Links
- The blog post that we’re on about, in the video.
- The podcast episode that we mentioned. (also on iTunes)
- The ever awesome Hybrid Connect.
Question of the Week
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.
Hi Shane & Paul.
Hmmm, WSO….hmmmm.
I can see the dilemma you’re in.
However, it would make an interesting case study to see what reaction you get.
My guess is that without JVs, your sales page won’t be hyped up enough to attract the usual WSO buyers.
Good luck with your decision.
Cheers
Peter
Yeah, I also suspect that without the WF JV circle involved, nothing much will happen.
To be honest, I am so tired of seeing the letters ‘WSO’, in/on almost every email I receive! They have become such a ‘turn-off’ for me!
Yeah, same here…
What? No bloopers at the end of the video? ;)
If you use the Warrior Forum, you will definitely have to send your list to the WSO to boost the traffic. I’ve noticed that a large number of views early (showing on thread stats) helps perpetuate the clickthroughs from the people browsing.
I’m not sure if this is possible, but I’d like to see a case study where you did 2 WSOs as a split test of sorts to maybe reveal the problems you have with WSOs (in action) and what you need to do in order to make them successful.
But, I guess that would almost be deliberately making one not do as well, and that’s not a great idea for your business. ;)
Either way, I’d like to see you do the WSO and get your take on it’s results. It also seems to bring out entertaining comments (and sarcasm) from you, which I enjoy. lol
Cheers
Jay
Very well said, couldn´t agree no more!
Thanks, Jay! Glad you enjoy the sarcasm. :)
Still in two minds about the whole WSO thing. I’d like to test it, but I also don’t really want to be associated with all that…
‘Worthless S*** Opportunity’ emails arrive in a blizzrd each day. They are the email equivelent of banner blindness. I much prefer the letters from that nice man in Nigeria who want to deposit $20M into my bank account as a preference to them.
If you want to cling onto the last remaining straws of credibility avoid them like the plague that they are.
Hi, although I am a member of the warrior forum I have been involved long enough to say that NO. I would not launch a product that I wished to be taken seriously as a WSO. Certainly there is a lot of traffic passing through and the case study idea holds merit BUT if it were a product I wanted to raise my status with that is not the route I would wish to take. Just my tuppence worth. Jim
I see what you’re saying. That’s my concern as well, that doing a WSO is almost like a taint on my record…
There are a handful of valuable WSO’s, so I don’t see the problem here. Just because 98% of them are complete wastes of money doesn’t mean that all of them are. I’ve outsourced an SEO and a web designer through WSO offers, and their work was amazing. I’m sure an IM Impact WSO would be most likely valuable to anyone lucky enough to stumble upon it.
Also like you said, you might be able to capture a certain percentage of the people who look at the WSO as permanent subscribers. Not everyone who looks at WSO’s is an uncreative, brain-dead idiot looking for the next pipe dream to embark upon. Some people who look at WSO’s really just want to understand the industry, and people who do will like IM Impact.
Yes, good points – those are some of the plus sides of the WSO forum. The question is, is it worth the brand hit that this will inevitably cause. Simply mentioning WSO’s always provokes emotional reactions… Check some of the comments, for example.
Hi Shane, I agree that WSOs suck. I can’t stand IMers who send me to one WSO sales page EVERY DAY. It’s positively annoying!
Your credibility comes from your sincere personality and your case studies (which won me over immediately). I think as long as you try to carry that over to your WSO sales page/sales video, you wouldn’t be playing the Guru game.
I would have been a bit shocked to see you on WSO so thanks for telling us this in advance. So I’m quite glad that you’ve in a way given us a heads up here, that your credibility isn’t tarnished.
Not running a special price for your subscribers for the webinar plugin? :)
About my last sentence. *oh I see that your webinar plugin is already up. I thought that it was newly launching.
Hi Clara, the webinar plugin is actually a standalone piece of software (not a WordPress plugin) and we launched that around 6 weeks ago (at a guess). The webinar product that Shane is talking about is a complete course on how to run profitable webinars, and that’s what will be launched soon and possibly as a WSO.
Hey Paul!
To run a profitable webinar is a big undertaking! Most newbies will fail at this! This is just another product for people to buy and you to cash in on! Sorry I am blunt and truthful! Supply to the main demand of this website. Teach us TRAFFIC & CONVERSION. Also reply to my main post at the bottom.
Yes, I agree it’s a tough skill at first, but if you dedicate a consistent portion of your time to learn the skills then, like anything, you’ll get better and better until the whole thing seems like a piece of cake (we’re putting together a really cool post about this soon, actually).
Regarding newbies. Firstly, If you look around this site and at some of the comments you’ll see that this is not a site for a newbie. For example, have a look here:-
http://activegrowth.com/popular-blogs-and-proof/
Notice how many well informed comments have been made on that post (and pretty much every other post we have on this blog, too). We don’t have your typical IM newbie here – most of them are filtered out when we talk about how you can’t get rich in a few minutes and concepts such as the grind. A decent portion of our subscribers are already running online businesses.
Secondly, this product is a result of a survey we carried out – it was in demand, so we built it.
Thirdly, you talk about webinars like they aren’t an awesome tool to have in your conversion arsenal. If you’re effective at selling on webinars you can achieve ridiculous conversion rates. One webinar that Shane and I ran a couple of years ago sticks in my mind – if my memory serves me correctly we converted over 100 people into a recurring billing product and there were less than 200 people on the call. That conversion rate was insane – I thought the tracking had cocked up it was so high.
It seems to me that the product is not for you, that’s fine – you won’t buy it. I can appreciate your frustration – we’ll do our best to provide great content in those areas that you mentioned – but don’t assume that because this product isn’t a fit for you then it isn’t right for anyone because we mainly base our decisions on data points rather than guesswork.
Not that you care but if you send me to a WSO I’m unsubscribing from your list. I’m so tired of those lame WSO’s that I’ve fallen prey to myself. I’m not sure why you want to again associate yourself with garbage.
We made a podcast where we discussed how basing your business around WSO’s is essentially a race to the bottom because of the price war and how people are conditioned to paying minimal amounts for products regardless of their value.
The podcast caused a bit of a stir! And I’ve had a few chats with people who’ve apparently had great successs using the WSO forum as i) a testing bed for new products and ii) a lead generation exercise. We’re still not sure how effective it is – so we’re going to test it, and most likely report what we learn.
I have seen the work that’s gone into the product in question and the quality of information in it – it’s an epic product and whether we use the Warrior Forum or our own platform doesn’t change that. Therefore, I’m not sure why you’d unsubscribe merely because of the platform.
Sure you’ve been burned before – haven’t we all?! – but it’s like saying that you were once scammed by a company who used Paypal, therefore you’ll never pay with Paypal again. The problem is not with Paypal, the problem is the company that screwed you!
First, I would never use the words “I’ve been burned before” because I consciously made the choices…I could have just as well chosen not to buy the products.
Second, I was just kidding about the unsubscribe but glad to know that you took it seriously. In the end, I realize when people ask questions they ultimately have their minds made up what their going to do anyway so generally my input has little to do with the final decision.
Perhaps it would have been a good idea that you guys speak to someone prior to putting yourself out there like you did about WSOs. Yes, I remember the post and the stir that it caused. It just seems awfully suspicious that you speak out dimly against a platform only a few months later to say you’ll be using it as a lead gen and to test out your new quality product.
Again, I never said I was scammed nor did I say I was burned..those are your words. I take full responsibility for my decisions and I don’t blame anyone in the WSO space and I never will. However, that doesn’t stop me from feeling that most of the stuff I’ve gotten from there is crap.
I know the products you guys come out with will be quality even if I have to go to the garbage can to get it.
Yeah you’re definitely right that it wasn’t optimal to slate WSO’s and then consider putting one out there. The podcast episode was mainly slating the business practice behind WSO’s (ie. not making money off your own products, offering your products for very low prices, burning the crap out the resulting list with further WSO offers) rather than the actual platform itself, though. That’s why we are on the fence about it.
That said, it appears that there is a certain “scamfest” stigma attached to WSO’s that we don’t to be associated with – you only need to just look at some of the reactions here to see that that’s true.
WSO… Many of them might be junk, but so are lots of non-WSO’s. Just have to use your own due diligence. The promotional merry-go-round is annoying but I think it is primarily a lead generation thing. After all Shane I think I found you through the Warrior Forum when you were giving away your Keyword Tutorial videos.
I got my first few subscribers from doing free WSOs, quite some time ago. Proves that there are decent people there, too! :)
Glad you stuck around for so long!
To WSO or not to WSO? That really is the question.
On the one hand, you have had a rant against them previously so I’m not sure if the accusation of hypocrisy is one you want? On the other hand, if that’s where the market for this product lives, then why not?
I’ve had the occasional good product from WSO but wading through the shit to find them can be painful so the term has now become synonymous with poor products, upsells and mailing list hell. If you sell your product with an OTO, I will send a crack team of mercenaries to hunt you down*.
It is a dilemma whether to go for this approach but, I guess, doing it under the guise of a case study will always give you the perfect out.
*not true. ;-)
@ Adrian – The point that I was making. When you dig yourself a hole sometimes its best to stop digging.
There’s actually a spade sale on as a WSO at the moment but get in quick! There’s also an OTO of a pick just in case you want to dig quicker! :-)
WARNING! BEST POST IS HERE! READ BELOW:
SHANE AND PAUL, YOU HAVE LOST TOUCH WITH YOUR LIST ! SUBSCRIBERS, PLEASE READ AND REPLY TO MY IMPORTANT RANT!
What has happened to your website etc… in the last 3-6 months? It’s great all this interaction stuff you are selling and webinars, and yeah, you will sell lots with your big list, but what most of us are struggling with is generating traffic and converting that traffic to sales. Create help on this and I (and many others will be interested) will be very happy. Furthermore, create a product on this with full case studies and I will pay good money for this? What does everybody else think? Shane & Paul you are currently marketing to established websites, but from the comments I see all over this website, 80% of your customers are newbies, they don’t have large mailing lists etc… to think O I’ll set up a webinar ! Oh I have a 10,000 subscribe list I’ll ask them this polling question etc… Is not supplying the demand of your main customers! Lets get TRAFFIC and CONVERSIONS covered, then look at the other important components, but without the basics, most people are screwed! Now, you have some great BASIC content about TRAFFIC and CONVERSIONS etc… But it is so BASIC and is not good enough to get most newbies through the hard times. You need a complete system on this like you did with backlink battle plan. Do this I challenge you?
First of all, the all caps and antics really just make me want to NOT reply to your comments. I very much prefer having a normal conversation. In fact, if we were all sitting around a table, I doubt you’d be behaving like this.
That aside, let me address some of your points.
Yes, traffic is an important topic and so are conversions. And yes, there will be a traffic product. We’ve been working towards that for a long time.
However, it seems that there’s a major misconception going on, here. Traffic is not a separate entity from everything else you’re doing. There’s no magic traffic tap that, when you turn it on, just makes your analytics graphs go wild.
Traffic is people. While a systematic product on how to generate traffic has not yet materialized, I’ve been deconstructing all of the things I’m doing to get traffic and writing about it, these past months.
I’m saying that online video is a massive contributor to my traffic and that if you understand the New Traffic Paradigm and make sure your content is invaluable, you’ll be able to reach a lot more people.
I’m saying that you can’t rely on Google too much anymore, but for the Google traffic you get, you need to follow specific new rules that now (post Panda and Penguin) make the biggest difference to you SEO results. And that, no matter where your traffic comes from, you need to use your analytics the right way, to improve your site and get more of it. And I’m providing tools to help with at least two of the aspects of those new rules (Viral Quiz Builder, Social Essentials).
I’m saying that no matter how much or little traffic you’re getting right now, you must build a mailing list, so that you have a growing asset of recurring traffic for the future. And I’m teaching you (for free) how to create an opt-in incentive, to grow your mailing list and offering you probably the most powerful list building tool ever, along with it (Hybrid Connect).
And you are replying: “no, just teach me how to get traffic!”
Well, that IS how I get traffic. You can’t disconnect traffic from offering value to and interacting with people. I’ve been doing my best to share as much as possible of exactly what I do to get traffic and how to do it.
Concerning conversions, I agree that this is super important. I thought that offering some great content on conversions as well as a live website clinic, where I dissected submitted websites would be very popular, for that reason. Unfortunately, it didn’t resonate with many people. It’s a topic I’ll revisit in the future, though.
Lastly, Paul has already said a few things about webinars.
Let me just add that webinars and email marketing have contributed to the lion share of money I’ve made and traffic I’ve gotten. SECockpit was launched and promoted with almost only webinars and now the site gets tons of traffic, people know and talk about the tool, we have many customers…
You make it sound like webinars are something you can do once you already have traffic and a big list. But in reality, webinars are a great way to GET traffic and GROW a big list. That’s what they’ve done for me and that’s what I teach in my upcoming product.
I’m not saying this to try and convince you to buy it. From your comment, I’d say it’s better if you don’t. I’m just trying to explain that I am indeed teaching the very things that bring traffic to my websites and revenue for my businesses.
Launching on the WF will enlarge your influence and reach so what’s not to like? Whether you do a case study or not it is still worth doing.
Damn the torpedoes Shane, FULL SPEED AHEAD!
:-)
Alex
Alex,
Thing is I am pointing out the obvious TRAFFIC and CONVERSION = sales and profitability! Please point out anyone, on the site, where Shane and Paul fully answer this with complete detail and evidence backing it up? It doesn’t exist! Not fully, that’s for sure, in part yes, but teaching someone to half catch a fish will not catch a fish! Shane & Paul know how to generate massive TRAFFIC & CONVERT, they just haven’t created advanced detailed instructions on how to do this. Once this is achieved more and more success stories on this site will be known.
Success to us ALL!
Ok. Are you ready for the Truth according to Bradley. Of course I have to be the voice of reason here to give perspectives that few people think about.
First, I’m sure most here are familiar with the following:
20% of your efforts will provide 80% of your success.
20% of your customers will be responsible for 80% of your income.
Actually, I believe the numbers are more like 90/10 or 95/5 but there’s no way to prove that.
I believe Shane indicates that he has approximately 8,000 subscribers and if he gets 100 comments on a post that is considered outstanding which is only .0125% of the total people that get his emails. Of course this number may increase if we divide by the number of people who actually read the post and don’t comment. Either way its a very small number.
To me most bloggers go about the process all wrong/backwards. The want to increase the number of people on their list or who read their blog. All this means is that have more people sitting idling by not doing much with the information. People feel overwhelmed, especially newbies and many of them are cash poor. A few extra hundred dollars would mean all the difference to them but they suffer from information overload while also hoping to make a quick buck. So while your list increases and perhaps your bottom line you have more people that aren’t really making much progress.
Of course, there’s no way that you can make people take action but that’s the biggest problem out there. Think about it, how many people on your list are currently making a full-time income from marketing online. I’d venture to say not many. What is your goal to pad your list with more people and more readers or to do all you can to help people get what they’re really after. (do you even know what that is?)
The best leaders/teachers are those who are able to teach others how to be leaders/teachers not by how many followers they have. A one-eyed man can easily be king in a blind man’s world.
This product that you plan on launching concerning how to hold webinars how many people do you really think will hold their first webinar after buying your WSO if you decide to use that platform? How many people who hold their first webinar will actually profit from it? How many people who hold their webinar will provide enough value to the attendees that its worth their time to even be on it without feeling like they were at a pitch fest?
Ok, I’m done for now.
P.S. How can I get the uddates to a post without coming back to the blog. I’ve subscribed to the comments. I use to get them but not getting them anymore. I’ve whitelisted you so I’m not sure its something on my end.
Thanks
Shane & Paul,
I thought you were going to wimp out and not post my previous comment. PLEASE SEE ABOVE:
i.e WARNING! BEST POST IS HERE! READ BELOW:
SHANE AND PAUL, YOU HAVE LOST TOUCH WITH YOUR LIST ! SUBSCRIBERS, PLEASE READ AND REPLY TO MY IMPORTANT RANT!
Are you going to respond to it? Or are you WIMPS! ???
Hello Mike.
Please stop shouting. You are no more entitled to a reply within a few hours than any other readers and commenters on this blog.
I’ll get around to replying to your comment once I’ve gone through the rest of the queue.
Shane,
SORRY! I eagerly await your response.
You are one of few I listen to, it’s just your slipping lately! I slip all the time! LOL!
omg you need to chill out
Hey Shane
I have a similar dilemma and have been weighing up the pros and cons of running a WSO for the product I’ll be launching in a couple of weeks
For now I’ve decided against “launching” the product as a WSO but will keep the option open as a LAST RESORT. By this I mean that if all other promotional methods fail then running a WSO is always there as a fallback option.
I may be biased but, compared to many WSOs, my product is in a totally different league so don’t want to put my product in the same marketplace. To use an analogy, why sell a product on a market stall without first trying to sell it via Harrods/Bloomingdales? Granted, the latter takes more effort but I think the rewards of this approach are worth it.
That said, there are many great products on the warrior forum, just as you can pick up many great products on a market (although it does require a lot of sifting and you have to treat in-thread and email recommendations with, shall we say, a healthy dose of scepticism). Ultimately for me it’s all about positioning, I want my product to stand the test of time and have built it to last, not just to fight it out for WSO of the day.
If I do ultimately decide to create a WSO then it probably won’t be for my main product but would instead be some kind of spinoff product, e.g. on how to use my main product to maximum effect which would be used primarily for leadgen.
Interested to see which way you decide to play it.
Stuart
I Shane have you or can you do something about how to advertise on craigslist to drive traffic. Tricks not to get ghosted and any work arounds. thanks