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April 29, 2005
Google AdSense Affiliate Site Built With Datafeeds
There are thousands of affiliate marketers on the Internet profiting from Google AdSense and that number is only going to grow. The question is: HOW, exactly, are you going to get customers to your AdSense site once you build it? Ideally, you're going to build sites around higher paying keywords, so using Google AdWords to promote a site is probably not economically feasible. That leaves the free/organic search engines and the most effective way to make them happy is to use datafeeds. Here is a search-engine-pleasing AdSense site built in under two hours with RSS feeds.
http://arthritis-answers-online.com
Here's what we did ...
Step 1: find high paying AdSense terms. In this case, we used "arthritis" because some of these keywords are paying $1.50-$2.00
Step 2: choose our keywords. Our favorite tool, without qualification, is Wordtracker. Using WT, we chose a carefully calculated set of arthritis-related keywords.
Step 3: According to Google rules, a site cannot promote only AdSense revenue, so we chose a highly regarded ebook on arthritis as our other offer.
Step 4: this is normally the hard part ... generating content. However, with datafeeds, this is a simple process. Using a government document that is freely available for use, and three different arthritis datafeeds, we created 33 pages of unique content in under two hours!
The best part is that this is a site that will endure. It isn't a spammy, crappy thing that will be banned by the search engines in six months. And why not? Because it has fresh, constantly updated new content. Content that is all focused on arthritis. Content that I don't have to write!!!
Look, I have over 60 sites right now and new ones coming every week. How in the world can I keep the search engines coming back to my sites if I have to write or hire all the content myself? If I write one article/week (which isn't much to the search engines) I would have to write almost nine per day. On all kinds of subjects that I honestly don't know much about.
Or I can hire it done. Supposedly, it's possible to hire writers for $10 per article, but I surely haven't seen any. Even if that's true, it would cost me $600 per week just to add one new article. That's clearly out of reach for most entrepreneurs, especially at first.
But with a datafeed, I can use other people's article. With their permission! Articles from experts who know what they're talking about, no matter what the subject is.
Result:
Search engines: happy
Article author: happy
Customer: happy
Me, the affiliate marketer: happy
Everybody wins! Wahooooooooooo.
I even used three different feeds on this site so that the content will constantly vary, from page to page:
http://arthritis-answers-online.com/arthritis-remedy.shtml
http://arthritis-answers-online.com/what-is-fibromyalgia.shtml
http://arthritis-answers-online.com/arthritis-cures.shtml
There's a whole new day dawning in Internet marketing and those who don't get up to speed quickly will be left behind. I'm not going to be one of them!
http://www.affiliate-dominator.com
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 11:36 AM | TrackBack
April 26, 2005
Brazen eBay Seller Needs Public Domain Education
It should come as no surprise that some eBay sellers are always looking for the easy way to make money they are not entitled to. A case in point is Product Sourcing Scams Revealed, an ebook written and owned by Chris Malta and myself. We are in a constant 'war' with people who think they are entitled to just help themselves to our labor, but the latest ... er, borrower ... reaches a new height in chutpah, brass, nerve or gall.
We've had several people try to use our book to profit on eBay, in spite of a copyright notice at the beginning of the book and the last page which states that the book may be freely shared but not altered, claimed or sold.
However an eBay seller with the ID of "forbbe" has gone way beyond the usual use of our intellectual property.
The full text of this outrageous claim is:
- - -
+++++++ Note to eBay staff +++++++
The underlying eBook is in the public domain and we own resale copy right of this eBook.
Please note that this listing has been pre-approved by Emmanuelle Rice of the eBay Community Watch Department as compliant with eBay’s Listing Policies (Ref KMM1084112V23169L0KM). Since there is no such category as "everything else, information product" in Australia eBay site, "lots more, other" is deemed the most suitable category.
- - -
A copy of one of his auctions is here:
http://www.auction-genius-course.com/listings/stolenbook.shtml
When I sent him an email asking him to remove his auctions, he responded by demanding that Chris and I prove that the book wasn't in the public domain! The fact is that we don't need to prove anything. The copyright law of the US states that any book published after 1978 is protected for the life of author(s) + 70 years. In other words, any work published after 1978 is NOT in the Public Domain even if it does not have a copyright notice. It will be at least 70 years before this book is public domain - and Chris and I sincerely hope it will be much longer than that!!!
Since this guy's was too lazy to even change his auction listing, and instead used ours intact, he even admits we are the authors. Therefore, he knows perfectly well that he is not entitled to use this book to make money. Amazing, isn't it?
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 11:40 AM | TrackBack
April 22, 2005
Overstock.com Auctions Honor Earth Day
Today, April 22nd is Earth Day and Overstock.com is promoting this gallant effort which will run through April 25. Overstock says, "All proceeds from these auctions will benefit Save the Earth Foundation's scientific research and educational programs committed to increasing environmental awareness."
http://auctions.overstock.com/
The merchandise is varied and interesting, with lots of celebrity items, including rare coins, guitars and guitar pick guards, movie posters, albums, pictures, drumheads, microphones and sports memorabilia. Celebrity names include Ozzy Osbourne, Celine Dion, Bono, Beyonce, David Crosby, Melissa Ehteridge, Neil Young, Black Sabbath, Styz, Steve Miller, Simon & Garfunkel, Lenny Kravitz and many more. There's even a collage of the famous Rat Pack (Frank Sinatra, Joey Bishop, Sammy Davis Jr, Dean Martin and Peter Lawford) signed by all of them. As I write this, it's only $1,756.94, so you'd better hurry. Don't want to miss out!
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 6:08 PM | TrackBack
April 20, 2005
Auction Image Hosting Saves eBay Fees
Providing your own auction image hosting will save you money on eBay fees And if you want a successful and profitable business you'd darned well better be concerned about your overhead.
On eBay, you get one free picture - after that you pay for each one. And if you want any of the specialty items the tally really rises. For instance, it's 75 cents for a slideshow, 75 cents for a "Supersize" image and a buck for a "Picture pack". Not much money but add that to dozens or hundreds of auctions and your profits will melt away at a rapid rate.
The solution? Provide your own image hosting. That way, you can add as many pictures as you wish to your listings at no extra charge from eBay.
Naturally, though, most folks first think of free image hosting. That might work in the beginning, but it's not a good option long term and here's why ...
http://auction-genius-course.com/free-image-hosting.shtml
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 1:01 PM | TrackBack
April 18, 2005
All Terrain Vehicle Sales On eBay Pick Up In Spring
All terrain vehicle sales always get a spurt of new life in the spring. Of course, exactly when spring comes is always up for grabs. Here in the southland, the dogwoods are in bloom, the azaleas are brilliant banks of color and the birds are courting and building nests - while some of your poor folks are still buried under a couple of feet of snow.
Nevertheless, this is a primo time of year for ATV sales. Naturally, they never die out entirely, because there is a snowmobile market in the cold months. But this is the best time - and while you're at it, don't forget all the gear that ATV riders need. That's a lucrative source of backend products that can sometimes be more rewarding than the original sale.
http://auction-genius-course.com/atv-auctions.shtml
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 12:27 PM | TrackBack
April 15, 2005
Are Wholesale Search Engines Worth Your Time Or Not?
With the explosive growth of online sales, there is a growing demand for products to sell online. So a wholesale search engine is a logical development for the Web. We took a tour on our favorite wholesale search engine and the results are quite fascinating:
http://www.auction-genius-course.com/auction/wholesale-search-engines.shtml
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 12:17 PM | TrackBack
April 14, 2005
Viral Marketing Through Google Maps Service
Wired News has a fascinating story about Google's new maps service, which which allows users to view and navigate high-resolution satellite images.
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,67190,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_1
Naturally, we've all seen a bazillion maps with the continents drawn on them, so it's a shock to see that those maps really are pretty accurate (how in the world did they do that from the ground?) I had a lot of fun playing with these maps - even locating the street where I live (memories of My Fair Lady intrude! :-)
But is there any purpose to these services, rather than just good ole fun - not that's there's anything wrong with fun? I would have to say yes, there's a big point. If nothing else, it gets users in the habit of going to Google for all kinds of services, thereby creating familiarity and custom. Actually, this is a classic example of viral marketing. Smart Google.
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 5:13 PM | TrackBack
April 13, 2005
eBay Fraud Reward: 6 Years In Prison
Charles Stergios, 21, has earned a six year prison sentence for eBay fraud from a judge in Maine. Stergios admitted that he had defrauded 50 individuals of at least $200,000 in cash and purchased goods through dishonest auctions on eBay.
The prosecuting attorney stated that he actually may have duped some 321 individuals to the tune of $421,000 in ill-begotten profits. When Stergios first pleaded guilty, he was ordered by the court to pay back his victims. However, he continued to defraud people after being informed that the state was investigating his online practices, and tried to hide his personal assets in an effort to avoid paying back those he defrauded.
The defendant repeatedly wrote counterfeit checks to people from whom he bought items such as jewelry and electronics on eBay. Stergios also took payments for items he advertised on the auction site that he never shipped to the buyers. The most expensive transactions made by the defendant were valued at roughly $5,000.
It's safe to say that this jerk was unrepentant, since he threw a water pitcher at the prosecuting attorney!
Honest sellers can only applaud such a stiff conviction.
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 12:31 PM | TrackBack
April 8, 2005
eBay Auctions As Political and Social Commentary
Recently, I found this eBay auction that demonstrates the power of eBay in our current culture. It is from a woman who claims that her son was abused by a teacher in school. Whether it's a valid claim or not, it's fascinating that members of 21st century society would turn to an auction website for redress of their grievances. The mother who wrote this appeals to "President Bush and all the other powerfull (sic) people in our nation".
Here is her proof that her son was abused:
Be warned: because it's in all caps this eBay listing is hard to read ...
- - -
HELLO I NEED YOUR HELP....EVERYONES HELP WORLWIDE PLEASE SEE THIS IS NO JOKE.BECAUSE THIS IS EBAY I MUST AUCTION AN ITEM THE ITEM IS A PICTURE OF MY SON AND A FULL PAGE ACCOUNT OF WHAT HAPPENED AS STATED BELOW. ALL PROCEEDS WILL GO FOR A NEW PAIR OF GLASSES AND TWO NEW SHIRTS THAT WERE RUINED.
*THIS IS A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT IS FOR AUCTION PER EBAY GUIDLINES*
BUT THIS MUST BE SAID AND HEARD AMERICA AND BEYOND, THIS IS FOR PRESIDENT BUSH AND ALL THE OTHER POWERFULL PEOPLE IN OUR NATION WHO COVETS FAMILY AND THEIR CHILDREN ALIKE. WHAT YOU ARE SEEING HERE IN THIS PICTURE IS WHAT MY SONS FIFTH GRADE TEACHER DID TO HIM FOR WHAT HE ASSUMED WAS A SMART COMMENT. NOT UNUSUAL YOU THINK ??? HAPPENS EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE YOU SAY. BUT IN THIS CASE HE WEASELED THRU A LOOPHOLE IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND IS STILL TEACHING TODAY MAYBE YOUR CHILD??? YES YOU HEARD ME NOTHING THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING. NOTHING BUT A COVER UP TO SAVE FACE WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM THEY ARE SO AFRAID OF LITIGATION THEY WONT EVEN APOLOGIZE. HERES WHAT HAPPENED ON 1/28/05 MY SON WENT TO SCHOOL WHEN ASKED FOR AN ASSIGNMENT HE GOT THE DAY PRIOR, AND DIDNT HAVE THE TEACHER SAID HE WOULD BE WRITTEN UP AND SENT TO THE PRINCIPAL, MY SON BEGAN TO CRY AS THE TEACHER YELLED AT HIM, HE THEN ASKED HIM WHO THE BOSS WAS? MY SON THINKING HE WAS GOING TO THE OFFICE REPLIED THE PRINCIPAL AND THE TEACHED SNAPPED GRABBED HIM BY THE SHIRT COLLAR PULLED HIM WITH IN INCHES OF HIS FACE AND TOLD HIM HE WAS THE BOSS HE THRASHED MY SON AROUND UNTIL HIS GLASSES CAME OFF THEN DROPPED HIM TO THE FLOOR WERE HE CURLED UP AND CRIED. HE WAS IMMEDIATLEY TREATED AT THE SCHOOL CLINIC. SO I GET TO THE SCHOOL AND WAS TOLD THIS I DEMANDED THE POLICE BE CALLED. SO WEEKS GO BY I WAIT THINKING THERE IS SOME GRAND INVESTIGATION, NOPE I GOT A CALL FROM THE STATES ATTORNEY SHE SAID THEIR IS NO EVIDENCE TO ESTABLISH CRIMINAL INTENT, YES YOU HEARD ME RIGHT AS A MATTER OF FACT WHEN THE TEACHER WAS FIRST QUESTIONED HE CHOSE HIS RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT BUT LATER RECANTED AND CALLED IT AN ATTENTION GETTER WELL HES GOT MY ATTENTION NOW. BUT PER CASE LAW WHEN YOU LET YOUR CHILD GO TO SCHOOL OR TO A FRIENDS HOUSE YOU GIVE THOSE ADULTS THE POWER TO PUNISH YOU CHILD AS THEY SEE FIT AS A MATTER OF FACT I AM TOLD AS A PARENT WE CAN BEAT OUR CHILDREN BLACK AND BLUE AS LONG AS WE SAY ITS PUNISHMENT AND THEY DONT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION ( WHICH MY SON DID) SO NOW THE SCHOOL SAYS IF HES NOT CHARGED HE DID NOTHING WRONG HENCE NOT EVEN A REPRIMAND. THEY WOULD LIKE TO BELIEVE ITS ALL MADE UP, THAT MAYBE HE SCRATCHED HIS OWN NECK, THAT IT NEVER HAPPENED THE EVIDENCE IS CLEAR HOW CAN THEY NOT SEE THIS .THEY SAY THE TEACHER GRABBED HIM IN A NOT PARTICUARLY VIOLENT MANNER AROUND THE SHOULDER OR COLLAR....LOOK AT THE PICTURE OH WAIT THATS RIGHT THEY MADE THEIR DECISION WITH OUT SEEING THE PICTURES OR THAT HE WENT TO THE CLINIC OR HIS SHIRTS ARE RUINED OR HIS GLASSES WERE BROKE I WAS TOLD IT WAS UP TO ME TO MAKE SURE THEY HAD THIS INFORMATION NOT THE SHERIFF. WHY DO I PAY TAXES I WONDER THEY SAY I SHOULD SEEK REMEDIES CIVILY , TAKE IT FROM THE SCHOOL SO ANOTHER CHILD HAS NO BOOK, OR FROM HIS LIABILITY INS...SO WE ALL CAN PAY HIGHER RATES...WHAT ELSE AM I TO DO ??? THIS MAN NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH HE SHOULDNT BE TEACHING. THEY KEEP TELLING ME WELL HES RETIRING THIS YEAR. SO WHAT RETIRE NOW I DONT CARE HOW LONG YOUVE BEEN ON THE JOB. YOU ATTACKED MY SON YOU HAVE BETRAYED OUR TRUST YOU HAVE GIVING THE TEACHING PROFESSION A BAD NAME. MEANWHILE MY SON SIT IN A PORTABLE WITH THE SPEC ED KIDS BECAUSE ALL THE FIFTH GRADE CLASSES ROTATE BACK INTO THAT TEACHERS ROOM. THE SCHOOL BOARD CALLS IT UNFOUNDED, WHY AGAIN IS HE IN THE PORTABLE ??? SURE ATTACK HIM HUMILIATE HIM AND PUNISH HIM. IN CASE YOU HAVENT FIGURED IT OUT I LIVE IN FLORIDA WHERE THEY CANT COUNT VOTES....THEY LET THE HELPLESS STARVE TO DEATH.....LET SEXUAL CRIMINALS OUT TO RE-OFFEND ....AND LET TEACHERS ABUSE OUR CHILDREN..LETS JUST HOPE THIS TEACHER WILL NOT HURT ANOTHER CHILD ONLY TWO MORE MONTHS OF SCHOOL.WELL THATS REALLY JUST HALF THE STORY IT GETS SO MUCH WORSE FROM CORRUPTION IN THE STATES ATTORNEYS OFFICE TO HAVING OUR LIVES THREATENED TO DROP THE CHARGES IF YOU CARE OR THINK YOU CAN HELP CONTACT.
HERNANDO COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD 352 797 7000
FL STATES ATTORNEYS OFFICE 352 620 3800
OR ME 352 683 1401
I AM CURRENTLY SEEKING AN APPOINTMENT WITH OUR GOVENOR JEB BUSH...AND WILL NOT STOP UNTIL THIS IS HEARD AND LAWS CHANGED TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN IF YOU CAN HELP PLEASE DO I WOULD FOR YOU ....GOD BLESS
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 11:11 AM | TrackBack
April 5, 2005
What To Sell On eBay: Lame Idea #3
When deciding what to sell on eBay, Lame Idea #3 is to use eBay's own "wholesale lots" listings to find merchandise. Now, there are all kinds of stories about this method: 'I bought Product X for $25 and sold it for $200. Wow, did I make a lot of money!"
Are there true stories like this? Undoubtedly, there are. But the first question we must concern ourselves with is t-i-m-e.
Just checking this morning in eBay's wholesale sections I found the following number of wholesale auctions:
Art: 1089
Books: 3684
Business & Industrial: 9144
Cameras & Photo: 309
Cell phones: 1758
Clothing, Shoes & Accessories: 10460
Collectibles: 3839
Computers: 9441
Consumer Electronics: 1911
Crafts: 3174
Dolls & Bears: 727
DVDs & Movies: 2571
eBay Motors Parts & Accessories: 1270
Education and Learning: 120
Gifts & Occasions: 1723
Health & Beauty: 3155
Home & Garden: 4776
Jewelry: 13881
Movies: 2572
Music: 1736
Musical Instruments: 275
Pottery & Glass: 3845
Sporting Goods: 1678
Sports Cards: 36793
Sports Memorabilia: 416009
Toys & Hobbies: 2815
Video Games: 1939
That's a total of 540,694 auctions for wholesale products and that doesn't begin to cover the reality of so-called 'wholesale bargains' on eBay because there are all kinds of listing mixed into regular categories, rather than separated as wholesale lots.
To make this easier, let's remove the "Sports Memorabilia: 416009" to make it a little more manageable. Let's see - that means we're left with "only" 124,685 wholesale lots for sale.
Problem #1: TIME. How long would it take you to go through all those auctions looking for something that you could profitably resell? Frankly, it boggles the mind!
Let's pick a popular category - DVD movies, one of the hottest on eBay - and do our homework to see if this can possibly be worthwhile.
Here is a popular auction offering 100 new release DVDs. There are an astonishing 59 bids, so we know this was highly popular with would-be eBay sellers.
There is a long listing of movies, many of them I've never heard of, so I chose one of my favorites, Air Force One (yep! I have a crush on Harrison Ford. :-)
According to the seller, the value of the DVDs range from $19.99 - $29.99 each.
Doing my homework on the prices Air Force One actually sold for, we find these results (auction number | sale price):
6379491536 | $4.90
6379364925 | $2.00
6381312346 | $2.00
6379125356 | $3.28
6380933540 | $4.50
6378949852 | $6.95
6378949852 | $7.95
6379535858 | $4.99
6378282389 | $2.76
6378301594 | $1.99
6378293163 | $2.25
6378266974 | $6.51
6379413786 | $2.24
6378031379 | $5.90
6378011445 | $2.00
6377930141 | $2.99
6379202610 | $4.99 (used)
6377718646 | $2.99
6379540333 | $6.00
6377421608 | $3.26
6377968856 | $4.76
6377048774 | $3.25
6377045435 | $4.00
That was about half the auctions listed, but the rest were all in the same price range. These 23 auctions totaled $92.46 in revenues.
Problem #2: I lost money!
I would have paid $131.10 ($5.70 each x 23) for the movies and received only $92.46 - which of course doesn't include my fees to eBay and PayPal, shipping costs from the original seller, packing materials, my time & energy, etc.
Problem #3: even if this does work occasionally, it's not the way to build a real business.
First, if you want to do more than eke out a small income, you need a steady supply of a product that you can sell again and again and again. Otherwise, you spend all your time hunting product. You will never have any auto-pilot income if you're scrounging products from day to day.
Second, your source is too uncertain. It's just like garage sales - you might find several wholesale bargains one week - and none the next. Pretty unreliable way to make a living.
Third, you are constantly creating new listings. A powerful listing that pulls in money week after week takes testing and effort over a period of time. You don't have that luxury if you have to come up with new ones constantly.
One last thought: there are some exceptions, of course, but if all these wholesale lots are such a great deal, why aren't their sellers auctioning them for themselves?
