XOMJ.com Debuts: Get Your IM 'Mojo' Today
Thursday, July 26, 2007
XOMJ.com is the newest Internet Marketing website owned by Patrick Pretty.com.
The site went live today. It features free and low-cost Internet Marketing information, products and services to help you build your home-based business and make money online.
I've always wanted to own a domain name with only four letters. Here's the story behind xomj.com.
First, the "XO" in the domain name stands for "Executive Orders."
Meantime, the "MJ" stands for "Mojo."
I figure you're busy in your IM life; that's why xomj.com will treat you like an executive and help you gain website momentum with our product lineup. Virtually all of the information and products featured at the site can be downloaded instantly.
Last night, while minding my own business and checking out threads at the Warrior Forum, I came across a post that listed 50 unclaimed, four-letter domain names.
I scanned the list, and XOMJ.com just leaped out at me.
"X-O-Mo-JO!" I thought to myself.
And thus a one-stop shop for infoproducts and software tools to help give your Internet Marketing website a unique look was born.
Hope to see you soon at xomj.com.
You'll find a fine free report on Internet Marketing and PayPal, a report you may distribute from your website to help you build your list.
Also free at the site is a Black Paper on branding from the experts at the Net Intelligence Agency. I wrote the introduction for the report.
Branding is something I know a few things about, considering my name has been my brand since 1964, the year I was voted "The Most Beautiful Little Boy In The World."
A free report by Willie Crawford on making money in Affiliate programs also is featured at the site.
"Making Affiliate Sales is EASY!" is told in Willie's own inimitable way.
It's nice to have a second legend on my website, to be sure.
Visit xomj.com to find a range of low-cost Internet Marketing products and tools, including useful software to help you establish a "signature look" and build your brand.
The site features a copywriting tool for Internet Marketing beginners and novices and those who struggle with writing effective sales copy.
There also is a fine tool to help you make more sales on eBay, along with a Demo on Sonic Opt-In.
Sonic Opt-In helps you greet customers by name when they visit your sales page.
You'll find several other fine products at xomj.com.
Visit XOMJ.com today.
posted by Patrick Pretty @ 7:52 PM,
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What To Do If Your PayPal Account Is Suspended Or Limited And How To Avoid Trouble In The First Pace
Friday, July 20, 2007
"Seller Beware: How To Avoid PayPal's Lethal Game Of 'Pin The Tail On The Internet Marketing' Donkey'" is available now through my website:Get this fine report by John Counsel free here. John owns The Profit Clinic in Australia and is a partner of PatrickPretty.com.
Crime is a problem on the Internet. Online money-laundering in the age of terrorism can't be ignored. Honest Internet Marketers pay a price for abuses the world over.
That's why this report is vital to your success. You need to educate yourself about PayPal.
I may be a famous Poster Model and Regulation Big Deal, but that doesn't mean I can cut corners with PayPal.
PayPal can restrict your account at any time; PayPal can suspend your account at any time.
And if you use the $7 Secrets scripts, you need to take steps to make sure you comply with PayPal's Terms of Service and PayPal's User Agreement.
It's best to be prepared; this report will educate you on PayPal policies and procedures.
If you've ever had your PayPal account suspended or your PayPal account limited or restricted, well, it can pretty much ruin your day.
You'll want to keep the PayPal report on your desktop or print it out for quick reference.
This report is packed with helpful information, including information on how to avoid problems with PayPal. Moreover, the PayPal report features quality graphics. Many marketers never have seen such a report.
Here's the link again.
Get Seller Beware.
You may distribute this report to your customers and use it as a list-building tool. There also are a number of ways to make money with the report. See inside for details.
posted by Patrick Pretty @ 8:55 PM,
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TrafficRegenerator Will Launch July 31
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Friends, I'm about to introduce you to the most famous baby in Internet Marketing, the Traffic Regenerator Baby.Harun told me last night that TrafficReGenerator will launch July 31.
Visit the TRg page.
See (and hear) the Traffic Regenerator Baby. Get in on the launch before it happens.
Want to build your email list? Want to have something on your website that visitors can't resist?
I've posted previously about Traffic Regenerator; the launch is now imminent. And you can get in on it by visiting this page:
TrafficRegenerator.
It's the script I use to produce the curl -- what some people call a peel-away -- in the upper-left corner of this page. I give a gift to everybody who clicks on the curl and fills out the form.
Plenty of people do that.
You'll note I use Traffic Regenerator conservatively; others will choose to use it in a more aggressive fashion. Basically, you can use it any way you want. The TrafficRegenerator Wizard will show you how.
Have you met the Baby yet?
Some people are apt to call Traffic Regenerator Traffic Generator or even TrafficGenerater or TrafficGeneratir or Traffic Regeneratir.
Don't be fooled; it's Traffic Regenerator or TRg for short.
And people thought I was a famous baby.
posted by Patrick Pretty @ 8:40 AM,
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The Rich Sage Teaches The Art Of Making Money Online
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
I've gotten to know The Rich Sage through his posts at Warrior Forum, one of my favorite resources for advice on how to make money online.One of the things that struck me about TheRichSage is the amount of thought he puts into his posts. If your aim is to make money from home and build your home business, The Rich Sage can help put you on the right path.
Courtesy is something my mother tried to instill in my siblings and me. She also valued the power of the written word, teaching her brood to appreciate good writing and even to seek it out.
"You'll learn the most from people who can express ideas clearly," she said. "But you also need to pay attention to their manners. Courtesy is important."
I've been in business for decades now, but my mother's words continue to ring true.
One of the first things I noticed about TheRichSage was his ability to explain things. He did so courteously, something that can't be underestimated in the Era Of The Big Noise.
You won't get shouted down if you visit The Rich Sage. And you won't have trouble understanding what he has to say.
Each day thousands and thousands of people turn to the Internet for ideas on how to make money from home. One of the first challenges they confront is whether to submit to the hype, which is becoming increasingly common online.
What's needed, out of the gate, is an ability to separate the noise and focus on what's practical.
I've had a number of private exchanges with The Rich Sage and have come to value his point of view on issues that pertain to making money online and building a home-based business.
This post is my way of introducing you to TheRichSage, a fellow Warrior who recognizes the importance of branding and knows a thing or two about putting a good sentence together and helping people think about the practical things.
My readers know that I've been doing far less work on TV and in magazines lately. It's because I now prefer the Internet. The Rich Sage is one of the people I've met on my journey.
Perhaps you should meet him, too.
posted by Patrick Pretty @ 10:17 AM,
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Skype Bans Affiliate Marketing In China: BREAKING NEWS
Skype just sent an email to announce that affiliates have been banned from selling the service in China for unspecified "legal reasons."
At the moment, there are no details on either skype.com or commissionjunction.com.
Here are details from the email:
"Affiliates are no longer authorised to promote Skype in Mainland China," according to the email.
The ban is effective immediately.
The email said Skype would honor its 90-day cookie policy "and will be awarding commission for all sales generated prior to today, 17 July 2007."
Skype asked affiliates to remove "all banners, text links and ad campaigns . . . as soon as possible."
No commissions will be paid on sales generated from China after 31 July 2007, according to the email.
The restriction "ONLY applies to Mainland China -- you ARE permitted to promote Skype in Hong Kong and other Asian countries," according to the email.
My sympathies to affiliates and the people of China.
Let FREEDOM ring -- through Skype and your voice.
posted by Patrick Pretty @ 7:09 AM,
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Rich Jerk Playboy Mansion Party: Will RJ Take My Bet?
Monday, July 16, 2007
Considering all the time I've spent in Hollywood and on TV over the years, it seems odd that I've never met The Rich Jerk. I've seen him, along with his car and his entourage -- but only on video.Lower in this post you'll read about the $1 wager I placed before The Rich Jerk yesterday at the Warrior Forum. He hasn't accepted it yet.
The Rich Jerk, RJ for short, has made a pile of money online. There's no doubt he has a massive following.
I admire certain things about RJ. First, I think his "Dear Loser" marketing strategy should be in the Hall of Fame. The "I'm-rich-and-you're not" approach appeals to me.
RJ dares customers to buy. I see that as bold. He's a snob. He makes no bones about it. He's also a gifted writer. When a person's writing talent leaps off the page, I pay attention.
One thing that delights me about this strategy is that no college kid in his or her right mind would approach a department head or adviser in the MBA program and declare an intention to succeed in the business world by insulting customers as a matter of policy.
"Dear Loser" is the very definition of the institutionalized insult; it goes against the grain.
But it is just so funny, so unique, that it appeals to people. And his products also appeal to people.
I'd like to see more and more marketers go against the grain. But because the Internet is so HUGE, it's hard to break in and get your own slice of the pie.
One way to break in is to concentrate on branding, establishing your own unique signature and backing it up with a quality product. It can't be all sizzle and no steak.
In other words, learn how to make a name for yourself, generate buzz and deliver something of value.
Carefully, though. Carefully and artfully.
The Rich Jerk is a master when it comes to generating buzz; I admire that about him.
If I told you I didn't, I'd be lying to you. If I told you I didn't admire his writing talent, I'd be lying.
Here's where I tell you about something I don't admire; it's why I placed the $1 wager before him at the Warrior Forum.
RJ is hosting a big party at the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles on Aug. 17. Many of the biggest names in Internet Marketing are expected to attend.
At first glance, this would seem to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Internet Marketers to network with the stars. I have no doubt that the major attendees would be willing to share ideas.
It could have been something extraordinary; now it's at great risk of being worse than ordinary. Truth is, it's already ugly.
RJ now finds himself in hot water because of the language he chose to market the event.
That's why I said carefully above. There was no care taken with this promotion. None.
RJ's publicity machine tried to stir interest in the event by bashing homosexuals and making demeaning comments about women. The language was so raw, so objectionable, that I will not reproduce it in this column.
It was reprehensible.
RJ's apologists and cheerleaders are trying to dismiss it as a marketing ploy. This means, literally, that they argue that it's acceptable to bash homosexuals and demean women in the name of marketing.
What they want everybody to "get" is that it's just an act; the argument upon which they're hanging their hat is that it's OK to promote an event that uses homophobic advertising because no one gets hurt when it's only an act.
Huh? No one gets hurt when advertising material contains poisonous words?
I wonder if they'd feel the same way if the "N" word were being bandied about, as opposed to the "F" word commonly associated with a slur against homosexuals.
One marketer has argued that it's OK because RJ's pool boy is a "flaming [use your imagination.]"
And apologists also argue that, since the event is for a charity, people who don't attend are missing out on a chance to perform a service for people in need.
Huh? Would it be OK to use the "N" word in promotional copy as long as all the money goes to charity?
Internet marketing already has an image problem. This stuff only adds to the problem. Not only is it hype, its homophobic and misogynistic hype. That it's an "act" is meaningless.
Yesterday I proposed a gentlemen's bet for $1 with The Rich Jerk.
My belief is that at least one of his major attendees will come down with a cold or a sudden scheduling conflict just prior to the event.
No politician who valued reelection would attend this event if he or she had knowledge of the marketing behind it. They'd be pilloried and tossed from office as soon as voters found out.
I can hear the sound byte now: "I don't really support gay-bashing and misogyny . . . ."
Why put yourself in that box when you can stand for something before you're forced explain why you're not homophobic? It's unlikely to matter how well you choose your words after the fact because millions of people will see whatever you say as a distinction without a difference.
Big-name marketers have consented to attend, despite the fact they know how it was marketed. Some even helped to market it in this fashion.
What we're witnessing here is a new low. What should we call it? The power of viral homophobia as a marketing tool?
Want your name attached to that little diddy?
This is why I figure at least one of the star marketers will back out. It will occur to them, as it would occur to a politician, that there's too much downside risk and very little to gain on the upside.
Moreover, I wonder if the charity that will benefit from RJ's Playboy party is aware that the marketing material used to promote it used such hurtful words. Would the charity approve of the marketing plan?
If it is aware of the plan and is permitting its name to be attached to this event, then it runs the risk of losing credibility. That's apt to mean fewer donations in the future.
Friends, ethics and morals are personal things. People are free to define their choices and limits.
For me, coarse, demeaning and cruel words are the signposts for The Rich Jerk's Playboy event. It is a roadway built on hurt.
That there was a tamer version of the sales letter makes no difference to me, because I know of the presence of the coarse version. So do many other marketers.
RJ, you are a legend in this business. People admire you and are envious of you. They wish they had what you have.
But this was so poisonous, so unnecessary. What's going to happen if the Times finds out and decides to pursue the story?
My guess is that Madonna never would have done something such as this, and she's probably the best in the world at going against the grain.
I encourage you, RJ, to think deeply about this; there's still time to do it a better way, the right way.
My guess is that your star attendees would appreciate some extra thought on your part.
In the absence of extra thought, are we on for a dollar? I'll donate the dollar to a charity and put in a little extra if I win.
posted by Patrick Pretty @ 8:03 AM,
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Australian Competition And Consumer Commission Sues Google In Case Alleging Deceptive Adwords Practices
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Adwords user? Google is under fire today in Australia from a consumer watchdog group that claims the search-engine giant permits Adwords users to use the names of companies in ad copy and then direct people who click on the ads to different companies.
The Australian Competition And Consumer Commission (ACCC) also claims Google is deliberately deceiving users by not making an adequate distinction between Adwords ads and organic search results.
At issue is a 2005 case in which Trading Post, a classified-ads publication, took out Adwords ads in the names of car dealerships with which it competes and then diverted traffic to itself instead of the dealerships.
Although ACCC dropped the case against Trading Post after it agreed to stop diverting Adwords traffic, the group now says Google is at fault for permitting it to happen in the first place.
Google Inc. and Google sudsidiaries in Ireland and Australia were named defendants.
Google said it would contest the lawsuit.
One thing the court will have to decide is whether Google has a duty to police Adwords ads before it accepts them.
An Aug. 21 hearing has been set in Federal Court in Sydney.
For more information, visit ACCC here:
http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/792088/fromItemId/142
Visit TimesOnlineUK here:
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/the_web/article2064672.ece
posted by Patrick Pretty @ 12:06 PM,
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10 Reasons Why People Buy Things: Guest Internet Marketing Commentary By Steven Wagenheim
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
EDITOR'S NOTE: PatrickPretty.com occasionally creates space for Internet Marketers to offer Guest Commentaries. This post is by Steven Wagenheim.Everybody is in a rush to create the newest, latest and greatest product since Carter invented liver pills, but so many new marketers fail to sit down and think about just what it is that makes a consumer buy things. Most marketers think it's because they need whatever the thing is. Unfortunately, it is that kind of thinking that gets marketers in trouble. This article is going to focus on the 10 reasons why people like you and me buy things. I'll be listing them in reverse order, just like with those exciting countdown shows.
10. To Relieve Stress - If you don't think that life is stressful then you're either not living or very lucky. The truth is, for most of us, life is very stressful. Therefor, a good portion of our purchases are made to relieve that stress, whether it be a punching bag to put down in the basement or a basketball hoop to tack up to our garage to shoot a few hoops and maybe slam a few dunks. Take a look at your product or service and see how it can help the person relieve stress, maybe by making their job a little easier through automation or some other means.
9. Replacing An Item - Sometimes things will either break down or get old and obsolete. Nothing lasts forever and ultimately needs to be replaced. If you have a product that fits that description, such as computers or any piece of electronics, you can get yourself a customer for life if you provide them with a quality product.
8. Satisfying The Emotions - We're a very emotional species. It doesn't take much to make us happy or sad or what have you. Sometimes we purchase things just because we have an emotional need that needs to be filled. This can take many forms from buying a new dress to make us feel better about our appearance to getting that cowboy hat we always wanted because deep down inside we wished we were John Wayne. The point is, emotions are not logical, so don't expect the purchases to be logical.
7. To Entertain Ourselves - If you think human beings don't like to be entertained, take a look at TV, the movies, the theatre and just about anything else you can think of done outside the home. If it wasn't for entertainment, I think most of us would go crazy from boredom. If you're in this industry, you're sitting on a gold mine.
6. A Purchase We Planned - Believe it or not, every once in a while we actually sit down and decide on a particular date and time we're going to buy that new, whatever. It can be something that we've wanted for a long time that we just didn't have the money for or something that we've been putting off because we've been waiting for the new and improved model. So just because somebody doesn't buy your product today doesn't mean they might not tomorrow.
5. To Relax - Sometimes all we want to do is come home from a hard day at work, sit in our favorite chair and either read a magazine, do the crossword puzzle in the newspaper or just take a nap. Many of our purchases are made for the reasons of relaxation. If your product caters to this need, you have something that is always in demand.
4. To Educate Ourselves - This is a big one. We are constantly striving to educate ourselves. This is why digital info products are so big. People think if they buy one of these self help books that they're going to get the education that they need. So if you're in the digital info market, you have a wide audience to reach.
3. To Improve Our Surroundings - Home and office decoration is huge. Think about all the stuff you have in your house that does nothing but just improve the way it looks. It really doesn't serve any functional purpose, unless of course you've got all those paintings hanging around to scare away the bugs. Marketers who are in the home and office furnishings niche can have customers for a lifetime if they provide quality products and treat them well.
2. To Please Ourselves - There is nothing logical about this at all. Sometimes we just feel low and need a pick-me-up, so we go to the local sweet shop and pick up a Milky Way or Snickers. These purchases are done for no other reason than to make us feel better. If you have a product that fills this need, you have a huge customer base to choose from.
1. To Improve Our Quality Of Life - There is nothing bigger than this my friends. When all is said and done, when we purchase something we want to believe that our lives are going to be better for it. The key here is to promote your product or service in a way that fills this emotional need. How can it improve the quality of somebody's life?
If you are running your own business, you need to look at your product or service and see how many of these emotional triggers your product or service touches off. The more the better, but if you find that you're not hitting any of them, it could explain a major reason why you're not making many sales.
People don't buy things because they need them.
They buy them for the reasons above.
Commit them to memory.
It may mean the difference between success and failure.
To YOUR Success,
Steven Wagenheim
Creator Honest Income Program and My Secret Articles.
Steven Wagenheim's 4-Step Method To Making Money Online
posted by Patrick Pretty @ 3:11 PM,
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Internet Marketing 'Guru' Or 'Rubber Chicken?'
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Bashing Internet Marketing Gurus has become sport in online business forums.
But is such bashing fair? And why has the word "Guru" fallen into disfavor among many Internet Marketers?
My belief is that it's because there are so many "pretend" gurus, those who mingle on the fringes of an actual guru's life and have divined guruhood for themselves.
"Look at me," they seem to say. "I'm standing next to a guru. This is proof positive that I, too, am a guru."
That's what people are sick of.
Guruhood is not something that gets passed down; it's not something that happens by osmosis. You can stand next to a guru and hope some of his or her guru wisdom will rub off.
Moreover, you can't steal a guru's "act" and expect people not to notice. Just because you curse in your emails or say outrageous things does not make you the Rich Jerk.
My guess is that the Rich Jerk would privately think you're a "loser" -- one of his favorite words -- for trying to hijack his famous marketing tactics.
Along those lines, it's my belief that most people won't care how well you know Mike Filsaime when he's doing a launch.
Man, Mike Filsaime's July 7 launch of "the7figurecode.com" brought out more pretend gurus than any launch in recent memory. Even some regulation gurus started to sound like pretend gurus, with all of the sucking up going on.
I'm surprised no one made the claim that they were, in fact, married to Mike Filsaime in a bid to pocket an affiliate commission.
Sorry. Guruhood is earned, not claimed. Trying to make your emails to your list sound as though they come from a guru and not from you is a compelling sign you still have a lot of work to do.
Any Internet Marketer who's spent any time at all in the industry can spot an imitation guru as quickly as a practiced domestic cat can spot a chipmunk hiding under the couch. It's not really a special talent; it's an instinct.
Some of the guru-talk in forums is heated. A friend of mine suggested that one way to deal with the guru issue is simply to start calling gurus "rubber chickens."
Over time, perhaps, the word guru then could regain its dignity. I don't know how long it would take for this to occur. My guess is that "rubber chicken" as code for "guru" wouldn't have a lengthy shelf life.
Even so, I'd like to incorporate my friend's idea at least for today, at least in my Blog.
So, here goes, Patrick Pretty's fantasy forum post . . .
I like posts by regulation rubber chickens; they're normally loaded with value and steeped with wisdom.
And I like posts by aspiring rubber chickens on their way to regulation rubber chicken-hood. In fact, I hope they achieve regulation rubber chicken-hood.
Regulation rubber chickens should be valued, even emulated.
No rubber chicken, however, should be exalted. Even regulation rubber chicken are fallible.
All regulation rubber chickens are human, after all. They're capable of making mistakes, bad calls, and exercising poor judgment.
They just do it fewer times than aspiring rubber chickens or those aspiring to be aspiring rubber chickens.
The types of form posts I don't like are these:
1.) Kneejerk defenses of regulation rubber chickens -- whether or not the poster himself or herself is a regulation rubber chicken or an aspiring rubber chicken. Might as well announce you don't value your own critical reasoning skills.
2.) Obsequious posts designed to curry favor with a regulation rubber chicken. Might as well announce you're prepared to suck and schmooze your way to the top.
3.) Posts that attack beginners and novices for not agreeing that your world view is the only valid one.
So, readers, "Guru" or "Rubber Chicken?"
posted by Patrick Pretty @ 3:02 PM,
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eBay's 'Kijiji' Positions Itself Against Craigslist
Monday, July 9, 2007
Kijiji, a colorful classified advertising service owned by eBay, is positioning itself as an alternative to the drabber craigslist, of which eBay holds a 25 percent stake.
It is perhaps eBay's least-known brand. Kijiji has been available in Europe and parts of Asia since 2005. It's now available in the United States.
Are there possible uses for Kijiji in Internet Marketing? Will Kijiji become a force in Internet Marketing?
Kijiji essentially is a free online classified advertising service. Internet Marketers who've found a traffic source on craigslist are apt to give Kijiiji a whirl.
Kijiji -- how many other words have five consecutive letters that have to be dotted? -- has a catchy name.
Users will find that posting an ad is almost ridiculously simple. Just enter your ad copy, confirm your email address, and your ad will be online.
You don't even have to register, although I recommend registering. It makes your ads easier to manage and gives you certain monitoring advantages.
I posted Kijiji ads in New York City (Brooklyn) and Pittsburgh today, using different ad copy for both.
EDIT (5:15 P.M., July 9.): With respect to the sentence immediately above, I've just been informed by Kijiji that you can't post ads in more than one city: "Since Kijiji is meant to be a local trading site, we do not allow posting of ads in multiple states, or from outside the state in which you live."
Kijiji features a WYSIWYG text editor. Users can choose from among five fonts. There also is built-in ability to select text colors and perform basic word-processing functions such as centering text.
Users may upload up to four pictures for use in the ad.
One thing not apt to please Internet Marketers experimenting with Kijiji is the absence of a way to work with html from within the editor. There appears to be no way to make a link clickable, although perhaps that capability will be added later.
One potential workaround is simply to ask visitors to copy and paste into their browser location bars the URL you post in the ad.
Because it's eBay, it's also possible that Internet Marketers who use Kijiji could gain an SEO advantage.
I can't say for certain yet because I haven't tested how quickly ads get indexed or played with keyword combinations.
Ads can be posted at Kijiji classified ad sites in numerous cities. Users simply select the category and type up the ad.
Some cities have virtually no listings in some categories. That may not turn out to be as bad as it sounds; it actually could result in a competitive advantage for some users.
Registered Kijiji users get a back office that permits you to edit ads and monitor statistics, including the number of unique clicks on your ad.
Kijiji is the correct spelling. Kajiji or Kageegee or Kajeejee or Kiji or Kijee Kagee or Kajee are not.
Kijiji versus Craigs List? There's room for both of them.
Craigslist has an advantage over Kijiji for now because the brand is better known in the United States.
But Kijiji could close the market-share gap with Craigs List and narrow its advantage in the coming months, especially if eBay throws its full weight behind Kijiji and does a powerful tie-in with Skype and PayPal.
posted by Patrick Pretty @ 3:47 PM,
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Guest Commentary: Vince Runza On Forging Productive, Healthy Joint Venture Partnerships In Internet Marketing
Sunday, July 8, 2007
EDITOR'S NOTE: PatrickPretty.com creates space for other marketers to share insights and thoughts from time to time. This is a guest column on forging JV partnerships by Vince Runza.Several recent [Warrior Forum] posts highlight all the wrong ways to connect with other IM pros. Chief among them is being a pain in the [butt]:
- If you're a high-maintenance drama queen, why would anybody want you around?
- So what if you're sucking massive cash into your bank account?
- Who cares if you have a list of about a gazillion obedient buyers who convert at 99.99999%, no matter what you throw at them?
- Why should I get excited that you've produced the latest hot widget, script or software?
Making a real, trustworthy connection with people is something you cannot "manufacture." I know this from experience. I can use all kinds of sneaky, NLP/Cialdini/covert methods to lure you into paying attention to a message I might be crafting. Unless I'm actually trustworthy, I'll never earn your trust, in the long run.
The positive result from a networking connection needs to be measurable. It may be emotionally satisfying to exchange emails, quips and clever conversation. If that connection doesn't have a measurable benefit, you'd better not think it's part of your business networking efforts. If you're spending all your "networking" time chatting, and never offer any real value, suggestions or help, you're not going to achieve any kind of useful results with your correspondents.
Here's another thought: don't be a boot-licking, butt kissing doormat. Nobody really likes that. You probably don't fall for that kind of behavior from other people, do you? Why inflict it on others? You can be "real" with successful people, just like they were real people!
In my own experience, some of the strongest ties I've formed with other people began by knocking heads. There's nothing like a healthy disagreement, followed by a deeper understanding and appreciation of each other, to forge a link between people. Just make sure your disagreements are about ideas, not about personalities! Ad hominem attacks, where you criticize the person and not the message, do not win friends, influence people or lengthen your life here on this forum.
A sense of humor won't kill you, either. If you're all "businesslike" in your communication, how can anyone warm up to you? Why would anyone bother? A bit of amiable banter can make a big difference -- unless you're a humorless, miserable, chef-hat-wearing yodeler like that Kevin Riley guy!
To sum up: avoid making your ego your USP. Sure, it's okay to appear to be bigger than life. Just keep in mind, there's no such thing as bigger than life! Just ask me! I never lie, I'm always right and I have a lot to be arrogant about!
Vince Runza
posted by Patrick Pretty @ 11:43 AM,
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EZAuctionAd May Help You Sell More On eBay
Thursday, July 5, 2007
EZ Auction Ad 2.0 is a desktop software application designed to help you create eye-pleasing ads on eBay.Ever notice how ads placed by eBay Powersellers often look nicer than ads placed by typical eBay users? Well, that's no accident. "Looking good" on eBay is part of the success equation.
A nice ad helps drive conversions. EZAuctionAd helps you put a Pro's polish on your eBay auction ads for eBay.com (United States); eBay.co.uk (United Kingdom); eBay.ca (Canada); and eBay.com.au (Australia).
You can create a "Powerseller" look without necessarily being a Powerseller with EZ Auction Ad.
The EZ Auction Ad software uses a template-based approach.
Simply enter your eBay username, the title of the item you're selling and a solid description. Make sure you take advantage of the software also to enter information on shipping, payment terms and closing comments -- bidding your auction visitors a pleasant day, for example.
Like all software, EZAuctionAd requires some practice to take full advantage of its functionality.
One of the best things you can do, I believe, is use EZAuctionAd alongside a quality information product that instructs you not only on how to sell items on eBay, but also how to take advantage of eBay traffic.
To take a look at EZAuctionAd, please visit this page.
EZ Auction Ad.
You'll note in the sidebar links that I placed the link for EZ AuctionAd below a link to Lee McIntyre's Blog.
That's so you'll be able to get two high-quality ways to benefit from eBay.
posted by Patrick Pretty @ 11:08 AM,
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TrafficReGenerator: For Recapturing Website Visitors
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
UPDATE: July 18, 2007:Traffic Regenerator Will launch July 31.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE ANNOUNCEMENT.
TrafficReGenerator is a service that is expected to debut this month.
I accepted an offer to beta-test for Traffic Regenerator, which provides a single line of code to produce the effect you see in the graphic (right) in this post. The idea is to recapture the attention of a Web visitor who may be leaving your page.
If you'd like to see a live demonstration, please go here:
http://patrickpretty.com
Let the page load fully. Then drag your mouse toward the "Back" button of your browser. You'll see a picture of me unfold from the upper left corner of your screen.
Then a text box will drop down, inviting you to join my Announcement List. You'll get a Free gift for doing that.
TrafficRegenerator is versatile. You can use it to create the effect I'm using, or you can use it in a much more aggressive way.
I don't like "aggressive" website tactics or ones that use sound effects, so I'd never use it that way.
Some people will; it's their choice to do that. I'd never recommend that approach because I see it as "shouting" at customers. I just don't do that. I'd rather not have someone sign up for my list than browbeat them into joining it.
Shouting isn't part of "the Patrick Pretty Way."
I've made a few suggestions to Harun, one of the owners of Traffic Regenerator. He has responded to me quickly with words of thanks.
TrafficRegenerator-beta has a pleasing back-office area, complete with a Wizard to help you build your project. It's basically a 10-step process, and the wizard walks you through it.
Techies will breeze through this when the official launch begins; if you're not a techie, you'll get through it -- but perhaps at a slower pace.
I had my first test project up and running in about 20 minutes. After I completed the wizard, doing things such as entering the URL for my website, inserting a picture of me, crafting some copy for the drop-down and inserting html from my forms processor into the WSYIWYG editor, I was given a one-line piece of code.
I inserted that in my website, and the Traffic Regenerator system did the rest.
There is no doubt that Traffic Regenerator will recapture the attention of your website visitors. But my guess is that you'll do better by using this product in conservative fashion.
Last night I showed Traffic Regenerator to five friends. Each agreed it was "cool" when I asked them about it in a mini-survey. Each said there was "nothing" offensive about the way I'm using it.
But a couple of people did raise concerns about the utility of the product if it's used as a shout box.
I'll post more as I learn more about it.
Happy 4th of July to all of my friends who are citizens of the United States of America.
Your friend,
Patrick Pretty
posted by Patrick Pretty @ 9:28 AM,
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Patrick Pretty Supports The Scott Boras Plan To Expand The Baseball World Series To A Best-Of-Nine Format
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Baseball has nothing to do with Internet marketing, I know.But I just wanted to make a quick post to report I started a Blog to help Scott Boras promote his plan to expand the Major League Baseball World Series to a best-of-nine format.
Plenty of Internet marketers love baseball.
I'm among them; I've been a baseball nut all of my life. The Pittsburgh Pirates are my favorite team, having been born in Siverly, Pennsylvania.
I follow the Pirates all summer long, at least through the box scores. It doesn't matter where I am on earth. I have to know how my Pittsburgh Pirates did the night before.
You can find the my Baseball Blog here:
Patrick Pretty's Expand-The-Baseball-World-Series-To-9-Games Blog.
Scott Boras wants to play two of the games in a neutral city. The entire opening weekend would be a national celebration, just as is the case with the Super Bowl.
The MVPs, Rookies Of The Year, Managers Of The Year and Cy Young Award winners would be named over the weekend, prior to Game One of the World Series.
There also would be a Hall Of Fame announcement.
I love this plan and have written to Scott Boras and Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig.
If you're a baseball fan, support this fantastic plan.
I know I will -- even though I'm busy with my Internet Marketing and TV work.
posted by Patrick Pretty @ 5:18 PM,
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Support Dr. Mani's Tagathon For Kids With Heart Defects
Hats off to Dr.Mani Sivasubramanian for his Heart Kids Tagathon for critically ill children who need heart surgery.That's right! It's that Dr. Mani, whom many of you know as one of the top infopreneurs in the world.
He also happens to be a heart surgeon, one who also raises money to help children in desperate need.
Each summer Dr.Mani conducts an around-the-clock blogging marathon called the Heart Kids Blogathon.
Thousands of people support the event. I hope you'll consider doing so. More than $80,000 has been raised in the past 6 years. Nineteen children were given heart-saving surgery.
Help spread the word about Congenital Heart Defects by joining the Tagathon today.
Please click here for more information.
Labels: Dr. Mani's kids, tagathon
posted by Patrick Pretty @ 11:52 AM,
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Wanna Fight? The Ageless Debate Over MRR/PLR Products
Selling Master Resale Rights products and Private Label Rights products does not have to be a race to the bottom.
Say you've had your eyes on a software tool and have been licking your chops in anticipation of the day the owner will release MRR, enabling you to sell it.
Many Internet Marketers dash to eBay immediately upon the release of MRR rights to a product. What was bought for, say, $47, then starts getting sold for $1 -- perhaps less.
The release of MRR forces prices down. What once was in limited supply quickly becomes excessive supply. That in itself forces prices down.
But you can keep from going the bargain-basement route by becoming an authority on the MRR product.
Create a branded sales page. Test the product. Review it legitimately, instead of shilling for it. Educate your readers. Give them more information than the originator of the product shared with customers.
Will people leave your site after they mine it for information to seek a lower price?
Yes. Many will.
But some won't. Some people will recognize the work you put into the review and sales page. They'll know they can trust you.
Trust is important to buyers; many times it's more important than price.
You could find a customer for life simply by doing something thoughtful. Some customers will buy everything you sell based on this relationship of trust.
posted by Patrick Pretty @ 11:22 AM,
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