Black Books Blog

Traffic Fusion

2008-09-10T15:49:00.001-07:00

You drive into the Golden Arches drive through, and a squaking voice says “Are you ready to place your order?”

“Uh, yeah, I’d like a quarter pounder with cheese and a large fry.”

“Would you like a Coke with your order today sir?”

“Sure. I’ll take a medium.”

If you’ve been around marketing you probably already understand the concept of upselling. If you don’t, it’s when someone asks you if you’d like to “supersize that order”. It’s getting the customer to spend more money at the time of the transaction.

Now, what’s fascinating here - and maybe you’ve never realize this before – is that you cannot hop in the car and go to the local Coke store. Coke stores don’t exist – at least not that I’ve ever seen.

Coke is sold in places where you’re already going to buy something else.

When you go to the local AM/PM to fill up on gas, they’ll sell you a Coke.

When you go to the local grocery store to do your shopping, they’ll sell you a Coke.

And, when you go to one of your favorite junk food venues, they’ll sell you a Coke too – or a Pepsi.

Coke sells their product when people go someplace to buy something else.

These places people go are Coke’s distribution channel. And the best place you can be when it comes to selling your product or service is a part of someone else’s distribution channel. People are already there, ready to buy.

Marketer’s put a lot of effort, time and money into trying to meet new prospects. Unfortunately most of these prospects are what is termed “cold”. There out there, and while they may want and need what you have to offer they probably didn’t wake up this morning thinking about you.

So you have to set about interrupting their daily routine to gain their attention, generate desire for your product and motivate them to buy something from you. That’s not an easy job.

But, what if they’re already in the daily habit of going someplace to buy?

What if someone else has already done the heavy lifting – like McDonald’s – and you have a way to make that investment they’ve made more profitable?

This is a win-win for everyone. You have a product that complements what the customer has already purchased – you have the thirst quenching soda that goes well with that salty burger and fries. Both business partners make more money with this arrangement – and, ideally, the customer has a more satisfying experience.

This is the basic concept behind a new marketing software called Traffic Fusion. Traffic Fusion can help Internet marketers automate this process of hooking up with others who are selling a complementary product to increase profits for everyone.

Plus, the program also manages upsells, downsells, cross-sells and a whole lot of other selling designed to extract maximum revenue from customers already in “buy mode”.

The concept is fascinating and the software makes it doable for Internet marketers everywhere.

Check it out: http://www.trafficfusion.info

Traffic Fusion

2008-06-20T18:19:00.001-07:00

I just caught word about an exciting new offer on the Internet marketing horizon called Traffic Fusion. I cannot say anything more about Traffic Fusion at this time, but it should be one to watch for.

Affiliate Elite Review

2007-10-24T10:42:00.000-07:00

Read about Affiliate Elite here.

Mastermind X

2007-07-16T07:17:00.000-07:00

Mastermind X is currently scheduled for September 14-16 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Black Books Blog

2007-06-13T09:40:00.000-07:00

Black Books Blog has a new home.

Black Books Blog is here

Black Books Blog, it's no longer here.

Yes - it's here >>> Black Books Blog

Black Books Blog, check out what's new.

Black Books Blog
This is the link ^^^^

(Don't worry - EVERYTHING has been moved.)

Don't Tell Blogger . . .

2007-06-05T08:55:00.000-07:00

Black Books Blog needs a makeover and a move to Wordpress.

Tell me which of these four themes you like best:

1. Silhouette

2. Vertigo Blue (Would replace the "V" with an "X" logo)

3. Vertigo Red (Would replace the "V" with an "X" logo)

4. Graphite

If you have something you think is more X, give me a link - I'll take a look.

Leave your vote as a comment.

.X.

Google Cash Detective

2007-06-04T09:47:00.001-07:00

First off, I have seen no more of Google Cash Detective than you.

I can't give you a review.

What I can say is the following:

1. Chris Carpenter is one guy I've never slammed, anywhere.

We're chummy buddies? Nope.

I just think Chris does things as close to "right" as anyone - he takes care of his people.

2. Tools

There are tools I can't live without, and there are tools that make life easier (but I could live without).

Let's be straight on one thing - I've been successful WITHOUT tools and I think you need that experience FIRST.

Don't buy anything with the idea it's going to magically make you money - it's probably not.

If you're already making money, a great tool (which we appear to have with GC Detective) will help you make more.

If you're not already making money, there's a lot to the game you need to learn - and it's very possible to make a GREAT living when those basics click.

If you want to take a ride on GC Detective, I encourage you do so - the more exposure you get to these priniciples, the greater your odds of success. And I have no doubt Chris will over deliver - he has with every experience I have with him as CUSTOMER.

Google Cash Detective

Now, I'm going to share two secrets with you - these were my secrets and now a lot of shit balls are selling these concepts in various forms.

First - keywords.

Software like Keyword Xray and what you'll find in GCD, I imagine, will help you determine which keyword phrases are producing for you - and which aren't.

That's great information to have - those tools will tell you more than I can. BUT - I can predict with a high degree of accuracy what those words will be, with a few surprises pointed out by the software.

I drill this into the heads of my students -

STOP THINKING QUANTITY - ALWAYS THINK QUALITY.

People love the idea of BIG TRAFFIC. The gurus know this - people buy "traffic" products, they don't buy "conversion" products.

It's easier to fall in love with "1,000,000 visitors per month" than it is to fall in love with "almost guaranteed conversion rate of 5%".

And this is why so many people lose, and make no money (and, in fact, burn through piles of it and declare 'Adwords doesn't work'!"

Bull shit it doesn't work - everything I do STILL pays $3 to 4 for every dollar I spend.

How can this be?

Simple - I promote lots of products using VERY FEW keyword phrases.

80/20 the 80/20 and then 80/20 it again.

I promote, almost exclusively, using brand name terms - trademarked terms - long-tail terms . . . whatever you want to call them.

If I'm promoting "Google Cash Detective", then I use a keyword list that includes on "Google Cash Detective" and variations thereof. Am I running ads under "google adwords"?

Hell no.

Now, those phrases are increasingly competitive - especially in this niche, and that's why "Bitch Slap Techniques" are necessary (as taught in the Black Book DVDs) and other techniques that are basically just SMART MARKETING (and most people in this game are not marketing . . . in a very sophisticated way, should we say - yet many are still able to make money and you can KILL them).

If you cannot convert with trademarked, brand name, long-tail terms - move on. Adding more general keywords at cheaper cost per clicks is the magic formula of doom (and a management headache).

Only AFTER you have achieved excellent conversion rates with the spot on terms do you expand ('they' don't tell you that and 'they' don't tell you expansion requires a different approach)

How to find product?

Again, these tools can offer you a shortcut - they can point out the obvious and they can help you cover TONS more ground than you can on your own.

But, "they point out the obvious". When you see something that looks good, you need to dig deeper on your own.

Just because an affiliate is making money - it doesn't mean you'll make money and it doesn't mean there aren't better options in the marketplace.

The key is to study results consistently over a period of time - you will learn tons about a market by doing this legwork. Often you'll discover better products to promote in the niche - things other affiliates ARE NOT PROMOTING.

I was reading Jay Abraham's "Mr. X" book last night and dug out two gems that apply here.

1. You must identify the gaps in the market - right now, I have a new product that's taken off like a rocket because I identified a gap within a niche, CRAFTED A KILLER USP, and that's clearly communicated in my ad. If you cannot communicate a USP in your ad, you have a HUGE problem.

2. Most of us think we're in business to make money. We're not - if that's your sole purpose, you won't stick around long. That's the business panhandlers are in - "Please sir, can you spare a buck or two? No, I don't have anything of value to offer you in return."

We are in business to help our customers speed their growth.

It doesn't matter what the customer wants to "grow" - if you can help him/her grow their body, their sex life, their hair, their ding-a-ling, their bank account, their time off, their pile of crap to keep up the Jones', then you've done your J-O-B.

OK - enough for now.

Google Cash Detective

.X.

Google Ads for Free?

2007-05-29T09:43:00.000-07:00

I bought this yesterday, expecting the
worst.

The title might be deceptive, depending on perspective - Google isn't giving you free ads, you have other's footing the bill - but the author doesn't say Google is giving free ads (and this is also not Google arbitrage, though something in the same ballpark - it has NOTHING to do with Adsense).

This is a very viable concept and the tag of "scam" is inaccurate.

The concept isn't new - it's a spin on something people have done in every angle of business for countless years - but it is new to Adwords IMO.

What you need to know in considering this as an educational investment is that it's a different approach to doing the
advertising you may already be doing; for some people, it's a fit - for other's it will not be.

Don't think "I'll do what I'm doing now and get my ads for free from Google" - not the case, and it's not the claim.

Sorry to be cryptic - I'm not going to give away the guy's "secret".

I read a lot of crap - and this is neither crap, nor a scam (just marketing pushed to the edge that plays on people's
perceptions - what they want to believe as true.)

But that doesn't make it a scam - and no, I don't know the author, never heard of him or from him. I'm interested in the
truth and have an increasing dislike for sheeple and their herders.

.X.

Google Ads for Free

Urgency

2007-05-26T12:26:00.000-07:00

Most people resist making a decision until faced with losing the opportunity to do so.

The button pushed:

The desire for control.

Control is one of the three HOT buttons I reveal in the psychology section of the Black Book DVDs.

Last September I saw something amazing with this principle; Using a one-time-only offer, aka OTO, in a non-Internet marketing niche I was achieving a 10% conversion rate.

10% is pretty dang good, but here's what's amazing . . .

My sales letter sucked.

Bad. Awful. Never thought people would see it (on that note, I'm celebrating - the site in question was banned from Google for putting TE pages on it for almost THREE years - just got some of my PR back and the site is alive again).

In fact, I had fifty bulletpoints that I'd pulled in from another sales letter that had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the product being sold.

I could have posted an irrelevant news article and done about that same 10%.

In case you don't already have the point, one time only offers WORK - you should use them whenever, whereever you can.

Two new pieces of software are out - one from my friend Jordan Hall that uses a new twist - it's a timed OTO; you have X amount of time to act, then that's it.

Keith Wellman tested it and claimed his conversion rate nearly doubled.

This is a bargain (I see the price just went up $10) and it's simple:
http://imxfiles.com/urgency-blog

The next piece of software, I haven't tried but I already know it's going to be hot-good.

It's the latest from John ****, appropriately named "***** *****".

Cool name - and I'm one of only three with the chance to offer it to you, out the gate.

With OTOs, you name it, it sounds like ***** ***** can do it.
More expensive, but mega-featured:
(Link coming this Friday, maybe sooner, hopefully not later)

Both of these pieces of software fit perfectly into my "name squeeze to sales letter approach".

.X.

PS - Next week - think June - is the launch of Google Cash Detective by Chris Carpenter. I want to clear out the remaining sets of Black Book DVDs I have and I'll be offering them as a bonus for GCD.

Internet Marketing Superconference

2007-05-20T08:15:00.000-07:00

Yes, it is true.

I will be speaking at the Internet Marketing Superconference in Las Vegas, June 21-24.

I'll be sending out a promo this week, if you're lucky enough to be on my list.

A few people have written me to express surprise (and concern) that I'm getting sucked into the "guru" network.

Do not fear.

There are three primary reasons for speaking at this conference.

First, IMSC is hosted by my very good friend and mentor, Carl Galletti. I have turned down other speaking ops this year; hard to turn down my friend.

Second, this will be my fourth IMSC - can't imagine missing one. It's been a key source of hardcore IM info for me in the past.

My first IMSC, I worked for Carl as a cameraman - really couldn't afford to attend any other way. By the second one, I was making a good living. By the third, I'd achieved some big things.

In short, it's my way of giving something back.

Third, and this is a fine line I will walk - is this:

At these seminars, a wide variety of ideas are put out into our profession that will influence it's future course - and the future course of the life of the people who attend.

I feel strongly that there is a right way to do things; and then there's the "get rich quick without doing much of nothing" way.

I think people need to hear about "the right way".

What I do, I've done successfully for a number of years. My business continues to grow -

At the same time, I've watched countless people follow the fads - some had success for a time, then lost everything. Other's just got discouraged and quit.

Given a number of events this year that basically have sucked, I'm not going away but my visibility will be different.

Aside from Mastermind X in September - and IMSC in June, I have no plans to do any other live events. With Baby X numero tres due in October, my focus will be on family one and continuing to grow my own business (while getting closer to the 4 hour work week).

So, there you have it.

.X.

Adcenter Black Book

2007-05-19T10:25:00.000-07:00

Is the world full of liars, thief's and scam artists?

I've dealt with more than my share of these people this year, but here takes the cake.

First, DO NOT BUY THE ADCENTER BLACK BOOK.

This is not my product - it's a ripoff of my product. It's a violation of copyright law. And it's a violation of the customers who've bought my material in good faith.

I've been dealing with a scam artist for nearly a year . . .

This involves a customer who thought an Adcenter Black Book was a good idea. Originally I agreed, but after playing with Adcenter I found little I like.

Time went by and while I'm busy with other projects, the customer decides to proceed with the project; he re-writes my book and creates a sales letter. He does a pre-launch sale and this is when the first red flag appears . . .

People start writing me and saying "When am I going to get my Adcenter Black Book"

HUH?

I contact this guy and he plays it off as "I wrote you and never heard back, so I decided to move the project forward myself - here's the product, what do you think? Can we get this on track?"

OK, trust shattered but I give the guy the benefit of the doubt. I actually try to work something out - he's obviously put a lot of work into this. Did I fail to come through on my end?

No.

After continued discussions with this guy, I am clear the Adcenter Black Book is not a match for me and it's not the right thing to do by my customers.

No - I'm out. I tell him "Do not use my material, do not use my sales letter, do not use my customer's testimonials - remove it all IMMEDIATELY."

Yesterday . . .

People begin writing me after reading in Chris Carpenter's report.

What's up with the Adcenter Black Book? Is this really your product?

What the hell is going on?

I spend the day trying to hunt down Chris - tough guy to reach.

Last night, Chris calls me from Mexico. He's as perplexed as me . . . "haven't we been exchanging emails for months?"

No, we have not.

This guy hasn't just represented himself as "X" - or as a rep of "X" - he's represented himself as "me" - if you know my name, you know this just got a whole lot more bizarre.

Chris wants to put the Black Book DVDs in his report, but "I" say "No - put the Adcenter Black Book in - it will be much bigger."

Chris reluctantly agrees, thinking this is a little weird - but I am a little weird, so this slips under the radar.

Who this guy really is, who knows?

What he is, is clear - and after months of lacking that clarity, the only thing good about this situation that I see right now is that finally "I know".

If you're contacted by "me" or anyone claiming to be "me", don't believe them unless you get an email from my email address.

This chap is Irish - may he drown his miserable ass in a barrel of Guinness. I love the Irish, so that makes this a particularly sad chain of events.

Don't believe everything you read from anyone who writes it (on the subject of lying liars, see also Rosalind Gardner - may the truth get out on that one too).

.X.

Fair Warning

2007-05-01T19:48:00.000-07:00

Hey!!!

The madman is back.

You know what I'm talkin' 'bout.

.X. has had enough. It's time to get back to bitch slappin' nastiness boys and girls.

Adwords Black Book 2.0 (or maybe the Affiliate Black Book) is now cooking.

After months in the funk, the amps are crunchin' loud in my head again.

Launch date . . . who knows? I'm targeting July 1 for mailing the first issue of the IMXFiles - maybe pre-that if I can pull it off and make it good as it will be.

What I do knows is this -

It's gonna be excellent.

It's gonna be step-by-step.

It's gonna show you exactly how I used affiliate marketing and Adwords to launch a new site that's gonna do 10-25K - per month.

You gonna like it - and it ain't gonna be full of stuff I ripped off from everyone else like that crap I keep wasting my money on.

Fact is, I'm fu**ing sick of reading my stuff in other people's books and if anyone's gonna make money selling it - it's me.

Tentative price: $397

Go ahead. Tell me how good I look while I still look this good.

Forget it Ros - you're too old and I'm too married. You're going to have to keep hunting the classifieds honey.

.X.

Long Live the Ice Queen

2007-04-30T12:28:00.000-07:00

With a background in politics and a degree in Communication Arts and Sciences I learned long ago to read between the lines of the propaganda spin artists.

I will hand it to the Ice Queen, aka, Rosalind Gardner - she's very good.

If you don't know the background on this story, let's summarize it briefly.

In January 2007, Rosalind promotes my Affiliate Marketing Sham report to her list - with the promise I pay her .35 per lead. So, she sends traffic and I get a nice chunk of new subscribers to my list.

That's great - I write her a personal note to thank her, to tell her that her ebook was the first I ever bought (a little too basic for me even back then, but I could see how it might be helpful to a real newbie none-the-less).

Before any promotion has occurred, I make it very clear that paying for leads and paying for sales that result from those leads are two different things - first, this is common practice and second, the reasoning is that I want my affiliate's to promote both.

She knows this and she chooses to proceed of her own doing.

After dear Ros promotes the report, she turns around and bashes it - and implies the people who would be my customers are undereducated, naive and immature.

I don't know - does that describe YOU?

In essence, she wants me to pay her for leads that she then "ills the water" for.

Naturally, this doesn't set well with me - and I call her on it.

Her response was a matronly "Fine young man - I'm going to show you. I won't even watch the DVDs you sent me - they're still sitting here on my desk."

Whatever.

Do I want to pay her for this? Aren't affiliates supposed to be compensated for AIDING THE SALES PROCESS? Has she aided the sales process at all?

I say no on all three counts.

But, I finally decide to pay her and be done.

And yes, while laboriously tabulating her leads - something that had to be done by hand because 1ShoppingCart's reporting system is seriously crapped out right now and has been for the six months I've had my account - I disapproved her account which she received an email about, automatically from the system. So there is no surprise here, however dumb she wants to play it.

Is it merely coincidence she attempts to login into her account the very day I disapprove her?

No. It's just a little propaganda ploy because someone called her on her shit (and you can tell by reading her post it got her goat . . . :-).

Folks, this is the most manipulative two-faced act I've seen in . . . ever.

While she attempts to portray me as a scam with her clever language, let's be clear; The only thing she ever promoted for me was the report - and affiliates were notified in January that I would only pay for leads up until January 12th. Since she's never promoted the Black Book DVDs, there are no dead links sitting anywhere for her.

I don't care to have her as an affiliate - would you? - it was my prerogative (and mistake) to have approved her, and it's my prerogative to REMOVE her.

She's been flushed, and she ain't gotta like it.

Look, Rosalind's crap is the kind of old-school BS that you and I are just plain sick of. I can't even begin to count the number of emails sent to me saying ".X., thank you for telling it like it is with this woman."

Amen.

Yes, Rosalind is a part of the crap clique and I could care less what kind of spasmodic gyrations she's going through right now.

If you've ever seen an ant interact with boric acid, you've got the picture.

Rosalind is very good at manipulating the newbie crowd. If nothing else, go read her post and use it as a study in propaganda communication. She doesn't say anything that you can pin on her - but her use of implication is masterful.

Long live the Ice Queen.

.X.

Product Creation Recommendation

2007-04-24T10:27:00.000-07:00

I know that many of my readers are primarily affiliate marketers. And I will continue sending them this message:

EVERYTHING CHANGES WHEN YOU HAVE A PRODUCT - ( instead of building somebody else's business as an affiliate, you can get affiliates to build yours; and for the truly ruthless, you've never had more fun as a marketer than you will when you start stealing your competition's affiliates away, he-he-he).

Product creation can be intimidating to some and that's why I'm giving you my highest recommendation here.

I bought a $7 guide from Kevin Riley on this subject - it's excellent:

First, it's TRULY better than 90% of the products I've ever bought.

Second, it is probably the best written guide I've ever bought.

Third, you want to pay attention to how he markets this and ties it in with other product - this is a lesson in marketing everyone will benefit from.

Fourth, this guide is so comprehensive that I'll use it as a training guide for anyone I hire to create product for me in the future.

What? You thought I actually WROTE the Adwords Black Book?

OK, I did.

At 7 bucks, you can't go wrong - I highly recommend this Recipe for Product Creation.

.X.

PS - I also subscribed to my buddy Woody Maxim's physical newsletter yesterday. He's running a promo that ends tomorrow, the 25th, where you can get the first issue mailed to you for only $15 - I haven't seen it yet, but feedback has been excellent in the forums.

Woody Maxim

Demographic Research Tool

2007-04-23T16:43:00.000-07:00

With taxes, some family health issues and a touch of burnout, I haven't been on my "A" game lately (or keeping on track with this project).

My new example "guitar site" is bringing in some sales - but not what I want or expect after Undercover Profits pointed out what to promote (no problems there).

When writing copy, we have to make assumptions about the audience we're writing to - and clearly, I don't know the audience very well!

Here's my assumption about who plays guitar and looks for lessons online:

- Male
- 16-24
- Single
- High School or some college education
- No children
- Income under $24,000 per year

Accordingly, I took the "learn to play guitar and have all of the women you want" route.

Later in this post, I'll reveal a new resource that gave me a VERY different picture of who I'm writing to - and how I've been writing my copy is WAY off target.

In fact, I'm so far off target that split-testing would be a waste of time - split-testing is a great thing we should all be doing, but if your initial premise stinks then everything you try is going to stink.

Before you can hit a ball out of the park you have to BE IN THE PARK.

So, here's what I found by doing some demographic research on who visits the site of the product I'm promoting.

- Sex: Male (the only thing I got right)
- Average age: 35-65+ (my guessed age group is LESS likely to visit this site and my 35-65+ demographic probably isn't interested in becoming a rockstar sex symbol)
- Marital status: Married
- Education: No college/undergrad degree
- Children: Yes
- Income: 24-60K

With this information in front of me, I can take a better educated guess - these are guys with some money spend (from steady jobs), they're middle aged and they have families at home.

Playing guitar is a hobby and a passion - not a way to pick up chicks (as it were for me back in the day).

The tool that gave me all this terrific FREE info is http://quantcast.com

Since conversion IS the most important aspect of marketing, knowing who you're promoting to is VITAL.

USE THAT TOOL.

.X.

Vista Sucks

2007-04-16T11:23:00.000-07:00

For all the bitching and moaning I do from time to time, I have never been a complainer about Microsoft products.

To me, it's most just one of those things people like to bitch about because people like to bitch and it's one thing most of us have in common.

Well, I'm here to tell you - Windows Vista sucks. Half the software I own won't run correctly with it. Camtasia keeps freezing up - AFTER I've recorded something. Dreamweaver, same issues.

And those ads on TV - you know the one's with the dorky PC guy (I guess that's me) and the Mac guy who's supposed to be cool (are they serious?) - and the body guard who keeps asking the PC guy "Approve or Deny"?

We'll it's dang close to the truth. Everytime I open a program "Do you want to open this program? Approve or Deny?"

Yes - I want to open this program. If I didn't want to open it I wouldn't have double-clicked the icon you meathead.

Look, that's a small annoyance I can live with - programs not working a freezing up? That I cannot live with.

Don't buy a machine that insists you buy it with Vista - I thought I'd do it because it's just inevitable. Truly, you'll hate life with Vista.

I hate it.

On a more positive note . . . I finally got a second monitor to hook up to my computer and I love it. It makes my work a lot more efficient (I usually have at least 10 windows open and I'm usually jumping between more than one of them).

If you're still working with only one monitor, leave the dark ages behind.

.X.

A Landing Page Secret

2007-04-16T11:18:00.000-07:00

1. Commit to winning
2. Do your research
3. Create a landing page

- "Buyers"
- "Shoppers"
- "Info Seekers"

The other "Adwords Gurus" talk about creating seperate ad campaigns and adgroups - they spend a lot of time targetting people based on keyword phrase groupings. This is smart and we'll get to it down the road.

But I have NEVER heard any of these guys (or gals) talk about the fact that the nature of traffic differs. While they recommend you put effort into seperating out keyword phrases into ad groups, you'll never hear them tell you this golden secret:

Different searchers are in different mental spaces - some people are non-commital and looking for information. Other people are ready to buy.

Send those people to the same landing page?

Nuts. A recipe for wasting money, nothing more.

I go into more detail about how you should approach each of these groups in the Black Book DVDs - it's a simple thought tweak that makes a huge difference.

You've heard the saying "One man's junk is another man's treasure?"
Well, same story here. If another marketer can't make a phrase work, that doesn't mean it can't work - it means the approach was wrong.

With all of the info on the market about how to make money with Adwords, it's amazing how poor execution is - and it's widespread.

Forget the tricks - learn to execute better - learn that you cannot approach every prospect the same way and expect to succeed.

You can't.

Just a little thought into "what is a person thinking when they type this word into their search box" can make you rich.

Take those ideas, and put them into your landing page - forget these lazy shortcuts, like software that will do dynamic keyword insertion for you.

Junk - and damnit, I have resell rights to products that will do that for you and I can't sell it to you because it's . . .

JUNK!

OK, gotta go for now. Time to write a really damn big check to the IRS.

Do you feel sorry for me?

I didn't think so.

.X.

Yahoo Search Marketing News

2007-04-09T17:37:00.000-07:00

Yahoo wants to update you on two changes coming your way:

1. Short descriptions will be required when you create or modify an ad, beginning in May 2007.

Long descriptions will be optional. Currently, you have two options for your ad descriptions: long (up to 190 characters) and short (70 characters or fewer).

2. Yahoo! Search results will only show short descriptions beginning in June 2007.

If you only use long descriptions, your ad will be automatically cut off to fit within the 70-character limit, which may impact your ability to communicate valuable information to users and your results. We recommend that you create a short description for any existing ad to guarantee that your most important information is included.

In the example below, key messages, such as competitive pricing and free shipping, are not included in the "cut-off" ad:

Why are we making this change?

We've found that ads written more concisely give users a better experience and generally get better results. Users are exposed to higher quality search ads and advertisers may attract more interested and enthusiastic potential customers.

So don't wait until June-- start now.

What You Need to Do

Don't have short descriptions for all of your ads?

Start now! Please create short descriptions for these ads before June 1. How to add short descriptions.

What happens if I don't do anything?

Any "long description" of more than 70 characters will be automatically cut off in Yahoo! Search results. We will shorten the description at the complete word nearest to 70 characters, then add an ellipsis ("…"). If you haven't added short descriptions to your ads by June, your ad quality could be impacted.

When am I "required" to provide a short description?

Beginning in May, when you create a new ad or modify an existing ad, you will be required to write a short description. We recommend that you add short descriptions to all of your existing ads so that your key messages are presented to potential customers.

Already have short descriptions for all of your ads?

You don't need to do anything-these short descriptions will be displayed in Sponsored Search results on Yahoo!

Is anything else changing?

Display URLs will be limited to 35 or fewer characters. Please shorten your display URLs as needed.

Do your research

2007-04-03T11:25:00.000-07:00

2. Do your research

You will be investing time and money. You can invest that time and money into anything from selling flower seeds to Lamborghini's.

Your income will be directly tied to this market.

CRITICAL ERROR ALERT: We're working with paradigm shifts. When you select your target market you should do it with an eye on selling big ticket items in the future (or continuity programs, like a membership site).

These can be yours, or they can be someone else's. If you can't see a backend then you may be making a poor long-term choice.

I recommend that you visit Agora-Inc.com and pay attention to 2 things:

1. What they are promoting - what niches they are in, and

2. How their selling process works.

You will notice Agora works in this way:

1. Free subscription (just like I show in the Money Map X )

2. Frequent follow-up with compelling copy via email.

3. Offers for low-cost physical mail subscriptions ($15 per quarter).

4. Physical mail subscriptions follow same formula as email follow-up; compelling stories that end with a sales offer.

5. Backend offers include:

$70 items such as an ebook titled "How to Retire Young in Mexico and Live Like a King"
$300-500 offers of live workshop packages, like "Investing in Real Estate in Mexico"
$1000-5000 live workshops on the subject where youget to "meet the experts"
The experts are agents, often selling services that help people buy real estate in Mexico.

Of course, the REAL money is in the packages starting at $300 and up. It's not that difficult to bring together a group of professionals, all wanting to sell their services, and take a percentage (we see this in the IM seminar circle 'ie, pitchfests', all the time).

Get a group of experts together, deliver valuable and wanted info, record it and make money. [If you don't want to hassle with the expense and headache of physical product creation, SOON you'll be able to deliver that content - in high quality - over the Internet - And I DO NOT CARE what John Reese says, people WILL spend as much, and often times more, for digital products. I have proven this a number of times and anyone who wants to argue that possibility is stuck either in ego, the past, or small thinkingness. Sorry, it's the truth - do YOU want to argue with the truth?]

If you can't "see" doing this with what you're promoting, then you need to start looking in a new direction [A great mastermind group can help too].

If you can't see a backend, you have a serious problem to deal with before you've begun.

.X.

PS - I've heard that Alex Nghiem's Backend Cash Manuscript is good - any opinions?

PPS - Just when you think that every niche in IM has already been staked out, here comes someone who's claimed the "Backend".

Start Testing the Market

2007-03-28T11:31:00.000-07:00

1. Make a list of as many "name" brand products as you can in a market place. You want to promote EVERYTHING.

If you were to target people interested in buying real estate in Mexico, then you want to find directly related products first - ie, "How to Buy Real Estate in Mexico". Then you want to promote those products using, first, the name of theproduct or company selling them.

IF YOU ARE HAVING TROUBLE CONVERTING . . .

First off, if you're having trouble getting people who are SEARCHING for a product, by name, to buy that product then you've got a snow balls chance in hell of selling that product to people who ARE not searching for the product specifically.

So . . .

A. Evaluate if the sales process being used is simply a poor process that you can improve on. This is especially recommended if you're confident in your ability (or someone you can hire) to write good copy.

Creating your own sales process is highly recommended - I don't hit on this as hard in the DVDs as I did in the Adwords Black Book, but most merchants know zip to nada about how to sell online.

This is a huge advantage you can EXPLOIT - even the 'newbie' marketer who's read a few high quality IM ebooks (or my blog) knows more than the average business about how to sell online.

See yourself as the MARKETING EXPERT. You know more than 99% of business owners (or their insultants).

What's an insultant?

A consultant who insults people by claiming to know what they're doing even though they don't do it. If they were good at DOING what they tell people to do, then they'd do it for them self - like you and I do - and not deal with pain in the butt clients who just want something pretty to look at.

.X.

Undercover Profits - More on Niches

2007-03-23T08:55:00.000-07:00

X has been having a lot of fun playing with Undercover Profits -

No this isn't a sales pitch; I expect this software is going to be expensive and I don't recommend it for everyone.

Following up on the last post on selecting a niche, or target market, I've been playing around with a bunch of niche topics that I know very little about (at least as far as selling in that market).

What's cool about Undercover Profits is that I would normally advise you do A LOT of research into a market before you start investing time and money to promote products on terrain you don't KNOW. That would mean definite failure in war - and you need to think of the PPC as that; war.

Entering a new market, you're like the guy charging the enemy who's already entrenched on top of a hill - he's looking down on you. He knows the terrain and he can see more of the picture than you can. Plus, it's tougher to run up hill than it is to fire down.

With Undercover Profits you can get a satellite image of the terrain - you can see what's working and who it's working for - because in PPC, the people consistently promoting in the same ad spots are probably on to something.

If you find a set of keyword phrases where affiliates are consistently promoting a product by sending searchers direct to merchant (the least profitable way of playing the game), then you know you've found an easy money market.

And, you can EASILY destroy that affiliate by employing Black Book techniques.

So after just a few days, I'm selecting the "guitar" niche.

I am not going to reveal to you the products I'll promote, or the keywords I'm going to use to promote - not until a while down the road. While I love playing guitar, I know nothing about marketing in this niche.

Here's my plan:

1. I already know which affiliate programs are making money - I can see that by looking at my Undercover Profits data.

2. I need an enticing offer to gain subscribers. I'm going to hire a friend of mine to record 10 short 3-5 minute guitar lesson videos. The first five videos will be used as an enticement to subscribe. The second five videos, plus guitar tabliture, will be used on the backend as an enticement to recommend the site to five friends (I'll use Scott Boulch's "The List Virus" to manage this process).

Getting these videos done will probably cost in the range of $500-1000 dollars, but I'll have a KILLER optin offer that will be difficult to beat. I could probably get cheap on production and do a lot of this job myself, but I have other things to focus on so I'm betting it's worth paying for.

3. Once I've achieved a level of conversion I'm happy with, I'm going to put a link on my site for "affiliates" - one of the really cool features of The List Virus software is that it allows me to build a squeeze page that any affiliate can send traffic for a Clickbank product to - and that affiliate gets paid for the sale (while I build my list).

The advantage to the affiliate for sending traffic to my site instead of the merchants? Most of the time I'll be able to outconvert the merchant by a lot - which means more sales to the affiliate for sending people to my site instead of the merchant's.

And the merchant? Don't feel sorry for him - he's also going to make more money.

4. My follow-up emails will continue selling a variety of guitar related products - from guitars to amps to instructional videos.

5. Maybe I sell this site up the road.

You can follow the exact same process as above. You don't need Undercover Profits - or The List Virus to do any of this, but they're definitely tools to consider when you start making some money - LEARN TO VALUE YOUR TIME APPROPRIATELY and buy only tools that fit with what you're already doing.

I only recommend software and info products that directly complement or add too my own way of doing things.

Oh - and of course, I'll be using Keyword Xray to track all of my keyword phrases so I know exactly which phrases are converting (and if not, then I'll either cut those terms or revise my landing page to get more out of that traffic).

X

Keyword Xray

2007-03-20T08:40:00.000-07:00

Yes, I think this software is absolutely a tool that if you use it you cannot help but make money. Right now, I'm sure your inbox is filling up with bonus offer pitches for Keyword Xray from everyone in IM.

Instead of guessing at what I can add to the mix to entice you to buy through my link, you tell me what you think is a killer bonus - post it here as a comment.

This doesn't mean I'll go for it, but I'll consider everything.

X

http://xrayx.xraydomination.com

To Get Rich, First You Must Commit

2007-03-18T10:36:00.000-07:00

A lot has been written about selecting a niche, but it's the most consistent place people get hung up and fall down.

First off, if you're having trouble picking a niche, recognize and admit your phobia to commitment. You're not ADD - you're putting crap in your body and you're mentally driven by the lust for greener grass somewhere else.

It's weakness; "ADD" is nothing to wear proudly as some kind of badge of honor. Meet someone who proudly proclaims they're ADD and you've just met an info-crackhead.

NOTHING in life happens until you commit to something - and you're always committed to something so if you don't like your results then start looking at what you ARE committed
to and recognize you can make a new choice at any moment.

You're never stuck - commit - if it doesn't work, uncommit and find something else to commit to.

But you must COMMIT.

OK . . .

Some of this you've heard and some of this you haven't - and some of it probably has the unique twist you need to really make a difference.

Let's go -

1. Select a niche or a target market to focus on.

I distinguish niche from target market in this way; a niche is an area of interest, such as model cars, frisbee golf, plate collecting, or labrador dog owners.

A target market is a group of people who share similar traits and have common needs.

A target market will be larger, but less focused.

You will need to work on segmenting the target; for example, you may have 'homeowners', but people who own a ranch/farm have very different needs than people who own a
condominium (yet they also share some similarities).

I recommend Undercover Profits as a way of quickly finding and evaluating a niche or target market based on keyword profitability probabality - ie, if affiliates are successfully making money then it is a good place to explore further - if not, then you better have a high level of passion for the subject to make it work.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Just because affiliate's aren't making it work doesn't mean it can't work. Because most affiliate's are only focused on making a one-time sale on a low-cost front-end product, they can't afford to spend what a 'real business' can.

If affiliate's are making it work, then that means it's an 'easy money' market. If you start employing Black Book tactics, you can EASILY kick ass on the existing affiliates - put in a back-end of your own, and you can kick ass on ANYBODY.

OK . . .

You can also do this research by hand, though it's time consuming. Print out a spreadsheet and start recording, daily, which ads are showing consistently and in which position.

There's a good video demo of this here:
http://www.undercoverprofits.com/adwordsblackbook

This is basically how I've learned many of my innovative tactics over time - by doing searches on specific phrases day after day after day and watching what changes are occurring.

It's amazing to me how people will see a product in a market they know nothing about, write an ad, and hope for the best.

That's like going to the horse track once per year, placing a bet (when you know NOTHING about horses) and hoping you'll win.

Trust me, it doesn't work - and if it does it was a fluke; don't expect it to work consistently.

So go find something to commit to - by the way, to commit means to "cut off all other options".

Choose a path and stick with it long enough that you give yourself a SERIOUS opportunity to succeed.

X

Products and Paradigm Shifts

2007-03-16T09:10:00.000-07:00

It's not all peaches and cream sitting atop
Mount Olympus with the other Gurus.

You can laugh now - I am.

The toughest part of this gig is trying to
satisfy people's unquenchable thirst for
"The Big Secret".

I have secrets, sure.

But excellence isn't as much about the "how
to" secrets as 'they' want you to believe.

As marketer's we're expert (to some degree)
at poking and prodding people's lust button.

EVERY time you buy something, your desire
button has been poked.

This is reality: Until you've rid yourself of
desire and you sit along side the REAL gurus,
you're always exploitable.

It's not that someone's going to convince you
to spend a few bucks that soothe your desire
for a day or two - in fact, that's not bad - it's
just "what is".

It's that when you get stuck in this desire,
you don't take action with what you have.

It has NOTHING to do with HARD WORK.

Please, somebody put a sock in that guy's
mouth already - the more he talks, the more
I'm convinced he's living on fluff.

That's an insult to anyone who's ever dug a
ditch for a living - that big guru doesn't have
clue one what REAL hard work is . . .

Back on topic:

My Black Book owners last week asked me
to setup a real campaign this week to show
how I do it.

There was a common "problem" with my
workshop attendees and I'm finding it with
my DVD customers too - so I am assuming
this is a widespread symptom of
miseducation.

People don't buy keyword phrases - they
buy products that satisfy a desire that is
symptomatic of an underlying feeling of
not being fulfilled (and that feeling never
goes away unless the person recognizes
and resolves it - and 99% of people
don't).

Over and over I read in forums about how
somebody is getting Google slapped, not
making Adwords work, etc.

Their approach?

They pick some random product, build the
biggest keyword list they can and place
the cheapest bids possible.

That's marketing?

All of the above . . .

WRONG

WRONG

WRONG

Yes, that approach can work. So can
hitting the bullseye on a dartboard,
blindfolded.

But it fails 95% of the time. Not just
for newbies - for me and for everyone
else I know.

That's why I say "Think product
specific". Look for where the hungry
crowd already exists - take a small
group of hungry people over the great
hoard and you'll win.

Forget about how much search volume
there is - well, there needs to be some
demand - but one of my best affiliate
performers of all-time only generated
about 1500 clicks per month. And that
was enough to earn tens of thousands
per year - FROM ONE PRODUCT I
promoted with a keyword list of FIVE
terms.

Paradigm Shifts . . .

I love them. When I have them, I make
more money.

They usually occur when I start to
question conventional wisdom and DO
the opposite.

The ugliness of Adsense and page
generator sites has had a far greater
impact on Internet marketing than I
think anyone realizes.

It created BAD habits. It created BAD
paradigms. It created a lot of faulty
reasoning that has resulted in failure -
and that failure rate is going viral.

"They only thing I know is that I know
nothing." - Socrates

My hunch . . . there isn't an Internet
marketer alive smarter than our boy S.

Question your paradigms - because no
matter who's mouth it comes from, the
only constant here is change.

CLOSED: Seeking Apprentice(s) CLOSED

2007-03-01T10:49:00.000-07:00

Hey Xster -

I'm looking for someone to work with
who can put together sites, install
scripts, etc.

I need to get out of the technical part
of my business - maybe you want to
help.

There are two things that are essential
to me:

1. You must have a high level of integrity -
you must do what you say you're going
to do, when you say you'll do it.

If it doesn't get done - no excuses; either
you're going to get the job done or not.

2. A sense of urgency. I cannot deal with
people who drag their feet and just can't
get it going.

What's in it for you . . .

a. A modest wage, with potential for
more up the road - in your response,
tell me what you're willing to work for -

b. A one-on-one relationship with me;
I don't have much time for conversation,
but you'll be a part of what I'm
developing and learn first-hand from
what I do and how I do it (more on the
site development side than from the
Adwords side).

c. You'll have access to all kinds of
scripts and tools - many before they
hit the market.

Tell me why . . .

If you're interested, then post a
comment and tell my why you think
you're right for this opportunity.

(Comments will be reviewed by
me, but NOT posted to the blog -
anything you share WILL NOT
be seen by anyone but me and my
assistant. Be sure to include an
email address and your name, so
I can contact you).

I DO NOT want to hear any hard
luck stories - I want to hear the
positive and the proactive reasons.

Show me actual work and be as
specific as possible about what you
can do - in as few words as are
necessary.

Writer's - you'll get your chance
next.

X

Adwords Money Map

2007-02-21T07:47:00.000-07:00

.X. has just released a new offer
called The Adwords Money Map.

In this report, with bonus video,
.X. reveals the sales process he
has developed after years of
observation, testing and trials.

You won't believe the price on
this offer - he's practically
giving it away.

Check it out here:

http://MoneyMapX.com

Already own the Adwords Money
Map? Leave a comment - tell us
what you think.

Shut up and listen

2007-02-17T15:42:00.000-07:00

Most people I meet I really like.

I think people are surprised when they
meet me and discover I'm not the guy
they thought I'd be.

It was great fun at a recent event when
I was sitting next to a guy, having a beer
and he asked me what I do -

"I wrote the Adwords Black Book . . ."

He almost fell out of his chair.

"You're kidding! I'm on your list - I love
your stuff. Are you guys on his list?
You should be - it's great."

That kind of thing is fun -

It's all I said and I said it to plenty of
other people who just looked at me with
a blank glassy stare . . .

"OK dude . . . never heard of you or your
book . . . don't want to sound stupid . . .
don't know who the hell you are . . ."

So, you've got another guy there - a young
'stud'.

Every chance he gets he's trying to tell
someone how great he is, how much
money he makes, how much insider access
he has.

Poseur.

Reminds me of the kids who hot rod up and
down our street in a Bondo gray 1986 Honda
with a blown muffler.

Dudes . . . you're not cool.

You're annoying.

And, your car is loud, not because it's got
something hot under the hood . . . you need
a new muffler.

OK - I probably did some dork-ass stuff like
that too.

Back to the venti-uno braggart.

I don't know, maybe it's all true but I've
found the more I shut up the more
successful I tend to be.

Here's my modus operendi . . .

I like to enter a situation as the quiet guy
in the background - the shadow.

I listen, I learn, I assess.

Then, if I have something worth saying,
I say it.

A lot of people I've known get lulled into
underestimating me.

The people who really know me, know
that when I do say something, it's worth
listening too (if they can make sense of
it).

Mainly though, when I'm in a room full of
smart people I've found I have far more
to gain by listening to what they have to
say.

Sometimes, shut up and listen is good
advice.

Black Books, Gurus and Customers

2007-02-17T15:14:00.000-07:00

Did you know there are over 150,000 advertisers
on Google Adwords?

That's a lot of people.

I point that out to the people who are concerned
about me selling my information to 500 or 1000
of them.

When I sold the Adwords Black Book, my biggest
concern was that my information in the hands of
other people would dilute it's power.

I sure didn't see any adverse affect -

In fact, where my business was hurt most had
nothing to do with what I shared - what hurt it
most was that I wasn't prepared for the later
demands that pulled me away from my old
business and into this new 'teacher' gig.

And teaching is only the start. I won't bore you
with the details - let's just say, be careful what
you wish for.

Playing the Game . . .

I don't mind being honest with you - I'd like to
think that's why you read what I write.

The problem with this whole 'guru' thing is
one day you're 'doing it' . . . then you decide
you want something - a little recognition, to
share your ideas, a calling card people pay
attention to, to sincerely help people - and
the next thing you know you wake up in the
muck.

I don't mind calling myself a 'guru'. It's a label
and I've been labeled worse.

Who cares?

I don't walk on water and my sh*t does stink
and I'm clear on both.

I have stuff to offer that works for a lot of
people and if 'guru' is the term for doing that,
then fine.

What I don't like about it is that people line
up with big expectations from their chosen
'savior'. Suddenly, every word from my
mouth has to be profound.

No, worse, are the opportunists. "X, I'll
write a sales letter and you create a product
and together we'll put it out there and you'll
get 25% of all sales for doing nothing."

Yes. On any casual evening, I pull a product
out of my ass.

Easy as birthing a baby.

Piece of cake.

I just lie there, writhe in pain for a few
minutes, then it's all smiles.

My wife, kind and gentle as she is, would
smack anyone in the head with a dead
fish if she thought you thought I'm serious.

No, the big problem with being a guru is
that you wind up not doing much of what
you teach because you're too busy teaching
or managing people you've taught to do
what you're teaching.

The result? Crap.

OK, moving on from crap. What's my point?

First, I attended Rich Schefren's event last
weekend. Had a good time with my family
in Florida and got my head cleared up a
bit.

Hallalujah, I have a direction.

On Rich note, I got a lot of good value
from his presentation.

I also heard something that shocked me -
and it says a lot (especially since the
guy is teaching business to so many 'gurus').

Rich said, when you're getting your biz
going you can only focus on doing so many
things well. And ultimately, only one thing
is important - bringing in the money to get
to the next stage.

I guess I agree with that.

Then he said, basically, in the beginning the
thing you have to scrimp on is customer
support.

Really, you had to hear him say it to get just
how bad it really sounded. I felt like a cheap
whore and based on my experience, he's
not lying.

Even with his live presentation, he put the
prospects at home ahead of the captive audience
that spent good bucks and time to be there.

[ Rich's confession ]

Don't get me wrong, I've gotten a lot from his
program - yet it's very clear that Rich's main
objective is getting as many customers
through the door as he can - and he's not all
that worried if they're happy.

I think this happens a lot. And I don't think
it's smart business - not if you want to endure
the long run.

Now, it's pretty damn hard to argue that at
this moment in time Rich is the king of our
little IM world.

He's really done it.

But, is it that hard - that costly to provide
even mediocre customer support (Rich, nor
his staff rarely ever visit his forum or answer
questions).

When I worked my last job, we would get
slammed with emails. Nobody had time for
them all - yet, when would focus on answering
as many as we could, sales would double.

Some response - ANY response - means something.

Since our backend sales (from existing
customers) and word of mouth referrals
(from our existing customers) are so
important - and the gurus tell us so - does
it seem calculated to neglect those people
in pursuit of new people when you can't
even support the old?

I don't know; makes no sense to me at all.

Of course, when you read the replies to
Rich's apology, you've got a lot of
bootlickers and maybe it's the customer's
fault as much as the guru's.

Tell me what you think . . .

Yahoo Makes the Change

2007-02-06T07:37:00.000-07:00

New Ranking Model Launches Today, February 5, 2007

We're excited to announce that the new ranking model has launched today, February 5, 2007, in our U.S. market. The new ranking model is designed to improve user results through higher quality search ads. When users engage with these higher quality search ads, advertisers will receive more interested, valuable potential customers, helping to drive better results for your business.

As we previously announced, both bid amount and ad quality
now determine an ad's rank in search results.

Your bid is the maximum amount that you're willing to pay when your ad is clicked. You will never be charged more than this amount.

Your ad's quality is determined by:

The ad's historical performance—determined by its click-through rate relative to its position on the page.

The ad's expected performance, relative to competing ads displayed at the same time—determined by various relevance factors considered by Yahoo!'s ranking algorithms.

You can gain an understanding of an ad's quality by looking at its quality index, which will be available to you once you've upgraded to the new Sponsored Search system.

Example of How Ads may be Ranked

The graphic below helps illustrate a scenario that may result from this change:

Learn more about the new ranking model. Learn more about the quality index.

Three Things you should do to Take Advantage of the New Ranking Model
To take advantage of the new ranking model, you should:

Include keywords in your ads.

Use Excluded Words to optimize your Advanced match type ads.

Review your current bids and set a budget to meet your business goals.

For more details, please click here.

And the winner is . . .

2007-02-03T09:08:00.000-07:00

First - I have something cool to show you.
Second - I have a winner to announce.

This is what I love about Internet marketing -
there is always a unique new twist that
nobody else has done waiting around a corner.

A lot of people are looking to make some
quick cash - and having that first experience
is a real key to making the ball roll.

So tell me, can you write a 10 page report?

Could you have somebody write a 10 page
report for you?

Of course - it's easy.

Just go to a forum and look at the questions
people have on a topic.

Create a report that answers those questions
and setup a system exactly like this guy:

http://imxfiles.com/7dollarsecrets/
Go visit the site and make notes about each
step in his process . . .

Then, DO IT!

And the winner of the set of Black Book
DVDs is . . .

Some of you guys are just seriously
friggin' nuts.

What kind of people are we attracting
here?

:-)

OK - we knew this would be tough - and it
was - in fact, I almost wish I didn't do
this because there were about 15 I could
have picked.

But somebody has to be 'the one' this time
and it's:

Dominick (dom123456)

Lot's of great answers - thanks to everyone
who took their shot.

X

Knock, Knock . . .

2007-01-28T18:38:00.000-07:00

This is it . . . your one and only
chance to win a FREE copy of the
Black Book DVDs.

Post a comment that explains why
YOU should be the one I choose.

Tell me why the Black Book DVDs
are the right program for you, and
what you'd do with this very
privileged information if you had
it in your hot little hands.

I will announce the winner this
Friday, February 2nd.

X

Rosalind Gardner Says

2007-01-17T13:45:00.000-07:00

I was a little surprised that
Rosalind Gardner gave play to
my Affiliate Marketing Sham
report - I like Rosalind, but
my style is a little 'rough'
for her.

She blasted me in her blog
today and we shall see if she
approves my response.

If she doesn't, here it is:

Hi Rosalind,

I appreciate your review of my tactics. I’m always open to learning and as I told you in a personal email, your handbook was the first ebook I ever purchased; I highly respect your work and skill as a writer – you’re good.

Rosalind: Using the word ‘Sham’ is an effective ATTENTION-GRABBER. The ‘Death of Adsense’ report and the Rick Jerk used similar attention-grabbing techniques. Yet, X may alienate some internet marketing students who are unimpressed that he hitches a ride on that bandwagon.

.X.: The use of reports has proven to be a highly effective list builder. I understand you’re taking a pro/con approach here and it’s probably true that many are burned out on the great amount of content to decipher. It didn’t play out as well as expected with certain audiences, but answering “Thank you for opening my eyes” emails has been gratifying and kept me busy.

Rosalind: The mysterious ‘X’ persona enhances DESIRE to know more about the author and what he knows. However, X loses CREDIBILTY and fails to build TRUST with this technique.

.X.: Fair enough; it sure didn’t hurt me on the Adwords Black Book and there’s nobody on the Internet marketing scene who gets more talk than the Rich Jerk. My credibility and trust isn’t fluffed up by what I claim to have done – and frankly who’d know my name anyway? My credibility is built on the testimonials I have from actual people making real money for themselves (as well as people like Allen Says, Willie Crawford, Dr. Mike Woo-Ming and others who’ve experienced my work).

Although all of my customers know me by name, most prefer to call me “X” – and I appreciate you haven’t called me “Mister”.

Rosalind: X uses strong, offensive language and name-calling in the report. Althugh this may appeal to a younger demographic, it’s a huge turn-off to a more mature crowd that generally views swearing as a lack of skill, knowledge and/or intelligence.

.X.: Positioning is a critical element of marketing. If I attempted to reach the same audience as Perry Marshall – or you – clearly I’d be missing the target with the aggressive, guerilla tactics approach I teach. I won’t insult the “mature” crowd with a label because some of my very best customers are “mature”; my crowd is not the “conservative crowd” intimidated by risk and I prefer to turn THEM off sooner than later.

Regarding the perception I might “lack skill, knowledge and/or intelligence” - I’ve worked for two US Presidents and graduated Magna Cum Laude from a top 25 university. My approach is calculated: I think people are sick of the same formulaic blah-blah and my willingness to tell it like it is appeals to the RIGHT customer for me.

Rosalind: X’s assertion that 25% or more of all affiliate sales are not properly credited instills FEAR. Fear creates DESIRE for the upcoming product which teaches how to overcome ‘the peril’. Really makes you wonder how despite all the commission theft and lousy tracking so many Super Affiliates are making more than a million bucks a year. Yup, we’re ‘Big-Time Losers’ alright. LOL. Note: What I found particularly interesting is that unlike most merchants in the IM category, X set up his affiliate program so that those who recommended the report, would not benefit from subsequent sales of the product. That requires a different affiliate link.

.X.: First, it’s a provable assertion so fear or not, it’s a reality.

There’s POTENTIALLY great money as an affiliate, yes. But there’s far better money having an army of affiliates working for you. Being an affiliate –ONLY - should be seen as nothing more than a stepping stone and if people – you included – are only using affiliate marketing as a money maker, then you ARE leaving money on the table. Of course, you have your own product and pressed to give an answer I know you’d admit it has certain high leverage benefits that selling OPP doesn’t give you.

Regarding my commission strategy, that was a chance taken after talking with several other marketer’s about their own launch strategies. Yes, I take a lot of risks and they don’t all fly – but it’s that out-of-the-box thinking that puts me on the map.

Rich Schefren, for instance, made it mandatory that his partners promote his Manifestos if they wanted to be a part of his product launch (and no, he didn’t pay for those subscribers that I’m aware of).

I didn’t want to force my affiliate’s in that way, so I decided to offer you a commission per subscriber – then also offer a commission if you actually promote the product itself. If you promote the freebie you get a commission and if you promote the product you get an additional commission. If you don’t promote one or the other, you don’t. Seems fair enough to me. Not a single affiliate, until this moment, has had any issue with that approach and I think you’ll agree that from this perspective it’s quite fair.

I hope you enjoy your DVDs when they arrive Rosalind.

All the best to you - .X.

Here's Rosalind's post in its
entirety - I've only included
my response to portions of it.

http://clicks.aweber.com/z/ct/?RCX6dQUclbhijheu3Xg0cg

No Bull

2007-01-15T19:40:00.000-07:00

> > I'm 36 years old with a wife and two children. My wife works and I am
> > self-employed
> > working lawn maintenance and landscaping. I know what it means to work
> > hard. I served in the Marines, dug ditches, loaded and unloaded trucks,
> > and
> > I continue to work hard. In my "spare time", such as it is, I try my
> hand
> > at IM, but I'm becoming more and more disillusioned with the whole
> > business
> > since all I have seen and attempted has been regurgitated garbage.
> >
> > I'm at a crossroads in my life with IM. Your Black Book DVD's will be
> the
> > last thing I ever consider buying, if it is something within my price
> > range. So I need to know if you truly believe that your product is
> worth
> > the investment or not. I'm literally at the end of my rope financially
> > ...

> We could change a few elements of
> your story and make it mine.
>
> Three and a half years ago I was
> fired from my job, after calling
> my boss out for his low integrity.
>
> I couldn't work in that situation.
>
> My wife and I had a seven month
> old and $600 in the bank - I was
> making about $400 a month from
> affiliate marketing on the side
> at that time.
>
> I hope it's clear in my messages
> that I have a value system; part
> of that comes from my own military
> background, part as a family guy
> too. I've met a lot of people in
> this business who lack anything
> resembling honor and integrity.
>
> My approach evolved out of a need
> to make things happen for my
> family. I didn't have $50 to blow
> and now that I do, I don't believe
> in blowing money - I've worked too
> hard for it.
>
> Bottom line is, I cannot and will
> not promise anybody that what I
> do will work for them - but I've
> chased a lot of dead ends, spent
> thousands on programs, software,
> ect, and it's my goal to deliver
> the real deal - recognizing that
> people put their hopes and dreams
> on the line - that the investment
> in my program takes money away
> from things that could go to your
> children.
>
> That investment better pay off
> for you. I better deliver and I
> take that seriously.
>
> I'm not going to tell you what
> you should or should not do. I
> do hope you can see clearly where
> I'm coming from.
>
> All the best to you - X

re: The Great Affiliate Sham

2007-01-08T18:17:00.000-07:00

Hi Mr. X

Thought I would take you up on starting a thread for your report.

I am guilty of building my vendors (publishers) lists and not my own. It hurts! I feel like I have no control over the future and at any time the rug can get pulled. The short term money is great but the long term outlook is questionable.

I also see many times where I do not get the aff credit but have always chalked that up to the cost of business. Love the report. It makes it clear that the power is in the list or who owns the traffic. I have to start building a business. Thanks X.

JoeJr

PS Your BlackBook easily put an extra $10,000+ in my pocket last year and I look forward to the DVD's. Anyone one on the fence with the DVD's should take the plunge. Mr. X is for real!

Dick

2007-01-06T13:21:00.000-07:00

A message for Richard M.

I love most of my customers.

I really do.

Then there are people like
Richard that I just have to
write about - and I know you
like hearing about this
because we ALL have people
like this we'd like to just

GO

First, this guy writes
saying "I've subscribed 4
times and I've never
received anything. Is
THIS a sham."

Well, Richard, you use
Earthlink and being busy
as I am I don't spend a lot
of time responding to people's
spam filter challenges.

If you want to receive your
email, get a real email
provider - not Earthlink.

But, I appease dear Dick and
I send him a direct link.

He then writes back saying
"I read your report and I
have a number of doubts and
suspicions (yes, they are
YOUR doubts and suspicions
Rich and no one's else.)

You wrote, Mr. X, that you
were a receptionist. Isn't
that usually a job for
women?

OK. Dick is a sexist pig.

And Dick probably isn't a
"do what you've got to do
to support your family" kind
of guy.

Yes, Mr. X had a 'girl' job
Dick.

Honestly, I find this
ridiculously funny. Because
that thought never once ever
crossed my mind before.

It was a job in a tourist
town where the options are:

a. Locker room attendent
b. Telemarketer
c. Receptionist

I prefer this story:

"Man, starting with NOTHING,
builds million dollar business
in his spare bedroom, then
gets to thumb nose at all of
the meatheads in the world
like Dick."

I hope somebody loves you
Dick. I do.

And bless her (him?)

.X.

Two Weeks to Launch

2007-01-03T19:19:00.000-07:00

The Black Book DVDs will
launch on January 16th.

If you've been following me
you know I'm not a big hype guy -
it's a fine line to walk in
marketing because you must
get people excited - but you
have to deliver the goods
too.

I studied film making in
college and had a course in
film marketing.

Fascinating stuff.

Opening weekend is critical
for a movie - if people like
the movie, it generates word
of mouth buzz. It needs a
little help to get the first
group in the door - but if the
film is REALLY good, then it
has legs of it's own.

If a movie sucks and the studio
knows it, they know they
have to make what they can on
opening weekend - they hype
the hell out of it and sucker
as many people as they can.

The Black Book DVDs . . . I'm
thinking great word of mouth
buzz, just like the Adwords
Black Book.

I'm not worried about a
blockbuster launch (although
there's more than a little
interest from others wanting
to promote the DVDs)

After visiting the printer
today and flipping through
Black Book Manual One the
first time, I can say I've
created the product I wanted
to - it's full of great,
valuable info that's going
to make people money.

The Great Affiliate Marketing Sham

2006-12-29T09:54:00.001-07:00

This free report is now live
on the Black Book DVDs

I am also offering a bounty
on signups - available to
when you request the report.

http://blackbookdvds.com

The Great Affiliate Marketing Sham

2006-12-29T09:54:00.000-07:00

This free report is now live
on the Black Book DVDs

I am also offering a bounty
on signups - available to
when you request the report.

http://blackbookdvds.com

Excerpt from "The Great Affiliate Sham"

2006-12-20T18:57:00.000-07:00

"I don't care how good your
information is in an ebook,
you go and try to sell that
ebook for 197 or 250 dollars.
It can't be done. It's very,
very difficult to do it."

- John Reese, The Reese Report
April 2006

The Adwords Black Book, priced
at $197, sold out on April 4th,
2006.

Two Really Big Offers Coming

2006-12-09T17:56:00.000-07:00

The following offers are for
Adwords Black Book owners
ONLY.

Links will be live for a
limited time, so watch your
email inbox CLOSELY in the
coming four-to-ten-days for
messages from .X.

============================
OFFER ONE
============================

I will be offering you the
complete Black Book DVDs
package as a bonus to
another product launch, only
as a favor to a very good
friend of mine.

Don't EXPECT this to EVER
happen again.

The Black Book DVDs are
nearing completion and
should consist of 12-14 DVDs
full of new, in-depth
information about dominating,
humuliating and annhilating
your Adwords competition and
A LOT MORE.

The Adwords Black Book was
called "The Greatest Internet
Marketing Ebook Ever Written"
by many customers, and these
DVDs should rate with the top
IM packages ever released.

The Black Book DVDs will
sell for $1197 to non-Adwords
Black Book owners (plus s&h).

As a bonus to this launch
package, I will offer you
the Black Book DVDs for ONLY
$197 plus (plus s&h).

This is PROBABLY the best
offer you will EVER see for
the Black Book DVDs.

Watch here for more info.

============================
OFFER TWO
============================

I didn't want to share this
offer until weeks from now,
but I didn't expect I'd be
making an offer like the one
above - EVER.

If you don't want the BIG
package above, then here's
the Pre-release offer on the
Black Book DVDs for my
Adwords Black Book owners
ONLY.

The non-Black Book owner
price will be $1197 (plus
s&h).

For my owners, I will be
offering a pre-release, pre-
Christmas special 3-pay-plan.

One payment of just $297.97
(plus s&h), followed by two
payments of only 249.97.

That's a huge savings off
the regular price and my way
of saying "Thank you".

Watch your email inbox for
both of these offers in the
next 3-10 days.

.X.

===========================
ABOUT THE BLACK BOOK DVDs
===========================

Expected delivery of the
Black Book DVDs is the first
week of February, 2007.

The package contains live
video footage from the four
day Black Book workshop that
attendees paid $2400 or more
to attend (and felt they got
every penny worth).

The package will also
include supplemental video
excerpts and approximately
300 pages of detailed
instruction. And probably
software too.

Is there significant NEW
material here not covered
by the Adwords Black Book
or available elsewhere?

YES.

Talk About Hype

2006-12-05T11:56:00.000-07:00

Will Paul Myers care if I post
this excerpt from his latest
newsletter?

Who cares. I'm doing it any
way because it's rare I read
something that's hits me
profoundly.

In particular, I like the last
sentence, but don't skip the
rest to get to it.

This is from an article
discussing things people
complain about related to copy.

.X.

Paul Meyer's wrote:

"Too much hype."

"Hype" is such an interesting word. Sort of like
"interesting."

If you're talking to technical people, it means appealing to
emotions they're not comfortable with. If you're talking to
marketers, it means shouting stuff they've heard a million
times before.

If you're talking to real people, it probably means they don't
believe you. (For the new kids, that's a Bad Thing.)

None of that is enough to draw out the emotional intensity that
the word "hype" has for some people, though. So, what is it
that makes "hype" so annoying?

It's simple, really, if not always obvious. It's the friction
between wanting the product and feeling like they're in
conflict with the copy and, by extension, the seller.

If they don't want the product, they don't care about the copy.
If you get one thing from this section, it should be this:

Strong reactions almost never come from people who don't care.

Back to .X.

"Strong reactions almost never
come from people who don't care."

I love it.

There is so much pansie ass
marketing going on right now
I don't know if I should love
it - because it makes my life
damn easy. Or hate it, because
it just PISSES me off to watch
people sleep walk half-assed
through life.

If you're work isn't generating
strong polarized opinions, then
stop trying to kiss everyone's
ass.

Really.

Case in point, The Rich Jerk.

Here's a guy who's written
one ebook and people are still
talking about him.

Why?

Because people either love him
or hate him.

The people who love him would
buy anything he puts out.

The people who hate him?

They still build his brand
because they cannot NOT talk
about what an ass he is.

That's brilliant marketing.

Brilliant marketing isn't
pulling out the book of sales
and marketing cliche's and
writing the same drab, boring
tedious, ho-hum jerk-off junk
everyone else is.

Come on people . . .

Take some chances already.

Adwords Account Banned

2006-11-29T11:12:00.000-07:00

Adwords Account Banned

Post on Forum (This is NOT me or my
client - I don't 'DO' clients):

A few weeks ago one of my best coaching
club clients received an email from Google
stating that his companies' AdWords (not
Adsense) account had been closed and that
they where banned from advertising with
them.

Since my client cannot figure out for the
life of him what the heck he could have
possibly done wrong, he has sent several
emails to them and has even tried getting
info over the phone, but no dice!

Has this happened to anyone else? I've
heard of people getting their AdSense
accounts banned, but never an AdWords
Account.

Besides that if what he's telling me is
correct, his company spent an average of
$15,000- to $20,000- a MONTH on AdWords.

I feel bad for the poor guy and besides
that he is one of my best clients and I'd
hate to see his business suffer . . .

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

After identifying the problem
wasn't the product, that Google
wouldn't give him a direct
answer, how much - or little
he was spending . . .

The problem was isolated that
he had multiple accounts
promoting the same product on
the same keyword phrases.

It sounds like we have an
answer.

First, Google is tricky about
ferreting this out. It's
cheating and apparently Google
don't like it enough it will
ban ALL your accounts.

But there's a way to get around
this without getting in
trouble. It's possible to
run multiple ads for the
same search phrase (within the
same account); you just
can't be promoting the same
product. ;-)

For those who have the Black Book,
think IP. For those who don't -
or do - if you have a winning
keyword phrase, then promoting
multiple forms of the product -
or using different prospect
approaches works fine.

In other words, a book and an
audio on the exact same subject
are two different products.

That's OK.

Using a variety of front end
give aways that lead to the
same destination - OK too.

There's always a way to gain
a competitive advantage without
"cheating" in Google's eyes.

And running multiple campaings
on multiple accounts to promote
the same thing is cheating in
the eyes of Big Brother, I mean
Google.

.X.

PS - The Black Book DVD's
should be out late January 2007.

PPS - My tactics are always
aggressive. Use them at your
own discretion. If you funk it
up, rules change, etc, it's
your business - not mine - and
you're responsible for it - not
me. Consider this a disclaimer.

GoTryThis | Go Try This

2006-07-15T11:20:00.001-07:00

I'm giving you a strong "Buy Recommendation"
on this one.

Just like my Adwords Black Book, this opp
is going to come and go quickly and with
little "above the ground" buzz.

This is a great value on it's own - and I'm
going to sweeten the deal too.

Go check it out:

http://imxfiles.com/gotrythat/

GoTryThis | Go Try This

2006-07-15T11:20:00.000-07:00

Fred is Cool

2006-03-25T17:52:00.000-07:00

Through the Black Book experience,
I've learned a lot.

Take chances, be bold, be careful
the advice you give and take.

Fred responded to my email like a
true gentlemen.

I understand your frustration Fred.

I understand.

And whereas Fred was cool enough to
be honest, I can't say the same of
people like Mike, Holly, Bogdan,
Adam, and a slue of others.

But whatever.

It's not about me. People have their
agendas, their bad hair days, their
chips on their shoulders.

I'm going to give
myself some credit.

There was a time Fred's email would
have pissed me off to no end.

Instead it sparked the idea that I
really need a blog.

Black Books Blog . . .

I like it. So thanks Fred.

Now, let's talk about Holly.

I made a monumental mistake by going
with Virtual Vault - CBProtect.com -
as security for my intellectual
property.

What a piece of crap, headache
creating, crappy ass supported piece
of crap.

Did I say it's a piece of crap?

It is. It cost me close to a
thousand bucks on top of it all. So,
thanks Shawn Pringle.

Thanks a bunch.

It's a good thing you have that
disclaimer.

But, then there's Holly. I'm very
good at putting the finger on where
people reside mentally and Holly is
therefore no surprise to me.

She's one of those who thinks that if
she plays the tough business bitch
thing she'll get the respect she
covets.

Holly buys product, doesn't read
instructions clearly highlighted in
bright yellow, then complains about
it.

Holly also is first person to buy
product, attempt to register for
forum and not get the job done.

And she complains about it.

You know what? I'm fine with helping
people and I've bent over backwards
doing 16-18 hour days to ensure every
one is happy.

If there's a problem, do complain. I
just charged you $200 for an ebook -
albeight, a VERY GOOD ebook.

But what makes Holly different, is she
doesn't say "Hey, I'm having a problem.
Can you help me?"

She states her problems, then demands
a refund. She goes diva bitch on me.

OK, queen diva. Did you read my sales
letter? Did you think I was kidding?

No whiners wanted, or needed. Go.

Now.

So, Holly has her refund and she's on
her merry way to the next diva crisis.

I once heard Gary Halbert say that most
customers who request a refund have
made that decision before they buy the
product.

That's Holly.

Then you have people like Bogdan, but
that's another story for another time.

'X'

An Ode to Fred

2006-03-25T14:46:00.000-07:00

Fred, my muse. The inspirational force that gives birth to this, the official, Black Books Blog.

Fred Said . . .

> Hi, it appears your arrogance knows no bounds? Well one day you eat shit,
> I would rather be as I am and not develop into a lower form of life!

X Said . . .

Examine the feeling within Fred,
and then you will know the source
of your hatred. It isn't me, you
hate - it's how you feel.

And that, my friend, you can't pin
on me.

Most people get the humor in all of
this and appreciate that someone's
taken the time to be original in a
market where everything is formulaic.

I appreciate you as the very first
person out of 10,000+ visitors this
past week to actually write something
like this.

That's cool.

You put on the brass knuckles, showed
some balls, and took a shot.

You're just not shooting in the right
direction.

I'm clear I pushed a button - my
calculated intent and the reason I'm
considered a genius.

I'm also clear you aren't my target
market.

I'm OK with that.

All the best to you,

X