Internet Marketing Blog

The Internet Marketing blog of Mike Merz, Internet Marketing consultant, in regards to what's hot ... and what's not, in the world of Internet Marketing.

Sunday, October 31, 2004

Nathan Anderson's MetaWebs Search Engine Optimization Software.

If there's one question I'm asked (more than all others, combined, it seems) by those doing business on the Net, it's how to drive more qualified traffic to their site.

Understand that I have built my considerable traffic through years of learning SEO, writing content, building sites, and gathering relevant incoming links ... it's been a loooong process.

SEO Pro Nathan Anderson feels he can get you the same results it's taken me years to achieve in just days and weeks ... !

Check out Nathan's MetaWebs Online Traffic Generating Website Building software site ... scroll down to the 'Want To See How MetaWebs Works?' box, and sign up for the free video tutorial.

I'm not asking you to do anything else ... just watch Nathan put the software through the motions and I'm sure you'll be sitting their with your jaw dropped ... just like me.

http://im4newbies.com/search-engine-optimization-software/metawebs.htm

Mike

posted by Mike Merz # 10/31/2004 02:02:00 PM 0 Comments

Friday, October 22, 2004

Frank Kern and Ed Dale's Underachiever Formula Update

Originally, Frank Kern and Ed Dale put together 297 of their extremely popular Underachiever Formula courses ... which have long since sold out.

An updated release was promised in September of 2004 ... but nothing happened. :P

As a friend of Frank Kern, I decided to get to the bottom of this ... and fired off an email:

To: Frank_Kern

Subject: Yo, Frank!

... what's going on with the Underachievers Formula Update?

I'm dyin' here! LOL

Seriously ... I know you said it's a Nitro deal, but September
came and went, bro ..;)

Regards,

Mike

To which Frank replied ...

To: Mike_Merz

Subject: Re: Yo, Frank!

Man you think you got it bad? Try being the sucker who has to remake all these screencams! That's the hold up. I decided to re-shoot all of the screencam videos so they'd be updated. We're shooting for a release in about 60 days.

The delay will be worth it because we've basically created a new product from scratch. It's much more step-by-step now ...where the original was more of a brain dump ...

So there you have it ... straight from the horse's mouth (sorry, Frank! LOL).

Jump on over to the Underachiever Formula site, click on 'order now!' (no obligation ... it just takes you to the ...), and sign up to be notified as soon as it's released.

I recommend you not wait TOO long, as we anticipate the entire inventory to be scoffed up by launch date, due to the number of members already signed up to recieve notification.

Mike

PS

The launch has been pushed back to approx. 1/30/05 ...

Go to my Underachiever II Update page to stay on top of things. Wink

posted by Mike Merz # 10/22/2004 01:07:00 PM 2 Comments

Sunday, October 17, 2004

PayPal Shopping Cart - Affiliate Management Script

I've long recommended Adrian Ling's easyClickMate software for managing your ClickBank merchant account downloads and affiliate program, but many of you have asked me what I recommend as a shopping cart/affiliate management solution for PayPal.

Well ... here it is. ;)

The EW Business Portal PayPal Anti Fraud Script.

This script offers the convenience of a system that not only accepts, declines and limits your digital downloads, but protects your files, allows the sale of non-digital items and pin codes, allows multiple cart sales, helps you to generate your PayPal html product form/link codes, blends in with the design of your site, issues provisional files as and when required for sending digital updates, sends targeted advertising or marketing info related to each of your items in two different formats, allows the recruitment of an army of affiliates to resell your products for you; and potentially, but ultimately boost your net sales income all combined into one exclusive neat 'n' tidy package.

Must be expensive ... right?

No ... not at all. ;)

Give it a looksee for yourself.

Mike

posted by Mike Merz # 10/17/2004 06:05:00 PM 0 Comments

Saturday, October 16, 2004

Jim Edwards' Review Of Amazon's A9.com Search Engine.

Cool New 'Idea' Engine On The Block

- by Jim Edwards

http://www.thenetreporter.com

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

If you log on to PayPerClickSearchEngines.com you'll find

they list over 600 different pay-per-click search engines

operating online.

In fact, some online sources report that over 1,000 "search

engines" of various size and popularity operate in the U.S.

alone.

With so much competition among sites to capture the search

traffic that Google.com and Yahoo.com seem to dominate like

800 lb. Gorillas, why would one new search engine rate even

a second glance?

The answer: Amazon, the Web's mega bookstore, launched a new

search engine with a very user-friendly interface and some

of the fastest, most relevant searches online... along with

a **twist** that will help EVERY person who wants to sell

ebooks for profit, publish articles to get traffic, or

create special reports that go viral.

Here's the story...

Amazon recently launched www.A9.com -- a search engine that

creates more of a "portal" experience than the traditional

search engine where you input your search terms, click a

button, and pray something relevant to your search appears

in the results.

When you first log on to A9.com, it looks like a traditional

search engine, but once you start searching, you'll find an

organized and extremely helpful set of search tools right at

your fingertips.

A9.com organizes its search criteria by category on the

right side of the page.

Input a search term such as "mortgage loan" or "George

Washington" and you'll start to see why I like this search

engine so much.

When you first input your search term, the website displays

the "web" search results to show you various websites A9.com

deems relevant to your search.

Click the "books" button on the right and get a list of the

most relevant books available on Amazon.com.

Follow virtually any of those book links to the Amazon

website and you can literally browse through the table of

contents, first chapter, and even the index of most books.

Click on the "Movies" button and get a list of any relevant

movies with your search terms included.

One of the helpful things you'll notice as you start

searching different types of media is that you can show or

hide various search results on the same page.

So if you only want to search books and movies, you can hide

the Web and reference results.

Depending on the type of information you need to research,

you can also use the "Reference" results to get dictionary,

encyclopedia, and history information on the search terms

you entered.

Needless to say, when I did a search for "George

Washington," this reference section overflowed with relevant

links and information.

However, I was surprised at just how much reference material

was available for search terms like "mortgage," including

information from Investopedia.com on alternative search

terms to help me narrow my search for more relevant

information.

Probably the biggest reason I like A9.com so much is that it

helps to wade through the ever rising tide of information

that threatens to drown us all online.

Depending on what you need to find, you can quickly get

suggestions, reference material, physical books, and even

information on available film and video without leaving the

A9.com website.

Now, here's specifically how A9.com can help anyone who

wants to publish their own ebooks, articles, or special

reports.

#1 - Insert your main search term at A9.com and look at 2

things: total web results (higher number the better) and

the books and movies tabs.

If you see a lot of web results and tons of books and movies

on the subject, you have a VERY good (and fast) indication

that the topic you're considering is "hot" enough to warrant

more investigation for creating your own ebook, special

report, or other info-product.

#2 - Follow the look links to specific listings on Amazon.

Some of those books will allow you to go through the table

of contents, first chapter, and index right there on your

screen.

Use this opportunity to:

A. Make notes on the most important points on your topic

(from the table of contents) and expand your list of

potential points to cover.

B. Get a feel for the general topic and the typical way

authors are currently approaching it (first chapter).

** By the way, the table of contents and / or first chapter

will usually give you at least one great idea for an article

you could create (or pay someone to create) and use to

generate traffic to your website.

C. Look for additional keywords you could use for your pay-

per-click campaigns as well as your headlines, bullets, and

other classified ads (in the index).

#3 - Use the "Reference" tab on A9.com to access the

dictionary, thesaurus, and other tools to find MORE keywords

you can use to advertise on pay-per-click search engines...

specific "niche" keywords many of your competitors probably

aren't using.

Though nothing on A9.com is actually new, it does present a

much faster and easier way to search the web, compare

reults, gather marketing intelligence, and wade through

available data to help you with your own ebooks, special

reports, article writing, and other marketing activities.

Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist and the

co-author of an amazing new ebook that will teach you how

to use fr^e articles to quickly drive thousands of targeted

visitors to your website or affiliate links...

-=-=-==-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Need MORE TRAFFIC to your website or affiliate links?

"Turn Words Into Traffic" reveals the secrets for driving

Thousands of NEW visitors to your website or affiliate

links... without spending a dime on advertising!

Click Here> http://www.TurnWordsIntoTraffic.com

-=-=-==-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Mike

posted by Mike Merz # 10/16/2004 01:03:00 PM 0 Comments

Friday, October 15, 2004

$21,393 In Free Bonuses ... Ends Today (Friday, Oct. 15th).

Yeah ... I know it sounds crazy. Rolling Eyes

But Joe Vitale managed to get 72 top Marketers to donate $21,393 worth of their own products and services as enticement to purchase his just recently released (9 AM, EST, Tuesday) Hypnotic Selling Secrets course.

There's also mention of an extra $500 in your pocket .. Wink

Unfortunately, the $21,393 in bonuses ... and the extra $500 in your pocket promo is good till Friday, Oct. 15th, ONLY.

Find out all about it, here:

Joe Vitale's Hypnotic Selling Secrets Course

Regards,

Mike "this has been one heckuva busy week for Joe" Merz

PS

Listen to Joe Vitale's outrageous guarantee ...

I guarantee you will double what you pay for this

in 90 days, double your sales, your cl'icks...whatever

you are doing online... or I'll pay you $1000 CASH out

of my own pocket.

...and you keep these $21,363 in bonuses!

Read it right here on the site. $1000 out of my own

pocket says you'll double what you pay for Hypnotic

Selling Secrets, double your results...so what have

you got to lose?

Joe

How can Joe afford to make an offer like that?!?!

Simple ... he's THAT sure you'll be satisfied.

PPS

One more exclusive bonus ... the legendary Mark Joyner has raised the bar yet another level with a special addition of his own ... find out all about it!

Joe Vitale's Hypnotic Selling Secrets Course

But you'd better hurry up ... the clock is ticking ..;)

posted by Mike Merz # 10/15/2004 04:36:00 PM 0 Comments

Thursday, October 14, 2004

Marlon Sanders: Rants And Raves.

If you know me, you know I consider Marlon Sanders one of the most brilliant minds in Online Marketing ... and have so for many years.

Marlon sent out an email just minutes ago that I just had to share with you ... it's a classic, as it contains raves ... AND rants from a recent feedback request.

Enjoy the free lessons that Marlon delivers within his responses ..;)

Dear Mike,

Holy smokes!

My request for success stories and testimonials brought in

a big number of testimonials, 4 whiners, 1 anonymous

refund request, 2 sob stories, and 2 looney toons wack

jobs. (not all of which are in this email

thankfully...I'll save you the wack jobs).

First we'll start with some of the .... ummmm .... more

colorful stuff. Then I'll give you the positives.

////////////////////////////////////

"Well Marlon, I would love nothing more than to give you a

huge rap up. Unfortunately I can't. Despite all the hype

and positive spin you put on everything including the

kitchen sink, all I can say is that you must be living on

a different planet to the rest of us. I have diligently

applied all the advice, bought all the "stuff" done all

the things suggested, ezine ads, search engine submitters,

safe lists, bought leads, Guaranteed sign ups - have I

left anything out? If I have, believe me, I have tried

that too. The truth is that all you and your ilk do is

convince poor mugs like me that we need your stuff to

market our stuff." -- Name Withheld (Oh, and the sob story

goes on about a mile.)

MY RESPONSE: I don't know who you've been listening to,

but other than ezine ads, I have never recommended any of

that crap. Not the safe lists, lead buying, guaranteed

signups. Where is it I teach any of that stuff?

Nowhere. That's where.

Here's what I teach: 1. Target a clear market 2. Do a

12-product survey 3. Sell the winner 4. If it doesn't

work, do a new survey or find a new target market

Bet you NEVER had a niche market and never did your

12-product survey. The problem is, you wanted and bought

gimmicks. I don't teach gimmicks. I teach marketing.

Finding an audience, finding their problems, doing 12

product surveys, and following a proven direct response

sales sequence.

Which has absolutely NOTHING at all to do with the stuff

you told me you tried. But listen, the LAST thing in the

world I want is your money. See that little blue link at

the bottom? Click it.

I'm not a Savior. I can't help everybody. Don't pretend I

can.

//////////////////////////////////////

"I know you will not want Genuine Failure stories,or else

your Fake business get exposed. pl. donot cheat innocent

people."

MY RESPONSE: Actually, if you have the balls to post your

name, email and address, I'll send you my latest product

on avoiding ripoffs and making money for submitting your

failure story.

But wait. YOUR failure story must be a failure at doing

what I teach NOT what other "gurus" teach. What I teach

is:

1. Target a clear market (everyone on the Net doesn't cut

it). 2. Do a problems and complaints survey 3. Turn those

complaints into product ideas 4. Do a 12 product survey 5.

Write a KSL following my formula for a letter 6. Drive

traffic with an affiliate program 7. Burn the phone up

non-stop calling and getting people to be an affiliate and

do JV's. 8. If it doesn't work, do a new survey or get a

new niche

Show me your complaints survey, your 12-product survey,

your sales letter following the PBL/KSL formula to a tee,

and your associate program.

Failing is not interesting nor unique. It's the result of

NOT following proven procedures. At the same time, I don't

care WHAT the business is. There are no guarantees. I

never have and never will guarantee you'll drum up a

red cent.

Can you guarantee me you'll wake up in the morning? Nope.

So how can I guarantee anyone's success? Ridiculous and

impossible.

When my dad was growing up on the farm, he had no guarantee

a tornado wouldn't blow the barn away, or a fire wouldn't

burn down the house, or a disease kill the cattle and pigs.

Or his dad wouldn't go blind.

In fact, all that happened. But he never accused farming of

being a scam, pick and shovel sellers to farmers being

dishonest scammers or the entire farming industry of being

a sham.

Of course, a 12-year old supporting the family farm doesn't

think to do those things.

////////////////////////////

Big slip up Marlon - No links to home page!!!

Apparently some of my subscribers think I'm in need of

free, anonymous marketing advice. Please. See that little

blue link at the bottom? Click. Thanks.

////////////////////////////

I want a refund, a*sh%le.

OK Pal. I'll hit you with it. Why don't you try posting

your name, email and the name of the product you bought on

our support forum at amazingformula.com/support. we'll hit

you with that refund. I can't refund anonymous postings.

//////////////////////////

I would publish several of the sob stories but they are

really, really long. In the end, they all boil down to:

Can you help me without me paying for it? Or everyone

teaching anything on Internet marketing (including you)

sucks.

NOW FOR THE POSITIVE STUFF

Marlon, I want to thank you again for being the

inspiration for my internet career, I read "The Amazing

Formula" in 1999 and went on to build the largest grant

information business on the web. I owe you a lot and to

think, I almost used that money to do something as trivial

as pay my phone bill, perish the thought! Seriously,

Thanks for a great product, a willing ear, and being a

marketer with honor, integrity, and a work ethic that has

launched what I am sure are thousands of marketing

careers! -- Tom Bell Todayican.com

///////////////////////////

Marlon Sanders has helped me to see that within every

individual is a special place, a place where there is

Gold. Not just Gold for making money,(although that's

important) but Gold of personal wealth and experience.

Before I found Marlon's amazing formula, I did not believe

in the hope of starting your own business or product. Now

every day is filled with hope and openness to what can be.

Thanks marlon! -- James G. Mackeyu

///////////////////////////

Okay, Marlon -- You have me stumped! Why on earth would

someone of your caliber need a testimonial? Everyone knows

how great you (and your products) are! I have your

"Amazing Formula" and have gone back to it numerous times

for any questions that come up. As for the "testimonial?"

You got it! (But I don't think you really need it!)

Jude Wright http://nutritious-cooking.com

//////////////////////////

Hi Marlon EVEN though I wouldn't mind owning one more

product of yours at no cost, but I want to make it

perfectly clear from the onset that the reason I'm writing

this is NOT because of the gift you'll hand out to those

you adjudge to be great but because you're an exceptional

marketer. One of the bet things that has ever happened to

me online is Jonathan Mizel leading me to you. Yes, your

products [plus your after sales service] are superb. Sunny

Obazu-Ojeagbase Owner/CEO http://www.sowealthlibrary.com

///////////////////////////

Marlon, you've done it well. I'm no stranger to web

copywriting, but I'm a very busy man with very little time

to write my own sales letters. I bought your

pushbuttonletters to save time, followed the steps,and in

as little as just a few minutes, out pops a fantastic

sales letter. I was reluctant because I wasn't sure if it

would sell my high ticketed item, but I figured "hey, just

go ahead and give it a shot." And get this... I've made 9

times my investment in his product, and today is only the

FIRST day my new sales page has been up! Marlon has "hands

down" the easiest way to create powerful, results pulling

sales letters! If you're serious about cutting your time

in half to guarantee your success in making sales online,

you owe it to yourself to get this product today.

Sincerely, Nathan Blaszak applyhypnosis.com

////////////////////////////

Truly one of the masters in a field filled with

psuedo-intellectual e-marketing wizards. george steiner

www.hum-ming-bird.com

//////////////////////////

Incidentally, there are a few more wack jobs and many,

many more positive, inspiring testimonials.

Maybe I'll send you more on another day.

Best wishes,

Marlon

P.S. If you wanna establish your own success story, I

recommend http://www.cashlikeclockwork.com.

There's no get-rich-quick and ez in it. Just solid

marketing and how-to's.

Mike

posted by Mike Merz # 10/14/2004 03:59:00 PM 0 Comments

Wednesday, October 13, 2004

Joe Vitale Webcast, Hypnotic Selling Secrets Offer Update.

Evidently, the Nitro servers were hammered so relentlessly during last night's Joe Vitale Hypnotic Selling Secrets Webcast, that a lot of people missed out.

Well, here are the download links to the webcast ... all 2 hours of it. ;)

Right click here, and hit 'save', to download the MP3.

Click here to stream the audio.

Wait ... it gets even better. ;)

You can still get a steeply discounted copy of Dr. Vitale's brand new 'Hypnotic Selling Secrets' home study course, if you order during the next 9 1/2 hours (11:59 PM EST, Tonight).

This special offer includes 30 CD's & DVD's (25+ hours of rock-solid, Dr. Vitale content), and 3 manuals (700+ pages) featuring Dr. Vitale's most powerful Hypnotic Selling Strategies, plus an amazing bonus package including over $21,393.53 in bonuses for taking immediate action!

Find out all about it here ... but remember, you only have till 11:59 EST tonight to grab all the bonuses.

Don't come back tomorrow and yell at me because you missed out! LOL

Mike

posted by Mike Merz # 10/13/2004 02:21:00 PM 2 Comments