Google Side Wiki: Massive Webmaster Panic Attack
Sep 28th
The announcement of the launch of Google sidewiki has sent many webmasters into panic over-drive and I can totally see and understand why. Sidewiki will be installed on google toolbars on browsers such as firefox and eventually Google Chrome. I suspect, it will integrate with nearly every browser out there that allows the google toolbar.
So why is this such bad news? Well, this tool allows anyone with a Gmail account or multiple gmail accounts to leave comments on certain sites via sidewiki. This has a variety of implications, but two of the main ones concerning many webmasters are as follows:
1. Other webmasters will undoubtedly leave links to their sites on competitors websites, thus mooching off the all traffic these guys get that use the google toolbar/sidewiki feature.
2. Angry customers/competitiors will use the service to spread lies and deceit about the company using the side wiki comment feature. People have now been given the ability to spam sites they disapprove of at will.
Webmasters all across the globe are scratching their head and wondering what they can do about this, and the answer at this time is; not a lot.
My solution for the time being is just try and be as real, true, ethical, honest and straight forward as humanly possible. I am going to be my best all the time and hope it is good enough. And what is more, if some of the side wiki comments are genuinely negative, then I will take time to listen to the thoughts and act on them, and hope that no one out there holds a big enough grudge towards me that they would try and ruin my site.
Just my quick 2 cents on the issue.
Pro Blogging Is Tough
Sep 22nd
So it might not seem like it when you read the posts and content on this blog, but I am actually paid to write on a very successful and highly viewed blog. Lately however I haven’t been producing much content for it. You see I don’t like ghostwriting, I find it tough, particularly when writing for some one’ semi-personal/business blog. You have to find their voice and reflect it in your tone and the way you write/speak.
For example, the blog I write for is in the Internet marketing niche. I have a lot of thoughts stories and opinions to share on that topic, which is why I created this blog! I can write daily on the subject, maybe even hourly, and I have been posting three or four articles a day to this blog lately. I don’t find it difficult and I really enjoy it. I have done my best to keep this blog as neutral as possible, i.e. this isn’t just a blog about me, and it certainly isn’t my personal blog. However, my thoughts, feelings and opinions have a huge influence on the kind of content I post, because I am the sole contributor to it at the moment.
When ghost writing though, I am writing for some one else and AS some one else as well. My opinions and thoughts differ on a variety of subjects within this industry to those of the blog owner. I cannot voice these thoughts and tell MY stories because I am representing some one else. This is a huge limitation on my ability to blog as blogging is an inherently personal activity.
It is so easy for me to come up with an “okay” blog post on this blog, because I know what I want to write talk and speak about. It makes sense to me to say the things I say. I can chrun out content like there is no tomorrow. But ask me to do some more of the ghostblogging, and I freeze. I dedicate 2-3 hours just on one blog post to make sure the content looks and reads correctly. It drives me up the wall some times!
Professionally blogging on other people’s blogs is a tough thing to do, and requires a skill-set I am not sure I have. For blogging to be at it’s best, it HAS to be un-resrticted and un-censored in my opinion. Something to bare in mind if you are planning on hiring content writers for your blog.
Rant over.
A Blog Worth Checking Out
Sep 22nd
It’s the second refferal of a great blog in a day. Don’t worry, normal service will be restored very shortly, but I just thought I’d draw your attention to a blog that a friend of mine has built and developed. His content isn’t that Internet marketing focussed. In fact, it is an incredibly thought-provoking, intelligent and personal blog and it is written by a co-worker of mine.
His name is Edward Rush and here is his site: EdwardRush.Com
Give his blog a gander, leave a comment and say hello to him! He hardly works on it, but the content is very good.
An Article You Should Check Out
Sep 22nd
I have recently been reading more and more of Steve Pavlina’s stuff. It has never really been my thing before. I like logic and certainties. His theories etc can some times come across a little bit too “wishy-washy” for me. Don’t get me wrong, some of his stuff is very logical and his content is nearly always thought-provoking.
Anyway, I came across a really cool article which I wanted to bring your attention to if you haven’t seen it before. Be warned though, it is a long post. If you think content is the kind of tripe most marketers splash out on videos during their pre-launchers, then prepared for your World to be rocked! 
Jamie Archer’s X Factor Audition and Why It’s Important
Sep 21st
I watched X Factor this weekend with the missus and saw a clip from past week’s show. The audtionee was described as a “natural born entertainer” (understatement) and he was singing one of my all time favorite songs; Kings of Leon Sex On Fire. I had to look this guy up on Youtube. His name is Jamie Archer (Jamie Afro) to his friends and he almost made A Factor watchable. It was one of the greatest things I have seen on television this year! Check it out on the video I have posted below.
You see I hate Xfactor. It’s about over-dramatising people’s stories and backgrounds and laughing at people who are not the sharpest knives in the draw. I generally speaking don’t like this show, but if every performance was as good as Jamie’s I’d be an obsessed viewer and a fan. Ckech out the video below, and then I’ll chat abhout why this is relevant to this website , me and you.
Good wasn’t it?
Literally the hairs stood up on the back of my neck when I watched this guy strutt out and do this. I wish I had been in the room when it happened, it must have been electric.
Anyway. Time to cut to the chase and get to the point of this post. I envy this guy, because although he is 33 (not old by any means in my book) he has spent his life chasing a dream and working hard just to make ends meet so he could keep chasing his dream of being a musician. He worked hard in bars and supermarkets, and then played music at night at some grotty venues where his talent wasn’t appreciated. Life knocked him back, but he kept stepping back up to the plate.
What is more, he didn’t come out full of himself. He was quite humble, but confidently spoken. He presented himself well. If you watch the video again I think you can tell that Simon Cowell is both a massive fan of the song, but it looks like he initially doubts that Jamie can pull it off. Jamie absolutely kills it though. He hits every note and not only that, he excites the entire audience in that room and delivers the best performance of the competition thus far. He had stage presence, energy, enthusiasm and a great voice. He is a genuine talent and he has got the X factor, whether he wins the competition or not.
As a reult of this by the way, I will definately be championing his cause some what on this blog and may even be moved to vote on the show for the first time ever.
Jamie comes across as a guy who has a nice group of friends, an incredible talent and a great work ethic. He really lights that entire stadium up with his perosnality and performance. He is a guy who never subscribed to the rat race way of life and has taken huge risks and made sacrifices to get even just a little closer to where he wants to be. I have massive respect for this guy. I wish I had the courage to do what he has done and to take those giant leaps.
He chose a dream and went for it. And even though he has never made it quite where he wants to be, he has kept trying, working hard and pushing forward and it is starting to pay off for him.
Like I say, I have taken some huge lessons from this guy, and I hope you have too. If not, then I hope at the very least you just enjoyed the music.
A Warning You Need to Read: We’re The Bottom of the Food Chain
Sep 21st
If you’re dabbling in Internet marketing, affiliate marketing, information marketing, offline consulting etc. In fact if you are dabbling in any kind of business model discussed in the Warrior Forum (this includes what I am doing, blogging!) then I have got some bad news for us all. We are the bottom of the food chain. The very bottom. And these are the words of one of the UK’s top PPC and SEO experts that I was talking to the other night.
Check out these two companies:
The above two companies are just two very fine examples of online advertising, marketing, design and consulting at it’s best, and these two companies are both based in London, compete at the very top end of our industry and are responsible for marketing some of the most recognizable brands in the UK and internationally. And there are dozens of companies just like these down in London (a commercial hub of activity Internationally).
In fact, there are literally dozens of these companies in nearly all major cities in the UK doing this kind of stuff, at a much higher level than many of the “guru’s” that are supposedly guiding us in this industry. What is more, there are even some larger companies based in the North East of England who operate a high level as well.
They’ve got online marketing and advertising down to a well rehearsed co-ordinated activity. It is run as a proper business. Most affiliate managers in our industry would not be able to cut it in a junior affiliate manager position on 18k a year if they tried. The software it involves, the reports that are required, the strategies they employ. It’s a huge science.
What is more, a lot of the London companies have got access not only to the best customers, but they also have access to senior figures in the search engines via meetings and organizations such as the UK SEO Council. So now, they’re getting their information from the greatest sources on the planet when it comes to SEO and PPC.
How can small enterprises and entrepreneurs survive with this level of competition?
Well there is always room for small business, but my prediction is this. As online marketing gets a lot more popular (and all the figures indicate that we’re only at the start of this upwards curve) then more money is going to be injected into this industry. More prime domains, search engine spots and keywords are going to be eaten up by the big boys at the top of the food chain. What is more, the more money that surfaces in this industry, the more legislation will be introduced and taxes. The bottom end of Internet marketing is reasonably lawless and unregulated (particularly in the UK but not so much in the USA thanks to the FTC). This won’t last forever. Things will get harder, and soon all the crummy one-page websites selling ebooks with fake testimonials are going to drop like flies (and this is no bad thing).
If you are selling your ebook online, you are NOT doing Internet marketing, no matter which half-whit self-proclaimed guru tells you. You are digitally self-publishing, you are in the business of publishing. You use Internet marketing as one means of selling that product. But the chances are, if you have been getting information from the wrong places, then you are not doing it well, or maybe even right. And if you chose to remain small-minded and ignorant of the big boys out there, and the competition you are going to get eaten alive.
Think and dream big. Make sure the sources of information you rely on are credible and stand up to scrutiny. Aspire to be something more and you will move your business forward, and you may just have an undertaking on your hands that may compete with the big guns in London.
Just remember though, we’re at the bottom of the food chain and the fairy tale won’t last forever.
Duplicate Content: Google Explains
Sep 19th
This video has one of Google’s brain boxes explain what is going on with duplicate content.
The 1st Audio – A Big Thank You
Sep 18th
I just wanted this post to say I have been really amazed at the feedback and comments I got back on my very first audio on the blog. Truth be told, I really, really, really did not want to do it. If you come off as a complete jackass, then that stuff is out there on the “ether of the Internet” for years, maybe even forever, and thats a terrifying thought.
Over the last 12 months I have recorded no less than 4 “first audios/podcasts” for this website and projects like it, but never once did I use, launch or utilize any of them. I simply dragged and dropped them into my trash can on my Mac (they make it so easy to delete stuff on Macs).
I didn’t know what to expect in terms of response to this first audio, and I have noticed a traffic spike in recent days. My back-links have shot up as well to around 3000 in total from all the search engines. Which is very weird, because I don’t remember doing that much work! Maybe the arrival of the audio and the increase in interest, traffic and back-links is all just a well timed coincidence, or maybe it is not. I really don’t know. On thing I am sure of, is the response has been really good and I am very pleased with the results.
I want to thank those who have emailed me, who have skyped me, or left comments on this blog with feedback or words of encouragement. Two things were said quite often by people who both knew me, and didn’t know me. These were:
1. You can really tell some of this stuff really p***es you off. You can hear you have had experience with this.
2. There is a lot of useful information that I hadn’t considered in the audio.
Both of the above statements mean a lot to me, and have provoked me into writing my second audio. I have started scripting/structuring it and I am just trying to work out an optimum time to record it, produce it and upload it. I think two a week is over-kill (although I talk so much I could more than likely do two a week). I think I might keep it to once a week or a couple of times every month. But before I waffle on too much, I’d like to respond to the above two comments:
1. People made note of the fact that they could hear some emotion in what I was saying, and perhaps more than that; some conviction. I really have had a lot of experience with this, I really do want to help and I think so many people do this kind of thing wrong, that if some one were to get it right, I am pretty sure they would make a killing! The thing is, I am an honest guy, I am pretty straight up with everyone that I know and I think my emotions or thoughts are very easily read because I am so outspoken. If some frustration or emotion came across, then I am glad, because I give a dam and it was meant to.
2. A lot of people seemed to appreciate the information, which validated the fact that I may have something to offer in terms of advice for people in this market place, which was a big revelation and big honor for me. Thank you for those that left that feedback.
The second audio is under way, and I am going to try and look at why I am getting this traffic, and see if I can keep it and grow it!
Oh but it’s not all good news. From starting my email list this week, I have but 4 subscribers! Made me chuckle a bit, although I have been super lazy with pushing that thing or the content. It’s really just designed to be a way of updating anyone who is interested on the content of this site. 4 subscribers doesn’t seem a lot, but those 4 are MY subscribers, and I am VERY grateful for them!
To your succes.
1st Podcast/Audio: How to Get Super Affiliates to Promote Your Product
Sep 15th
Okay. I am a little nervous, as I haven’t really done this before, and hate listening to this audio back, because I sound like such a douche in it. (It’s embarrassing!)
Anyway, I have put together this audio, and have drawn on my experience as a JV and affiliate manager for a huge super affiliate. I am going to give you an insight as to what super affiliates and their affiliate managers think to all these Information marketer newcomer’s JV requests. I also give you strategies, tips techniques and tactics to use when contacting super affiliates to almost guarantee them promoting your product! if you follow the advice in this audio, you won’t go far wrong!
Anyway, I sound like a total douche in the audio, and I am sorry for that, hopefully the content makes up for it! Please leave me a comment and give me some feedback! You can listen to or download the audio below (no need to opt-in or anything stupid).
**MASSIVE DISCLAIMER**- I was drinking a beer during recording this to help “lubricate” my thought process. Any nonsense or waffling can therefore be attributed to a surplus of thought lubrication 
150 + Online Web Resources
Sep 15th
Hi team.
Just a quick one. I put together what I am calling a “Resource Report” a short time ago. It’s just a list of 150 free resources to help people build and promote their websites. There isn’t a single affiliate link in there, so I am making zero money from it. I just thought it might be a useful resource for a lot of webmasters/bloggers out there, so I thought I’d make it available here.
And no, there is no need to sign up to my newsletter to get it either. Just hit this link and it will start downloading: Download The Resource Report
It’s a pdf in a zip file. You might need some software like winzip to unzip it and get the good stuff, but it’s all fairly straight forward. If you find it useful, hit me up on email or leave a comment letting me know if it held any value for you. If not, no worries
