6 responses so far ↓

• Scott // Nov 2, 2007 at 9:19 am

  “I keep bitching because all the IM’ers seem in it for the money..”

  Hey Splork, I hate to be blunt, but DUH!

  Do I really give a crap about yoga training, self help ebooks, fly fishing tips, etc. etc.? No I don’t.

  There are a few things I like, know about and maybe even “have a passion for” but they are not very marketable. So I gotta figure out how to make people buy all that other niche stuff.

  I became interested in IM solely to see if I could make a bit more money and not have to commute and work 12 hours a day. It’s a major drag. I’m 49 and have been doing it for 31 years.

  Unfortunately I have (maybe a little) integrity, unlike some others out there. I just can’t put crap up on a site to make money. That’s why I’m a failure at the moment. I insist on reading (or writing) everything and making sure there’s some value there before putting it up anywhere.

  See, I care a little bit, but I really just want to make money.

  Scott

• Roger Davis // Nov 4, 2007 at 4:08 am

  Hi Splork,

  I’m surprised how quickly you drop the cynical attitude regarding this IMer. Is it because he comments on your blog and therefore you could say that you are ‘closer’ to him?

  This is the trap that many gurus fall into - they claim to offer unbiased opinion, but it is all too obvious when they are commenting on someone who they are ‘doing business with.’

  The simple facts are that you paid to join a site that is now going to be free.

  You are choosing to approach this from the angle that because he is a nice guy and earns more from doing the work than teaching it, therefore he is simply being altruistic (at your expense).

  I wonder if this was someone else who had never commented on your blog, would you choose to take the angle that the internet is changing and people aren’t willing to pay for stuff like this anymore because it is free (and better) in so many places?

  Would you mention that perhaps he isn’t getting any paying customers so he has been forced to open it up for free like everyone else is doing, regardless of the fact that it is sticking two fingers up to all who previously paid to join?

  As always, I play devil’s advocate here. Why? Because it produces the most interesting and revealing responses.

  Has the lost ball been found (out)?

  Also, I don’t see why you should eat your words. Mark is an affiliate marketer by his own admission. Therefore, just because his site is going to be free to join does not automatically mean that his main aim is not to make money.

  Quote -

  [Mark is proving to me that there is at least one guy out there who does want to simply help people make money. Dig it, he states in his blog that he makes far more doing this work than teaching it. He isn’t greedy. How many gurus say, “I make enough, let me teach this for nothing.” Uh the answer would be, not many.]

  It seems you have lost your touch here Splork. Why is that? This proves nothing at all - except perhaps that the paid model isn’t working.

  Respectfully, but as always, up front and direct.

  Whaddya say Splork?

  {Disclaimer - I have nothing against Mark, he seems a decent bloke and I happen to prefer people from the Southern hemisphere to my own people here in the North. But I feel the question needs to be asked.}

• Splork // Nov 4, 2007 at 10:44 am

  I’ve been behind Mark since he opened the doors to Affilorama. He’s always been genuine to me and I haven’t heard from anybody else that that is not the case for them as well. I paid $200 to be a member of Affilorama when it started so it’s not like I have anything to gain for this to be opened up to everybody.

  I don’t want to be a blanket hater over everything IM. I’ve joined two memberships that the owner simply waked away from it. I paid my dues into those as well and the assholes just walked. At least Mark wants to keep providing information. For free. What’s not to like?

  Yes, I’m a proponent of Mark’s. He’s become a friend. I’ve called out numerous marketers on this blog. Only a handful had the balls to come and tell me why I was wrong. Or acknowledge that I was right . Mark came on here from the beginning and interacted with my readers. Tells me right there that he cares.

  He may very well make money turning the site free. I’m sure he will try. Good for him. The only people he is screwing is the long term membership folks. I’ve gotten my money’s worth up to now, so I really don’t care. The people I know that were lifetime members who made back their money using the site, and then some, don’t care either.

  Lost Ball makes nothing. I pimp a few memberships and stuff but I get few sales. I have nothing to gain from building somebody up or tearing them down. Or at least I haven’t gained much. So when I see someone doing something that I think is good for the whole and admirable I’ll say so. Mark is counted as one of my friends, so does he get the benefit of the doubt? You bet he does. If he messed about and jerked people around, I know him well enough now to know that he’d be the first to be disappointed if I didn’t call him out on it too. The only part of this that he has wrestled with is what to do with the lifetime members. He feels bad about that. Again, at least he’s keeping the doors open. I’m not such curmudgeon that I can’t see that makes Mark a good guy. Most IMers would simply walk and try something else. He’s been open and honest about the whole thing. He could simply just keep doing his thing. It’s not like he needs us to be successful.

• Mark Ling // Nov 4, 2007 at 3:48 pm

  I’m not going to make a long post here because I’ve just arrived in Germany and it is getting late here, but just to clarify.

  Affilorama was profiting, and there were new members subscribing every day. It was not falling either.

  In fact, easily over 6 figures, or 5 figures/month. More than what a lot of other ‘gurus’ make. But it was not a lot of money compared to my other websites, and I really wanted to have some fun by making this site free and getting more action on the forum, which will be good for everyone.

  Yes we will continue to profit from this website as there will be a small amount of advertising (I am an affiliate after all), but people will be able to get all the information they need for free.

  And yes, we will continue to update the site and it’ll be a better organized site by the time it reopens.

  Fair calls though Roger, I’d be saying the same things if I were you. Time will tell whether this turns out to be a win-win situation for everyone.

  That’s what I’m aiming for.

• Scott // Nov 5, 2007 at 12:51 am

  Hey Mark,
  Thanks for that. I for one was thrilled when Splork reported you were opening it up for free.

  Based on his recommendation a long time ago, I wanted to sign up. But I just can’t afford anything else at the moment on a monthly pay basis, except my web host, which I pay every six months.

  Anyway, I need all the help I can get and I look forward to whatever you have to offer. I appreciate it a lot. Thanks!

  Scott

• Roger Davis // Nov 6, 2007 at 2:34 am

  Hi Splork/Mark,

  Thanks for taking the time to respond. As I said I was interested in your answers - it’s nice to see there are some decent people out there.

  Keep it up Splork and enjoy Europe Mark. You seem to be having a ball judging by your photos.

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