The Squeaky Wheel gets the Grease
In case you missed the email I sent…
Hi guys,
I just wanted to write you a short update about recent events.
Did you every hear the expression:
‘The Squeaky Wheel Gets the Grease?”
That means a few things really. But the one that most people will not argue is this…
… The person that makes the most noise gets the most attention.
This is good sometimes, but sometimes bad.
When in school, we saw this with the bad kids that were causing trouble always got the teacher attention.
In business, it is the customer that complains the most sometimes that gets all of the discounts (because sometimes business people allow it.)
I say, fire your bad customers (the real bad ones, not the ones that hiccup a bit) but that is for another day.
Also, if you want to be noticed by your boss, an attractive person, a fellow JV partner, we say… “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.”
If your wheel is not squeaking, most likely you will not get grease or attention.
In fact, one of my Good Friends recently was telling me how is was surprised that he had never been asked to speak at one of the top seminars around.
He said, so-and-so and I get along great, I wonder why he has not asked.
I told him of a story about how I made it know (attracted it) to the same person and later was asked the next year. So I asked him,
“Does he know you are even interested or have the desire. You should tell him.”
He said, “I am sure he knows…”
I replied, “He is a busy person, if you let him know, it will be at the top of his mind.”
So my friend , when the time was right, made his interests known.
…And guess what? That wheel just got greased
He got a call to be a featured speaker at an upcoming event.
But also, the squeaky wheel sometimes gets the grease when they have nothing of value to add.
You see, with with the report I published this week, the great majority of people got the message I was getting at.
But some people just do not get anything.
Side Note: I read every review on the blog and a few of the negative ones, even though I do not agree, I respect because they made some really great points. - Many of which as me thinking.
But some people are just so negative and make accusations of the purpose of this report. For the record, I have nothing I am trying to pre-sell anyone on.
And had I, I was have made hints to it in the report and I would have had a different marketing style for it.
So back the the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
I was talking with a good friend yesterday on the phone and he asked me what I was going to do next.
I said, I am not sure, I am sure lot’s of eyes will be on me for a few weeks. Some people would love to, and are looking for anything I do and use it to position against anything I said.
For instance, I said in the report that I had about 8 more prior commitments to other JV partners for November and December that I wanted to get out.
And after that, I would start to make changes.
But there was one today I decided not to fulfill at this time and waited until next week.
He said to me, “Mike! No matter what you do there will always be a small group of people that will bash you and spin anything you do. Just keep doing what you do. You have good judgment and take care of your people. Those that know you…Know you. Those that do not… Do not.”
I would suggest (if you have time, I know you are probably very busy) to go back and read the blog.
You see, after talking to my friend, I realized, the squeaky wheel most often does get the grease.
It only takes one person to make a lot of noise in a library of 100 others trying to do the right thing.
So that helped me to realize something I wrote about almost 2 years ago.
“You can’t be all things to all people. And if you try, you end up being nothing to no one.”
You have to know what you believe in. Those that do not connect with you will not. Those that do will.
I wanted to build a new base of subscribers, that I could build a good relationship with.
Will I market to this list. Of course. Again, it is transparent here. You are reading this because you ARE too most likely a marketer.
After all, if a new product comes along and I have a chance to review it and share my thoughts, explain how I think it is right for, it could only benefit those people in which it compliments their vision.
I am a marketer, and I am proud of that. So, too, should you be.
I do not want anyone to be on this list that will take offense to ever getting a product review, offer, offer for my own product, or if you just do not like me or my content.
It is not a waste of my time. Writing to 49 or 49,000 does not take me anymore effort.
And not that I am looking to get a huge unsubscribe rate today, I would like to get an accurate one.
One that will save YOU time in the future.
So if you are not one of the people that can deal with an occasional email from me, an occasion offer, my style of content, or if you are one of those we see on the blog that just plain does not like me….
Then please do ONLY YOURSELF a favor, and unsubscribe now. You can not waste my time by being on this list of subscribers. And I do not want to waste yours.
I know some, in this category, will stay on any way. You know… the Howard Stern thing.
“If you hate him, why do you listen?”
Reply “I want to see what he will do next.”
O.K. - Have fun on my blog 
I am serious, I do not care, (if this is you,) that you go. I will not be looking at my Unsub rate today. I hardly ever do (usually unless asked by someone.)
And if that is you, before you click the last link in this email, all I want to say is, I wish you the best of luck in whatever it is you do.
Now, to those that like me, the report, the marketing, the occasional (ok more) type-o, and whatever.
Know this.. I like you too
And, let’s not get all caught up in anything that does not deserve getting caught up in.
Health, family.. That is important.
So I look forward to staying in touch.
I hope you do too.
As always, the best way to reply to this email is not by hitting reply. Simply post anything you want on the blog.
I know, time to move to a new blog? Nah…
I like this one.
Well, I am out for the night. Taking about 15 people this week to Las Vegas. (My Top Affiliates.)
And even the Rich Jerk will be there.
If you live local.. we are at the MGM this week.
So with that said. I think I will call my dad and talk with him. I have been so busy, we have not spoke much.
Anyone you been holding off calling?
Mike Filsaime
PS - To Sarah Pritchard, I do read all the comments. Glad you know why the proof read version was not live because of the timeline 
November 15th, 2006 at 12:21 am
Hey Mike, thanks for the timely reminder at the end of your message. Sometimes we get carried away doing all those fun stuff on the internet and forget about the joy of spending quality time with our loved ones. I’m going to arrange for a vacation with my family right away…cheers!
Dennis
>> My Cash Cow
November 15th, 2006 at 12:28 am
Mike I know what you mean about dealing with the negative as well as the positive. The negative, while usually in the minority, tends to garner the most attention and well - it can hurt too! I think as humans our inclination is to be liked, not everyone will agree with that, but I think from a healthy emotional level EVERYONE wants to be liked by EVERYONE else.
As we grow up we learn it’s not possible, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t affect us when someone doesn’t like us, no matter how valid or silly their reasons for not liking us.
Also I’m not sure if you saw it, but I did a podcast about your free report you might find interesting if you have a spare 30 mins to listen to it. It’s on my blog, http://www.entrepreneurs-journey.com.
Cheers,
Yaro
November 15th, 2006 at 12:41 am
Well Mike, I have to say that you have been refreshingly honest and upfront as to your intentions for this new list. I anxiously await the changes in your marketing. So far all your communications have been understandable and not full of a bunch of stuff that amateurs like myself can’t understand. And I have read every word. Haven’t rolled my eyes and deleted one email. Not meaning to be negative, the eye rolling is about me and my lack of knowledge and the unlikelihood of my ever becoming a millionaire marketer.
So let some of these people squeek and sqawk, because they enjoy it.
So far it has been interesting, this death of IM. More will be revealed.
Jacquee
November 15th, 2006 at 12:59 am
Mike,
I’m going to make this rather short, but I really appreciate the no nosense approach you have and leaving out the fluff. I read the report and agreed if most of what you said. I really can’t believe that anyone wouldn’t.
You know from your days in the car business, you can please everybody, it’ll never happen.
From me though you get two thumbs up.
Thanks
Bryan mcGauhey
November 15th, 2006 at 1:01 am
hi mike, sounds so good, maybe this is the program i need.. i mean the death ofinternet marketing….
something i like about your positng is :…Well, I am out for the night. Taking about 15 people this week to Las Vegas. (My Top Affiliates.)…..”
i’d like to do that too….
November 15th, 2006 at 1:02 am
Hi Mike,
I believe everyone should always do whatever they want to do the way they want to do it - there’s always going to be people who disagree no matter what you do so just do what you want and be happy.
You’re entitled to be yourself. Actually you should make it a point to be yourself because there isn’t anyone else who can be you.
And thanks Mike for the reminder about keeping in touch with loved ones - that’s a lot more important than anyone wants to think about.
In addition to just keeping in touch - if there’s anything you’re planning to do together “someday”, don’t keep putting it off. All too often “someday” never gets here and then that special someone passes on and the things you didn’t do together is what you regret - trust me on that. Time goes by way too fast when you aren’t looking.
Just food for thought.
I’m staying subscribed Mike, thanks.
Lynn
November 15th, 2006 at 1:05 am
It sounds like you’ve got a great deal of positive mail, Mike, and that the negatives are in the tiny minority. It’s impressive to me that those negatives really bother you, as you show real heart in your work. Of course, dealing with so many thousands you will always have the complainers.
I thought your report was very valuable, and I have said as much in the forum of someone who may be one of those you’re referring to as griping.
In the meantime, “type-o!” Are you really misspelling “typo” or are you being cute? If it’s not deliberate, that really IS cute.
November 15th, 2006 at 1:31 am
I am more of a lurker. But your email called for a response. I merely wanted to say that your no nonsense style is what has kept me subscribed and reading.
I have not agreed with every single theory that I have read from you but have detected enough intelligence in your statements to keep me interested.
Keep on keeping on, doing what you know is right and don’t worry about negative responses. Because you are getting those responses and not everyone agrees with you, you know you are on the right track. It is a wasted life, following behind, spending ones energy tearing down what other people are doing. It is much harder doing what you do, being innovative and creating values.
When you stop getting negative feedback from legit and honorable theories and actions you will no longer be leading.
Enjoy Vegas
Andi
Oh… if your not the lead dog the view never changes
November 15th, 2006 at 1:40 am
Hi Mike,
You will always have naysayers in this business unfortunately no matter how hard you try to succeed. Some people just can’t be happy unless they are tearing others down and belittling their achievements. I’d just chalk them up as the common heckler and forget ‘em. Let’s not forget that sometimes the squeaky wheel gets replaced!
Have a great day!
William
November 15th, 2006 at 2:19 am
Hi Mike,
It was a bit spooky to open your E-mail FIRST this morning. I’d been laid in bed thinking; “I must get rid of a load of the totally unnecessary E-mail lists I’m on when I get on the ‘puter this morning”. Then I read your E-mail suggesting the ‘unsubscribe link’ on yours.
There must be an omen there somewhere. (broken dreams and all that).
However, I’ve no intention of unsubscribing as you always make sense in an otherwise ‘cluttered’ world of thought where everyone is trying to out-sway each other with a new twist on an old angle.
I have to say though, I always assumed you were a bit more ‘thick-skinned’. It’s a pleasure to realise you’re just like the rest of us, and get wound up by those with negative intent. I look forward to hearing from you as regularly as you like in the future, and hope to be able to see you in action if ever you come to the UK and speak at a cost I can afford.
Keep on keepin’ on,
Pete.
November 15th, 2006 at 2:45 am
Hi Mike,
there’s a typo error in your members area.
“You are all set to get started. Just follow every step below to get everything we promised you and so much more. Make sure to read about Step No. 3 - That step can earn you a lot of money in the next few days.”
Shouldn’t it be step 2?
Step 3 is the filling in of the survey.
November 15th, 2006 at 3:54 am
Hi Mike,
I am a total newbie. Let me tell you what your report and your follow-up emails did for me: Made me feel more like prey.
Yes. That’s what it did. It made me want to return all the stuff I have purchased over the last 3 months and quit this darn biz. I really feel like I am being hunted with all the copywriting, mentoring programs, plr, listbuilding secrets and so forth.
Dang Mike. Why did you have to go and do that? I mean. I appreciate your honesty and all, but it was certainly a reality check for me.
Here I am robbing Peter to pay Paul. I’ve been trying to learn all I can so that I can be successful and now I learn that what i’ve been feeling the last few weeks is true. I, and folks like myself are being preyed on by all the oto’s and sneak peaks and copywriting secrets and niche content that they are sharing with 300 others and free content calls that are only sales pitches. It sucks. It’s disappointing. It’s a darn shame. It’s rather disgusting.
I really want to make it in this business but I don’t know who the heck to trust anymore. I don’t know who I should spend my borrowed money on. I am confused about who I should REALLY be listening to.
I only hope that with all that you’ve stirred up you live up to your side of the bargain - staying truthful and honest to the game. Those components are truly lacking in this IM biz. I will, however, continue to listen, if you promise to continue to speak with such truth.
Although the truth hurts, we all need a reality check sometimes.
Deb
P.S. By the way, Do you have an open door policy at your office? I live on the island and would like to stop by next time i’m out east.
November 15th, 2006 at 4:14 am
iconcurr,
Do yourself a favor: Stop buying anything until you know what is your business model and focus on it like Mike explained so well.
Mike, you did an excellent move.I must admit that lately I was not reading all of your emails (except some of your butterfly case study). I will not unsubscribe…
I even recommended your ebook to someone I am coaching. He wanted to make some bucks, but as we are working on a project, I said you don’t need those dollars.
Grow your business and don’t run after a buck.
Anyway, I hope you develop a good relation with your customer. Everybody is seek of :
“Don’t buy THIS IM PRODUCT until you read this”.
and I am looking forward to be your partner too.
Man what a controversy. Even Yaro is talking about yu. I’ve read so many blog posts.
Good move.
November 15th, 2006 at 4:25 am
Hi Mike,
Your email is probably one of the most useful sent for a while. In fact I’d go so far to say as your emails are amongst the best that I receive from internet marketers.
With a few exceptions (such as Cody Moya, Willie Crawford, James T Jones and Derek Gehl) that I can think of off the top of my head - all I ever get from the all the big marketers are sales emails. Some of them are very good and well written (particularly Gary Ambrose’s) but at the end of the day they are all sales letters. I haven’t had any kind of relationship built up with these guys, don’t get any real value from them in terms of passing along their tips (unless of course I want to pay large amounts for them).
Its about time that the big marketers woke up to the fact that may’be they are annoying people with a) the amount of emails sent - like nearly every day from some people and b) no content worth looking at.
Another gripe that I will add here but isn’t aimed at you Mike - is teleseminars starting late late at night in the UK. Doesn’t really allow any of us to participate in some of the big calls (I missed all the SACP calls because they were really too late for me!)
Anyway, Mike you talk a lot of sense, you live the dream, you are continuously thinking of new strategies and opportunities and I hope to someday be able to sit down with you over coffee and discuss the latest trends to hit the streets and perhaps get your esteemed feedback on my latest site.
thanks Mike - look forward to the next installment
Matthew
Butterfly Marketer
Site soon to be launched
November 15th, 2006 at 5:10 am
Hey, Mike,
You’re doing a fine job - I’m glad you’re taking a little time for yourself and family.
Your report is just excellent, and I have no problem recommending it to anyone who will listen. Sure, there are naysayers, but then there are always people with their heads shoved firmly into the sand, aren’t there?
Personally, I think people should all be thanking you for the privilege of being on your new list, never mind the fact that they got something of real value for FREE just for giving you their email addy. I’ve watched you since the days of MJ’s fame and glory, and know that you know what you’re talking about.
God bless,
Dave
November 15th, 2006 at 5:27 am
BTW Mike,
I forgot to mention - Firefox users can now get a very handy little toolbar (and I mean little) that sits down in the lower right hand corner of their browser. It gives the Alexa ranking for sites and also displays PageRank.
It’s available at http://www.quirk.biz/searchstatus/ at no charge.
God bless,
Dave
November 15th, 2006 at 5:28 am
Great report Mike.
Most of your points are right on the money.
Those same points are made over and over through the years with the technology and methods of advertising being about the only thing that changes.
I hope no one takes the report to seriously and puts their plans for their leap into the internet marketing arena on the back burner, figureing what’s the use.
The death of internet marketing will be more like the repeat of bandwagon or “skull” marketing except it will be with moble devices and video advertising, podcasts and any other new technology that we can purchase ad space on.
I wonder if the people that feel they are being preyed on by us nasty sneaky internet marketers who only see their mailing lists as customers and dollar signs, ever watch TV commercials or clip coupons or walk into a shopping mall and think the same thing.
I believe there will always be the bandwagons, the groups of good ole boys and girls, and the “skull” groups (I like that term) and to my way of thinking the idea would not be to try and create more small skull groups but rather combine skull groups and attack a larger market segment outside of IM and sell the actual implementation of our products to some new customers as well as keep servicing those brand new to the world wide web with what we have already done.
This could be yet another rebirth of internet marketing.
But that’s just my thoughts
November 15th, 2006 at 5:44 am
On criticism: I always re-read this quote from Abraham Lincoln (which hung in Winston Churchill’s country retreat study as well incidentally):
“If I were to try to read, much less to answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very best I know how - the very best I can; and I mean to keep on doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, then what is said against me won’t matter. If the end brings me out wrong, then ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference.”
Keep doing the very best you can.
November 15th, 2006 at 7:22 am
Mike,
I sense, just as I did with Dave Lakhani, that you are feeling peeved. You probably think/thought your richness could cushion you from low blows and misfortunes. It didn’t for Elvis or Marilyn, nor will it for you.
Your “I don’t care if I write to 49 or 49,000″ comment smacks of Rumsfield arrogance. The energy you send out is the energy which will befall you.
And your comment that “I would have done it differently” if I were scamming gives the reader - rightfully or wrongfully - a sense that you have scammed and schemed.
No doubt that you are a superstar in online marketing, but don’t self-destruct just because you can afford to do so. Since I have not to this moment had a working link to review the report, I can’t comment on it. I bet you did spill some beans and rankle some readers…but I haven’t a clue why since the download doesn’t work.
I believe that this latest project was not what you hoped for because the botched launch and whatnot has shown you fallible. It’s okay to be human. Get over it. You have enough money and people with confidence in you to recover and thrive again and again without taking a sour grapes approach.
It is good that you spoke your mind, but don’t challenge people with unsubscribe warnings. Those who sit on the edge of folding up the tent on IM gather momentum to drop out of the ruthless marketing game which features more and more bloated poppycock with each passing day.
The Internet is meant to be the great equalizer and where it is going recently is to seed. The “give me your money and I will teach you how to get other people to do likewise for you” scams and ponzi schemes are going to lead to government interference. And government interference will lead to the field of Internet players capable of building profitable businesses online to the corporate multinationals lobbying the crooked politicians.
There are very few so-called gurus under 40 with the character to match their marketing income. Many of them have the attitude that the money makes the man(or woman), rather than that the man makes the money. They brag in teleseminars that “I’m rich, so you have to listen to me,” and yet you sense an utter shallowness behind this idle boasting.
Hope you stick around Mike because I sense in your recent messages that you have a desire to be ethical and balanced in your approach. Don’t let all the money-grubbers compromise your newfound awareness. It is time to put the hype back in the bottle and teach people how to make a decent (rather than an obscene) income in an ethical, value-added way online. And it is also time to deflate these overpriced training programs and systems which teach others how to scam others with a smile.
Many Japanese feel that the American marketing method is overbearing and methodically dishonest. The long-term perspective for online marketers are bleak unless we tone down the cacophony of “How to” programs which are fronts for an up-sell.
You became rich with these systems but it becomes all too evident that the fortune of those which follow you are in great jeopardy. Even more important, the potential to lift whole villages or regions around the world out of dire poverty by sharing ethical and easy-to-do marketing systems has yet to come to the fore. You can make a huge difference Mike - and I extend this to Shaun Casey, Rich Scheffren, Alex Mandossian and Armand Morin - by shifting some of your million-dollar skills to communities which would call themselves prosperous with just a few thousand dollars a month to buy HIV treatments or stop the influx of intestinal killer diseases which plague far too many of this earth’s inhabitants.
Andrew Carnegie had a plan to make a great fortune in his first half of life and then give it away. Now is your chance to stand shoulder to shoulder with such a great baron. Do what’s right.
Richard Posner
Tokorozawa City, Japan
November 15th, 2006 at 8:11 am
First up, I wanna say, thanks for putting SOME of the stuff that I couldn’t quite vocalise into a perspective that I understand.
I think the uproar over this is people are expecting the other shoe to drop - I’m well aware I’m on your opt in list and will find out about the stuff that you’re doing becuase of it - and I’m fine with that. My main concern is that people are up in arms over the wrong things.
IM is getting polluted with huge JV’s that hype everything so far that people can’t work out what’s real and what’s not. I’ve invested in my last ‘big’ deal for the year this month - I got 44 pieces of software with master resale rights for $5 - just to get one that I really wanted. I’d seen it on sale elsewhere, but quite rightly guessed that if I waited, it’d be available eventually. Its ‘big’ for me because its something I wanted, not because of its cost - and that’s the thing here. All of these huge launches - all of the software we’re seeing - all of the templates, and guru classes, and everything - EVERYTHING else that bombards our inbox every day - we’re not going to be able to use a fraction of it. Not if we’re honest with ourselves. And your report was right on that one.
As for the definition of ‘dead’ - dead zone, not ‘lacking life’ - that’s what I took from this report. Maybe I didn’t take quite the RIGHT message and that’s fine, but hey, we all read and understand in terms most comfortable to ourselves.
On a slight side note, this blog needs some serious tweakage. I do THAT for a living beside IM, and really, though I totally get that its a ‘throwaway’ blog that you’ll only be using to do the Death of IM stuff, there are a couple of options I’d suggest turning on, and turning off the need to register and adding/activating akismet instead, for example. If you like I can explain exactly HOW to do certain things with your blog that will make it far more useable, and give the links a bit more ‘ooompf’ among other things. Doesn’t take long, I promise.
Kai
Wordpress wonderwoman extrodinare
Ethical blogging, all the way.
November 15th, 2006 at 8:12 am
oh, and still on the subject of your blog - Bolg Your Thougts… Save Your Business!
should be BLOG your THOUGHTS …. Save Your Business! ?
November 15th, 2006 at 8:50 am
I just have to comment on Mike’s recent email (about the squeaky wheel) even though I really should be doing a number of things that are really high priority. But it touched on something that has really been bothering me lately.
First of all two lines of background. I have been a university professor (music) most of my life, I’m also a well-known (in some circles) performer and recording artist, I have started a number of businesses (retail, wholesale, consulting), am also currently doing a lot of IT consulting (database and web development) and have been a very long-time Buddhist practitioner and am also a somewhat newbie internet marketer. So I move in a lot of different circles and what I have found is that in almost every area of human endeavor, there seems to exist a type of personality whose purpose in life seems to be to trash anything or anyone that seems to be even moderately successful or intelligent. I see this in university circles, music, technology and even Buddhist (you’d think they’d know better). Soon as someone comes up with a new theory, innovative way of doing something, creative sales strategy, new guitar technique, etc. etc. there seems to be a small team of negatively-inclined individuals whose only purpose is to rip apart. They usually offer nothing constructive but only seem to take pleasure in the fact that they can rip the edifice down.
I posted info on Mike’s new report (Death of IM) on a number of forums. I got there early and was the first to post. As part of the post I added that I had spoken with Mike a few times and that I found he was a very genuine, down-to-earth, caring guy. This came about because I was having trouble ordering the butterfly marketing package. After a few emails back and forth and calling the help desk, Mike just gave me his personal cell number and I called him. We had a nice chat and we sorted things out and then had a couple of ongoing conversations about getting BM set up and he also gave me a number of other tips. This was a 30 minute call pretty much in the middle of the BM launch. You’d think Mike might be a bit too busy, what with being in the middle of one of the major product launches of the decade. But no, he took the time and as a result he gained my highest respect. I brought this up in my post in order to highlight the fact that I felt that this report was not some front-end to some new marketing initiative. Sure sometime in the future. But that that was not the purpose of the report.
However, as expected, there were comments about my forum posts going on about how Mike was just a greedy, money-grubbing so-and-so. I’m still shocked when I see this although I’m getting better at tuning it all out. For the most part, these individuals are not very good listeners and would probably not even be able to hear anything positive. It would shatter their paradigm.
Constructive criticism that is made to benefit, yes. Otherwise it just creates more negativity on this planet.
So hats off to Mike. I think he has done and will continue to great things.
Doug
November 15th, 2006 at 9:11 am
Hi Mike,
Internet marketing is no different than anything else in this respect “negativity breeds negative results”. I find that most negative comments come from those just not getting the results they want and lash out at anything that doesn’t agree with what they believe. Fact is some things alway ring true, pay attention Nay Sayers: Mom always says don’t have anything good to say.. say nothing and move on.
I may not always agree with Mike and at least once he made my blood boil but in the end I have met him, he’s real, he’s caring and I believe when he writes it’s from the heart and that’s a good enough reason to keep me reading and subscribing.
Typoooo’s sorry Mike your not top dog in this realm but your trying hard I can see that.
*iconcurr* before you do anything drastic like quitting I recommend you jump over to my blog, I just posted something for you and anyone else thinking drastically. http:/ezybrand.com/blog
If Thomas Edison hadn’t pursued his ideas, would we still be in the dark??
Mike Lyons
November 15th, 2006 at 11:54 am
Mike,
People are drawn to energy. Being negative gives them an energy buzz. In some way, knowing that they have peeved you is what puts the cherry on top of their cake. I love the fact that you just laid it out on the line in your e-mail and blog. No nonsense is the way I function as well. Why sugar coat? You just waste your time and theirs.
As for me, I’m just breaking out of the “you must have a normal job” shell. I’ve done alot, from running a fabric company to being a doctors assistant. (and everything else inbetween) After having time to reflect this year on my life, I realized I’m just not cut out for the 9-5. I’ve always had this deep yearning to do something different. To be free… It was eating me alive inside. So, being the bold and on the edge person that I am… and still against my families belief (they just don’t think it’s possible)
I’ve ventured out into the internet playing field.
I’ve been studying the different ways to make money online since October. Cutting past the “surveys” and “secret shopper” garbage. It’s taken a while to really get a clear picture of what internet marketing is, and what it takes. I’ve wanted to buy the Butterfly Marketing Script, but just don’t have the funds for it yet. So when your “Death of Internet Marketing” e-book came out, I was all over it. It confirmed alot of what I was already thinking (which was nice to hear from someone as credible as you) I also thoroughly profited from your “Leaked Chapter.” I realized soon that my biggest problem is FOCUS.
Gee… I’m writing a book here. Lol, sorry!! I just want to say that regardless of the negative comments, you’ve greatly helped me. Perhaps I’ll have the privilege of working with you some day. Take care and God Bless.
Sherri Easter
*****************
November 15th, 2006 at 12:14 pm
Dear Mike,
I have been bombarded with positive and negative emails about your Death of IM report, which only adds to the confusion that many of us ambitious, yet green, internet marketers feel. Here’s the gist of one that I received that I found particulary offensive:
Lynn:
Wow. That didn�t take long.
As you know, it�s only been a few weeks since I
released the now infamous “Death Of Adsense” report.
And already, we�ve had a few people trying to duplicate
our viral strategy.
But here�s the thing Lynn…
They�re Doing Everything Wrong!
First of all, just writing a report and sticking the
words “The Death Of” is not a good strategy.
It�s just a painfully obvious rip-off and 99% of
internet marketers will realize exactly what you�re
doing.
Second, if you really want to start a viral phenomenon
and build your list to massive numbers in just days (or
even hours in some cases), then you�ve got to have the
right tool.
“The List Virus” was the secret tool behind the huge
success of the Death of Adsense report.
–> http://www.thelistvirus.com
This secret software allowed me to quickly and easily
build a list of over 38,000 confirmed opt-ins in just a
few days.
If you want to build a massive list… and you want to
avoid falling flat on your face by just blindly copying
the next hot report, then I suggest you take a close
look at “The List Virus”.
Because not only am I going to give you the secret tool
that allowed us to build such a gigantic list… I�m
also going to reveal how you can structure you own
launchs and how to use controversy and drama to grow
your list like never before.
This is powerful stuff. If you do it wrong, everybody
will see you as a rip-off artist and your list will
actually shrink!
But if you follow my instructions, you�ll discover how
to explode your list numbers and create a viral
explosion.
Listen, I�m not going to let many people in on this. I
think we�ve already seen what can happen if this stuff
falls into the wrong hands. (It�s only a matter of days
until some wanna-be guru tries to distribute a report
called “The Death Of The Internet” report. Sigh…)
So if you want to build massive lists… and you want
to discover the key to making viral promotions spread
like wildfire, then I highly suggest you try to get a
spot in “The List Virus”.
–> http://www.thelistvirus.com
The doors open at noon CST on November 16th, 2006. And
only a handful of people will be allowed in.
So stay tuned and circle the date:
November 16th.
Noon. (Central Time).
To your success,
Scott “Nada-Guru” Boulch
Now, although this marketer is entitled to his opinion, I cannot imagine how he could refer to you as a wanna-be guru unless he just crawled out from under a rock. You have certainly climbed your way to the upper eschelons and have made many of us take a realistic look in the mirror at the fact that we are like deer caught in the headlights with so much information packed on our computers that we wind up not doing anything particulary effective at all. That said, it’s OK that we all know you are gathering a fresh (or somewhat recycled) list of subscribers for your new lucrative ventures. At first after reading Death of IM, I felt rather hopeless for those of us who many never achieve the Illuminati-level of joint partnerships. But other successful marketers I am in contact with share my conviction that there are plenty of opportunities out there at the 6-figure level, and then some.
Mike, lots of luck, not that you need it. Perhaps if still have a soft spot for what it felt like to be at the beginning of the journey, you’ll take a 2 nanosecond look at what I’m doing and send a crumb of critique. I am in the Conquer…forum, as you are.
Thanks, and here’s to your next 4 million,
Lynn Lombardi
http://www.bigdaddypays.com/tazwoman
To unsubscribe go here
http://www.lifeafteradsense.com/cgi-bin/re.cgi?i=4464&r=tdoa7481657SBTNT
November 15th, 2006 at 3:30 pm
Hi Mike,
Hey, you are somewhat new to me as I have only been hearing alot about you, your name is everywhere.
I’m a newbie, looking in from the outside, gathering all the free info I can and trying not to buy a fortune in ebooks that will be repeats.
I have been thinking a lot of the same you reported on. I have unsubscribed from a lot of the Gurus because they all are sending the same sales info.
You asked me to send your Death of The Internet to my Gurus, well, they sent it to me! Your info got around.
I know why we unsubscribe and I think too many people have the same people on all their lists. As far as my site, you hit that too. I’ve been trying to understand how to begin a niche that isn’t teaching Internet Marketing about how to toss new marketers (subscribers)around in the seas like a loose raft, and the IMs seem to think that everyone wants to be in the information business. They do need to expand their horizons. They can teach us how to build a pet site or a beauty site, etc.
I’m glad I’m on your list, though I don’t know how I got there. I’ll be riding along, hopefully I can make an investment to make it worth your while. As far as typos, not a problem, makes people pay attention.
You’re interesting to listen to and now that I have downloaded all the free and bought information on the old way of doing things, I will be following along with all the new changes that disqualify everything that I was learning about what I was supposed to do. Between you and at least two others, it seems that I should forget everything I’ve thusfar been taught and revamp. Well, hopefully I can afford it and tweek my way into some affiliate association with whatever it is that I want to do.
Sorry to sound so ignorant, just giving some outside vision. IN TRUTH, you hit dead-on to what my intentions are.
Thanks for the knowledge and best of luck in your new venturous horizons.
Peg Kirk
ps. Also, thanks for the breath of fresh air.
November 15th, 2006 at 6:01 pm
Just read your report called The Death of Internet Marketing and I think you’re spot on. I was saying on my blog on October 21 that there’s too much hype and people were stuffing my inbox with too many emails. As you say in your report, a lot of us are now unsubscribing like crazy from autoresponder lists - I know I have in the past week (some of it was my fault for signing up for too many things). You can read more at my blog.
I think the next casualty of all this guru greed will be Sales Pages. Not sure about everyone else but I’m well and truly over the cliched Sales Page that are a mile long, always have red writing at the top, seemingly thousands of testimonials that I don’t have time to read, last chance offers to upgrade and prices that always start stupidly high and then get slashed like mad to make them more attactive. Are there really that many stupid people out there who fall for all that hype or is it just me getting jaded too quickly?
November 15th, 2006 at 9:52 pm
Hey Mike!
Nice blast. I think I got your promo from 20 different people… of course I’m on everyone’s list!
Took me a couple days to read it in between other activities, but it was time well spent. Kinda like reading your blog or something.
You’re not alone in what you feel. Don’t get jaded… your report and email sound a bit that way. We’re riding the crest of an industry that is still in its fetal stage. The big corps are just starting to take notice and step into the market…
Your comments on the “skulls” are right with it. That’s how most of us function anyway; just less formally defined. I generally hang out with 6 or 8 people in this biz, and they’re the only ones I typically ask to send anything out for me. And I say “no” a whole lot more than saying “yes” to a promo… and never feel bad about it. If I sent everything to my list, those folks wouldn’t really respect me much, now would they?
BTW, read “The Long Tail” a few months back and it’s right on. One of my IM pals handed it to me and said “Here. Someone wrote a book about you!”. It was a nice sentiment, but obviously not true. I do advocate being “the best of the least” in a lot of little niches… so I see the comment applying a bit. Thanks for telling everyone about it. Sheesh.
As for publicly-collaborated-content… you ain’t seen nothin’ yet! The Web is truly becoming a global village in ways the coiner of that phrase hadn’t dreamed of… Cyberspace is coming true.
… wait a second… Why did I just give you all this free content, dangit! This should be on one of MY blogs!!
;)
-N
November 16th, 2006 at 1:26 am
Hello Mike
I already wrote my review of the report but after getting your email I just wanted to say:When someone is trying to drag you down, just use all that hot air to lift you up on your own wings.
Jacquie
November 16th, 2006 at 7:44 pm
hi mike,
nice to know u. i’m a newmember in ur blog. new things I got were help me in improve my skill in this field. hope that u will success for ur future
November 18th, 2006 at 11:44 am
Hi Mike,
Finally had chance to read the report. I have been thinking about some of the points u raised for a while now and agree with most of them. Even though in some ways you are a part of creating the monster especially sleeping with other marketers sisters if anyone was involved in that I would imagine you and Tom are in the middle of the action
. Then I got an image of you in a wig and after feeling a bit quesy I wondered who would want to sleep with a marketers sister anyway lol. The point is you will never please everyone so don’t try.
Take it easy
Pete
November 19th, 2006 at 9:43 am
It was a bit long, but informative. I’ll have to read it a few more times. I’ve never quite understood how we have everything geared for people just like ourselves who already know are doing what we’re doing. Niche marketing about things completely NOT marketing? I don’t know that’s for sure.
The reality may be that the broad majority of internet users are not gonna buy into our marketing stuff. They are content to work their 40+ hours a week and continue that trend until they retire or die. That’s a hard socialization fact that may not change in our lifetime, certainly not in the short 10-15 years of ‘modern internet’.
November 21st, 2006 at 6:59 am
Mike it was wonderful!
Coming from the OTO king, and all of the knights that used your idea(hey I have taken OTO’s up) to make the extra buck with some real value, it is brilliant. To know that one of the top Internet Marketers today can foresee the ramifications of so many new products so close together is amazing. Thanks for enlightening me and everyone else who reads your FREE no OTO report. I can’t wait to try and form my Skulls group. I am fairly new to the game, but plan on making a big impact in the months to come. This report has got the wheels of thought turning in my head. Great product I actually read the whole thing. ADHD sucks!! Cheers
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