How many of you have gotten the “Essential Video” email from Brad Fallon and Andy Jenkins? I bought Andy’s Yahoo/Online Store Profits way back in the day. These two are legendary in making money with China trinkets. $16K/day worth of crap for Brad. Who knows how much Andy rakes in. Amazing.
Anyway, they finally came out of their hole and sent out an email. I bet I haven’t received anything from them in a year. Well now they decided to give back to the Stomper Community in the form of free videos. Yay!
I watched it and was less than overwhelmed but I must have been in the minority as folks the net over are talking about how great it was. But honestly I thought it was just a lesson in how Google displays ads and search results. The golden triangle. The heat map. Seen it. Google released that, what 6 months ago? So what?
“Long tail” search terms. Seen that too. Dr. Andy has been talking about that for over a year. Interesting how it related to their website but it was nothing new.
So I get another email from these two which talks about Video #1 and the fact that they got so many questions about the video. Apparently they got a 78% response rate of people ending up at the “Ask” page submitting questions. Yea, I bet. Maybe it was because the video didn’t actually say much that was helpful.
Well the questions were put into a pdf for your downloading pleasure. Called it “Going Natural”. They said in bold that “Starving Viewers Finally Get REAL Answers”. I doubt it. Hence the plethura of questions. And no the pdf wasn’t much better. I read through it twice and was amazed how something so long and well written could say so little. It’s weird. It reads like they are really schooling you. But when you finish you wonder what exactly you learned. It looks impressive. It reads professional. But there is nothing there. Empty matter.
Now they say there will be a second video coming out on LSI and Natural SEO techniques. It’s free but I’m not sure I’ll waste anymore time with it. Best just stick to SEO2020 and The Master Plan.
So I’m wondering what their angle is? Nothing gets released with this much fanfare for free without there being a backend product that they will try to sell. They might make a ton of money but I doubt they are ready to give up their techniques and strategies for nothing.
And from looking at video #1 and accompanying pdf, they are keeping the good stuff under raps.
I could be mistaken, but the gurus track record hasn’t proved me wrong yet.
Guess I am: 1) a moron for not getting the gist of this and 2) a malcontent because I can’t appreciate free. Still, I calls it like I reads it, yo. Free or no.
12 responses so far ↓
Charles Heflin // Aug 31, 2006 at 11:35 pm
Yes, I do believe that they are going to jump on the LSI bandwagon. I wonder if they have been hanging around SEO 20/20 or are members of The Master Plan? Hmmm…
The surus are always looking for a new angle to exploit so it doesn’t surprise me… That’s why I opened TMP up to the masses. I hope to take the un-guru approach to education and genuinely hope that I am being seen in that light.
I watched their video “going natural” interesting points they raise but Google eyeball maps have been around for at least 1.5 years. It looks like a hook… I am sure there will be many willing biters.
Charles Heflin
SEO 20/20
Splork // Sep 1, 2006 at 12:38 am
Charles, I’ve enjoyed your website for a few months now. You actually provide some useful info without fanfare and for nothing but a thank you. That’s how I see what you are doing. It’s all good and I hope you continue that approach.
Marc Lindsay // Sep 2, 2006 at 10:53 pm
The hook is a lead up for a 10k mentorship program, well that is the talk anyhow.
And as soon as I saw the initial video released, and promoted by some of the big names, you just know it is pre-launch hype up.
Spott it from a long distance away
Still respect to Brad Fallon because in the early days I did actually learn quite a bit from him about SEO, likewise from Brad Callen.
And Andy himself does do very well.
But see these video’s for what they are, pre-launch preparation.
I did enjoy the video’s, not particularily because I learnt anything new, but it was still interesting to watch and even jogged a couple of idea’s about a few things I was thinking of trying.
Splork really starting to digg your style of review
Different to say the least.
Talk soon buddy
Marc
Splork // Sep 3, 2006 at 1:59 am
Yea, those two are quite the success story. And they will absolutely kill the 10K mentorship. Hats off to them. I just think its kinda scuzzy how it’s being presented. But I expect nothing less. And IM consumers will be so grateful for the free videos and not realize that they are getting played by masters of internet marketing. I mean, these guys are seriously top flight.
Sometimes it feels like I am the lone disenting voice out here. All I ever read is how great such and such is and when I read it or use I just scratch my head and wonder what the big deal is. Honestly I sometimes question my sanity and wonder why I am seeing these things differently than everyone else. But the bottom line is I don’t make money in this business and other people do, so it must be my malfunction.
Glad you like the reviews. Thanks for reading.
Tracy // Sep 19, 2006 at 2:52 pm
If most people had already been following Brad and Andy then the videos didn’t give anything different than what they have already talked about. The sad thing is that so many people think the videos are new and refreshing when this is the same stuff they taught about at System Seminar 2005, with just updated slides basically.
What is even sadder is somebody offered a WSO report and part of the bonus was that you get to watch these free videos(they are up to three videos now), and they kept misidentifying Brad Fallon as Brad Callen, and even though I called them on it nobody even bothered to do a thing.
IM is a crazy, incestuous, money-churning beast.
Splork // Sep 19, 2006 at 4:16 pm
Yea, it’s simply a build up to a course or product or service. It will definitely be expensive and they will definitely have a lot of buyers. It will not include me.
Brad Callen offers product that is worthwhile and information that is useful. Brad Fallon is the guy that makes millions selling Chinese made trinkets. People do tend to get them mixed up. I removed one from my newsletter collection (Fallon). I tend to follow what the other guy is doing when I can (Callen).
IM is fine. Lots of hard work. In my opinion it’s those people selling into IM, to IM consumers, that basically suck. I’m remaining simple. Build a site. Write a page. Trade a few links. Drop an ad. If it works. Great. If it doesn’t. Great. I’m tired of creating gurus with my hard earned money.
Thanks for reading
Donk // Sep 20, 2006 at 3:15 am
Splork- you are not alone. I have to believe there are many like us that see it for what it is. I can see this crap coming down the road a mile away.
I also enjoy your honest, no holds barred reviews.
Splork // Sep 20, 2006 at 3:48 am
Thanks Donk. It’s good to know there are so many of us finally seeing what’s going on. Hope we all can take non-action and stiff the gurus and their stupid offers.
Thanks for reading
Starr // Oct 7, 2006 at 1:53 am
Hi, stumbled in here and thought I’d post. I did like the videos, but then I’m still sorting through the mountain of stuff that’s about 5yrs old maybe and at least 2yrs mostly.
I’m the new gal on the block, been trying to earn money on the net for a year. Granted my web design and print work has made me far more money than anything else. A few hundred dollars made doing surveys is about the most net income excitement I’ve had.
I’d never heard the term “long tailed” before, but then as I said I’m not able to keep up with the whole IM timeline. I’ve tried to stick with it a few times, but my brain felt like it was going to have a blow out from info overload! Plus how do these people ever enjoy their lives or even have lives if they are putting out newsletters and holding seminars, making new info products and doing JVs and all the other stuff they talk about???? It’s like a whole different planet they come from…and I don’t really get much more than every other word!
All I know is that I want just one money making plan, just one! Not a dozen free bonus programs or ebooks and tons of other things I’m not going to have time to read or figure out. I just want somebody to simply tell me how to do one thing.
For example, how to build an affiliate site that sells the products and has orders go through the companies shopping cart, takes care of the orders and pays me a commision. It sounds simple, but when I’ve asked affiliate program companies if I can sell their products on my site…I get told NO!
And I’ve never made a cent putting links or banners on my site! So there has to be a way to do it..I just want to know HOW? Why is that such a hard thing to find out?
I’m a mom that’s trying to support my kids. Disability just doesn’t cover it all. My business is still young so the income isn’t regular and that’s why I’m looking for other streams to help out. But so far I’m lost in the tall grass…with no compass to get me out.
I know it’s not the norm. but think you can give me any advice? Something to help me at least pick a direction? Everything pretty much looks the same from in here…
Thanks!
Splork // Oct 7, 2006 at 3:55 am
Hi Starr. I’m afraid that you are asking the impossible.
If the company has an affiliate program then there is no reason you can’t put your affiliate code on your site, in a text link, and direct that reader to a sale. Banners are tough to work. Those days are kinda past unless you are selling advertising.
OK. The bottom line. I would say if you are just starting out. Go read “The Plan” at SEO2020.com. It’s free. If you follow it step-by-step, I do not see how you can’t begin to make some money. It won’t happen over night. You’ll want to get yourself an Adsense account at some point. And you’ll want to weave some text affiliate links into the articles that you will write. That will be from Clickbank, Commission Junction or Linkshare among others. Just get yourelf an account and ply to be an affiliate. heck use Amazon too for that matter. They are easy to get an account with.
After that you may then see the value in, say, a membership in Affilorama for $20/month for the 90-day step-by-step program. Or read through Dr.Andy’s archives at ezeonews.com. But you said you didn’t want all that, so if I had to pick one plan I’d send you to “The Plan”
Others may chime in an give you better advice.
I just don’t have a simple “here do this” answer. I feel it’s more complicated than that.
John Russen // Feb 13, 2007 at 8:56 am
I’m very new to seo and have been reading tons of info. My question is Brad Fallon appears to be quite accomplished and people seem to respond to his advise and products, why has his wedding site disappeared from the google rankings? Were his methods the issue?
Robben Salter // Mar 6, 2007 at 12:11 am
Yeah john, I’ve thought about that too…
It’s possible google just said “hey, let’s confuse people by knocking off an SEO guru off 1# position….
I wouldn’t put it past google…
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