Just $9.95 for Google Adsense Secrets - 4th Edition

Jamie Tomlinson on April 17th, 2008 21:16 pm

Just a heads up if you don’t read the sales page properly. This purchase subscribes you to a monthly membership subscription @ $30. It advises you of this in the sales page but not the order page. The first month is free but make sure you unsubscribe before the following month if you don’t want the subscription content otherwise you’ll be paying out $30 per month. Some people have called this tactic sneaky. I am not a big fan of this approach either but it seems to be becoming more common nowadays.

I’m sure the book is a good deal (every one is raving about it) but I just thought I’d share the caveat - if you’re willing to be subjected to such tactics and happy to unsubscribe in time then alls well I guess.

Cheers,

Jamie.

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Rick Butts on April 18th, 2008 0:30 am

Hi Rosalind,

I was the first guy to ever interview Joel - we did his first teleseminar on his original Google Adsense book - before he published The AdSense Code.

At the time “Blog and Ping” was still working as was page generationa and junk page creation software.

Since Google allowed advertisers to run different bids for Search ads - and syndicated ads - they revenues have dropped to neary zero for making money with AdSense.

I have to ask, are YOU making any money with Google AdSense?

If so, I wonder how?

Thanks!
Rick

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Rosalind Gardner on April 18th, 2008 6:27 am

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Rick Butts on April 18th, 2008 8:36 am

Bet my sweet bippy? LOL

I just heard Rowan and Martin in the background!

Thanks for the reply Rosalind - and sorry if I came across too fussy.

I don’t make Adsense focused sites but maybe I should try it on some other things that I am putting good content on. On my home site - I’ve stopped all advertising in order to focus on selling my own stuff.

Probaby could turn on ads after a post is a month old.

Thanks again and have a terrific, I mean GROOVY weekend!

rick

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Rosalind Gardner on April 18th, 2008 9:56 am

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Rick Butts on April 18th, 2008 11:43 am

Maybe you can get away with it - because you are cute (the sweet bippy part.)

But, I have to tell you - I’ve always been slightly uncomfortable with that phrase?

I’ve never been sure what my “bippy” is - and if I bet it - and lost - what would that be like?

And if I won yours… what would THAT be like?

hmmmm LOL!
rick

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Jim on April 20th, 2008 7:06 am

I think Jamie was much to easy on Joel for the under handed tactics about the membership cost. That was not done by accident and it absolutely SUX.

The membership thing is completely out of hand PERIOD and now he throws in the “I won’t tell them when it really counts” tactic.

When you read a 1 mile sales letter it’s very easy to miss the part about it costing you $30.00 per month after you receive the kind and generous almost give away offer of $9.95 for the latest and greatest almost free money and how easy it is.

Yes, I know that you can cancel the membership. However, probably not before it has cost you 30 to $60.00. Plus the other $9.95

And yes, that goes right into Mr. Comm’s pocket.

Mr. Comm, do you really need the money that much? If so, leave it as it is. If not, Do the right thing!

James Greene

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Jake on April 20th, 2008 7:24 am

Oh my, I really ought to frequent Rosalind’s blog comments more often!

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Rosalind Gardner reply on Sunday, April 20, 2008 16:59 pm:

Hmmm… I’m curious as to what you’ve found interesting… the discussion about forced continuity or bippies?

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David on April 20th, 2008 7:38 am

Methinks the FTC and other regulators need to crack down on a lot of internet marketers. No wonder folks don’t trust the honest ones. And from my observing their sales pitches over the last several years, there are more dishonest ones than honest ones hitting the net. Sad!

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Bruce Rayner on April 20th, 2008 9:01 am

I fully agree with Jamie, buy Joel’s book etc but make a note to unsubscibe. Membership sites can be good but I object to the sneaky way tactics some are using to get subscribers.

Many are now using “get a free CD tactic. ” I paid postage for one then a month later get a credit card charge notice of 29.95 for CD #2.There was no mention of future charges on the website, I had double checked for this. I promptly cancelled and requested a refund.

If you are outside USA check on postage cost for a free CD, this one cost me USD6.95 yet another by a well known marketer was USD14.95 postage. Free CD? Dont think so.

Cheers Bruce

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Jim H on April 20th, 2008 9:21 am

Ros,

Congratulations for maintaining your integrity by posting the “Warning”

I also think that Jamie ws a little easy on Joel Comm”s hidden charge rip off. Unfortunately he (Comm) is not the only one using this underhanded tactic. What is surprising to me is the big name “Gurus” who jump on these promotions and blast their lists with this type of scam. Just in the past few weeks many of the top IM players have promoted similar offers to me.

Ros, you are one of three respected IM’s who have sent a warning regarding Comm and one other recent really bad example of this rip off. I’ve even forgotten the other rip off artist…It was something like “B_______RETIRES!” it was worse than Comm’s.

I’d like to think the IM’s I used to have respect for are ot aware of the details of the offers they are promoting but sadly I have come to the conclusion they just can’t resist a piece of that hidden charge.

Regards,
JIm H

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Ayn Elise on April 20th, 2008 9:35 am

Speaking my mind on a couple of things:

From a consumer point of view, reading the ” fine print” as always been an important part of being informed. However, when there is a lack of transparency to that fine print, oh, yeah the lines of ethics get blurred in so many ways.

I agree with what Jim said above that you just cannot log all of the information you really need to be informed about a purchase in long sales letters. So, most certainly full disclosure should be made in the payment process as well.

I do have to wonder how often sales on a simple product are lost when the forced continuity method is applied. That is, obviously, an effort to upsell and/or backend sell, but it’s also sort of a short-cut in the sense of not working a little harder to have customers in the sales funnel who actually trust the value of your products in their own time frame. So do I mean I think it is ” kind of lazy”, yes, I do. Just a personal opinion there.

It’s not a new marketing method, but certainly has seen renewed life again lately.

It’s been ” in the news” with 2 major marketers giving examples of how it happened to one of them and how another marketer pointed out that it was very vague to customers to another marketer. Those were all powerful examples of word of mouth, by the way.

I don’t agree with Dave thoughts entirely, though. There are programs and associations to join that help give customers assurance that a business is on the level. But the easiest route is always the most tempting.
And for fun- I always thought ” bippy ” to be a polite slang term for backside, eh?

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Fred Holmes on April 20th, 2008 11:51 am

With regard to the Bippy and ‘Rowan and Martin’, I’m willing to wager that not 30 percent of the folks who partake of the pearls of wisdom on this page have ever even HEARD of a Bippy, much less Dan and Dick.

I had a Bippy once, but like everything else, it withered up from under-utilization and/or age and decrepitude and ultimately went into the archives with all the other stuff of that era; i.e. (Bell Bottoms, Love Beads, Strange Herbs, questionable habits ad infinitum, ad nauseum).

I was gonna comment on Joel’s clandestine subscription tactic, but someone else has already, and a recent email from HIMSELF expressed dismay and chagrin and all that other appropriate angst and he kinda-sorta intimated that he wouldn’t do that anymore.

Also got a nice email from Dan Nickerson regarding my irate flame to InfoMediaInc. as soon as I realized that I’d swallowed the proverbial lure, feathers and all.

I feel much better about the situation now that it has been successfully and satisfactorily resolved.

All the very 60’s best to y’all

Fred Holmes

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Jake on April 20th, 2008 13:14 pm

Ya know, I think this is the first time I’ve seen Joel without his goate.

I remember when he first started appearing in photos dressed without his signature suit - like wearing jeans or something. Now he’s dropping the facial hair.

What next?

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Rachael on April 20th, 2008 13:52 pm

Thanks for the heads up on the subscription. I have bought the book but did not read the whole sales page thus had no idea about the subscription.

Why put all that effort into selling your credentials only to be a sneak and put your reputation on the line.

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Chuck on April 20th, 2008 14:53 pm

I have decided not to purchase this item because of this undeclared add on.

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Nat on April 20th, 2008 17:28 pm

I guess I’ve removed myself from enough lists to not get pummeled about this new version of Adsense Secrets - yours was the only email I got mentioning the new version.

I see that Joel Comm has posted a mea culpa and is now making two distinct offers - one with the continuity and one without. I have to wonder if he’s sincere about it or if he just figured he’d better do something since it kind of blew up in his face.

I removed myself from his list a long time ago because of the incessant promotion and lack of any real value. It seems I probably made the right choice!

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Paul on April 21st, 2008 3:04 am

Rosalind,

Why didn’t you mention the forced continuity when you wrote the blog post?

You would have known what was going on when you signed up as an affiliate.

Why wait until someone commented on it?

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Ayn Elise on April 21st, 2008 5:49 am

I thought I’d jump back in for a minute. But, I am not sure if anyone will keep reading this thread.

I wish to say that as Jamie said in the first place about Joel Comm’s offer:
” Just a heads up if you don’t read the sales page properly.”; that Joel’s page made it apparent that it was an offer with an offer. I found the attached continuity program there clearly enough to make it the second time that I would pass on that product offer.

That hasn’t been true of some other offers lately though, which is where I am concerned about this type of marketing ploy. Plus I am actually kind of tired of seeing it so often, as a customer.

I would also like to say, that I personally have received excellent customer service when dealing with InfoMedia, Inc. One time I didn’t receive both parts of an order, and in the end I got not one but two copies of the missing item. And I asked to cancel a subscription and it was done with one email.
So, Joel and his company do deserve the reliability seal that is displayed on their sites. At least in my eyes.

I am pretty sure that some very well know and respected business authority, for online and offline business, spoke to people ( somewhere ) and gave great advice on how to expand your business and add to the sales funnel, and so on. Because I have seen that advice for myself. However, the marketers who know better may have forgotten how to think like a customer maybe just a little too much. And the wide variety of other types of people who heard that advice may have included a few too many with ” hyper-active greed glands “, just maybe. Just a way I see the possibilities and juman nature in action.

One thing is certain though, it takes time and effort as well as accumulating some skills, knowledge and experience to build a good, strong valuable business. I don’t see how that will ever really change.

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Paul on April 21st, 2008 16:28 pm

Let’s take your analogy a bit further……..

Let’s say I go to a big, well known shop to buy this item and the salesperson says “Here it is, the price is $9.95 - I think you should buy it”.

Then I go to another, less well known shop, and the sales person says “Here it is, the price is $9.95. And by the way, make sure that you only dry clean it, as washing may ruin the beautiful fabric and you wouldn’t want that would you?”

Who do you think I would be more likely to buy from?

My point is that as an affiliate your job is to do more than just present offers as-is to your list. If that is all you do then why should I buy through you rather than one of the other 5 affiliates who, in the case of AS4, did exactly the same thing?

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Jim on April 22nd, 2008 6:30 am

Rosalind,

Even that coffee you speak of had and still has a big warning on the cup about being hot. Some just don’t look, or they are *looking for something for nothing*!

As for Joel Comm and Matt Bacak they knew and still know exactly what they were doing. It was no accident or slip up. It’s called *looking for something for nothing*

All of this chatter about them both will only serve to eventually help them. They are getting more press than Hillary… Well, maybe not.

I watched Derek Gehl’s video last night where he is spending 4 days building a profitable website from the ground up. He has advertised this for a few weeks now and explaining that anyone could do it if they were willing to work. ***What he doesn’t say until after the video is that you will need his super dooper whis-bang new software in order to do it the way that he is doing it*** Where does it end?

I know that you and Anik are giving away a lot of good information about blogs now. I know that this is leading to a launch of a product. This has been spelled out. Although not what it is or what it will cost.

I find this marketing to be aboveboard and will probably buy the product when it is released due to your proffesionalism.

I don’t know if this would qualify as a rant or not. Just felt the need to say it….

Jim

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Joel on April 22nd, 2008 8:33 am

Hey Ros and gang!

I appreciate the comments.

Just a note. The offer was CLEARLY spelled out on the sales page AND the order page. There was no small print. It was all quite obvious for anyone to read.

Dialogue is a good thing. I think we’ve all learned something from this and rest assured that I will be ultra-clear in all my future efforts!

Joel

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Rick Butts on April 22nd, 2008 11:47 am

Holy Cow Jim!

If it is worth it to work for $9.95 an hour - and work 40 hours a week gnawing on the way Ros or 5 other affiliates posted about Joel’s book - then you are demonstrating a solid success model with your comments here.

On the other hand, sometimes as Freud said “a cigar is just a cigar.”

Commenting on blogs is a neat way to interact - and stay connected - and of course to let others follow your link if they find what you are saying valuable.

Based on your gnat-picking here - I can’t imagine what kind of minutae your blog might contain?

IMHBAO
“In my humble - but accurate opinion”

Rick Butts

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Rosalind Gardner on April 22nd, 2008 12:10 pm

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Fred Holmes on April 23rd, 2008 11:36 am

This horse is way dead. Let’s don’t flog is anymore.

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Charles on April 24th, 2008 7:48 am

I won’t knowingly buy anything from anyone using Comm’s tactics. It totally pisses me off when someone sneakily tries to pull a fast one!

I DO APPRECIATE THE SELF-POLICING aspect of the internet though. I feel these “slick” tactics won’t remain “popular” for very long because they simply will not work long-term.

FTC, stay out! We’re doing ok without intervention or more regulation.

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D.C. Wartenberger on April 28th, 2008 17:23 pm

Pardon the interruption but this “Hot Coffee” reminds me of the reaction in Europe. There were two gags running around at this time:
First:
What is the difference between USA and Europe?
In Europe you’ll get a refund if your coffee is not hot -
In USA you’ll get millions if your coffe IS hot.

Second was an advice if someone needed money urgently:
“Get a loan for a ticket to USA and a coffee … ”

I can see future Salespages already

Headline:

ATTENTION! If you accept this offer it will cost you monthly $xxx

this again will result in a hugh “Latest Edition” of all reports about how to write a Killer Sales Page.

Dougi

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Fred Holmes on April 30th, 2008 14:57 pm

But the Fourth Edition is probably worth every penny of that $9.95, just to be fair.

Maybe more, if you do anything with it.

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London Web Designer on May 3rd, 2008 14:29 pm

Joel Comm’s really been active these last few months, he must be making a killing, this and then the template pack and with all those affiliates promoting him.
He really has done well for himself

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Shari on May 15th, 2008 9:32 am

I did buy the ebook about a month ago and was a little pissed to find out about the $30 per month thing, but then thought, well, I’ll see if what he’s offering is worth $30 a month, since the first one is free and I can evaluate it. I was supposed to receive something in the mail, but, after many weeks, it’s not here yet. Since the first month was free and the month is almost over with no “free” issue of his “Top 1% Newsletter”, who knows if I’ll be required to pay anything. I did try and cancel, so we’ll see what happens.

I do see that he issued an apology and that he has changed his sales letter. Good for him. That really showed he was taking all the concerns seriously.

Now, for the ebook itself. After doing Adsense sites for a couple years now I decided to buy his ebook to see if there was any information I was missing. I picked up a couple of tips, but nothing earth shattering. (It would probably be good for complete Adsense newbies, however) I found many of the updates to be tacked on at the end of paragraphs (for example, he would make a suggestion and advice for a few paragraphs, then contradict it with the update saying the new Adsense policies prohibited that tactic.) I just wish he would have just deleted what was no longer relevant rather than have us read all this great advice, then say it was no longer valid in a short add on.

There have been many recent changes in Adsense which has caused many peoples’ CTR to go down, which didn’t make it into his recent update. It would be interesting to know how these recent changes might affect any future Adsense strategies.

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