bad results. I mean, thats a totally different market segment you’re going for there. But then again, if it goes well, I think it’ll go really really well.
It would be wonderful if Acne.org got huge! Something that was critical for me in trying it was that the instructions included drug store brands. That got me intrigued. I knew I had to buy some BP, and after crunching the numbers, it made a heckuva lot more sense to support Dan and the site and buy the products from here, but having the instructions for other name brands made all the difference. I didn’t feel like I was being “sold”. I would hope that Huge Acne.org would retain that component of the message.
It’s funny, because when I think back to when I first ‘found’ acne.org I think I thought it was bigger…and I mean that in a good way, because the website is of good quality. I don’t normally try random things (certainly not from tv commercials) so I am not sure why I decided to give it a go, and ‘risk’ it. I am wondering if perhaps it was because of the sincerity…as opposed to ‘pushing’ your products. Even though I now use the acne.org products, one of the things I liked best at first was that in the regimen section it gives you other brand options.
I think it will get bigger, I actually tell other people about it, not just friends. As others have noted, it is a tricky balancing act. When you get bigger, you will have other people in the equation to please, and you will become more far removed from the process i.e. you might not have time to test and check every product and to listen to the customers. It is kind of like any job really, the higher up you get, the further away from the thing you enjoyed (which made you start) that you get.
My hope would just be that the focus remains on the basics and on having good products, with minimal ingredients (ie not puffed up with extra smells and colors etc) and on helping people along, by clearly explaining the directions etc…I think you guys do that bit really well - plus I love that your products are also environmentally conscious!
Hi- I know I haven’t commented much, but I’ve been using your products and lurking on the site for many, many years. And I heart you very much.
About the upgrading:
I would love to buy the acne.org products at walgreens and stuff someday. But when I think about acne.org getting that big, I envision a huge “Johnson & Johnson” on the label. Not because I think you’d be an automatic sell-out, but because I know that having one’s small business turn into a gigantic business makes one want to get OUT of the business. I just hope you’ve really thought about whether or not you would want to stick around if J&J or whomever wanted to buy you out and you’re so tired and worn out, and sick of the huge business that you just want to retire early with a gigantic payoff. You know? I guess you have to really ask yourself, do you have the stamina for it? Will you stay with it? I can say that I like the personableness of your small business. But then again…if you do become huge, you could be a huge contributor to green energy and green business practices.
When Burt’s Bees products sold out to clorox I was annoyed because I don’t want to live in a world where there are only 5 companies that make everything.
To add a little bit to my last comment….I really am thinking more of you, Dan, than I am of us, the consumers. You’re a nice guy, and I hope that in the future, when the business is really big, that you can still wake up happy in the morning, and that you can still live with yourself. That’s what I advise a lot of people about their careers, (I’m a consultant.) Don’t think about the money or the prestige. THink about whether you will be able to live with yourself and be happy.
goshhh i hate tim.(:
this girl on yahoo answers once asked, “why do people have acne?!” and then said “ppl wit acne R so ugly i just wish they would all die!!!” and i got really mad. she’s only 10 and thinks she’s hot stuffff so i couldn’t help but tell her off. she’ll break out one time in her life or another. stupid people.
I can help popularize acne.org here in Toronto! I can help build up acne.org Canada public relations division!! (hahah I’m probably dreaming) selling the regiment locally to people, setting up presentation stalls, passing out flyers, giving out free t-shirts with the logo on it, selling on the Toronto selling channel.
I do know that this regiment is better than proactive, and yet proactive generates MUCH more revenue. If we start to get the name “acne.org” out there, it would be amazing for acne sufferers and the objective of expanding the business!
MANY acne sufferers here have not even heard of acne.org, however I do mention it when I engage in conversations about acne.
E-mail me if you want my help in expanding in Canada … well Toronto in general for now…
I would be beside myself with pride and joy that we did it, and extremely pleased that you and your mission was out there helping as many people as possible! I honestly believe it can happen, and that we are on our way to doing just what you described!
I’ve been recommending acne.org to everyone that needs it since I first discovered it in 2006. I worked in a spa as a receptionist from 2006-2008 and would even secretly recommend it to clients who scheduled appointments for acne problems… I think it would really be great if we could find your products in our local grocery stores, targets, wal-marts and even day spas! If I was a spa owner, I would so carry your products! I think it would be fantastic if acne.org would go on big shows like Oprah, good morning america, etc, and get lots of time on the air.
People really need to find out about this and stop wasting their money on acne products that simply do not work. Yours is the only one that I found that worked for me. Going on 3 years now, without any recurrence.
i think search engine and myspace ads are best. but stay away from cheezy ads and advertising of products. show more that the website is more of a community information, unbiased website. that’s what got me interested in the website. it shows that you and everyone here cares and wants to help. word of mouth is good but i personally don’t like ppl coming up to me to talk about my acne unless they are like super close to me and i think other ppl feel the same. so that’s a slow process and limited. i haven’t ordered any products yet but i plan to order it for my bf when he comes back to the USA. maybe even for myself. im on my own regimen right now and it seems to be working. but if i dont get the results i want i’ll switch over. your website has everything going for it. its a community full of help, unbiased info, and very affordable products.
Dan -
If you get bigger you must advertise the regimen and exactly how to do it. This is the most important part! You don’t want people buying only the cleanser or only the moisturizer off a store shelf, etc and then claiming it doesn’t work. They must must must know the regimen before picking up the product off the shelf. Maybe it would be best to package them together (the kits) in stores and then break out into individual items. I know you sell them individually online, but I believe it’s different because here we have a wealth of information on our hands! You show us how to use it and which products to use. The regimen part cannot get lost.
I know this is a late— but i definitely think that selling your products is even just one big store (Walgreens, Wal Mart, or CVS for example) would help this site tremendously. I would just make sure people know they are meant to be used together, or I would have the checklist included somehow (the one on the site). Buying them in stores would also make it much much easier to purchase.
Acne.org is very grassroots and very much created by people with real acne problems, and not by some big corporation that’s only trying to sell some junk to people, not really caring whether it works or not for their customers.
Dan created this site because he himself suffered from acne and felt compelled to help others, which is a great place to start! It would be fabulous for acne.org to server as a centralized resource that has, at its core, the mission of helping educate people about acne and to inspire more and better scientific research into everything around acne - like nutrition, topical products, light treatment, etc.
I do hope that acne.org, which is already a tremendous resource, continues to grow and develop such that it becomes the quintessential resource for people who suffer from these problems, and that it becomes kind of an automatic thing for people to reference when they suffer from acne. There’s just so much information, and it’d be great to have it distilledi into a concise, easy to digest format that people can read quickly to get information on how they might be able to overcome their personal challenges with acne.
And I’ll also add that I would be very happy to see acne.org achieve greater commercial success, such as establish a base of resellers for high quality and effective products (and perhaps books and reference materials). I believe that Dan is the type of person that would give back financial success to the world in many great ways, so I look forward to that happening.
Yes, I think that is an awesome idea. I love telling people about this website. I just wish there were more input with doctors and not so many opinions from people whom are uneducated about acne. What if people are taking advice from people who have totally different skin or don’t know what they’re talking about.
It needs to get big. Not that I wish more people had acne. But if more attention and seriousness was paid to this disfiguring, immobilizing disease then maybe there would be a cure! I have had this problem since I was 11 and now I’m 42. I know it is not like cancer but it has affected my life greatly. I have not gotten jobs cause of my skin or friends and boyfriends. And I’m sure other things I don’t know about. And there were times I wished I was dead because of my skin. Acne has been the biggest crutch I have ever had. We need to find out why this happens. If environmental, chemical, or in the food or in our bodies, I need to know!
I like how it is right now. There is definitely room to get bigger but it must be done VERY carefully. Many sites for various things (social networking, hobbies, work/school) start out small and are really good. However, often once they grow and more people come to know about them, they loose quality. This can happen because of spammers, ignorance, or just less attention being paid to every part. It can also happen if whoever runs this site or program isn’t constantly working on improving or keeping it up to date. At it’s current size, Acne.org is perfect. It is big enough to reach everyone who comes across it or is maybe referred, while it also seems very close knit and personal. The daily videos keep this personal feel to the website, in fact all of your videos are like that. With a big name, or a big company to run, I think it could easily be lost priority-wise. Either way, if you were to grow substantially, in my opinion, you might want to stay in control while also taking a step back to keep it close to the customer/patient/community.
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February 3rd, 2009 at 7:00 pm
wellll i think that that would be great. because a lot of people just don’t know what to use and what to do and not do in order to help their acne, and that just really suckss. even though acne alone sucks. i think one way that could happen is probably just people telling their friends about it, and to really look around the site and try the regimen and read reviews and such. it also might help if more advertisements go up, like on myspace or gmail, that makes acne.org really appealing. like just the acne.org logo and something about the non-bias reviews and help to get you to clear skin…but not the regimen since that would kind of i think encourage people away from it because they are so sick of (if they have acne) of looking at bogus regimens that just don’t work. but yeah.
February 3rd, 2009 at 7:29 pm
acne.org has huge potential and one day it will be the face of acne.
February 3rd, 2009 at 7:29 pm
I would say, that would be awesome! Maybe then people would actually take acne seriously as a disease and not just something teenagers suffer with for a few years. I would also be afraid though that if you started airing commercials it would just be annoying like those std commercials or other medicine commercials, and people would make fun of them, and then make fun of acne more- which wouldn’t be a good thing. But I think that the more exposure and “openness” you give to a prickly and embarrassing problem, then the more chance there is to help people who have it. I think that what makes acne.org special is that the regimen works, and it isn’t some infomercial program…its actual proven science, so the more people that know about it the better! And the only way to dream is to dream big! All things are definitely possible!
February 3rd, 2009 at 7:36 pm
I know it will become a BIG thing, It was until I discoverd acne.org that my acne has been under control. I even got my 8 year old daughter hooked on the daily blog, i tell her if she ever has the same acne problem I have she will get the best advice on acne.org! you dont have to dream dan i”m sure you will get there!
February 3rd, 2009 at 7:51 pm
It be cool to just walk into a store and have like a cardboard cutout of dan and all the products beside him.
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:08 pm
Hi Dan, first of all, I love to watch your daily blog while I wait for my BP to dry at night.
Second, about acne.org getting big: I have had moderately/severe acne since early high school and I was so embarrassed (big surprise). I felt like something was wrong with me and hated talking about it, even when people were trying to help me.
So when anything acne related came up (Proactiv commercials, etc.), I ignored it, partially because I thought it was another bogus ploy (like audrey above said) and also because I didn’t need to be reminded of it all the time.
However, I want acne.org to get big because it’s not a ploy, so I think advertising online would be good. Websites like facebook and myspace would be ideal, and pushing the “Come here for info” idea is a good approach.
Also if you could get your products in just a couple stores at first like Walgreens and Walmart where people pick through the acne products, then yours is bound to “rise to the top” and soon every store will be begging you to stock your product!!
I think acne.org growing as big as it can without developing a cheesy image is good for all.
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:12 pm
Whatever’s good for business is good for me. Dan you know how you made a Accutane page? Could you like do a supplement page, like about the benefits of this vitamin and that pill or that supplement… I’m waiting for those shirts to come out…
February 3rd, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Yeah, I definitely imagine your products in stores Dan! Acne.org is growing bigger and bigger everyday in my opinion, and it’s only a matter of time before it becomes huge!
February 3rd, 2009 at 9:26 pm
I think Acne.org being big is inevitable, not only are the products great but the site itself has loads of information to help anyone with acne. I agree stay away from TV for now, and away from cheezy banner ads on web sites.
February 3rd, 2009 at 9:31 pm
Yeah, I completely agree good old fashion word of mouth will definitely make Dan’s products successful.
February 3rd, 2009 at 9:37 pm
It seems like it is just a matter of time. If it is working for so many people, it is bound to happen. I think people will find Acne.org appealing because it seems like you really care. It isn’t just some site where there is no personalization, and you are required to be on an automatic re-order system. Not only do you use the product, but the whole community on this site makes one feel less embarrassed and more confident that acne is something they can fight, and that they are not alone.
I just got the whole regimen in the mail today, and I ordered it on Friday night! That was fast.. of course I am in Sacramento though…
I am excited to start, and feel like I have a support system because of this site. I’ve never had acne until this last year, and I am a 25 year old female. It is frustrating searching the internet for help and finding nothing but what I felt were sales ploys and gimmicks. Until this site that is. Dan, I’m sure what ever you want to take acne.org to, you will.. and it seems like you would have the resources from all over the world to manifest your dream. Hey, if I get clear, I’m only 2 hours away from the bay, and I’ll work for acne.org! 
Anyway, I’ll let you guys know how it goes… here’s to the regimen tonight!!!
February 3rd, 2009 at 10:05 pm
I would say that it just takes time, and that there is nothing preventing acne.org from eventually being ‘big’. Agreeing with some of the other comments, TV and other ads are usually not what I’ve ever wanted to see when I was still struggling with acne (well, still struggling technically, but at least I’ve now got the upper-hand), but perhaps like what Pythagoras said above, the ‘come here for info’ tactic would probably work best. It’s hard not to be skeptical when you know how many scams and ads there are for products which simply aren’t effective. I certainly thought and feared I was doomed to just live with it somehow… until I became absolutely desperate and found acne.org
And you know, even word of mouth I think can carry far eventually. Personally, I’ve told my friends about acne.org, but then again they don’t have acne either. I seem to be the only person I know with a major acne problem, and I’d feel tentative about telling strangers with acne about it unless it wasn’t out of the blue. I mean I know how embarrassing it is, even if no one talks to you about it you know that they must be staring at it — so acknowledging it might be touchy. But I’m not sure. Either way, I’m positive that acne.org has global potential.
February 3rd, 2009 at 10:31 pm
That would be fabulous, Dan … being able to get fresh acne.org regimen supplies locally, quickly would be ultra convenient and serve to help considerably more people who suffer with acne.
One request, though, Dan: I’ve been purchasing acne.org regimen supplies for the last 4 1/2 years and there is a difference (not a positive difference) in the BP of today vs. “back then”. PLEASE, PLEASE bring back the original formula … it most definitely worked much better for me that what is offered now. And finally, the tubes were the best … hands down, bar none and would very much appreciate you bringing them back as an option (with the original formula).
Thanks for all you do, Dan. I can say with certainty that you and acne.org change this 44 year old’s life in most wonderful ways.
February 3rd, 2009 at 10:31 pm
That would be great. I am 31 yrs old and still have mod/severe acne and HATE IT! And think the regimen is working if I could just stop picking my skin! Anyway…I think people would try it if they heard more about it.
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:01 pm
as long as you promise to still do video blogs every day and don’t ever forget where it all started. like, don’t be too busy to talk to us
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:08 pm
Oh, and Dan … don’t sell out to one of the “biggies” … they’d wreck it and it just wouldn’t be the same!
February 4th, 2009 at 12:47 am
I would love to share the love of acne.org to all over the world. I think what makes the regimen so special for me is it not only works but also i feel encouraged by watching the blogs and feeling part of something great that helps me want to stay on track with my skin care. I feel as though it would be easy for this aspect of acne.org to be lost in growing too big too fast.
February 4th, 2009 at 1:55 am
It would be great indeed, but there are a lot of potholes one can stumble in. I have great hopes for the future that this site and its regimen will become known on a much larger scale, but then I think growing naturally would be the best.
The best way of advertising is by word of mouth, or in the sense of using the internet; but by people who have tried the regimen and saved their life, or people who did not know what to do exactly, how many times to wash your face etc. not as an advert. People don’t buy a product because they see it on TV: people buy products or regimens that have been recommended to them or have read many reviews which are clear to be sincere.
If all the people who have tried the regimen and have succeeded in achieving clear skin would tell others or create blogs on the internet, then this site would grow much faster. I think using sites like youtube or facebook more would be a very good starting point without being salesy.
About the stores thing, I think a starting point would be to open a store in Europe where you could stock things and those ordering from Europe or Africa can have better shipping price. Europe is the farthest place from America, and there are a lot of Europeans here (me for one =]). The products themselves are not expensive, but together with an expensive shipping become so.
P.S. I have just started using AHA+ for 4 days now and i got to say its INCREDIBLE!
Keep it up Dan
February 4th, 2009 at 2:41 am
acne.org truly is an awesome website. first of all the products are all top notch, for the first time ever i feel that the products are actually focused on being effective instead of making money. but in my opinion the greatest thing about acne.org in addition to the regimen is the message boards. ive been on this site for years now, and the community is awesome. it brings us all together, and makes us feel not so alone. as a kid i remember feeling sort of like a freak because of my acne but it makes me think much more positively knowing that so many other people have the same problem and we are all working together to try and achieve clear skin. and anyone is welcome to come on the message board and talk about their experiences, share tips or just talk about pretty much anything. a big thankyou to dan and everyone at acne.org. this site rocks
February 4th, 2009 at 6:13 am
It would be great if it acne.org and your video tutorials were available in other languages too. You could reach much more people then.
February 4th, 2009 at 6:28 am
From the size of the forums, I think acne.org is already big. But I know you’re talking about national media. I keep expecting to hear/see that exposure any day now. As well as the Regimen works, I can’t believe everyone isn’t on it! But I also know that everyone’s skin is different & perhaps BP works for you or it doesn’t. If it DOES, then the Regimen is the least irritating way to go.
Sometimes I think the size of the forums & the massive amount of exchange of peer information dilutes the Regimen message. I appreciate your wanting to provide access to any treatment that helps, but only if that is the ultimate goal (to cover everything.) Sometimes doing one thing really well is better than trying to do many things just so-so.
You’ve grown this much by using the internet (where young people congregate & everyone goes for health research.) Targeting your main demographic is key, but there’s so much adult acne out there that you’ll want to add in places we’d go as well…like magazines, etc.
February 4th, 2009 at 10:20 am
Dan, Indeed ACNE.Org has D Global ACNE web page l i believe there are many international Users like me . I don’t know how i came upon ACne.Org ~ 3 years ago but YEAH! DAN we’re giving u our fullest support in ACNE.ORG!
February 4th, 2009 at 10:59 am
I think it could be bad if acne.org got so big that it had public shareholders or something: you’d be forced in their interest to make as much money as possible… I can imagine how, if you had a lot of people to answer to, choosing for instance to not sell a salicylic acid product wouldn’t go over very well because, simply, if a million people are reading the site, there’d be lots willing to buy it just because they’re so used to seeing SA products.
February 4th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
I think it would be great for EVERYONE! And it’s almost inevitable…I mean…the more people who try it and have successful results are going to send their friends to acne.org. It’s not really fair to people who go to the store thinking that the stuff on the shelves are their only options, when you are selling awesome products online that many people are unaware of.
As long as we spread the word, and you keep making reliable products AND reliable information on how to use these products, then we should be seeing your products all over the place in the near future
February 4th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
I think it would be great if everyone knew about acne.org and would love it if I could go buy your products here in the UK in a store. But I worry that it would mean that you wouldn’t be as hands on because you would be so busy. This is one of the reasons I love this website because you really seem to care and you make your video blogs and read our comments.
I think commercials could be ignored by people because I know I tried everything I saw advertised in the hope it would help but nothing ever did until I found acne.org. All the ads and websites with before and after photos etc which promised clear skin and none of the treatments ever worked. When I came across acne.org the only reason I tried your regimen was because my doctor had prescribed me BP cream which did help compared to anything else I had tried. So I knew you were probably telling the truth about BP working and decided to try your regimen.
This is why I would be happy to wear one of your t-shirts if it helps to get the word out about acne.org.
February 4th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Absolutely Dan! Dream BIG!!!!!! I just came on the website to reorder my stuff. I’ve been using your regime as well as tea tree oil for a year now and have seen an incredible improvement in my complexion. I am totally excited about the product and the website. You have my support. All the best!
February 4th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
i’d also like to say that when i searched “best acne regimen” on google, acne.org and it’s regimen was first.
;D
February 4th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
it would make me feel like im logging into proactive’s website.
February 4th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
you’re trying too hard and it’s a beautiful thing
February 4th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
seriously though, i just have faith in this website. when you think about it, i think this website just has a really comfortable, approachable way about it, and you can’t buy that. i’m actually really surpised it’s not bigger. GOOD THINGS!
February 4th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
hahah i guess what i’m trying to say is, i don’t think being huge would effect this website as much as some people think, i do believe you have the best interest in everyone and it’s a beautiful thing
February 5th, 2009 at 2:08 am
I think “monoplozing” the acne industry is necessary. The bigger this site gets, the closer we will get to one ultimate solution. Even without a single miracle solution, having everyone come to one spot is better than having everyone leaving feedback at various spots. I am a business student, and am I very creative, out of the box thinking, intelligent individual, and out of everything Ive seen devoted to acne, this is the place to be. Everything from a passionate figure-head, to an appealing brand and site design, to the proffesionalism and devotion put towards helping others, this is the ultimate acne solution. Thanks for everything, there is nothing but potential here, and its not a matter of what if, but when.
February 5th, 2009 at 2:10 am
lol definitely screwed up the grammar when i claimed to be intelligent. well then, i say good day to you all.
February 5th, 2009 at 10:08 am
I think you should consider that even though your regimen works, people tend to write a lot on the forums about their skin getting flaky/red and the like. So when more people use it, more people will also experience these problems, and maybe it’ll have a negative impact on what people will think when they hear about acne.org, like “Oh, isn’t that that product which gives you very irritated skin?”, simply because most people who stick to the regimen are people who have tried everything while people who hasn’t just use it as they like which of course will end up giving them bad results. I mean, thats a totally different market segment you’re going for there. But then again, if it goes well, I think it’ll go really really well.
February 5th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
It would be wonderful if Acne.org got huge! Something that was critical for me in trying it was that the instructions included drug store brands. That got me intrigued. I knew I had to buy some BP, and after crunching the numbers, it made a heckuva lot more sense to support Dan and the site and buy the products from here, but having the instructions for other name brands made all the difference. I didn’t feel like I was being “sold”. I would hope that Huge Acne.org would retain that component of the message.
February 5th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
It’s funny, because when I think back to when I first ‘found’ acne.org I think I thought it was bigger…and I mean that in a good way, because the website is of good quality. I don’t normally try random things (certainly not from tv commercials) so I am not sure why I decided to give it a go, and ‘risk’ it. I am wondering if perhaps it was because of the sincerity…as opposed to ‘pushing’ your products. Even though I now use the acne.org products, one of the things I liked best at first was that in the regimen section it gives you other brand options.
I think it will get bigger, I actually tell other people about it, not just friends. As others have noted, it is a tricky balancing act. When you get bigger, you will have other people in the equation to please, and you will become more far removed from the process i.e. you might not have time to test and check every product and to listen to the customers. It is kind of like any job really, the higher up you get, the further away from the thing you enjoyed (which made you start) that you get.
My hope would just be that the focus remains on the basics and on having good products, with minimal ingredients (ie not puffed up with extra smells and colors etc) and on helping people along, by clearly explaining the directions etc…I think you guys do that bit really well - plus I love that your products are also environmentally conscious!
February 5th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
Hi- I know I haven’t commented much, but I’ve been using your products and lurking on the site for many, many years. And I heart you very much.
About the upgrading:
I would love to buy the acne.org products at walgreens and stuff someday. But when I think about acne.org getting that big, I envision a huge “Johnson & Johnson” on the label. Not because I think you’d be an automatic sell-out, but because I know that having one’s small business turn into a gigantic business makes one want to get OUT of the business. I just hope you’ve really thought about whether or not you would want to stick around if J&J or whomever wanted to buy you out and you’re so tired and worn out, and sick of the huge business that you just want to retire early with a gigantic payoff. You know? I guess you have to really ask yourself, do you have the stamina for it? Will you stay with it? I can say that I like the personableness of your small business. But then again…if you do become huge, you could be a huge contributor to green energy and green business practices.
When Burt’s Bees products sold out to clorox I was annoyed because I don’t want to live in a world where there are only 5 companies that make everything.
February 5th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
To add a little bit to my last comment….I really am thinking more of you, Dan, than I am of us, the consumers. You’re a nice guy, and I hope that in the future, when the business is really big, that you can still wake up happy in the morning, and that you can still live with yourself. That’s what I advise a lot of people about their careers, (I’m a consultant.) Don’t think about the money or the prestige. THink about whether you will be able to live with yourself and be happy.
February 5th, 2009 at 11:35 pm
dan you are a greedy jew. I hate you and wish god would kill you and these other pizza faces.
February 6th, 2009 at 9:05 am
shut it tim ya foosty wankstain
February 6th, 2009 at 9:09 am
shut it tim ya crabbit wee sand monkey
February 6th, 2009 at 9:10 am
tim you walloper
February 6th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
goshhh i hate tim.(:
this girl on yahoo answers once asked, “why do people have acne?!” and then said “ppl wit acne R so ugly i just wish they would all die!!!” and i got really mad. she’s only 10 and thinks she’s hot stuffff so i couldn’t help but tell her off. she’ll break out one time in her life or another. stupid people.
February 7th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
If acne.org was really big and stocked in stores I’m pretty sure I’d always have a constant supply
February 10th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
I can help popularize acne.org here in Toronto!
I can help build up acne.org Canada public relations division!! (hahah I’m probably dreaming) selling the regiment locally to people, setting up presentation stalls, passing out flyers, giving out free t-shirts with the logo on it, selling on the Toronto selling channel.
I do know that this regiment is better than proactive, and yet proactive generates MUCH more revenue. If we start to get the name “acne.org” out there, it would be amazing for acne sufferers and the objective of expanding the business!
MANY acne sufferers here have not even heard of acne.org, however I do mention it when I engage in conversations about acne.
E-mail me if you want my help in expanding in Canada
… well Toronto in general for now…
February 11th, 2009 at 9:48 am
I would be beside myself with pride and joy that we did it, and extremely pleased that you and your mission was out there helping as many people as possible! I honestly believe it can happen, and that we are on our way to doing just what you described!
February 18th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
I’ve been recommending acne.org to everyone that needs it since I first discovered it in 2006. I worked in a spa as a receptionist from 2006-2008 and would even secretly recommend it to clients who scheduled appointments for acne problems… I think it would really be great if we could find your products in our local grocery stores, targets, wal-marts and even day spas! If I was a spa owner, I would so carry your products! I think it would be fantastic if acne.org would go on big shows like Oprah, good morning america, etc, and get lots of time on the air.
People really need to find out about this and stop wasting their money on acne products that simply do not work. Yours is the only one that I found that worked for me. Going on 3 years now, without any recurrence.
March 4th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
i think search engine and myspace ads are best. but stay away from cheezy ads and advertising of products. show more that the website is more of a community information, unbiased website. that’s what got me interested in the website. it shows that you and everyone here cares and wants to help. word of mouth is good but i personally don’t like ppl coming up to me to talk about my acne unless they are like super close to me and i think other ppl feel the same. so that’s a slow process and limited. i haven’t ordered any products yet but i plan to order it for my bf when he comes back to the USA. maybe even for myself. im on my own regimen right now and it seems to be working. but if i dont get the results i want i’ll switch over. your website has everything going for it. its a community full of help, unbiased info, and very affordable products.
good luck =]
March 17th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
Dan -
If you get bigger you must advertise the regimen and exactly how to do it. This is the most important part! You don’t want people buying only the cleanser or only the moisturizer off a store shelf, etc and then claiming it doesn’t work. They must must must know the regimen before picking up the product off the shelf. Maybe it would be best to package them together (the kits) in stores and then break out into individual items. I know you sell them individually online, but I believe it’s different because here we have a wealth of information on our hands! You show us how to use it and which products to use. The regimen part cannot get lost.
June 20th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
I know this is a late— but i definitely think that selling your products is even just one big store (Walgreens, Wal Mart, or CVS for example) would help this site tremendously. I would just make sure people know they are meant to be used together, or I would have the checklist included somehow (the one on the site). Buying them in stores would also make it much much easier to purchase.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Acne.org is very grassroots and very much created by people with real acne problems, and not by some big corporation that’s only trying to sell some junk to people, not really caring whether it works or not for their customers.
Dan created this site because he himself suffered from acne and felt compelled to help others, which is a great place to start! It would be fabulous for acne.org to server as a centralized resource that has, at its core, the mission of helping educate people about acne and to inspire more and better scientific research into everything around acne - like nutrition, topical products, light treatment, etc.
I do hope that acne.org, which is already a tremendous resource, continues to grow and develop such that it becomes the quintessential resource for people who suffer from these problems, and that it becomes kind of an automatic thing for people to reference when they suffer from acne. There’s just so much information, and it’d be great to have it distilledi into a concise, easy to digest format that people can read quickly to get information on how they might be able to overcome their personal challenges with acne.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
And I’ll also add that I would be very happy to see acne.org achieve greater commercial success, such as establish a base of resellers for high quality and effective products (and perhaps books and reference materials). I believe that Dan is the type of person that would give back financial success to the world in many great ways, so I look forward to that happening.
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:57 pm
I wish Dan could sell his producs in stores!
September 9th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Yes, I think that is an awesome idea. I love telling people about this website. I just wish there were more input with doctors and not so many opinions from people whom are uneducated about acne. What if people are taking advice from people who have totally different skin or don’t know what they’re talking about.
Thanks
September 16th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
It needs to get big. Not that I wish more people had acne. But if more attention and seriousness was paid to this disfiguring, immobilizing disease then maybe there would be a cure! I have had this problem since I was 11 and now I’m 42. I know it is not like cancer but it has affected my life greatly. I have not gotten jobs cause of my skin or friends and boyfriends. And I’m sure other things I don’t know about. And there were times I wished I was dead because of my skin. Acne has been the biggest crutch I have ever had. We need to find out why this happens. If environmental, chemical, or in the food or in our bodies, I need to know!
September 17th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
it would help a lot more people
September 27th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
U need to contact jane and raymond wurwund at dermal institute(dermalogica). and may be join forces some how.
goodluck. julia from australia.
October 13th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
I like how it is right now. There is definitely room to get bigger but it must be done VERY carefully. Many sites for various things (social networking, hobbies, work/school) start out small and are really good. However, often once they grow and more people come to know about them, they loose quality. This can happen because of spammers, ignorance, or just less attention being paid to every part. It can also happen if whoever runs this site or program isn’t constantly working on improving or keeping it up to date. At it’s current size, Acne.org is perfect. It is big enough to reach everyone who comes across it or is maybe referred, while it also seems very close knit and personal. The daily videos keep this personal feel to the website, in fact all of your videos are like that. With a big name, or a big company to run, I think it could easily be lost priority-wise. Either way, if you were to grow substantially, in my opinion, you might want to stay in control while also taking a step back to keep it close to the customer/patient/community.
Best of luck,
Jordan
SF BAY (Oakland)