Archive for Training Courses & Memberships
New Local Offline to Online Marketing Course Under Review:
Posted by: | CommentsAs pretty much everyone knows, local offline marketing to benefit local businesses in their efforts to gain more ‘footfall’ i.e. customers through the door is rapidly becoming the prevailing song of a growing proportion of email promotions these days.
My particular situation makes this of genuine interest and I have started collecting available education on the subject – white papers, research and training courses with a view to…
- Rapidly adding to my existing knowledge on the subject
- Verifying by the use of separate sources, the viability of this business with respect to my personal attributes
- And to give me something to get stuck into whilst my badly broken leg recovers – though that is not a good reason really
(nor do I recommend breaking a leg either!) We shall leave that to the more theatrical among us.
So I have today (after a careful look around that is) purchased what promises to be a very comprehensive training course called
Local Lead Machines with the intention of meeting the bullet points above and reporting back as to whether it is worth the money. I should be in the position to confirm this (or otherwise) within a couple of days. As I said earlier… I do have quite a bit of time on my hands at the moment.
If you have been reading my other posts with any regularity you will have seen that I joined Jonathan Van Clutes Membership some time ago and the good news that imho his way of doing things although a tad slow at times is really fist class. The tools he gives you are themselves worth a years membership alone never mind that he personally helps with anything related to I.M.
I just don’t get how he does it all.
You can still watch his video http://milessentme.com/rd/JVCSOL or read the whole article here
Training Update the JVC way
Posted by: | CommentsI wrote a short while ago concerning closure to the Matt Harward affair and all the damage that came with it and went on to tell you about a group I had ‘JUST’ joined which was to provide training, software and great content.
Well a few weeks have passed so time for a brief update before I head off on a much needed (and some would say well deserved) break.
Usually after some time into a course I tend to have one or two critism’s but in this particular case I actually don’t, – I think that might well be a first.
In fact joining the JVC solution was probably the best move I have made in a long long time let me give you just one example.
The most popular part for me is the suggestions area in which members are invited to post a request for material about which they would wish to be trained. Every member gets 10 personal votes per month and can use them however they like toward promoting a topic they would most like to me mentored/trained on.
The Result – and Next topic up? (exact quote)….
Alllllrighty gang, it’s that time! From the responses in the forum, it seemed pretty clear that everyone felt they would get a ton out of a list building webinar. That’s a potentially huge, nebulous subject though so I’ve been pondering how I want to handle it, and here’s what I’ve come up with.
First, I think it’s important that we divide up the concept of “list building” into parts so that we can more easily focus on a specific goal and manage the results to get there. To that end, here is how I think it should be divided up:
1. Getting traffic to a squeeze page.
This is a whole topic unto itself as many people have told me that they can build a squeeze page and send emails, but they just can’t get the traffic. I suspect if you’ve paid any attention around here thus far, you’ve probably figured out that I view this as the easy part!
Enough people have told me how valuable they would find it for me to cover this, so… that’s where we’ll start. I’ll get into keyword research, setting up links and passing tracking information, and some other “ninja” type stuff.
2. Building the funnel.
That’s really what we’re doing here right? We’re building a funnel. It starts with a squeeze page and progresses to… anything we want! It can be simple, it can be VERY complex, or somewhere in the middle. I think this needs to be broken up into a whole separate discussion as there’s a lot of moving parts and I don’t want to lose anyone. Building a squeeze page, tweaking graphics, setting up the autoresponder code, passing data around for tracking purposes, thank-you pages, etc. This will be the real nuts & bolts mechanics of what happens after you’ve got the traffic on tap.
3. Mailing the list.
Email marketing is an art unto itself and while I don’t consider myself an “email marketer”, obviously I have lists because you’re on at least one of them! I really do actually enjoy my relationship with my list members, but my list is tiny compared to the “big dogs” in the IM world. Still, I think I have a more personal relationship to my list than many, even though I don’t mail terribly often (I don’t like promoting every damn product launch that comes along). But if we’re going to be building a list, obviously it’s with the goal of mailing to them and hopefully getting the desired response! We’ll discuss what those responses might be, and what approach we’ll want to take.
4. Campaign optimization.
This one could go on probably indefinitely, since optimizing is pretty much a never-ending process. There are so many aspects to optimize too…. traffic sources (including partners at adon), targets (keywords/domains/urls) dayparting, intra-day-parting, lander tweaks, funnel tweaks, email sequence tweaks, testing different offers… the list goes on. I’ll try to cover as much as I can to illustrate how I would optimize this type of campaign thoroughly.
This entire process is going to take a while, this will NOT happen overnight or on a single webinar! I’m thinking each one of these will be its own webinar (and probably followup series), and each one may or may not actually tie into the previous one (because in order to show one part clearly, the others already need to be built).
Now, to make sure I stay on track and don’t digress too much, and end up with another multi-hour webinar epic, I’m thinking I’ll take a different approach with this one:
I’m going to record a video outlining the whole plan. I’m going to start at my whiteboard (so there’s really no good way for me to do it live anyway) and probably end up at the computer for some of the finer details. BUT you’ll all get to watch the video as I stream it to you on the webinar, and then I’ll stick around after for Q&A (and it means I’ll be able to type in the question box WHILE you’re all watching me. Multitasking for the win!
)
I do plan to use my own tools for as much of this as possible too so you’ll undoubtedly pick up a lot of good tricks along the way, not to mention all the other things I’ll undoubtedly end up using (graphics programs, autoresponders, etc.)
I think this is going to be a hell of a series, and though it’s going to be a huge amount of work I think it’ll be worth it. Hopefully you agree!
My goal is to complete the video portion of “Episode 1? this week. Once I have it done, or at least almost done, I’ll announce the specific time & date for the “broadcast” webinar, and then we can finish it up with the Q&A.
Sound good?
Oh also, for the followup reports – especially when it comes time to talk optimization or details like the partners I’m running on, keywords I’m using, etc. – I’ll probably release them a bit delayed, so as to not overly affect my results.
Let me know how this sounds but unless there are any strong objections, I’m going to keep moving on this approach!
JVC
See what I mean?
Not exactly thinly spread is it? What I can attest to is the quality of what is put into everything presented so far.
So if you are interested in learning more and with my personal assurance that you will never be subjected to the unbelievable mistreatment wrought by Matt Harward and instead get first class content at a most reasonable price point then take a look and watch the video.
Here’s the video http://milessentme.com/rd/JVCSOL and then get yourself signed up in time to start this next major chunk of training. By the way you also get some awesome marketing tools as part of the mix.
As always if you have any questions just drop me a comment.
Best to all
Miles
New Effective & Recommended Training
Posted by: | CommentsIt is not that often that I recommend products here as usually I seem to be in the position of reporting products that simply don’t cut it or prove to be out and out fraud. There are however some very respectable, decent and upstanding sources of training (yes REALLY!) and the one I am suggesting you take a close look at is produced by Jason Katzenback and Jason Potash who have once again collaborated on a training product that is not only inexpensive but also actually delivers what it claims to deliver.
So what is it? The product name is Blog Blueprint and is a complete, structured and well produced training course covering autoblogging and how best to go about it to get great results.
The price is currently (at the time of this post) just $67 and well worth it – I got myself a copy and have no complaints at all.
It seems customary these days to be offered an upsell or two when buying (especially training) on-line and this is no different. What is good is the 14 day free trial of ALL their tools that are available above and beyond standard membership.
There is no harm in going for these PROVIDING you have the self discipline to cancel at the appropriate time if indeed that is what you decide to do. (I won’t be cancelling as the tools are worth it).
These guys ALWAYS issue prompt refunds when valid requests are made – they are upstanding guys with whom you should have no worries. I have purchased products from both of them before and have never been unhappy at all. I once suffered a tech support cock-up, tweeted Jason Katzenback and had it resolved in less than 30 minutes – can’t ask more than that.
So take a look at the intro video to get a flavour of what I am recommending.
PPC Coach – PPC Coaching Beginner to Very Advanced!
Posted by: | CommentsThe guy behind PPC coach one of today’s most advanced PPC coaching programs is Will Haimerl, he’s been in the on-line space for …. well let’s just say a hell of a long time. He is also the co-owner of a CPA network called Wotogepa.
So what does this coaching program offer?
I think the first point to make is that Will set’s his stall out from the get go and is totally focused on getting his students into the position of having generated income as quickly as possible. He also is keen on the idea of teaching from basics in order to ensure that his students have a thorough grounding in the fundamentals and to ensure that they move forward with their individual businesses (for that is what you will have at the end of your very first month) with the confidence of knowing that perhaps for the first time they actually do know what they are doing.
(The ‘Learn The Basics Mantra’ is something I totally support — I see too many trying to run before they can walk — don’t buy advanced tools if you don’t understand their background to use)
I could drone on and on about what comes in the months after month one, but frankly it would not serve any long term purpose as the content of his program is constantly being updated in order to ensure that it reflects the current state of the market in terms of what works and works ‘now’.
So What’s In Month One?…
Perhaps the best thing to do is play you a short audio clip of Will himself explaining part of Month One’s activities, because it is a ‘full’ month, lots to do and lots to watch (over 24 videos if recall correctly) and lot’s to take on board. The emphasis on month one is ground up…. nothing is missed and no stone left unturned when it comes to getting his students up and running and into money generating mode.
Oh, and don’t be worried by his
“I don’t want you to use any tools or tracking”
statement. That is very deliberate on his part. Of course you will get into using some highly sophisticated tools as you progress through the program. As Will would confirm, it’s no use using a blade to cut with, if all you do is bleed to death as a result!
Here’s that Audio
Go check out the PPC Coach Main Site Now!
An Arbitrage Update
Posted by: | CommentsWell after being told I would not receive a refund following my application for one I had written the whole thing off and chalked it up to one of lifes bad experiences.
I returned back from hospital yesterday and so only got to my email this morning and was surprised (to put it mildly) that I had been refunded the full course fee as requested.
It does look that my initial rejection was a standardised response and that my reply created a proper review of my reasons. So it is only right that I acknowledge the final decision and express my appreciation for it here.
The AC course will no doubt be an improved version when it is released as AC2 and I am hopeful that they will promote it as aimed squarely at those new to the on-line world. If they do then I would recommend a closer look on that basis. Remember though that you would (ideally) need to allow perhaps $1500 extra for some of the tools recommended which are valid and heavily discounted. Those tools are (as stated within the course) not absolutely essential. BUT you would have to put in an awfully large amount of hours if you do not take advantage of them in order to have a realistic chance of achieving what is suggested by the AC Team.
In the end they have done right by me and I appreciate it. I also in return wish them every success for AC2 which will have the benefit of all they have learned from AC1 — I wish them therefore every success with it.
My Arbitrage Conspiracy ‘Experience’
Posted by: | CommentsThis is one product/program I would never (now) recommend to anyone.
First off at $2,211 (3 installments of $737) it has for me personally been the biggest (by far) stupid mistake I ever made — strong words I know but nonetheless fully justified in my opinion. I bought this following a personal (commissioned no doubt) recommendtion from Eben Pagan who in general I view as being trustworthy and highly professional — we are not all perfect (me included) and sadly he got it very wrong this time.
When you enter a 12 week program (as this is) then you can kind of get caught up in the hopefullness that there will be a great idea just around the corner. It’s a bit like being offered a ‘as billed’ goumet menu, choosing the starter to find it wasn’t that good, then hanging on for the next course in the hope that it will be better — but it isn’t, so you keep working through the list and by the end of the menu all you are left with is the expense and an upset stomach.
I can honestly say I have NEVER witnessed such persistence from any any authors in asking for and bribing (with prizes) for the best testimonials (split into written and video) on such a scale ever — anywhere. In fact I would go so far as to say that if that was what I had set out to purchase then I would have been ecstatic - it was and continues to be that blatant.
Where for me the authors went wrong was their complete lack of transparency – who are they (really) I still don’t know.
They were hyped as having this incredibly thorough approach to PPC and to be frank I have listened (very attentively) and learnt perhaps one or two useful snippets and that is all. The ‘course’ was advertised as been THE thing for both ‘newbies’ (I hate that term) and experience marketers alike.
Whilst I would not say I am experienced’ (by that I mean someone earning good money from AM) neither am I an absolute beginner and I have therefore found the whole thing to be pitched at those who may have only just succeed in posting their first web site. I found myself feeling cheated at hearing explanations I had learn’t years ago (for free) out of general on-line interest, certainly not ‘Golden Nuggets’ as postulated by the presenters.
This ‘course’ may well have been popular for those who are starting from scratch, I can see value in it for them. But it was never pitched specifically that way and was therefore dishonest in its marketing.
To make matters worse, they made is clear that a great deal of work was needed if using free tools…. BUT if you bought what they would only recommend as being beneficial to members because they use them themselves apparently, (at a discount – and also a fat commission to the organisers) then you would be significantly more productive and therefore your chances of being a success would be significantly improved.
That’s not how it should be played in my book.
If the course is setting out to recommend tools and by design rather than accident then it should be honestly declared at the outset, that opportunities to purchase effective tools would be offered and at a discount (honest enough if stated) and that potential members should budget accordingly or follow the course on a purely manual basis. If following the recommendations you could I guess double the course fee.
Yes I realise that such up front honesty might half their initial sales — it would ensure a very happy course membership. I have seen far too many posts elsewhere lamenting the failure of members to make any money at all and I myself have fallen behind from an action perspective but that has been purely down to illness and hospitalisation.
I for one will be seeking a course fee refund. The original offer made at the outset was to refund unsuccessful members who had put the work in their $2000 course fee (single instalment) plus an extra $500 for giving it their all.
I shall not ask for the $500 extra as that would be unreasonable as it is not the organisers fault that I have been unwell. But I will look for a course refund as I firmly believe the marketing was grossly misleading and also the content to be very very thin on the ground, like in week 12 video 6 ’how to install the LPGEN software (promoted)’ hardly the sort of content toward the end of the course when more advanced topics would be expected and where the authors of LPGEN explain that anyway when you buy it! (I didn’t by the way) and beleive me there is more that is worse (again) in my opinion.
So if you are reading this I strongly advise you NOT to even consider it, and whilst no doubt some members may have done well, the testimonials are not freely given (without an awfully large amount of encouragement) like at the end of almost every video/webinar.
If you are looking for a PPC training environment where everyone is helpful, responsive, admits they are not perfect and does not push tools down your throat and in fact provides many of them within their sites for free, then I can recommend two programs that I am personally a member of and I am totally happy with them both.
So check them out (I’ll be doing specific writes ups on them later when time permits)
These are honest organisations that over deliver- teach a lot – do not BS you and both cost a hell of a lot less too.
They are in no order of precedence:
