February 2008

(photo credit http://www.flickr.com/photos/luzbonita/ )

A few days ago I made a post about having had content lifted right from this site, copied word for word…and subsequently submitted as a press release to a PR directory to promote an affiliate product related to my article ( in this case a craigslist autoposting program of some sort) 

Here is the post:

A few days later - this press release…on the directory where it briefly lived ( they pulled it off  after I dropped them a note ) ranks #1 and #2 for the phrase - " craigslist ghosting" as can be seen here:

( note - as I'm writing this on Feb 12th, 2008 - I'm sure - as they have removed the release at my request - once their directory has been updated by the Google arachnids - they will lose these spots post haste, but for those of you reading this in relative real time…you'll see these results are live as I type this)

But the key take away is simply this:  The law of unintended consequences dicatates that Che ( our press release thief above) has reminded me, and hopefully taught everyone else reading this an important lesson - it's not he (or she) who has the best content, the brightest mind, or most earnest effort who sees the greatest results.  My article on ghosting (the original source) is 5 or 6 rungs down in the results. 

His lifted release submission ( on the free directory, which obviously has some page trust - similar to submitting to an article directory) occupies the first TWO spots -and has achieved that prize in VERY short order. 

Che's hustle kicked my ass.  It might not have been a nice thing to do - but it is the reality in which we presently operate.  The spoils…for better or for worse, go to those who are willing to go the extra mile.  And I don't mean stealing - I mean, being resourceful.  He could have accomplished the very same benefit having just reworded my article legitimately and submitted it modified as such - and hopefully he ( and you) ARE doing exactly that.  ( just not with my stuff..:-)

And trust me when I tell you, it's not a piddling thing.  I have been getting 50-100 visitors a day for a few months now on simple derivations of that phrase.  So while I can't speak for the analytics emanating from the above on the free-press -release directory url above…I'm sure they are getting lots of new eyeballs as a consequence of having this article on their site.

Simply stated - if you are broke as a joke, stuck like chuck and can't seem to figure out the first simple step to making some bucks online - just follow in the ignominious but fast footsteps of our friend Che - grab a good affiliate offer, re-write some content you find elsewhere - sign up for some free press release directory accounts - and start submitting.  It works - and as illustrated above, does it in fairly short order.

There are lots of free directories ( paid PR web submissions are the best..but they ain't free..:-) that will take your submissions, get crawled, ranked and kick back some cash to you for the effort on the affiliate side of the street in a few short days - and quicker than the peanut gallery at a Barak Obama ralley can say - "YES WE CAN" - you can be making your bones as a press release maven in very short order. 

(photo credit http://www.flickr.com/photos/birdeye/)

Ok - this has nothing to do with Internet Marketing, making more money, copywriting,or just about any of the other small minded matters I try to tackle on here as often as possible.  So if a little bit of scary social commentary is not up your alley - simply skip watching the video below.  But if you want to take a closer look at the real power of persuasion and how social memes spread nefariously through small groups in cataclysmic ways ( and of course - you can draw any number of your own analogies as to how these very same sorts of mindsets are at work in our lives, business practices and the fishbowl economies that so many of us play in online) take a VERY close look at the last 2 minutes of this video.  The whole thing is worthwhile - but if you truly want to feel the immense power of social conditioning run amok - ( and of course the whole nature/nurture argument of belief) taking a hard, close uncomfortable gaze into the eyes at the end of this thing, is well - very sad stuff.  

(Photo Credit:  Stuck in Customs )

I found this article very interesting….Especially in light of the numerous references we have made here in regard to adsense and other contextual advertising methods being degraded as an ongoing income stream in my own business.  I still recommend OIO publisher as a great vehicle for taking back control of your own advertising revenue, for 37 bucks you get quite possibly the most robust ad managment plugin available for Wordpress.  Obviously OpenAds.org is another great choice….and is free to boot.  Regardless - if you are publishing multiple sites across a variety of niches and expect Adsense revenue to keep the merry go round rolling unabated, I would think again.  Check out what I feel is a very worthwhile read at the link below. [click to continue…]

A great series of informative posts on maximizing your Stumbleupon experience.  Being a somewhat jaded and reluctant adopter of sites like SU and mostly using it to add value to several recent clients we thought would benefit from the exposure - I have come to the unfortunate realization that I know NOTHING about how stumbleupon REALLY works behind the scenes. 

I added Rob this morning as a friend - and he was gracious enough to write back with a few suggestions on making the most out of the network.  ( to be honest, and sorry Rob - I didn't really pay too close attention..:-)  But fast forward 16 hours, and as I'm trying to get up to speed on some best practices to leverage SU in the most efficient manner..low and behold, I am finding that Rob has written a veritable avalanche of informative, entertaining and illuminating articles on exactly that. 

So - before you spend a dime on one of these web 2.0 Social networking coaching networks ( of which I just joined and am running several affiliate banners for to your immediate right..:-) skip it - save the cash, and check out some of the great info you can find for free - if you have some free time ( or are a ferocious insomnia sufferer like myself ). 

Kudos to Rob - and check out his great post(s) below: StumbleUpon Series Part 9 - Submitting An Article Like A Pro And Not Like A Newbie | How To Rule The World

Tags: stumbleupon, web 2.0 traffic strategies

(Photo Credit http://www.flickr.com/photos/old_sarge/)