According to Andy Jenkins, your prospects are all just ‘lazy skeptics’ who read your sales copy with two thoughts upper-most in mind:

“Why should I bother?”

“This can’t possibly be true.”

In other words, they don’t want to do anything they perceive as hard work - whether it’s taking out their wallet or following your home study course - and they don’t believe what you’re saying anyway.

If true… such beliefs surely lie in the way of converting your prospects into customers. So how do you overcome such barriers and get them to buy from you.

Andy Jenkins recommends harnessing your prospect’s inherent laziness and skepticism to your benefit. To do so, you emphasize how EASY it is to take the desired action… and that what you’re offering DOES sound too good to be true (appealing to their latent skepticism) but really isn’t.

Take a look at Andy’s article for how he recommends you do this, but here are two ways you might appeal to/dismiss prospects’ laziness and skepticism respectively:

1. Laziness

Use words such as ‘easy’, ’simple’, ’step by step’, ‘in just 3 steps’, and so on. For example, which of the following appeals to you?

“A weight loss guide”

“An easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide to losing weight”

2. Skepticism

Agree with the prospect (never DISagree with them!) that what you’re offering sounds too good to be true and provide a LOGICAL reason why your solution is an exception to the rule. For example, if you build up the value of a software program to such an extent that it could reasonably be worth hundreds of dollars, but then offer it for just a fraction of the price, a skeptical prospect may wonder if the product really is as good as you say it is. To combat that response, you might use a logical argument that, for example, you wish to ‘beta test’ the product among a select group of people before you formally launch it, or that you are offering the software as-is with no helpdesk support, etc.

Source: Andy Jenkins, “Use Emotion AND Logic to sell MORE”, StomperBlog, October 1, 2008

(Note: Stomping The Search Engines 2 launches TODAY at 2pm EST: Click Here To Get Stomping The Search Engines 2 For Free)

Yesterday, I reviewed the Stomping The Search Engines 2 home-study course. (To read the review go here Stomping The Search Engines 2 Review). At the end of the review I indicated that the guys behind the course, Andy Jenkins and Brad Fallon, were going to price it at one price… before deciding to make it so that EVERYONE would be able to get this course.

That wasn’t hype.

Originally, the price of this course was going to be $497.

But after Andy and Brad’s change of heart, the price of the course is now… $0

That’s right, you can get the entire DVD-ROM course for FREE. You only pay for shipping and handling (and that’s a real shipping and handling cost – not a padded one).

What’s the catch?

The “catch” is that when you order the course, you also agree to trial StomperNet’s Internet marketing journal, The Net Effect. (I also discussed that in yesterday’s review). The first issue is free but there is an ongoing charge of $39 per month after that. BUT you can easily cancel… yes, that means you can EASILY cancel (without being upsold or messed around).

StomperNet are, of course, hoping you won’t cancel. Otherwise they are taking a huge risk with this offer. But it truly is up to you whether you want to continue with your subscription or not.

Regardless, and given that canceling is not going to be a problem, there really is no reason NOT to order Stomping The Search Engines 2.

I said yesterday that the course won’t be suitable for either search engine optimization experts OR anyone who doesn’t intend to follow through on the work required for SEO success. While I stand by that, the course may still be worth getting purely to see how a high-quality home-study course is put together!

Seriously, though, if SEO is on your radar, make sure you get this course. Also, order it as soon as it becomes available at 2pm EST today, Wednesday September 3, 2008.

I say that because there is likely to be a HUGE rush for this course, and you don’t want to end up waiting for your copy in case StomperNet rapidly runs out of its initial batch of stock.

So put a reminder in your Outlook / Thunderbird / calendar / alarm to click here at 2pm EST:

==> Get Stomping The Search Engines 2 For Free

Wednesday 2pm EST is:

• Wednesday 11am in Los Angeles
• Wednesday 7pm in London
• Thursday 4am in Sydney
• Thursday 3am in Tokyo

==> Get Stomping The Search Engines 2 For Free

Source: Stomping The Search Engines 2.0

(Note: Stomping The Search Engines 2.0 launches tomorrow Wednesday, September 3 at 2pm EST)

Okay, I’ve had a chance to go through the Stomping The Search Engines 2.0 home-study course and let me say off the bat: it really is an excellent course.

If you want to learn about search engine optimization (SEO) or, like me, are due for a solid refresher, this course definitely delivers the goods.

Now, I AM biased, but it’s not because I’m an affiliate (if I didn’t like the course I wouldn’t promote it). I’ll tell you why below, but first let me give you the low-down on the course…

Stomping The Search Engines 2.0 Course Overview

So what’s in the Stomping The Search Engines 2.0 (STSE2) course… where does it shine… what could be done better… and should you get it?

Well, in terms of what the course covers, the topics – or “modules” - are as follows:

1. Introduction (Instructors: Brad Fallon and Andy Jenkins)
2. How search engines work (Instructor: Andy Edmonds)
3. Keyword strategy (Instructor: Dan Thies)
4. Navigation and crawlability (Instructor: Leslie Rohde)
5. On-page SEO (Instructor: Jerry West)
6. Link-building and promotion (Instructor: Dan Thies)
7. How to measure results and adjust your strategy (Instructor: Dan Thies)

In Module 1 Brad Fallon and Andy Jenkins cover the pros and cons of SEO; differentiate “white hat” SEO from short term tactics, search engine spam and business models that search engines don’t like; and explain what the StomperNet approach to SEO involves.

In Module 2 Andy Edmonds gives a solid overview of how search engines work and provides a good conceptual foundation for the remainder of the course.

In Module 3 Dan Thies explains how to strategically choose and target keywords and in Module 4 Leslie Rohde discusses how to optimize the structure of your website for both navigation and search engine crawlability. (This is possibly one of the least understood - yet crucial - aspects of SEO.)

Module 5 focuses on on-page optimization. In this module Jerry West covers both the basics of how to improve page structure and content for SEO purposes, and also introduces some nifty tricks for reducing “code bloat” among other things.

Module 6 addresses link-building and promotion strategies. Dan Thies sets out ways to both actively get links and also ATTRACT links i.e. provide “link bait”.

Finally, in Module 7 Dan Thies covers what to measure - and how to measure it - in terms of SEO performance. Dan also covers planning cycles and processes - a great discipline to implement in your business to keep on top of your SEO implementation. He finishes the module - and the course - with a review of the course and links to further resources.

Pros and Cons

Overall, the course is both sufficiently comprehensive and detailed, and follows a logical, step-by step progression, where each topic builds on the other. What’s more, Stomping The Search Engines 2.0 cuts through the B.S. about SEO. Keyword density percentage? There is no such thing. Duplicate content - there is no “penalty” and the only place where it’s consistently a problem is on your own site.

The main con of the course is that it’s all in DVD-ROM format. I generally find lecture-style video presentations a bit tedious and would have liked to have seen a manual included in the course materials that reflected the content of the DVD-ROMs. A manual would also have made for a handy reference guide.

Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Get This Course

The course is ideal for someone who:

• Is familiar with the Internet - this course is NOT suitable if you’re still working out what a URL is; and
• Keen to focus on SEO as a way of generating targeted traffic. SEO takes concerted, ongoing effort - it’s not something you can simply “set and forget”, especially if you’re in a competitive niche. So too, this course will only be useful to someone who really wants to focus on SEO - and is willing to put time and effort into it - in order to generate traffic. In fact, I’d urge you to ONLY get this course if you regard SEO as one of your CORE strategies to generate traffic.

It’s also suitable for someone who has focused on SEO in the past, has let it slide in recent times, and is looking for a refresher on old concepts and a heads up on the latest developments (guilty as charged!)

The course is NOT suitable for someone who:

• Already eats, breathes and lives SEO - you won’t learn much.
• Is looking for a “push button” way to generate traffic. SEO isn’t “push button” and neither is this course (well, apart from pressing “play” in order to watch the DVD-ROMs!).

The Net Effect

Everyone who gets Stomping The Search Engines 2.0 also gets a free edition of StomperNet’s new Internet marketing journal, The Net Effect.

The inaugural issue of The Net Effect is pretty impressive. I was a bit concerned that it would be, like some other print newsletters and magazines I’ve seen, a bunch of short, “light” articles squarely aimed at “newbies” and padded with lots of ads.

However The Net Effect is 45 pages long and full of solid, in-depth articles on various aspects of Internet marketing - research, traffic generation, email marketing, social media marketing and business building, to name a few. I particularly enjoyed Brad Fallon’sarticle about speed.

All in all, a quality read and a welcome bonus to the Stomping The Search Engines 2.0 course.

Disclaimer

Now for a disclaimer. Apart from finding the course to be rock-solid, I am, admittedly, biased in favor of Stomping The Search Engines 2.0. But it’s not because I’m promoting it…

It’s actually because StomperNet has been one of my three main sources of SEO information and education over the past few years (the others being Aaron Wall’s SEO Book and my husband and business partner, who has read the Google patent from cover to cover).

I was a member of StomperNet back in 2006-7 and found the SEO education I received to be extremely helpful. Stomping The Search Engines 2.0 delivers the same standard of quality and, on that basis, I definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to learn about, or update their understanding of, SEO.

When and How To Get It (And How Much Does it Cost?)

Stomping The Search Engines 2.0 is launching TOMORROW on Wednesday September 3 at 2pm EST.

In terms of price… well, I happen to know what the StomperNet guys originally planned to charge for it. And, to be honest, this sounded about right to me. But since then, they’ve changed their minds. I can’t say too much, but suffice to say… EVERYONE will be able to get their hands on this course.

I’ll let you know more tomorrow…

In the meantime, here’s a sneak peak of the course:

==> Stomping The Search Engines 2.0

Source: Stomping The Search Engines 2.0

The New York Times has discovered what Internet marketers have known about - and been doing - for years: website flipping. In its strangely wide-eyed article about web flipping, the Times observes that flippers are the:

“latest wave of entrepreneurs who, like the day traders and real estate investors before them, are looking to make a lot of money without much effort.

They use little more than home computers and free software to buy Web sites that appeal to a small and specific niche. Then they fix up the sites with hopes of reselling them for far more than they paid.”

Apparently, web flipping is at all-time high with the number of sites sold on eBay doubling over the last three months, and sales quadrupling at SitePoint’s website marketplace.

But although more and more people are buying and selling websites… it’s questionable whether the majority of flippers are really making much money. The average price for those websites sold on eBay? A paltry $78.

Although a small group of savvy flippers are likely to be making the big bucks, it’s not difficult to grasp the keys to profitable web flipping. They’re much like the keys to success in real estate flipping:

1. Identify websites with high return on investment (ROI) potential - sites that are undervalued, and whose value can be substantially increased for relatively little cost.
2. Apply the necessary knowledge, skills and resources to increase the value of the site.
3. Sell the website at the right price in order to achieve the desired ROI.
4. Repeat this process over and over.

Website flipping is NOT something you want to do blindly. Not if you want to make it a significant source of income. So definitely get educated on how to do it properly. Just be selective when it comes to choosing a suitable training program or home study course, etc. Although I have not seen or undertaken it myself, I have heard a lot of good things about Ed Dale’s Dominiche course.

Ed is, in my opinion, one of the more knowledgeable and reputable high profile players within the Internet marketing niche. Plus, he’s a fellow Melbournian! So you might want to check out Dominiche. Otherwise, stay tuned - we’ll explore website flipping in greater detail in future issues of the newsletter.

Sources: Abha Bhattarai, “Find an Undervalued Asset. Fix It Up. Flip It. (Now It’s Web Sites, Not Houses)”, The New York Times, July 29, 2008, Dominiche

Welcome to our new look, new name email newsletter. Now before we go any further I’d like to suggest you don’t read any further… unless you’re genuinely passionate about Internet marketing!

That’s because our aim is to publish THE Internet marketing newsletter for Internet marketers. You know, where we actually tell you about breaking news… give you our take on topical issues… and provide you with helpful research findings, tips and more for improving the effectiveness of your Internet marketing efforts.

This ain’t gonna be your regular thinly veiled promotion for some self-styled Internet marketing guru’s latest home study course on how to get rich from the Internet! Boy, that was a mouthful.

So what’s our motivation? (Like, what’s our plan to extract money from you?) It’s simple really. The business model underlying Kikabink News is to generate revenue from advertising sales, affiliate promotions, and promotions for our own products and services.

But what may distinguish Kikabink News from some other so-called Internet marketing newsletters is that (a) we’ll actually publish news (as opposed to just tips on how to do this or that) and (b) there will be a clear distinction between news articles and advertisements or promotions. Hey, it works for The New York Times doesn’t it? Imagine that… providing a clear distinction between news and promotions.

Hopefully, you’ll like the new look Kikabink News, and if you have any suggestions for improvement or other feedback, drop me a line.