The 30 day challenge is a internet marketing blueprint packed with video tutorials taking you step by step through the whole process, from learning how to use basic tools to finally having produced a platform for a successful online business.

Although it’s based on completing all the required tasks within 30 days, there is no cut off point.  Get this, it’s all free!  Maybe that was the draw because let’s be honest people just love free stuff.  Over 76,000 people accepted the challenge!

The point of the email was that the majorty did not complete the course.  With little outlay involved, and more than enough helpful tutorials and support, Ed Dale was baffled.

Maybe it’s as Ed says  ”It’s all down to where you are in your head.”  I am, at this moment, taking part in a internet marketing course covering 36 weeks, run by John Thornhill, well respected marketer.  This is a ‘follow my steps’ blueprint course taking you from getting a blog site up and running, to producing your own eBook.  As this is a paid for course maybe that is an incentive to see the course through to the end..

Frank Kern and John Reese just recently  mentioned the fact that many of the people that bought their expensive courses also ended up not  working on the  the projects to the end.

Could it be that a lot of people are buying into the ‘moment’?  They have got caught up in the pre launch hysteria, the money that could be earned, and noted the lifestyle of these famous marketers, with envy.  They gladly handed over their money, and in that moment they imagined their dream lifestyle was within reach.

For those dreams to become reality, commitment and hard work is required.  That’s when dreams for the majority of eager hopefuls disintegrate into procrastination and excuses.

If you are one of those who are suffering a lack of motivation I will send you a virtual spade, ….so you can dig your way out!!

Bookmark to:

Recently I had to download a video recorder for my Mac, as Camtasia, used by many internet marketers, does not yet have a Mac platform.  I unpacked my Logitech Quickcam Pro, a very good webcam with microphone.  The clarity is superior to my laptop’s inbuilt camera.  I set it all up and tried a test recording.  After many attempts all I had recorded was me looking stupid, pulling puzzled faces.

In the past, I have recorded in many professional recording studios, as well as building my own home studio.  I was perplexed.  I suddenly had, for me, a brain wave .  Try reverse logic!  On activating the recording software a screen appears and underneath it a bright red button.  Now, across the world and the inhabited planets of the universe, a red light button, or light, means ‘recording in progress’.  Well not on this video recorder, you click the red button, which magically turns a dull grey, THEN you are recording!

I punched the air in triumph, one small step for man, one giant leap for……..yeah, whatever!  It was a hollow victory and a tiny example, technology always gets me in the end, something always goes wrong.

PS   I don’t believe man went to the moon 40 years ago, cause there surely must have been a whole bunch of metaphorical red lights in Apollo 11, waiting for a smart astronaut to figure out  that to get back to earth, they need to turn them dull grey!

Check me out on Twitter!

Bookmark to:

Over many months I have attempted to read many sales letters and have also bought a handful of products.  Every one of these very long sales letters I found boring, to the point I have almost lost the will to live!  I know many seasoned marketers swear by  long sales letters, but I have yet to come across one that has compelled me to read the whole thing through.

When writing a sales letter most people follow the tried and tested formula A.I.D.A.  This stands for Attention, Interest, Desire and Action.  When following this plan you have the basis of a good sales letter.

Usually when I land on a long sales letter page I read the headline, if it doesn’t then make me want to read further, I click away never to return.  I then scan the benefits which are usually listed as bullet points.  If my interest is held, I then scan quickly down to the bottom of the page pausing by the bonus offers.  I just don’t understand some marketers offering 8, 10, or  even more  bonuses worth $997.00 to entice you to buy a $27.00 product.  That just doesn’t seem to add up.

Arriving at the  bottom of the page this is usually where you find the price of the product.  It’s here I really decide to carry on or not bother.  I already know how much I am willing to part with, it’s here I check out the guarantee and PS’s, these are more bullet points listing major benefits if I buy and sometimes the dire consequences if I don’t!

If  I am still interested then the deal is as good as done.  I will scroll up and check out the testimonials.  Again some marketers will cram in 12 or more of these endorsements.  I may read 3 or 4 if they have a ‘mug’ shot and a link to their own website, that’s good.  If the testimonials are from Bruce in Queensland and Doris in Swansea and nothing else, that’s bad, as I consider these to be bogus.

If I’m still happy then I head over to the ‘Buy Now’ button, deal completed.  About 60% of the sales letter remains unread.  If the letter was a much shorter version I would be more than happy to read it all.

As Randy Smith mentions is his excellent Sales letter ‘ABC’, the sales letter should only be as long as is needed to get your relevant points across.  Fine, if you write it in a compelling way.  But waffle on and start boring me, and I’ll consign your sales letter and product to cyberspace purgatory!

Check out Randy’s Sales letter ‘ABC’ here.

Follow me on Twitter too! twitter.com/razzorfish

Bookmark to:

I was not alone, there are many thousands out there.  Many fall by the wayside disillusioned, or simply don’t take action, possibly scared of failure.  Every day these are replaced by thousands more.  No wonder it’s a multi-million dollar business.

What I wanted was a blueprint to follow, in easy to follow steps.  Luckily, I stumble upon John Thornhill’s Masterclass course, where John personally mentors me.  The Wikipedia definition of a mentor is ‘A developmental relationship in which a more experienced helps a less experienced person’.  In my nievity about the business I didn’t stand a chance, but being part of  a coaching course I thought my odds of succeeding were greatly improved.

Now it seems there are many courses out there in cyber space.  J.T’s course gets the students to create an information product.  There are others that deal with setting up an Ebay business, or Affiliate marketing.  The students follow in the mentors footsteps, in effect we are watching what they do in their business and copy that already sucessful model.

If you can afford it, I believe coaching is the way to go.  It  can be pretty expensive, but in some courses you can pay in installments.

Another big plus with the course I am on is the students forum.  There are many students only too willing to provide support and encouragement.  I have personal experience of that and I can only hope that we stay in touch when the course has finished.

So if you are thinking of dipping your toes in the waters of internet marketing, watch out for sharks, and first check out coaching courses, they might very well be your business lifeline!

Click here for one example, and here’s another.

Check me out on Twitter! https://twitter.com/razzorfish

Bookmark to:

I am in fact writing about getting your partner back after a break up.  As I am close to completing the eBook, I decided to tell a female colleague about it.  Big mistake, for a start I had to explain what an eBook was.  And no it had nothing to do with Ebay the company.   I said that it was about relationships and would include audio and video files.  Her eyes glazed over and  she said sarcastically “so it’s a sex manual”.  I fell about laughing, my innocent eBook on relationship issues was going hard core!

I had to explain exactly what  my eBook was about and what was entailed in the whole process.  They did not realise money could be made on the internet that didn’t involve selling your old junk on Ebay.  She was intrigued by Clickbank, where I will place my product, from where affiliates will hopefully promote it.  Clickbank then collects and distributes payments.

Now if it doesn’t sell well, I know a sex manual with audio and video will make me tons of cash.  I just need some willing person to ‘Do their stuff ‘in front of the camera. 

Now where is my colleague’s phone number?! 

Check me out on Twitter!  https://twitter.com/razzorfish

Bookmark to:

I try to get into a weekly routine, like checking emails first thing in the morning.  I already write my weekly blog on a Saturday, fitting in writing up my eBook when I can.  Other duties tend to fall by the wayside.  I could show my car I care for it, by giving it a good clean.  I could clear the garden of weeds and other stuff, this would make my wife very happy.

I could really do with eight days in a week, the eighth day I would use to prioritise the other seven.  Starting with half a day on my unread emails.  These go back four long months and number into the thousands.  I should just delete them all, but that takes time. 

I need two days for ‘home’ work, painting, fixing and driving duties.  I  have driven everywhere for my children and should consider offering my services to the county’s tourist department.   There are, of course, many other jobs that go with having a home and family.

Three full days could be devoted to writing eBooks, blog posts and other virtual musings.  I do this in my office/ conservatory, my laptop and printer reside here, along with books, files and a dozing cat.    

My download file is frightening.  I would spend two and a half days decluttering all the stuff in there.  There are internet marketing eBooks free, and paid for, that if I managed to read one or two, I could be on my way to earning a six figure income, in less than a week!

 This is crazy, I still wouldn’t have time in in my eight day week to become rich.  If I were rich, I would have all the time in the world to read my eBooks!

Check me out on Twitter!  https://twitter.com/razzorfish

Bookmark to:

I checked out ‘Garage band’ on my Apple laptop.  It’s a virtual recording studio program.  To record a simple voice track I tried Apple’s built in microphone, then a Logitech stand alone mic.  The recording was good quality, but on both occasions there was noticeable background noise.  I then looked on Google for another Audio recording program.   I tried at least five before settling on ‘Express Dictate‘.  Good clear sound and no background noise.  So easy to use I reckon I could train my cat in about two minutes.

A few days ago the ‘golden couple’ rang me and granted my request for an interview.  I bought along some flowers and chocolates on the day, to put them at ease.  My laptop was fully charged and I had my ‘Blackberry’ for back up as it has a built in voice recorder.  I had also prepared a bunch of questions on my notepad, I was ready.

I was a bit nervous at first, but the couple where delightful and freely answered all my questions.  The interview lasted fifty minutes but I stayed more than two hours, it was a pleasure just talking to them.  They have achieved more than most couples on the planet, with more than fifty years together.  But they were more concerned that they would have nothing interesting to say.

Back home, I played back the interview. The recording level was a bit low and  there was room for improvement in my interviewing style.   Next time I will bring the cat!

Check me out on Twitter!  https://twitter.com/razzorfish

Bookmark to:

Some people use their cellphone or dictaphone, I just like to whip out my notebook.  Especially in restaurants where I get strange stares from staff, maybe they think I am a food critic! 

Ever since I began writing songs many years ago, I have found ideas come to me when slowly waking up.  This can be between 5.00 am to 6.30 am.  I don’t consciously try and think up stuff, heck I’d rather still be in dream mode.  I tend to be more productive between 8.00 am and 11.00 am, then later at about 7.00 pm to 10.00 pm.  Maybe I should consider moving to Greece or Spain, where the siesta style of existence could suit me better.  The drinking culture definately would!

For research I head into Waterstones and Borders bookstores.  Sometimes there would be a lonesome author sitting in a corner promoting their latest book.  I feel sorry for these poor creatures unwanted and unloved.  My sympathy lasts a nano second or two, I then press on to the relationship and self help departments.  These sections are easy to find, it’s where most people hang out.  That, and leisure and travel sections followed, surprisingly by, the history section.  All these subjects interest me, but  my Ebook niche in ‘Relationships’ is where I squeeze my way in most times.

I get a feel for the subject by checking out the titles, the ones that catch my eye, then the content and price of these books.  With lots of scribbles in my notebook I should head home, the bookstore assistant is looking nervously over at me.  Maybe I should recommend a good book in the ‘Coping with stress section’!

Check me out on Twitter!  https://twitter.com/razzorfish

Bookmark to:

Anyhow, my chosen niche is relationships, this eBook project specifically dealing with getting your ex back.  It is a huge niche and there are a lot more books to come.  It turns out that this is a perfect fit for me.  Years ago I was in the music business.  I have played guitar in bands, had recording contracts and produced vocalists.  I have been writing songs for more years than I can remember.  What was the theme for most of those songs?  Relationship issues.  See what I mean?  A perfect fit!

The majority of songs are written about a lost or unrequited love.  The list is as endless as your imagination.  Thinking about it, I should be a guru on the subject of broken hearts!  I recall Paul McCartney being asked to write a song that had nothing to do with love and he came up with ‘Paperback Writer’, a song devoid of any romantic  tendancies. If you think about it,  the non-romantic song is in the minority.  A top songwriter of our time, he even wrote ‘Yesterday’ about lost love, in his sleep!

Pop songs tell a story in about three minutes forty seconds.  I have written a melody and lyrics in about half an hour but there were times the process took me weeks.  Heck, how long will it take me to write a forty to sixty page eBook? It’s a challenge that’s for sure, but I’m not alone.  There are a whole bunch of great people on John Thornhill’s Masterclass course, all willing to support and encourage each other.  That, and John Thornhill and his team, helps give me confidence to see this project through. 

I had better do, or I will be back writing songs, maybe even write a potential hit in my sleep, just like Paul McCartney.  Knowing me I won’t remember a damn thing when I wake up!

Follow me on Twitter, check it out!   https://twitter.com/razzorfish

Bookmark to:

I am sure that if left to my own devices and no Masterclass course, I would still be downloading some $27.00 product.  And promise myself that I would check it out after a cold beer and watching an episode of ‘Cold Case’.  The course instills discipline in me, each week I work religiously on my assignment, write a blog, read up on something.

I hope discipline becomes second nature to me, because when the course is over we are on our own.  By then we all should have a internet business up and running, how cool is that?!  I know, there is a lot of hard work to go yet.   The hard work will continue, as we start up new websites, etc.  Hopefully we will attain the successful marketers lifestyle and I wish this for all the Masterclass students.  It’s not just about the money.  It is about having the freedom to work from home and structuring my day to fit in what I want and what I have to do.

When I check out my Alexa ranking in 6 months time, I had better be a whole lot closer to your sister!

You can check me out on Twitter!  https://twitter.com/razzorfish 

Bookmark to: