Well, after I got that email saying my account had been re-activated, I found out the hard way that it's not. I spent 4 weeks on SEO activities for this bullshit. The SEO knowledge I gained was priceless as well as what I'm learning from this experience and that is
1) Do NOT put all your eggs in 1 basket.
2) Always be marketing/promoting more than 1 product. Things that are outside my control can often change when it's not necessarily convenient for me.
3) NEVER promote eBay as the sole source of income for your online business. I know others are making money doing it but fine for them.
eBay has to much shit with them for me to fool with those guys. They're arrogant, heavy handed and don't seem to think much of affiliates.
What to promote? There are literally thousands of products, physical, electronic ie. stuff sold on clickbank or paydotcom. I'll be going into more detail as lately I've been doing strictly cpa marketing and so far so good. I don't regret the last 8 months with BANS, however it's time to make that knowledge I gained pay off. Eventually that'll come to fruition.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Change in direction
Or focus, if you will. when I first started this blog at soggy's suggestion it was to be totally dedicated to BANS and the build a niche store project, which I'm kinda soured on due to eBay's tactics. I still like the product and the business model, I just don't see myself expending alot of energy and effort on it after eBay banned my ass twice WITHOUT speaking with me first and reversing my commissions. Don't play with my money. So seeing as how I'm now basically like F*ck ebay I'll use this blog to talk about my adventures with ppc and cpa marketing.
But first some background, cpa marketing is like the best kept secret in affiliate marketing. Basically what it stands for is cost per action, meaning, you get paid for a particular "action" that your visitors take. For some offers it can be a simple email, or zip submit, for others it's a pin. For other offers, the high paying ones are pay per trial signup or pay per sale. In the cpa game you can promote anything from the free iPhone offers to Baby Phat apparel, to home based business courses and online dating sites. The offers are endless. As a cpa marketer you want to join multiple networks and spread your traffic around. Currently my favorite networks are Market Leverage - Make Money! and revenue loop. Neverblue Ads is up near the top also.
But first some background, cpa marketing is like the best kept secret in affiliate marketing. Basically what it stands for is cost per action, meaning, you get paid for a particular "action" that your visitors take. For some offers it can be a simple email, or zip submit, for others it's a pin. For other offers, the high paying ones are pay per trial signup or pay per sale. In the cpa game you can promote anything from the free iPhone offers to Baby Phat apparel, to home based business courses and online dating sites. The offers are endless. As a cpa marketer you want to join multiple networks and spread your traffic around. Currently my favorite networks are Market Leverage - Make Money! and revenue loop. Neverblue Ads is up near the top also.
eBay Update
well, after i fired off another email to ebay's affiliate review board they finally responded with what they kicked me out of the program for. SPAM. the funny part is i didn't do it. i was a victim of the infamous gmail hack from 3 weeks ago. epn received an email that the spammer sent from my account. not to mention the fact that they said they'd received some complaints about that account. after showing them proof that my account had been hacked as well as others they reviewed my account and reinstated me.
But now here's the question in my mind: should i promote them seeing how they'll steal/ reverse your commissions over a slight violation without warning? umm i don't think so. once i get $150 off the store, i'm done actively promoting their auctions. i like cpa much better and so far this month i'm up $1100 and i'm just getting started. eBay - kiss my ASS!
But now here's the question in my mind: should i promote them seeing how they'll steal/ reverse your commissions over a slight violation without warning? umm i don't think so. once i get $150 off the store, i'm done actively promoting their auctions. i like cpa much better and so far this month i'm up $1100 and i'm just getting started. eBay - kiss my ASS!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
CPA, PPC just what is this?
Since I've been having trials and tribulations with ebay, lately I've been doing some CPA marketing and I gotta tell you: I f*cking LOVE it. Over the next few weeks, I'll be blogging more about this since I'm pretty much done with promoting ebay.
Basically CPA stands for cost per action. Thre are companies out there that pay for leads so if someone provides an email or zip code, the affiliate gets paid for that traffic. As a CPA affiliate, the big money is made promoting trial offers and physical products. Trial offers pay VERY well. Over the past 2 months I've been doing basic email submits and to date I'm up $1100. Not bad at all. My goal is to be doing that much per week, then by 1/09 $500/day. At that point I'm leaving corporate america to focus on this and investing in real estate.
Basically CPA stands for cost per action. Thre are companies out there that pay for leads so if someone provides an email or zip code, the affiliate gets paid for that traffic. As a CPA affiliate, the big money is made promoting trial offers and physical products. Trial offers pay VERY well. Over the past 2 months I've been doing basic email submits and to date I'm up $1100. Not bad at all. My goal is to be doing that much per week, then by 1/09 $500/day. At that point I'm leaving corporate america to focus on this and investing in real estate.
Activity Update
Welp, I called Pepperjam to get approved. However my app's been in pending status for the ebay program. I'll be calling their affiliate manager back this afternoon. Now that the site's showing up in the rankings, I need to get my money! They already STOLE a couple hundred from me thatr they "claim" was eared via improper promotions, which is BULLSHIT. But I digress..
It's been awhile
Man oh man, it's been a month to the day since I've updated this blog. Since the last update alot's been going on. Primarily with ebay and their bullshit. I got this email from the earlier this week:
After reviewing your promotional method, we found that you are in violation of the eBay Partner Network Service Agreement. Our records indicate that you have not received a written approval to promote eBay through E-mail. This model is considered a special promotion model as outlined by our network agreement in section (F)(4)(d) and requires a express written approval from the eBay Partner Network or the Advertiser. Your publisher account will be expired immediately, and 100% of your pending commissions will be reversed. You are not allowed to rejoin the eBay Partner Network.
As stated in the ePN Network Agreement, Section (F)(4):
Special Promotional Methods. Promoting Participating Sites and Content using any Promotional Methods other than a Link on your own website is considered a "Special Promotional Method". If your Special Promotional Method is not approved by the Program Terms, you are required to obtain ePN's or the Advertiser's express written permission in advance to use that Promotional Method in that Program. You are responsible for verifying whether the applicable Program Terms allow or approve your Special Promotional Method. ePN reserves the right to request you to terminate any special Promotional Method at any time, with or without notice or cause, and you agree to immediately comply. The following are non-limiting examples for special promotional methods:
1. e-mail, instant messaging, IRC channels or other electronic communications,
2. downloadable software,
3. incentive programs, or
4. distribution of Promotional Content via distribution partners or ad networks,
5. promoting Participating Sites and Content by placing Links in Paid Search results,
You will not promote Participating Sites and Content using Special Promotional Methods unless the Program Terms or ePN approve such promotion expressly in writing, in advance, and you comply with the additional terms in the Code of Conduct (https://www.ebaypartnernetwork.com/
Ok, now here's what pisses me off. First, I don't promote through email, so here it is ,they're convicting me without an investigation or even offering proof to back up their allegations. I don't promote anything via email, so now i have a dilemna, keep the niche stores up or close them? part of me is just like "FUCK ebay", but on the flip side i spent alot of time and effort to get my niche store in the rankings. so what i plan to do is get approved with pepperjam and get paid that way. And those fucknuts at ebay took my commissions as well. I sent them an email, but no reply. Big Shock! I'm beginning to hate ebay.
After reviewing your promotional method, we found that you are in violation of the eBay Partner Network Service Agreement. Our records indicate that you have not received a written approval to promote eBay through E-mail. This model is considered a special promotion model as outlined by our network agreement in section (F)(4)(d) and requires a express written approval from the eBay Partner Network or the Advertiser. Your publisher account will be expired immediately, and 100% of your pending commissions will be reversed. You are not allowed to rejoin the eBay Partner Network.
As stated in the ePN Network Agreement, Section (F)(4):
Special Promotional Methods. Promoting Participating Sites and Content using any Promotional Methods other than a Link on your own website is considered a "Special Promotional Method". If your Special Promotional Method is not approved by the Program Terms, you are required to obtain ePN's or the Advertiser's express written permission in advance to use that Promotional Method in that Program. You are responsible for verifying whether the applicable Program Terms allow or approve your Special Promotional Method. ePN reserves the right to request you to terminate any special Promotional Method at any time, with or without notice or cause, and you agree to immediately comply. The following are non-limiting examples for special promotional methods:
1. e-mail, instant messaging, IRC channels or other electronic communications,
2. downloadable software,
3. incentive programs, or
4. distribution of Promotional Content via distribution partners or ad networks,
5. promoting Participating Sites and Content by placing Links in Paid Search results,
You will not promote Participating Sites and Content using Special Promotional Methods unless the Program Terms or ePN approve such promotion expressly in writing, in advance, and you comply with the additional terms in the Code of Conduct (https://www.ebaypartnernetwork.com/
Ok, now here's what pisses me off. First, I don't promote through email, so here it is ,they're convicting me without an investigation or even offering proof to back up their allegations. I don't promote anything via email, so now i have a dilemna, keep the niche stores up or close them? part of me is just like "FUCK ebay", but on the flip side i spent alot of time and effort to get my niche store in the rankings. so what i plan to do is get approved with pepperjam and get paid that way. And those fucknuts at ebay took my commissions as well. I sent them an email, but no reply. Big Shock! I'm beginning to hate ebay.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Food for thought
This is a point of view you won't hear in the good for nothing but depressing your ass media. I got this in an email from Ken McCarthy inventor of the System Seminar that's responsible for launching the careers of many rich guys on the net. I will be at next year's system seminar, but i digress.....
Check out his thoughts on the economy. Oh and I agree 150% I'm sick and tired of this "bad economy" shit so I dont' watch tv nor read the left leaning washington post.
I'm sure you've noticed that everyone today
is talking about "the economy" in worried
tones.
"Where is the economy headed?" "The economy is up."
"The economy is down." And on and on and on.
Commentators look for "signs" about where things
are headed. Politicians beat their chests and
present bogus solutions.
Here's the deal for entrepreneurs:
There is no such thing as "the economy."
There's only your market and your customers...and the
whole game of entrepreneurship - the whole game - is
adapting successfully to circumstances whatever they
may be.
So let's face the Big Fear and get it out of the way
right now:
A deep recession, or even worse a full-fledged Depression.
*** Can the worst happen?
Sure it can and all the "rah rah" guys who are telling
you it can't are doing you a grave disservice.
This is reality and in reality ANYTHING can happen
and not all of it's nice.
Frankly, given the insane misbehavior in the credit
and banking industries in recent years, "the economy"
is probably due for more pain.
But at the end of the day, it doesn't matter if
you are a real entrepreneur...and I'll PROVE it
to you right now:
Let's look at a really hard case...
The Great Depression of the 1930s.
Over 25% of Americans were out of work. Bread lines.
The Grapes of Wrath.
Total disaster, right?
Traumatic for many to be sure, but 75% were employed. These
folks continued to buy goods and services without so much
as a hiccup.
Because costs were so low - rents were cheap, salaries were low,
material costs were low - it was a great time to start a business.
In fact many of today's most successful businesses had their
roots in those "bad" days.
Just Google "founded in 1930" and check it for every year
of the 1930s. *Millions* of results come up.
For 1937, in two seconds I came up with Krispy Kreme; Kaplan, the
test preparation company; Saab, the auto maker; and T. Rowe Price,
the stock broker.
*** The so-called Depression was boom times for many
During the Depression entire industries experienced explosive
growth. "Little" ones like broadcasting.
Now, if you depend on a J-O-B and you have a limited skill set
that ties you into one industry, like selling sub-prime
mortgages or making gas-guzzling SUVs, you may be in trouble.
But the issue is not "the economy." It's never "the economy."
It's where YOU are and what you are doing.
Here's the reality:
No matter how bad things get, they never go to zero everywhere.
There are always big winners in every "economy."
The entrepreneur's job is to go where the action is.
Let's take an Internet example...
In 2002, you could see the tumbleweeds rolling down the
streets of the Internet marketing world.
Practically everyone had bet it all on the banner ad and then
suddenly banner ad prices crashed. It was a definite Depression
in the Internet advertising world... and many were caught
like deer in the headlights.
A lot of people closed shop and left the industry for good.
Then what happened?
At the very bottom of it all, Google came out with AdWords in
the spring of 2002 and the rest is history.
As a result, Google, which in 2001 had less net income than
I did, is now one of the richest businesses on the planet and
they've made it possible for countless entrepreneurs to build
multi-million dollar businesses.
So for heaven's sake, stop listening to all the drivel about
"the economy" and start paying attention to the Google-sized
opportunities that are laying around untouched in every economy.
That's what being an entrepreneur is all about.
*** Learn how Google does it
Speaking of Google, did you know that Google sent one of its
key executives to teach at the System Seminar this year?
Google has a very successful three-legged system to help
entrepreneurs make m'oney online:
AdWords (traffic), Google Analytics (tracking) and Google Website
Optimizer (testing.)
The System Seminar was one of the very first places on earth
you could go to learn the Google AdWords system long before
anyone else "got" it. (System grad Perry Marshall who gave that
early course went on to become of the top world's top AdWords
experts.)
Tracking traffic has been a System Seminar topic literally since
Day One. In fact, one of the students from our early trainings
way back in 1994 was the first online ad rep to provide "clickthrough
rate" data to his advertisers.
This year we completed the loop.
Tom Leung, Google's testing whiz, came to Chicago to show System
attendees how to get maximum profits from every advertising dime
they spend...using the very same techniques that Google uses when
they test.
Do you think Google has a little traffic to analyze?
Do you think they might have a few real world case studies
you can learn from?
Tom surprised us several times, especially when he pointed
out that some of the things taught by the gurus as
"traffic secrets" don't in fact work at all.
The phrase he used over and over was "I'd like to see their
data because our data says..."
I wonder who knows more about traffic and conversion, Google
or the latest overnight Internet Wunderkind?
Gotta be the wunderkind, right? After all, look at all the
cool cars he poses in front in his ads :-)
Seriously...
You missed System 2008 and I'm sincerely sorry that you
did. Not for my sake, but for yours.
It amazes me how many people there are struggling to succeed in
Internet marketing who have never made it to a single System
Seminar.
They're making it too hard on themselves.
Why would you not want to get the training that started
it all and that consistently cranks out more success stories
than all the other trainings combined?
*** Let me make it easier for you
For years, I have never sold the recordings of the
System Seminar. The reasons are somewhat complex, but it
boils down to this: I wanted to focus exclusively on the
quality of the live training.
Now, after teaching this stuff for 15 years and offering the
System Seminar for six, I think I've got the live training
where I want it.
If you missed System 2008, you missed something you will not
be able to recreate no matter how many "guru" offerings you
try.
But that doesn't mean you have to miss the boat.
This year, I'm changing something fundamental about how
I make the System Seminar available to people.
Read why this is going to be your best year in Internet marketing
ever and, while everyone else is worrying about "the economy,"
you're going to be laying the foundation of your new empire.
Check out his thoughts on the economy. Oh and I agree 150% I'm sick and tired of this "bad economy" shit so I dont' watch tv nor read the left leaning washington post.
I'm sure you've noticed that everyone today
is talking about "the economy" in worried
tones.
"Where is the economy headed?" "The economy is up."
"The economy is down." And on and on and on.
Commentators look for "signs" about where things
are headed. Politicians beat their chests and
present bogus solutions.
Here's the deal for entrepreneurs:
There is no such thing as "the economy."
There's only your market and your customers...and the
whole game of entrepreneurship - the whole game - is
adapting successfully to circumstances whatever they
may be.
So let's face the Big Fear and get it out of the way
right now:
A deep recession, or even worse a full-fledged Depression.
*** Can the worst happen?
Sure it can and all the "rah rah" guys who are telling
you it can't are doing you a grave disservice.
This is reality and in reality ANYTHING can happen
and not all of it's nice.
Frankly, given the insane misbehavior in the credit
and banking industries in recent years, "the economy"
is probably due for more pain.
But at the end of the day, it doesn't matter if
you are a real entrepreneur...and I'll PROVE it
to you right now:
Let's look at a really hard case...
The Great Depression of the 1930s.
Over 25% of Americans were out of work. Bread lines.
The Grapes of Wrath.
Total disaster, right?
Traumatic for many to be sure, but 75% were employed. These
folks continued to buy goods and services without so much
as a hiccup.
Because costs were so low - rents were cheap, salaries were low,
material costs were low - it was a great time to start a business.
In fact many of today's most successful businesses had their
roots in those "bad" days.
Just Google "founded in 1930" and check it for every year
of the 1930s. *Millions* of results come up.
For 1937, in two seconds I came up with Krispy Kreme; Kaplan, the
test preparation company; Saab, the auto maker; and T. Rowe Price,
the stock broker.
*** The so-called Depression was boom times for many
During the Depression entire industries experienced explosive
growth. "Little" ones like broadcasting.
Now, if you depend on a J-O-B and you have a limited skill set
that ties you into one industry, like selling sub-prime
mortgages or making gas-guzzling SUVs, you may be in trouble.
But the issue is not "the economy." It's never "the economy."
It's where YOU are and what you are doing.
Here's the reality:
No matter how bad things get, they never go to zero everywhere.
There are always big winners in every "economy."
The entrepreneur's job is to go where the action is.
Let's take an Internet example...
In 2002, you could see the tumbleweeds rolling down the
streets of the Internet marketing world.
Practically everyone had bet it all on the banner ad and then
suddenly banner ad prices crashed. It was a definite Depression
in the Internet advertising world... and many were caught
like deer in the headlights.
A lot of people closed shop and left the industry for good.
Then what happened?
At the very bottom of it all, Google came out with AdWords in
the spring of 2002 and the rest is history.
As a result, Google, which in 2001 had less net income than
I did, is now one of the richest businesses on the planet and
they've made it possible for countless entrepreneurs to build
multi-million dollar businesses.
So for heaven's sake, stop listening to all the drivel about
"the economy" and start paying attention to the Google-sized
opportunities that are laying around untouched in every economy.
That's what being an entrepreneur is all about.
*** Learn how Google does it
Speaking of Google, did you know that Google sent one of its
key executives to teach at the System Seminar this year?
Google has a very successful three-legged system to help
entrepreneurs make m'oney online:
AdWords (traffic), Google Analytics (tracking) and Google Website
Optimizer (testing.)
The System Seminar was one of the very first places on earth
you could go to learn the Google AdWords system long before
anyone else "got" it. (System grad Perry Marshall who gave that
early course went on to become of the top world's top AdWords
experts.)
Tracking traffic has been a System Seminar topic literally since
Day One. In fact, one of the students from our early trainings
way back in 1994 was the first online ad rep to provide "clickthrough
rate" data to his advertisers.
This year we completed the loop.
Tom Leung, Google's testing whiz, came to Chicago to show System
attendees how to get maximum profits from every advertising dime
they spend...using the very same techniques that Google uses when
they test.
Do you think Google has a little traffic to analyze?
Do you think they might have a few real world case studies
you can learn from?
Tom surprised us several times, especially when he pointed
out that some of the things taught by the gurus as
"traffic secrets" don't in fact work at all.
The phrase he used over and over was "I'd like to see their
data because our data says..."
I wonder who knows more about traffic and conversion, Google
or the latest overnight Internet Wunderkind?
Gotta be the wunderkind, right? After all, look at all the
cool cars he poses in front in his ads :-)
Seriously...
You missed System 2008 and I'm sincerely sorry that you
did. Not for my sake, but for yours.
It amazes me how many people there are struggling to succeed in
Internet marketing who have never made it to a single System
Seminar.
They're making it too hard on themselves.
Why would you not want to get the training that started
it all and that consistently cranks out more success stories
than all the other trainings combined?
*** Let me make it easier for you
For years, I have never sold the recordings of the
System Seminar. The reasons are somewhat complex, but it
boils down to this: I wanted to focus exclusively on the
quality of the live training.
Now, after teaching this stuff for 15 years and offering the
System Seminar for six, I think I've got the live training
where I want it.
If you missed System 2008, you missed something you will not
be able to recreate no matter how many "guru" offerings you
try.
But that doesn't mean you have to miss the boat.
This year, I'm changing something fundamental about how
I make the System Seminar available to people.
Read why this is going to be your best year in Internet marketing
ever and, while everyone else is worrying about "the economy,"
you're going to be laying the foundation of your new empire.
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