Issue #37
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Dylan Campbell offers an independent view that does not necessarily co-incide with that of The Nettle.
Quietly making a living on the Internet since 2000, he has a unique, and often controversial, view of the industry.
Dylan has requested to be published under a pseudonym.
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Questionnaires, Surveys and Other Ways to Waste Time
I know what you’re thinking. Dylan “predictable” Campbell wants to have a moan about those companies that promise to make you a living out of completing surveys.
He’ll whinge about the crooks who charge you $50 just to get the names and addresses of market research organizations. And he’ll take a swipe at the companies that stop sending you surveys, just when you’re about to reach the payout mark.
Well you’re wrong.
This week I’m aiming at every program owner and newsletter editor that tries to waste my time with another mindless questionnaire.
“Tell me what you like/dislike about my newsletter/program”
“Tell me what you want me to write about”
“Tell me how I can make things better”
Heard these questions before?
Virtually every week, a newsletter editor or webmaster wants to pick my brains in exchange for some ebook I’ll never read, or some piece of software I’ll never use.
And like a sap, I do it.
I pity the poor individual who is desperate for feedback on their work and so I feel compelled to help them out.
But where does it end? I get so many of the darn things, I’ve had to create a special email folder just for these requests. There are dozens backed up now but I have neither the energy to wade into them, nor the heart to hit the “delete” key.
If I’m going to point the finger at anyone it has to be the article or ebook writers that told everyone asking for feedback was a great idea.
Trust me. It’s not.
Think about it. Your target audience is busy trying to make money. Why should they take time away from their efforts to help fill the void in your imagination?
If you can’t think of ways to improve your program, maybe you have no business running one. Or if you can’t think of anything to write about, then perhaps producing an ezine wasn’t the best choice of vocation.
How much good are these surveys anyway, when they’re thrust upon someone? If you ask me what I like best about your product, I’m going to find something for the sake of answering the question. Even if what I’ve picked would send me to sleep on any other…zzz
Don’t email your users with a survey for the sake of it, or because everyone else doing it. Everyone else doing it is exactly the reason why you should give it a rest.
Feedback is useful but, if you’re patient, it will come. And in a far more useful variety.
If someone, voluntarily, writes to tell you something good about your program/ezine, then you can be sure they really liked it. If some writes to tell you something bad, then you can be sure it really bugged them.
Unsolicited feedback without any hidden agenda is far more trustworthy and ultimately more beneficial.
And if no-one ever writes to tell you anything good or bad, don’t assume the worst and whip up a panicky questionnaire. Maybe, just maybe, everyone is too busy, happily reading your ezine or using your program to find the time to write to you.
Or perhaps making money is taking a priority.
Either way, if they haven’t unsubscribed or cancelled their membership, it can’t all be bad.
Please rate this article: Send an email to david@thenettle.com with a mark out of 10 in the subject line and a detailed description of what you liked and disliked about this article. Everyone who replies with positive comments will receive an email in return containing a dictionary description of “irony”.
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Comment on this article and you could win free credits for the Mystical Maze.
Click here to post your views in The Nettle Forum .
This article can be reproduced in your website or ezine from six weeks after the publication date. However, you must seek permission first. Please email David if you would like to use this material.
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CaptKirk - A sideways look at the web marketing industry
CaptKirk offers an independent view that does not necessarily co-incide with that of The Nettle. You can respond to his column at The Nettle Forum
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Do We Really Need The Hype?
I believe that a lot of people got started on the internet to make money:
- Money (enough) to work at home
- Money to provide for education, retirement, etc…
So the answer to my earlier question is, YES! We need the hype for the following reasons:
- Attention
- Interest
- Conviction
- Desire
- Close (Call To Action)
Hype leads us through the 5 Great Rules of the selling process.
For example, “Make 24,000 dollars in 24 hours!” I don’t know about you, but that got my (1)Attention and (2)Interest.
Use examples like a truck driver, housewife, or 18 year old kid to give us the (3)Conviction us that even we can do it.
I don’t know about you, but I got the (4)Desire to buy a book, join a program, or whatever…
Lets not forget about the (5)Close - Call To Action. How about, ”1 year money back, guaranteed”
Yes, we need the hype in the beginning, but as we learn more about marketing on the internet the less the veterans need the hype to inspire themselves.
But, if you want to be a success on the internet, you will need some form of hype or Unique Selling Proposition (USP) to inspire people to get started in the first place.
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Editors' Note
Next week I'll be running your reviews of Inboxer, the spam solution I was talking up last week. If you've tried this program out, let the rest of us know what you think by posting HERE .
If you've yet to try it out, why not give the free trial a go at www.inboxer.com.
There's some good stuff coming up over the next few weeks. In a fortnight's time I'll be running an exclusive interview with the founders of the upcoming Traffic Exchange Alliance. The following week I'll be reviewing a new ebook: The Definitive Guide to Google Adsense
I've had a lot of joy with Google Adsense, so this book was of particular interest to me.
This Thursday, a new traffic exchange will be launched that claims to offer something new. Always a sucker for a bit of hype, I'll be checking it out as soon as it becomes available. If you want to be notified when it launches, add your name to the EarlyBird mailing list.
Still to come in this weeks issue, a handy new tool for traffic exchange users and a shameless plug for my latest ebay sale.
Thanks for reading and best wishes.
David Congreave.
david@thenettle.com
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COMING IN ISSUE #38:
Inboxer - Reader Reviews
Subscribe FREE to receive an email when the latest issue is available.
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The Mailinator
So you're surfing some traffic at your favourite exchange when an interesting lead capture page appears.
Not enough information is provided to allow you to work out what is being featured, but you're intrigued enough to consider handing over your email address.
The information appears in your inbox and, even though you decide you're not interested in what is being offered, you continue to get follow-up messages. Your email address could even be sold to a spammer without your knowledge.
Enter the Mailinator.
Next time you see a lead capture page you want to follow, don't give your regular email address, make one up. Enter anything you like, as long as it ends in @mailinator.com and have the information sent there.
Next, go to www.mailinator.net and check the inbox of the email address you invented. One will have automatically have been created for you to view.
If the information from the lead capture page is of no use to you, forget about it. If you like what is being offered, go back and sign up again, under your correct email address this time.
Either way, a few hours later the email address you created will be automatically purged.
What mailinator effectively does, is provide a screening service for emails. Any time you are unsure about giving out an email address, give out a mailinator one instead.
A useful tool to be sure, but just a word of warning. As mailinator accounts are created by the incoming mail, they are not password protected and, theoretically, anyone can view the contents. Just make sure you don't use mailinator for anything you don't want others to view or for anything you really want to keep.
If you find this service useful, tell us about it at The Nettle Forum
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Ebay Sale
Me and the wife are planning a holiday in September, so I've been continuing to sell items on ebay to create a little extra spending money. This week has a sci-fi theme so take a look if anything seems of interest.
Don't forget, I ship worldwide, so please feel free to make a bid wherever you are.
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June 2004 Competition - Results
Here are the results for the competition for June 2004, sponsored by:
To claim your prize, email david@thenettle.com with your Mystical Maze Username. prizes must be claimed no later than 15th July 2004.
1st Prize - One month of PAID membership in the Mystical Maze exchange and 2500 banner impressions.
Won by jimmilligan@xxx.xx.com. An email has also been sent to this email address informing them of their prize.
2nd Prize - 500 credits in the Mystical Maze exchange and 2500 banner impressions.
Won by forum member: snapto
3rd Prize - 500 credits in the Mystical Maze exchange.
Won by forum member: silke247
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If you like building downlines, hearing about a new program or website immediately after its launch can give you a head-start on your promotion.
At The Early Bird, we scour the internet, join the mailing lists and hang around forums to bring you details of the newest programs!
Add your email address now and we'll enter you into our prize draw to win one month of PAID membership to the Mystical Maze
You can view our splash page at www.thenettle.com/earlybird/.
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Essentials
There are four websites that carry a standing recommendation from The Nettle, each of which will be reviewed in a future issue. Until then, you can read the brief description below.
The Early Bird: If you like building downlines, being notified when new programs are released can be extremely helpful.
Mystical Maze: An effective Traffic Exchange that is rapidly gaining a loyal following. A clean surfing experience and the Maze make it less tedious than most.
MPAM: Massive Passive Advertising Machine. An excellent introduction to the weird and wonderful world of web marketing, and a great community spirit.
Join up using the above link and work your way through the lessons to achieve Gold status. Once you've achieved this, email us with your MPAM link and we'll give you $100 of advertising in The Nettle.
Hit Exchange News: If you use Traffic Exchanges to any degree, a subscription to this weekly ezine is essential. Complete the form below for your free subscription.
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Free Ezines from ListInferno.
Rate This Issue of The Nettle
If you enjoyed this weeks issue, click on the button below and your vote will be registered. If you didn't think this weeks issue was up to scratch, then don't click on the button.
And that's it! By monitoring the number of votes coming through each week, this will help us see which issues work better than others. If you want to give more specific feedback (good or bad), please do so on The Nettle Forum .
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