How an OG Marketer Made $250M Online in 1997, and Is Still Winning in 2025😮

What if you built a $250M online business… before Shopify, Facebook, or Google even existed? 😮

In this episode of The Amazing Marketing Show, Dmitri Smirnov and Chris Gray sit down with one of the true pioneers of the internet, Tom Wilkerson, founder of CertifyMe.net, who started selling online way back in 1997.

Tom was taking credit cards online when most people thought the internet was a scam. From selling crane and rigging equipment to creating one of the first OSHA-compliant online training platforms, his journey is raw, practical, and wildly inspiring.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How Tom made over $250 million in online transactions before Shopify ever existed

The secret behind building trust online in the 90s, and why it still works today

How to spot real product-market fit (and what most entrepreneurs get wrong)

The old-school principle that still beats every algorithm in 2025

Why change is the greatest business opportunity, if you know how to ride it

Whether you’re a modern marketer, founder, or someone trying to navigate the AI revolution, Tom’s story is a masterclass in adapting, evolving, and staying ahead.

💼 Guest Website & Certifications:

👉 https://www.certifyme.net — Online forklift & safety training since 1999

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