For the past 3 1/2 years that I’ve been involved with online marketing, I’ve been repeatedly told that I should create my own info product. However, the logical choice always seemed to be another “Make Money Online” type of program, and I had no interest in adding to that already bloated market. Plus, hype is just not my style, and it seems that hype is required to get anywhere in that niche.

But recently, I decided to create my own product… in a completely different niche. While hype is also prevalent in this niche, it’s not required. Especially when you have a completely new angle like I do.

What I created is an online fitness program for women called The MARI Method. This is an “Innovative, At-Home Fitness Program Helping Women Burn Belly Fat with Unique Style of Yoga for Women“.

Plus, I’m JV’ing with a friend to start a Youth Soccer Coaching site. This site offers training on how to coach youth soccer, and the content is created by a man who has played and coached soccer quite successfully for over 50 years.

I will continue to update this blog periodically letting you know the tools I’m using that work… and one’s I’ve tried that don’t!

~Mari Ann

I just had something happen tonight that could turn out to be a very expensive lesson for me. Hopefully, if you’re an affiliate marketer, reading this will keep you from repeating my mistake.

Well, I sent out a link to an excellent training course being offered by one of my mentors, Howie Schwartz. This link was supposed to be my affiliate link to Howie’s newest release of Howie’s Apprentice . Since I use what I’ve learned from Howie every day in my marketing. I always enjoy it when he re-releases this product because I know it is offering people rock solid information.

Well, like always, I did a php redirect to give my link a more “User Friendly” look. Plus, I tested it to make sure it ended up on the Howie’s Apprentice website.

The mistake I made was that I did NOT double check that it was “tracking” through to my affiliate stats page. And, this may well end up being a very expensive lesson for me because my “masked” link was NOT tracking correctly. (This means if anyone decides to sign up for the course through the masked link I sent out… I will more than likely not be getting credit for it!).

I have contacted support to see if there is anything they can do about it, but that is not the point of this post.

The point that I’m hoping to make clear to you is to ALWAYS check and make sure that your links are tracking correctly. Don’t just make sure they go to the correct page (like I did). Take the extra step to make sure they are also appear on your affiliate stats page.

Your bottom line as an affiliate could be severely affected if you repeat my mistake.

~Mari Ann

P.S. btw… here is the correct place to go If you’re interested learning about the 20 available spots on the next Howie’s Apprentice.

Quite often, I’ll get questions asking how I did a certain thing. (Most recently, it was someone asking how I get my AWeber autoresponder links to show up in my Facebook status.).

So, I thought I’d just start a “How’d She DO That??” series and post it here on my blog. To see all the updates in the series, just choose the “Internet Marketing Tricks” from the categories, and all entries in this series will be magically displayed for you. (Of course, if you do that now… you’ll only see THIS post

If you use AWeber as your autoresponder, here’s how you can get links to your autoresponder broadcasts to show up in your Facebook status.

1. Login to your Facebook account
2. Go here to add the Twitter App to your Facebook Account: http://apps.facebook.com/twitter/
3. Login to your AWeber account and create a broadcast
4. Before saving your broadcast, mark the “Syndicate” checkbox.
5. Mark the “Twitter” box and enter your login/password
6. Send your AWeber broadcast

Now, when your broadcast is sent from AWeber, your message title and a link to your AWeber message will be posted to your Twitter page.
AND, since you’ve added the Twitter application to your Facebook account, it will also get posted to your Facebook status.

Be on the lookout for more “How’d She DO That??” tricks in the future. To make sure you are updated when I post new tricks, either subscribe to this blog, or fill-in your email address in the “Stay in touch” box over on the sidebar.

~Mari Ann

Hope you had a great weekend! Spring weather has hit here in
Houston and I’m taking advantage of it. I call this our “pay-back”
time for what happens in July & August! So, on days like this past
weekend, I like to spend as much time outside as possible.

But, now, it’s Monday morning, so forcing myself to do a little
work

However, this isn’t really work, cause I’m not selling anything here.

I just want to talk with you about a trend, and how you can take
advantage of it (this is the profitable habit I mentioned)…

It all started with Frank Kern. Or maybe Eben Pagan. Not sure which
one did it first, but what “it” was is raising the free line.

That’s where – when a product is getting ready to launch – they
give away a WHOLE bunch of excellent material before they even
show you the product they intend to sell.

I don’t know about you, but I ALWAYS take full advantage of these
free offers. And, have learned a ton of great stuff from it, too.

Even if I never intend to buy the product

Well, right now – it’s happening again.

This time, it’s by CPA master Gauher Chadhry.

You see, Gauher is getting ready to launch PPC Formula 2.0
(and, btw… I’m NOT even an affiliate for this product, so I
have nothing to gain from this... other than the satisfaction
of sharing this with my friends).

Anyway, in preparation for this launch, just like Frank & Eben,
Gauher is giving away a TON of free stuff.

• 89 page ebook (and it’s packed with good content, not fluff)
• 10 marketing videos that cover every kind of markeing imaginable
• Tracking spreadsheet
• “Resource Rolodex” (this is pure gold)

I got it – and am using it. I strongly encourage you to do the same.
Getting free stuff from top marketers is a great habit to get into.

Click here to go grab your stuff right now.

Then, just leave a comment letting me know know
what “golden nugget” you found.

Today, after 48 hours of my placement ads appearing as “active”… but getting ZERO impressions, I decided to contact Google.

What follows is an excerpt of that rather disconcerting conversation.  (Note that they have had NO complaints against the specific product that I was attempting to advertise!)

Mari Ann Lisenbe: I have a placement campaign – MY-CAMPAIGN – I placed this on Monday morning. It shows as active, but there have not been any impressions, even though I have raised the bid. Can you look into this?

Jennifer S: These ads are not showing on the content network due to multiple complaints from our users and publishers, we’ve limited the appearance of certain categories of ads on our content network, which may have affected your number of impressions. This includes (but not limited to) low quality affiliate advertisements and other business models that we have received multiple complaints in reference to. Please note that in some instances, your ads may not appear on placements that are considered irrelevant to the services or products promoted, and impressions may be limited.

Mari Ann Lisenbe: So, you’ve had complaints about this specific product? or just the weight loss genre in general? I’m trying to target women on Facebook, so I know the placements are relevant.

Jennifer S: It’s for the industry in general.

Mari Ann Lisenbe: Does this apply to exercise equipment, too? (my product was an exercise program)

Mari Ann Lisenbe: I don’t want to waste time putting up ads that will just get disapproved.

Jennifer S: This policy is only for certain products that have received multiple complaints.

Mari Ann Lisenbe: Has this product, MY-PRODUCT, received complaints? Is that why it is not showing?

Jennifer S: It’s a policy for the group of products in general, not your specific product.

Mari Ann Lisenbe: What is that “group of products”? Exercise equipment? Exercise DVD’s (which is what this is)? Weight loss supplements? I’d like some clarification.

Jennifer S: I’m sorry I can’t give you any further information but it centers on ads deemed unacceptable due to their business practices.

Jennifer S: DO you have concerns about anything else?

Mari Ann Lisenbe: Well, you haven’t really answered my questions about why this product is being disallowed.

Jennifer S: I’m sorry for any frustration or disruption this is causing you but, we firmly believe that this decision is vital to our users’ and publishers’ experience and to the longer-term viability of our advertisers. As noted in our advertising Terms and Conditions, Google may refuse any ads or terminate any of your ad campaigns at any time, for any reason. This only concerns our advertising and in no way affects the search results we deliver.

Mari Ann Lisenbe: I’d like to know what about this specific product is unacceptable.

Mari Ann Lisenbe: Does someone at google just make the determination about whether or not something will work?? Or have there been specific complaints about this specific exercise program?

Jennifer S: Not it’s not based on specific complaints.

Mari Ann Lisenbe: So, someone just decided it won’t work, and disallowed it?

Jennifer S: Yes, due to multiple complaints from our users and publishers.

Mari Ann Lisenbe: But, you said there have been no complaints about this specific product. Are you saying that ANYTHING that promises to give quick results will be rejected?

Mari Ann Lisenbe: What industry? Exercise? Exercise equipment? Weight loss?

Jennifer S: It’s done on a case by case basis.

Mari Ann Lisenbe: So, basically, someone at google just decided that this exercise program will not work.. and disallowed it — even though there have been no complaints about the program?

Jennifer S: I’m sorry I can’t give you anymore information.

Jennifer S: Chat support for AdWords is currently a trial program with limited availability. So that I can assist other waiting customers, please feel free to visit https://adwords.google.com/support if you have other questions.

So, I have a word of caution for anyone advertising a product on Google’s Content network — whatever you do, don’t claim that your product will work!

BTW… And, just WHAT  “dangerous, lose inches quick” exercise program is Google protecting the public from??

In the world of PPC, all we hear about is Google.  And, with search results that trounce all competitors, you can understand why. However, for many people just getting started with PPC, Google may NOT be the best place to start.

Coming in at #2 on the search results front is Yahoo.  And, while you can get some good results with Yahoo campaigns, their support for new marketers is nothing short of atrocious!

Until you have spent $200/month consistently for 3 months, the only support you will receive is email support. (They don’t even have the  live chat feature that the big “G” does.). And, their email support time is nothing short of ridiculous. They tell you that you will receive a response within 24 hours,  but in my experience it has been more like a week.

Plus, with Yahoo, you cannot import a campaign until you have reached the $200/month for 3 month limit.  A recent campaign I submitted for import took over 10 days!. Unbelievable.

No, what I am going to recommend to you here is the #3 search engine — MSN Ad Center. In my opinion, they are a new PPC marketers dream come true

When you call them up, you actually get a real, live person. Immediately. No wait time. Even for brand, new (and low budget) accounts!  woo hoo!!

And, to top it off, the person answering the phone wants to help you tweak your campaigns so that they convert better. They will give you adcopy ideas, show you how to do dynamic insertions, help you with keywords, and much more.  I even had them offer to run a macro for me that would capitalize the 1st letter of my keywords.

It’s almost uncanny. And, certainly unheard of in this day of no real customer service by most companies.

Oh, and my ads there are converting, too.

So, my suggestion for struggling PPC marketers… give MSN Ad Center a try.

P.S. One final thing… you can usually find coupons for $50 off to start a new account.  So, search for “Coupon MSN Adcenter” to find a code before opening your account.

I’ve been receiving emails from some folks worried that Google Shadow may be too technical for them . So, I decided to post a few videos here to help you decide for yourself.

These are actual videos that are part of Google Shadow.  They show the setup of the “Shadow Tool” — which is the key component of the system. Of course, these videos don’t give you access to the actual tool… but they will let you see how it works.  From there, you can make an informed decision as to whether this product is for you — or NOT

So, there you have it.

My take… If you have already been using somekind of automation tool, like SpeedPPC, you may have a bit of adjustment to make, since Tim definitely has his own way of doing things.  But, if you are new to affiliate marketing, I honestly can’t think of a better way to get started.

If you are overwhelmed after watching these videos… then affiliate marketing is probably not for you.  Fair enough?

Get Google Shadow Here

OK. I admit it. I’m a rebel.

And, I’ve ALWAY been drawn to people who can do things that eveyone else says “can’t be done”.

Plus, I tend to be kind of lazy.  Well, not exactly lazy, but always looking for an easier way to do thing.

So, I was was intrigued by Google Shadow‘s claims of making $100K/month by direct linking.  You know… affiliate marketing where you don’t have a website, and where you “direct” link to the affiliate offer.

One of those things that the guru’s claim “can’t be done”.

So, I bought it.

I’ve only brushed the surface so far (pretty in-depth system), but one thing I can tell you… Unlike most programs that tell you they “don’t use a website”, then you buy the product and you find out.. oh, wait a minute, maybe we DO use a website…

Well, with Tim’s system, you really do NOT need a website.

Also, he does other thing you are not supposed to do…

• no searching for niches
• short keyword lists

As I mentioned, it’s only been one day so far, so I’m just getting into the Google Shadow System.  But so far… I’m impressed.

Will keep you updated on my progress.

This is an internet marketing strategies website. Right??

So what the heck is the blatant carpal tunnel / neck pain ad doing here?

Well, the truth of the matter is that most of us internet marketing types spend WAY too much time on the computer. Yeah, I know all the stories about time freedom and all that, but the truth of the matter is — most of us are addicted to our computers!

And, one of the unwanted effects of our mass addiction is carpal tunnel. And neck pain.

Now, I KNOW if you go to the doctor about it, they rarely see the connection between the NECK pain and the carpal tunnel. Most doctors would rather just recommend fixing the symptom with carpal tunnel surgery, rather than addressing the real source of the problem — which is in your … neck (you thought I was going to say “head”, didn’t you

As someone who’s been in the computer industry for over 20 years, this is an issue I know a little bit about.

No, I’m not a doctor… but I do know what works for me. And, that is addressing the issues with the tension & alignment in my neck.

You see, as a typical computer geek, I have TERRIBLE ergonomic habits.

I KNOW all the rules… elbows rested at side, monitor at eye level, feet on floor, straight back… but I don’t do it (and I’ll bet YOU don’t, either!)

So… we suffer.

That’s why I felt compelled to share this quirky little device with you.

It’s called a “Turtle”.

You use it for 20 minutes at a time, a couple of times a day, and it gets all that neck stuff aligned the way it is supposed to be. And, when that happens, the carpal tunnel pain starts to miraculously go away!

So, take a minute an watch my little video. Then, if you want to give it a free trial, just click on the link right here Turtle for Carpal Tunnel Pain

Oh yeah… the Turtle was designed to help with BACK pain — so that’s what they talk about on the site. But, trust me… it helps get rid of hand pain, too!