Boy did I get it wrong!:(

Guys I made an absolute shocker with my "hunches" and hypotheses in my last 2 blog posts. Such an unfortunate way to start a blog, but I'm not one to shy away when I make a mistake.

I guess I'm living proof that you don't have to get everything right to be hugely successful online. That's small consolation for all the egg I have all over my face right now. But anyway...

Here's the deal...

I received this reply from Suzzie..

Mark,

I’ve been reading through your blog and there are tons of inconsistencies and “facts” that you just don’t have straight. Unfortunately there are Internet Marketers who are actually taking your advice. I’ve heard about your (incorrect) techniques and “hunches” on other blogs and forums and I just wanted to confirm for myself that what is being said is true. Seriously, most of what you’re talking about here on this blog isn’t correct in any means. The fact that you’re even talking about Google PR in the same sentence as Google Adwords goes to show that you’re not well informed or educated in the Internet Marketing business.

Also, the mention that PR has been the “primary way of automating quality analysis in the past” is absolutely incorrect in every way. Before the newest Google changes, marketers like myself who are very knowledgeable in SEO techniques know that “Relevancy” is the key to getting listed. PR has nothing to do with it. I’ve got PR1 sites in the number 1 search spots above PR6 sites for the same keywords.

In your most recent posts you’ve been “Trying” to sniff out the algorithm that Google has in place for their Adwords landing page relevance. Everything you’ve said is incorrect. You mention that humans reviewing both natural and paid listings is unlikely.. News flash, Google has been doing this for a long time and has recently increased the “human” aspect of their rankings.

In your post about “What Determines Quality Score” you’re almost incorrect in everything that you say. It’s not a good thing that the owner of “Affilorama” doesn’t have a clue about Quality Score and how it works. If you’re not aware that you’re making false claims and “bogus” suggestions, you should think again. It’s this kind of inexperience that will ultimately lead to your Affilorama product floundering. Maybe not now, but once these comments get listed in the search engines, and the news spreads that you have no idea what you are talking about you’re going to be in rough shape.

On some of the larger blogs out there is talk that your blog is an absolute joke!

I’m sorry to come off as being harsh, but this note is for you. I don’t expect that you’ll leave it on your blog for very long. I’ve also heard about others writing in about your bogus techniques and “facts” and that you’ve deleted their posts.

So, with regards to you and your product, I hope that you will consider the fact that your appear to be VERY inexperienced in the topics that you are talking about.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

Good luck,

Susan

Thanks for your blog post Susan, while it certainly hurts a lot to find out I’ve made such a massive blunder, especially right at the start of my affilorama blog, I’d much rather get the kick in the teeth than have it go on being wrong any longer. So thank you.

I’m not one to shy away from my mistakes. I’ve simply got to find a way to rectify things as best I can and not make a stuff up like this again in the future.

Yuk this humble pie tastes bad :(

Perhaps you could make a guest post on my blog with your google adwords suggestions.

Contra to what you might think though, I AM well educated in making money online. You should see the stacks of books I’ve gone through (admittedly, most on solid business skills and other aspects of marketing than SEO in particular). I guess I’ve proven you certainly don’t need to have everything 100% right to do very very well online. 

I own numerous high performing websites now and the combined revenue of all my websites this year is well into the millions. Seems to double each year, so while I’m by no means the best, I see myself as living proof of how ordinary people can do extraordinarily well online.

One thing you said was not true - “I’ve also heard about others writing in about your bogus techniques and “facts” and that you’ve deleted their posts” – Just letting you know that I have NOT deleted anyones posts. There are numerous replies to my blog posts that were questioning my comments and they are all there. 

I created Affilorama because I really want to give back to the internet community and do some good here. There are people out there who are stressed with their jobs and family situation and I feel there is such a big opportunity online for them to turn their lives around. I’ve helped my dad, my cousin and some of my friends earn full time livings online and now I’ve created and released my step-by-step video course to the general public.

My goal with Affilorama is to get as many people as possible to succeed online. I am constantly updating the software and step by step video lessons. I participate actively on my forum to help people and I have been giving numerous one on one consultations both over the phone and via camtasia video to help members succeed (and I haven’t charged anything extra for these, I really want to see people do well).

Suzzie, contact me if you’d like a free login to the Affilorama members area, I’d be more than happy to give you one to thank you for pointing out my error.

To everybody else, here's my revised advice for getting your site back into google adwords at normal prices:

The short and simple method to get your pages back into google adwords is to create quality landing pages that are what the user would be expecting to see when they click on your ads AND is relevant to the search term they search for. The more value you provide, the better your chances of having the $1-$10 minimums removed. Again, I'm very very keen to hear everyone's opinion on this latest blog entry. All the best to your online money making success!

Mark Ling