Question of the week:
What is your favourite kind of Sunday Update content?
For reference, here’s a link to a list of previous Sunday Updates.
Cheers,
Please leave a comment below.
Note that I don’t reply to all comments, but I do read them all. If I don’t reply to your comment, it most likely means that I agree with what you say and don’t have anything meaningful to add, myself. I appreciate and read all comments and your comments play an important part in what I write about, so keep them coming.
Spammy comments are always filtered or removed. No surprise there.
Note that I don’t reply to all comments, but I do read them all. If I don’t reply to your comment, it most likely means that I agree with what you say and don’t have anything meaningful to add, myself. I appreciate and read all comments and your comments play an important part in what I write about, so keep them coming.
Spammy comments are always filtered or removed. No surprise there.
how do we get google to index our web or article submissions and how can we check that they have been index.
rudy
You’ll be glad to hear that I’m currently testing a mass-indexation service and probably going to be testing a second one after that, as well. So look forward to a review with more info on just this topic. :)
How about more about customer service and how to look after people once they sign up for updates.
So dealing with people, their questions, emails, and how to deal with people within updates etc that may be seen by people who are just starting right through to people who have gained much experience?
Many people write to marketers by email or other methods and get maybe one reply, and when the new customer writes back – the issue commonly is – no reply from the marketers – they have answered once and then ‘dropped’ the customer replies, like they can’t be bothered, which is a surefire way to lose people
So probably setting aside time for the personal touch and dealing with people’s queries..!
Hi Steve,
Thanks for the suggestion! It got me thinking about how I have handled this in my businesses (current and previous) and I have to say that what I’ve been doing so far isn’t optimal. Something I need to work on. And once I’ve found a beter system, I’ll be sure to let you know about it. :)
How to get Tons of FREE traffic
Thanks for the suggestion!
I can definitely do some content on this topic. (Hint: Getting tons of free traffic generally involves a lot of work – just sayin’)
Here’s a thought … tons of work = NOT FREE! Time is $$
Let me rephrase, then: Free traffic doesn’t exist.
You can win the traffic lottery and have something go viral (short-lived), but beyond that, it’s gonna cost you either time or money.
Hi Shane,
I have to say I really like your approach in how you present information.
With that said, I would like to hear your tactics, strategies etc on how you run your business. For example, I’m having trouble getting Google to index many of my very important pages on my website. Bing has indexed almost all of them, but Google and Yahoo don’t seem to be interested.
Maybe you can send out a survey to your list and ask them what they would like to hear from you that week. This way you get fresh ideas for topics to cover.
I’m new to your list so I’m not familiar with your other Sunday Videos.
Tim
Hi Tim,
That’s an interesting topic. It’s some “serious” on-page SEO that we’d have to look into.
What I can tell you right away is that for this kind of info, the best source around is SEOmoz.
Hi Shane,
I have quite a bit of respect for you and your products, as you are quite genuine and the products are first class, so I look forward to your Sunday chats.
I personally feel there is nothing wrong with your current set-up, they are often informative and insightfull.
For me personally I like to hear other marketers thoughts and observations of market conditions, what they find works, what doesnt for them and also any tools that they use. I would also like to hear about any markets or techniques that you think would be on the up and up, or something that you think should be avoided, or just general ramblings about your business.
You see I think you are very wrong in your video, I personally believe the majority of your subscribers DO want to hear about you and your buisness, they after all are on your list as they want to emulate your success, so in actual fact talking about what you do and why, what you might do in the future etc is more than useful, because anyone with any sense knows that no matter how successful they are in their own right they can always learn from someone else.
At the end of the day you will never be able to cater for everyones needs or wants, but if you continue to put out quality, helpful information then you will certainly help someones direction or business and that is really what its all about.
Chris.
PS – lovin’ secockpit :)
Hi Chris,
Thanks for your input!
Some very good points in there. It’s also good to know that there is real use and value in me just talking about my own business, even if it does seem a little vain (to me) at times. :)
I have to agree wholeheartedly with Chris. It might be the rule to talk about the customer and benefits on a sales page. But people generally go to blogs to learn about the person blogging and his ideas. I like the stuff about your own strategies and approaches the best. So I think your present approach is fine.
The best way to succeed is to model someone who is successful and whose approach you like. A lot of marketers are successful but I wouldn’t want to model them.
High quality, reliable, inexpensive outsourcing of all kinds for backlinks and content with good customer service.
Yes please! Where do I sign up? :P
Seriously, though: Building an SEO team and maybe offering a service as well is one of my 2011 goals. Currently being pushed back by a bunch of other 2011 goals…
I second Alexander’s vote! With one caveat … affordable :)
Hey Shane,
I think your right! You shouldn’t always be talking about yourself. :)
Maybe you can just let us know what you see that is “news” in the online world for the week whether it’s Google changing there algo again or that QR codes are becoming popular amongst businesses reaching the new technology in mobile, and how it effects us and how we can apply it in our business and your take on it!
Your due diligence is ALWAYS APPRECIATED (no apologies for CAPS).
Great job as always Shane,
Kal
Thanks for the suggestion, Kal!
I’m pretty slow and un-trendy, so I might not be the best candidate for news-style updates. Still, I think that is something I could keep an eye on and comment, when the chance arises.
Hello Shane,
I would like to hear your opinion on a major IM news story each week such as the latest Google Farmer update using their latest algorithm.
Also, most IM appears to revolve around creating blogs these days as they are easy to use and can be interactive or static. Although I like blogging, I also like using XSitePro to create traditional websites quickly. Maybe have a discussion on Blogs versus Websites.
Thanks for the suggestion, Paul!
I’m a WP junky, so I probably don’t have much to contribute on the Blogs vs Websites topic. Except that I could talk about how I use WP for non-blog sites.
Hi Shane
I have join up with your affiliate programme and get reports every day about how my sales are progressing, however since I do not know how to promote your products as an affiliate the results are consistantly £0.00.
I like having these reports telling me that I have earned £0.00 because it is a constant reminder that I should do something to change this position, but I do not know what to do to change things i.e. how to promote your products etc, you know step by step method. I think I do know how, since I have build a website for my business and did keyword research etc for which I am organic position #1 in google for most of my keywords.
So like your question this answer also a bit long winded, sorry.
Please talk about how to become a successful afiliate in general terms say with a case study, with do’s and don’ts.
Thanks for the suggestion!
I think this is a good topic for a blog post or update video. :)
Hi Shane,
I would love to hear how to seo and traffic generation and tricks on how to get on the top 10 list on Google.
Thanks
Tim
Thanks for the suggestion, Tim!
Yeah…..Trustworthy out-sourcers………..forget about everybody else (except Alexander)
What with all the stuff you bring out that we buy and use all our time to study and study and apply again and again we (I) have no time to work on adding content to our (my) hundreds of websites, back linking, front linking and any other linking we (I) need someone to do the repetitive stuff.
Let me know their email address in next Sunday’s video.
Thanks
Peter
(;-)
Yeah, no pressure there, eh? :D
I agree, though. And I actually might be able to hook you up with some outsourcing related stuff very soon.
As for the picture (question below): your e-mail address needs to be associated with the image via Gravatar.
Ooooh…I forgot….why isn’t my photo in that little box
Peter
My vote would be for the “idea with a how-to”.
Thanks, Jim!
Hi Shane,
This probably won’t be the most helpful comment, because this is actually my first Sunday update. I’m a relatively new customer of your (BBattleplan), and have started taking some action (though I can, and will do better).
Actually, here’s a question (and sorry if you covered it last Sunday–again, this is my first Sunday update): what’s your take on this Google Farmer Update that took place around the 24th or 25th?
Actually Shane, never mind: I see that you addressed my question in a previous blog post.
No harm in asking. :)
For anyone else interested, the blog post in question is here: http://activegrowth.com/google-slaps-again/
hi Shane,
just keep up with what you’re doing. I like hearing of the different tasks you are undertaking and your goal setting!
I also like how upbeat you are. You had over a hundred videos deleted from youtube, yet you did not complain but just found a different way to handle it. Another well-known marketer had 5 videos total on youtube and had them deleted. you would think somebody cut off his arm the way he whined and complained.
I personally like to hear what you are doing. I have enough other marketers that talk about “Me” on and on that are totally useless.
Thanks, Tom!
Good to know that the “just talking about my business” type of video is welcome. :)
Any one of the following
(1) a Sunday Rant
(2) a Sunday ramble
(3) chit chat about current i.m. news
in other words pretty much what you do already.
If it ain’t broke don’t fix it!
;-)
alex
Thanks, Alex!
Hi Shane,
I’ve listed a few subjects below that you could talk about:
1) Recommend a good quality, low price outsourcer (Article writing & Backlinking)?
2) What WP Plug-ins do you recommend for websites, especially for security (Malware, Hackers, etc)?
3) A free tool to find where my webpage(s) are index in Google?
Well, that should be a good starting point?
Also I wanted to say, that I always enjoy hearing about your business, especially if you have a new technique/product that you have implemented and it could be useful to other IM’s?
Thanks for all your help!
Best,
Clifton
Thanks for your input, Clifton!
A good free indexation checker would be a nice thing to find! And something about WP security would also make for a great post. :)
Hi Shane
I like the ‘ramble on’ ‘chit chat’ type of thing.
Keep us posted with what you are doing, new things you are testing and whats coming up.
Anything related to getting traffic will always get my ear.
Rich
Thanks, Rich!
Some traffic experiments and case-studies are in order, I think. Haven’t really done any innovative traffic-grabbing in a while. :)
Hi Shane
I bought Backlink Battleplan and think it is an excellent product – and I like your transparent approach.
But you have one big problem – you are entirely focussed on the IM market and there are millions of business owners like me that do not give a rats ass about IM because we are busy selling real products and services – but we need to have all the same techniques at our finger tips.
So what your Sunday updates need to have is more emphasis on every kind of real business that depends just as much on the Internet as IM does.
For instance you could interview owners of these businesses on short telephone discussions etc
And what about the AR sequence that you need when selling real products and services – this is a whole niche in itself that many small business owners would be really interested in
I sense that you know that Your Sunday updates are going to become tedious unless you do something different – well get away from the focus on IM and the illusion that you can make real money on line by dabbling in it.
Regards
Will Witt
Hello Will,
Thanks for your input!
I think that’s a very valid point. Do keep in mind though, that I used to run a small offline business selling computers and computer hardware and then ran a larger online store selling specialized hardware for two years. And before that, I did some coaching and training, also entirely offline.
What I want to say is: I’m not completely trapped in the IM niche, even though that’s where my focus is right now.
Having said that: I think interviews with non-IM marketers and business owners could be absolutely brilliant! I’ll see if I can get a hold of some people like that. :)
Hey Shane,
The vast majority of people I would imagine are either doing their own off page seo, and or maybe moving towards or have dipped their toe in outsourcing it. Yeah building backlinks is real fun.
BB is the best there is around, and to put it simply…Everybody should use it. Although i’m not into the best new shiny object, i’m always interested in what’s currently working best and/or new stuff/software/services that looks promising.
Outsourcing can be, and always sounds like the ideal solution. Problem for me is usually either, cost or reliability, or a mixture of both.
Most that I have tried so far have been as useful as a chocolate fireguard.
So by now you probably realise that Ï’m really interested in the best methods, software and services to help me manage my off page seo, and anything newsworthy about seo etc.
Now I could have written that 1 paragraph above and stopped there, but I wanted to make you feel better about making a very long video to ask one question lol.
I lool forward to and really enjoy the Sunday videos Shane. Although I do wonder if you didn’t do them maybe we would get BB War Plan quicker?
Keep up the good work, see you next week.
Hugh.
Thanks, Hugh.
I’m still hunting for the best SEO solution. The lack of a BBP follow-up is mainly due to the fact that I’m not entirely happy with my current approach yet and I want to keep refining it.
There has definitely been a lack of SEO related stuff, lately. Particularly in the form of reviews. Gotta get back on that. :)
You have such a natural, on-camera presence that I enjoy whatever topic you’re talking about.
For me, I’d like to learn more about reliable outsourcing.
Now, I don’t know how comfortable you would be with this, but since you visit me every Sunday morning, and I consider you somewhat of a “friend”, I would love to learn a little more about you, personally. Since you live in Switzerland, maybe you could tell us about what you do for fun there. I’m sure you’re not always sitting in front of your computer.
Thanks, Olivia!
I currently don’t have much of a private life, to be honest, because I’ve been focusing on my business like crazy…
“What is my favourite kind of Sunday Update content?”
The kind where you don’t send one! (ha, just kidding, of course!)
Honestly, I’d like to know what percentages of my time should be devoted to what tasks for best results, ie.. 20% to backlinging, %30 to mail list management, etc..
Thanks for the suggestion! That would be a question of the ROI each of these activities have for your business. But then, how do you find out about the ROI…? Could be an interesting topic.
Hi Shane!
SEO tips and tricks would do it for me.
Yoav
Thanks for your input, Yoav!
Shane – you did a survey and found that a good portion of people on your list were not making money from their online business on a regular basis. You said that you wanted to help with that so you could sell us better products onece we had more success. It seems to me that particular idea had been forgotten. My biggest problem is how to make money on a consistent basis with everything changing all the time. What you said in this week’s video about the majority of people selling internet marketing products is bs, I totally agree and I stopped buying products except for the few I have purchased from you. But I still don’t have something that I can rinse and repeat and make money. That is my biggest frustration.
Hi Sam,
That, the elusive “$1000 Project” has not been forgotten at all. My goal is still to provide you with the means to make more money or start making substantial amounts of money, if you’re not doing so yet.
The biggest problem for me is that I haven’t been able to find anything where I can say: “Do these simple steps and make money.”
I tend to always go into great detail and something that starts out as a simple plan for making money, soon becomes a huge and complex strategy. Valuable? Yes. But also so big and complex that I doubt even 10% would follow through on it.
I don’t know what the solution is, yet. Maybe it’s a question of finding something that is truly simple and “fail-proof” or maybe it’s a question of teaching things in such a way that makes people follow through, against all odds.
I think following through is the biggest issue anyway. I bet everyone here knows more than one way to make money. Like: pick a product, find a good keyword, build a simple site with some content, build links until you get traffic. Rinse, repeat. It works, but the tough part is actually doing it consistently enough to see good results…
I agree that consistency is the main problem. I have been adding articles to BMR on a daily basis for 3 weeks and have seen one of my sites move up very well. I guess what is discouraging is that the rules change all the time. Google changes an algo and all the work if for nothing. I am trying to get something that is Google proof, although that might not exist.
Though I left a few votes to comments above, I like it when there is at least a segment that is structured as a “how to do or approach something” …
Some ideas … how to realistically build a list in competitive niches like IM :)
how to affiliatize (is that a word …LOL) your KW Research course (or perhaps I missed something) plus the lead-in videos for BLBP …
etc.
Just my two cents worth :)
Thanks for your input!
The affiliate stuff is still pending. I honestly haven’t been able to get much done on that front, due to all the other stuff I’ve been doing. But it’s a good reminder and I really gotta get to that. :)
Shane, your weekly update is the only one of it’s kind that I ‘tune into’ every week. You almost always have something which strikes a chord or sets me thinking about the way I am doing things. (Focus and productivity had been big issues for me, I feel I have now improved but there is a long way to go!).
I am really focusing on the adsense sites at the moment and I haven’t received an adsense update for some time? So maybe there could be a bit of an update on this aspect?
Hi Alison, thanks for your suggestion!
Hi Shane;
Couple of ideas. Sunday Update should be a quick kick-in-the-keister to take action.
1) Very brief summary of YOUR summary perspective on IM news and new products of the week (sort of a Cliff’s Notes to help us save time figuring out what to make of what has happened…after all – YOU are the SEO expert);
2) Brief advice on your Top 3 Steps to take (say in 1-2 hours or less) to implement an A) Automated backlink-building process; B) Semi-automated backlink-building process; C) Improve the quality of backlinks; D) Outsourcing part of our process; E) Adding a new (and effective) tool to our battery of SEO weaponry.
3) Finally take a snapshot editorial view of YOUR current opinion on something promoted or discussed on http://backlinksforum.com/(for example):
A) Backlink Energizer
B) Nuclear Link Indexer
C) SEO Link Robot
D) Pingfarm
E) Backlink Booster
etc.
AND – (Assuming we are at least making some attempt to avoid Black Hat tactics and add predominantly positive information and articles to the Internet) In the ongoing problem of dealing with Google. Be sure to tell us – What to watch out for in using a specific tool to increase our SEO productivity. (e.g. How to utilize proxies and other methods to minimize risks of the “Sandbox”)
It seems it is increasingly difficult to acquire actual High PR sites to build our own private networks with, what are other options?
I appreciate all the good work you do (and have done) for us. Hope this helps you remind us of all the great reviews you have on the site and give you a forum to update those full-on reviews to free us to Take Action Now.
Thanks,
Dan
Thanks for your suggestions, Dan!
Wow, that’s quite some material and I’ll definitely refer to this for future updates and blog posts. :)
Hey Shane
I actually like it when you talk about yourself, it’s great to be able to get an insight of another marketer’s business and what is and isn’t working for them
Ruchi
Thanks, Ruchi!
My favorite meetings are the one’s that end with a ( Tip or Insight ).
Andy Rooney was really good at this. He would in closing his T.V. time clips leave the listener with a tip or insight to something of interest.
Regards
Stanley
Sounds like a good way to add a bit of usefulness to each update. Thanks for the suggestion!
Shane,
I open every sunday update and can usually get something from it all.
I really liked your review of the ‘next shiny object’ so, in your copious free time you might give us your professional opinion of one or two now and again.
Other than that the other comments above have done an excellent job of identifying needs.
Thanks,
Clarence
Thanks for your input, Clarence!
I thoroughly enjoy your sunday updates. i always look forward to them and i like that you always ask a question each week. i think that’s a very smart business approach.
in all honesty though, i really miss your friday Step Podcasts the most. I really liked the laid back approach you took and it was like i was there with you guys talking about the week and unwinding while still discussing work topics and making a joke or two along the way.
it was especially refreshing because as an IM guy, it seems that all i do is work on this or that part of the business so taking a half hour to make fun of ourselves (and everyone else) was healthy. i felt human again and totally recharged after those broadcasts.
obviously things have changed as the step program has been dormant for a while now. if you could though, a lighter end to the week would be great.
Hi Matt, thanks for your reply!
It’s good to hear that the STEP podcast is missed by some. We enjoyed doing it as well. It’s mainly due to time constraints that we haven’t updated in a while. Hopefully, we can bring it back sometime soon.
Hi Shane,
I really look forward to your Sunday chats; it’s like sitting down with a friend over coffee and discussing online business generally. You know, those types of chats where we attempt to solve the problems of the (online) world. I enjoy hearing your observations and opinions, your failures and successes. Your Sunday updates are truly unique and much appreciated.
As for addressing “topics” like traffic building, SEO, customer service, outsourcing, building subscription lists, and so on, such are best left to blog posts that can be archived and studied. As soon as you focus on a specific topic, you’ve lost those viewers who’s immediate focuss is not on that topic. Blog by all means, but please continue to meet with us for a friendly Sunday chat.
Wishing you much success,
Don
Hi Don,
That’s a good point. Some topics really are better suited for “regular” blog posts and I will of course, continue to create those as well. :)
Hi Shane.
The Sunday updates I enjoy the best are the ones where you talk about your experience with a product, service or strategy.
It’s always great to hear someone else’s personal experience.
Cheers
Peter
Thanks for your input, Peter!
Shane someone already stole my line, but here it is…”If it ain’t broke don’t try and fix it”
But, as you can see from the comments you opened a can of worms.
I don’t know what your schedule is and if you get your Sunday update done on a Tuesday or maybe Friday, but knowing you (perfectionism) it’s probably done way before Sunday.
So if you are actually FREE on Sunday…you could have a live Q&A webinar on Sundays. Clearly from all the comments I’ve read there would be varied topics to discuss. As a matter of fact several comments cold have a How To Video on it’s own in a “Customer Request” Video Section on your Blog. However having a live Sunday Q&A Webinar would probably prove not economically feasible and a lot of folks not getting their questions answered because of time restraints.
Another option would be to have people Submit their questions to you by maybe Wednesday and your “Sunday Update+Q&A” would answer maybe a limit of 20 questions. If you had 40 questions submitted the remaining 20 would roll over to next Sunday.
By having a midweek deadline of submitting questions it would give you time to produce the video and to NOT get caught off guard with a question you can’t answer like a live webinar could.
By going this route you would never be at a loss of things to talk about AND you would be fulfilling the needs of your customers. You could start the video and talk about what you are doing (like you do now) for the first 5 or 10 minutes and then get into the Q&A portion.
I personally like to hear you talk about yourself and prefer NOT to think of you as a Marketer and us the Marketees. That is the relationship you have established AND probably the reason so many of us like and Buy from you. It’s just your personality “Live With It” lol.
And you thought you were already busy lol. But, you asked and that is my take on it.
Hey Stephen, thanks for that suggestion!
I really like the idea. I don’t know if it’s something I could keep up on a weekly basis, but having some sort of open Q&A at least occasionally could be really awesome, I think.
Hi Shane,
Since we’re on the topic of providing you stuff to do (even if it doesn’t necessarily fall within the every Sunday update framework) …
How about a review of Matt Carter’s new course Rapid Profits Formula (I think) which is on mini-sites … With the recent Google change, will this impact mini-sites and this type of system?
Best,
Jim
Hey Shane,
Talking about you is just fine by me!
You don’t really know me well enough to talk much about me after all. :-)
And as for “marketing rules”, I’m a perpetrator of the old expression
“rules are made to be broken”. (Let’s not mention that most marketers and their advice suck/s.)
Just be yourself,
That’s why I watch your videos.
Wayne.
P.S. I do enjoy your product reviews if they are relevant to my business (to be.)
Thanks, Wayne!
I just like what you’ve been doing so far. It’s random and I always watch it because of that. Tips tricks news, what you have learned in the week, what’s coming, what to look out for etc etc.
I like your rants :) I usually am of the same opinion lol!
Length is perfect
Keep doing what you’re doing IMHO
Lynne :)
Thanks for your input, Lynne! :)
Everyone is trying to be like you, so anything you learn through the week that helps you in IM helps every1 else.
They are great because of the law of reciprocation. Maybe do the updates at unpredictable times, I think it would add value to it.
That’s a good point. I was hoping that insights into how I run my business would be useful like that. Just wasn’t sure whether it was actually working.
G’day Shane
All your content is valuable.
I am just about ready to start looking at outsourcing my back linking programs including article submission back linking, so I would support a few of the other comments in this regard. Look forward to your views on this when you get around to it.
Peter
Hey Shane,
How about having a ‘guest video’ spot on your site once a month? maybe someone here may like to contribute their ideas and thoughts along the lines of your current subjects?
This site keeps getting better and better. Really loved the Screencast Blueprint too. Another quality product as always.
keep converting,
Graham
Hi Shane
I lik the way you do things now. Your keyword product secockpit is first class..I put the site up about 4 weeks ago for real and started to use sec to find keywords for this site which is for a comedian…but a comedian with a difference in that he uses stream of consciousness to get the comedy out and i film and edit it.
I picked the prime words and threw in som mis spells of you tube for our yourtube page . after a week i noticed in your video for sec that you had to register with google. Thats how new i am to this.
anyway long story short we are now at number 4 in google 1 in yahoo and 2 in bing for bury bob against 370000 searches. Not bad I think. I am now using a nother product by some young american guys to get the articles out there its call freemoneyauto and cuts down the registration process and upload time. So thats my next goal to get a lot of articles out there about Bob and see what effect i t has on my traffic now that i know people can find us.
Sokeep up the good work you are doing fine…i like your fireside chats and the total lack of bullshit.Ian Jameson http://www.burybob.com