Ewen Chia's Newbie Cash Machine - A Review

Saturday, June 30
(Even though I reviewed these some years back - they are still great resources in 2011) I’ve got to tell you right off that Ewen Chia constantly surprises me with his Affiliate Marketing material. Just on whim I was doing some Clickbank research and discovered that his ebook, Newbie List Machine (used to be Newbie Cash Machine) was soaring to the top of all Clickbank ebooks with a very high gravity rating.
If you don’t know who Ewen Chia is just remember that he is synonymous with affiliate marketing and ways to make money online. Sometimes called the world’s #1 affiliate marketer Ewen has trounced the competition with amazing results with online business rollouts of $100,000 to $1.5M within days - even hours! You may disagree with me but in my opinion he’s easily one of the top 10 internet marketers in the world today. An amazing speaker, lecturer and teacher Ewen has expanded his current subscriber base is to over 300,000 worldwide!

Being a fan of Ewen’s from day one (I love his Secret Affiliate Weapon 2 - a massive bargin at $17!) I’ve found that his techniques have helped me tremendously over the last few years. In fact, he usually provides so much insanely useful information that I typically forget some of the tips he’s given me. When I go back and re-read his past ebooks I’m always surprised that I forgot a lot of the information which I could have easily benefited from.

And yet he’s done it again! Another ebook so full of information that you’ll need a notepad to keep track of all the important steps. But that’s just the beginning - where Ewen has added the most significant value is by creating a step by step framework for brand new or intermediate marketers to get online and build profits fast.

I want to digress a bit and talk to you about what a framework is and why it is important. I am a systems/software architect by trade and have worked with many Fortune 100 systems, vendors and packages in the past. When any large company or vendor wants to create something that is less expensive and easy to implement they typically create a framework.

Frameworks are tested pre-packaged, pre-built components that let you get the job done much faster that just a list of information. Ewen’s framework on how to make money online is something that has already worked in the marketplace. A tried and true affiliate guide that is more than just information.

I spent the last 2 days reading though his ebook in detail. Here’s what you get:

- What an Online Business is and Your Value to the Marketplace
- The Easiest Way to Start Your Online Business
- What Affiliate Marketing is All About
- The Actual Newbie List Machine Step by Step System - A Proven Internet Success Formula which includes:

Market Ideas, Keyword Research, Competition Research, High Converting Affiliate Programs, Setting Up Your Affiliate Links, Email Lists, Email Copy, Landing Pages, Review Copy, Traffic Generators and More!

That’s just a very high level view of what’s in this 141 page guide (that’s right - 141 pages)!! What I love about Ewen’s technique is that he shows you detailed examples of the sites, layouts, ad copy, landing page copy, affiliate setup and pay per click with actual text and screen captures. You’re not left in the dark trying to navigate new sites without a step by step visual guide - that is huge!

You’re probably thinking right now ‘who should buy this guide’? This guide is primarily focused on the brand new internet marketer or an intermediate marketer who hasn’t found a focus yet. Nevertheless, I must say that as an advanced marketer I found that the sections devoted to the ad and email copy as well as some of the landing page techniques were very useful to me and well worth the money.
What didn't I like about this book? Well, I think the first 2 chapters will be a repeat for even beginner marketers. It seems like we get these same intros in every online marketing guide. But, if it is your first then it won't be a problem. Also, many will be familiar with the online tools that he uses so that those specific tutorials won't be very valuable. But, those are pretty small nits considering the amount of content.

There is no doubt that this ebook is vastly underpriced at $27 for the massive amount of information you receive. If you are having any doubts about your ability to make money online I would strongly suggest that you pick up copy of the Newbie List Machine and follow it to the letter!

Slow Down Culture

Friday, June 29
I'm not really sure who wrote this since I received it from a friend via email. I must say that it did make me stop and reflect on how we approach our own work with goals of trying to earn money online quickly.

Stop, read, pause and reflect - I hope you enjoy this:

---------------------------------------

It's been 18 years since I joined Volvo, a Swedish company. Working
for them has proven to be an interesting experience. Any project here
takes 2 years to be finalized, even if the idea is simple and
brilliant. It's a rule.

Globalize processes have caused in us (all over the world) a general
sense of searching for immediate results. Therefore, we have come to
posses a need to see immediate results. This contrasts greatly with
the slow movements of the Swedish. They, on the other hand, debate,
debate, debate, hold x quantity of meetings and work with a slowdown
scheme. At the end, this always yields better results.

Said in another words:
1. Sweden is about the size of San Pablo, a state in Brazil.
2. Sweden has 2 million inhabitants.
3. Stockholm, has 500,000 people.
4. Volvo, Escania, Ericsson, Electrolux, Nokia are some of its
renowned companies. Volvo supplies the NASA.

The first time I was in Sweden, one of my colleagues picked me up at
the hotel every morning. It was September, bit cold and snowy. We
would arrive early at the company and he would park far away from the
entrance (2000 employees drive their car to work). The first day, I
didn't say anything, either the second or third. One morning I asked,
"Do you have a fixed parking space? I've noticed we park far from the
entrance even when there are no other cars in the lot." To which he
replied, "Since we're here early we'll have time to walk, and whoever
gets in late will be late and need a place closer to the door. Don't you think? Imagine my face.

Nowadays, there's a movement in Europe name Slow Food. This movement
establishes that people should eat and drink slowly, with enough time
to taste their food, spend time with the family, friends, without rushing.
Slow Food is against its counterpart: the spirit of Fast Food and what
it stands for as a lifestyle. Slow Food is the basis for a bigger
movement called Slow Europe, as mentioned by Business Week.

Basically, the movement questions the sense of "hurry" and "craziness"
generated by globalization, fueled by the desire of "having in quantity"
(life status) versus "having with quality", "life quality" or the
"quality of being". French people, even though they work 35 hours per
week, are more productive than Americans or British. Germans have
established 28.8 hour workweeks and have seen their productivity been driven up by 20%.
This slow attitude has brought forth the US's attention, pupils of the
fast and the "do it now!".

This no-rush attitude doesn't represent doing less or having a lower
productivity. It means working and doing things with greater quality,
productivity, perfection, with attention to detail and less stress. It
means reestablishing family values, friends, free and leisure time.
Taking the "now", present and concrete, versus the "global", undefined
and anonymous. It means taking humans' essential values, the
simplicity of living.

It stands for a less coercive work environment, more happy, lighter
and more productive where humans enjoy doing what they know best how to do.
It's time to stop and think on how companies need to develop serious
quality with no-rush that will increase productivity and the quality
of products and services, without losing the essence of spirit.

In the movie, Scent of a Woman, there's a scene where Al Pacino asks a
girl to dance and she replies, "I can't, my boyfriend will be here any
minute now". To which Al responds, "A life is lived in an instant".
Then they dance to a tango.

Many of us live our lives running behind time, but we only reach it
when we die of a heart attack or in a car accident rushing to be on time.
Others are so anxious of living the future that they forget to live
the present, which is the only time that truly exists. We all have
equal time throughout the world. No one has more or less. The
difference lies in how each one of us does with our time. We need to
live each moment. As John Lennon said, "Life is what happens to you
while you're busy making other plans".

Congratulations for reading till the end of this message. There are
many who will have stopped in the middle so as not to waste time in
this globalize world.

Author Unknown

Holly Mann's Honest Riches - A Review

Monday, June 25
Back in the fall of 2005 I was browsing the Warrior Forum and started to see quite a bit of buzz regarding The Rich Jerk (site is gone now 2011 - however, Honest Riches has been updated for 2011 and is better than ever). Many people were asking questions about who he was and his odd, unorthodox approach to marketing online. Using a negative connotations to drive sales, The Rich Jerk was attempting to lure sales by goading the potential buyer. As much as I would like to say I wasn’t interested I still felt the need to pick up a copy just out of curiosity.

Make Money Online with Honest RichesHowever, before I bought his copy I happened to see a reference to a new ebook called No Thank You Rich Jerk by Holly Mann (now called Honest Riches). I took a quick look at her site and saw that she was offering some of the same material as The Rich Jerk but at 1/4 of the price. After reading through her sales pitch I decided to pick up a copy. I have to tell that when you have been working with Internet Marketing products and services for some time it was truly refreshing to find someone new who had a great product at a very reasonable price.

I read through her entire ebook in one sitting and found it to be completely and refreshingly honest, informative and very straight forward. I knew immediately it was a winner and that I had to contact Holly directly and find out a bit more about her background.

Holly Mann’s story is very interesting - just take a look at part of my interview with her:

"I am a single mom and my 4 1/2 month old son and I were cooped up in tiny room I rented out of my brother and his wife's home....I had lived in Thailand when I was 16 as an exchange student with the Rotary Club and I loved it there; the people, food and culture. I decided to sell all of our belongings and move there. I knew I could afford to live on $700 a month there while I got the Internet Businesses started. I didn't need to put my son in daycare - so I could take care of him and still break into Internet Marketing. It was a freeing feeling, but also very scary.

The last item I sold prior to leaving was my laptop which I worked on. It was a Sony Vaio I bought while I was working overseas in Iraq (and was actually saving a little money) and I sold it on ebay in order to have enough to buy our airline tickets. After flying for nearly 24 hours, we arrived in Chiangmai, Thailand. I found a small studio apartment and had serious troubles getting an internet connection. I also couldn't afford a computer.

So, I went to a computer parts store and bought all of the parts needed to put a computer together. I didn't know what I was doing, but the guys there put it together included in the total price. Most of the parts were used and so they were much cheaper. The total cost for the contraption was a little over $250 dollars U.S. The computer screen alone weighed at least 30 pounds and looked like something from the 1960s. The actual base and hard drive made a really loud buzzing noise all the time....I'll never forget how seemingly impossible it felt to publish a website with Microsoft Frontpage on a 24KBPS connection speed!

I thought about giving up on it as it took hours and hours to publish one simple website update. But I didn't give up, and within four months I was making 12K per month and FINALLY got DSL Internet!...I didn't follow anyone's formula. If something I did worked well, I continued with it and built on it. I have tried out many different methods to find the ones which are most successful and quickest to implement. My search engine optimization techniques, along with keyword research have made me the most money.

I've learned patience - and not to jump into creating a site without conducting full research to know exactly what the market is searching for, how many times are they typing that phrase in the search engines per day, how many competing sites, similar phrases, etc. Some people think certain phrases will get them traffic but without doing the proper research, you can set yourself up for failure."

After following her work for some time now I can truly say that Holly is part of the class of 2006 for successful Internet Marketers. When I compare where she was in January of 2006 to today (June 2007) I see a completely independent and successful online marketer who has not only made it big but still has a great product.

Holly changed her book’s title to Honest Riches which is currently in its new edition newly updated for 2010-2011. She has taken some the very best information available for making money online, packaged it, and marketed directly against the latest Internet Marketing Gurus material and created a masterful winner!

In fact, I personally credit Holly with boosting my own online work to become consistently profitable. I decided to create an Honest Riches blog to specifically prove her techniques work. Using the Honest Riches techniques my blog went from absolutely no traffic to top search terms in Google within 4 months.

Frankly, I believe it is the single best guide to getting started as an online marketer out there today. I’ve purchased many of these guides and Holly’s is still the best. Her story is truly amazing and shows how focus and perseverance have paid off.

Here's a highlight of what you get: How to get your line business started, Search engine optimization techniques (which she tells you how she got her site this high placement and how you can do the same), ways to make money online through Affiliate programs with no Web site and no start-up money, Content management solutions, Free Web sites that you can easily setup with no experience, free advertising that you never knew existed, and much, much more.

I’m still in contact with Holly from time to time today and very pleased to see just how far she has come. She has truly achieved her dreams and is now back in Thailand helping orphans using the profits she’s earning online. I assure you that if you are a new or intermediate online marketer then Holly Mann’s Honest Riches guide is worth every penny.

Get Listed in Search Engines Early

Saturday, June 9
One thing you must constantly remind yourself about is that successful monetization of any site is directly proportional to the amount of traffic you are receiving. Although this concept may seem simplistic to you it is tremendously important.

There are many ways to drive hits back to your site that I won't go into here. but I really want to focus on starting early. Many people don't realize that you don't have to finish your website in order to start the process of submitting it to search engines and directories. Doing this can work against your sensibilities because you want a finished product first.

The key is to fight your own impulse to perfect everything. I know personally that I have worked many hours on a site and finally have it perfected only to wait 2 months to see it start to appear in search engines, directories and articles. If you submit your site early you'll be that much closer to the immediate benefit.

It typically takes 4-8 weeks to get your site noticed, indexed and listed. My advice is that you submit your site to as many search engines as possible once you have your domain and landing page ready. You must have some original content on your page - I recommend at least 4 pages; a landing page, 2 detailed pages and 1 site map. This becomes even easier if you are using a blogging engine. Simply create 4 entries with the first dated blog entry or the sidebar as your site map.

Another good strategy is to use free articles to prepopulate your first pages or blog entries and then change them later. That way the crawlers will 'see' the content and your site will be properly indexed. Don't worry, you can always change this later without too much impact. Just don't wait too long and try to keep the title and subject the same.

Free Affiliate Link Cloaker

Wednesday, June 6
Link cloaking is a way to hide your affiliate URL so that people cannot steal your affiliate sales. This typically happens with affiliate marketplaces like Clickbank. Because the affiliate links is very easy to change - people can capture the link, alter the affiliate ID and then get the affiliate profits.

So, I have just created a brand new Link Cloaker for you to use. I wanted to create something that could easily be deployed on your own website and that could be wrapped in a PHP script. It does the following:

1. Allows you to enter the affiliate URL from Clickbank or any other affiliate system.

2. Also lets you add a PHP script header that will send you an email everytime someone clicks on your cloaked page.

3. Encodes the URL so that no one can access it and does not display the affiliate link in the browser address bar.

The output box contains encoded html wrapped by a standard html page tag. Here's an example: my affiliate link for Honest Riches is:

http://essive.mannco.hop.clickbank.net/

The encoded output looks something like this:

[html][head][script language...[!--(.....%61%%62%6f%64%79%20%62%67%63%6f%6c%6f%
72%3d%22%23%46%46%46%46%46%46%22%20%74%65% 78%74%3d%22%....--][/script][ad][/html]

Now, if I save this as a web page called honest-riches.htm I can then upload it on my website and refer to it as:

http.....yourdomain.com/honest-riches.htm

Or, in my case: http://www.advancedprofits.com/hollymann

In order to use the cloaker you must sign up for the Agile Marketer newsletter. In it you'll find the promotion code for the free affiliate link cloaker.

Enjoy!