February 2006
Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the Ark. Professionals built the Titanic. -Anonymous
In this issue:
Greetings from the editor
Humour
Feature Articles
Wise words
Free Stuff
Search the Web from here
Greetings From London
Greetings from a very cold London. We actually had a little snow on Wednesday but it did not amount to anything impressive. Now it's just cold and windy and spring seems far away.
Before I started writing this, I looked at last month's issue. Just a few short weeks ago we were still wishing people "happy new year" but now it feels as if we are well into the year already. January was a good month, I found some new things and my existing projects were progressing well. I was rejoicing that I was eligible for reduced Stormpay fees. How things have changed!
February has been a generally bad month on the Internet so far. Anyone who is involved in the autosurf for cash business will know about Stormpay. If you have not heard, the story in brief is that Stormpay froze the accounts of several autosurf companies so they were unable to pay their members. This has killed some programmes and crippled some others. Then Stormpay started taking money out of the accounts of any members who were or had been involved with autosurfing. They emptied accounts leaving members with a zero balance and they are reported to have made unauthorised charges on bank accounts and credit cards. They also changed their terms without reference to members, instead of asking members to accept those terms.
I can speak from experience: Stormpay took everything out of my account including commission they had recently paid me themselves!
My belief is that Stormpay overspent on its sponsorship of a local racing track and the refurbishment of its offices and used members' money to cover this spending. When they had insufficient funds to pay out to 12 Daily they changed their terms and pretended they had frozen 12 Daily's account because they believe it is an illegal ponzi scheme. Stormpay have offered no logical explanation for their actions. I believe they are playing for time and have behaved in this way to avoid their bankers finding out that they do not have sufficient funds to satisfy their obligations.
The frightening thing is that Stormpay is still operating. People are trusting Stormpay with their money without realising that their cash could disappear at any moment. Stormpay is well know to the BBB due to a long history of complaints, there are thousands of complaints against them with the BBB and FBI to name but two agencies. The autosurf industry will outlast Stormpay. I think Stormpay is probably already bankrupt and its collapse is only a matter of time. I just hope Stormpay's owners do not get away with too much money rightfully belonging to ordinary people who have done nothing wrong. You should be able to trust a payment processor - particularly one that charges huge fees the way Stormpay does. You can read more details if you Click Here.
On the autosurf front, we have lost 911 Hits and Grand Hits. Both these were on my list of recommended sites and belonged to a popular and well respected web master. The programmes were killed by Stormpay. I doubt 12 Daily will recover. Alien Trust looks as if it will be able to make a comeback. Profits 4 Surfing disappeared without trace. Other sites such as Safari Cash and Rock Solid Surf have managed to regroup and are running. Autosurf Biz merged with its sister site E-Profit Surf and brought out its own payment processor.
Still, time to move on. The only new autosurf I have joined since the disaster is Mystery Cash. This was on the strength of a tip from the owner of Rock Solid Surf. I am looking out for some more to add to my portfolio. I am also intending to invest in some HYIPs within the next couple of weeks.
After the Stormpay nightmare had been going on for a few days, I read all the information and advice about autosurfing for cash on my Autosurf Review. and was relieved to note that I could still stand by every word of it. The only change I made was to remove any recommendation of Stormpay as a payment processor. Nobody could have foreseen that they would be robbed by a payment processor!
Pixel advertising is everywhere now, I am with Pix Me Up.
I am still happy with AdsVert. These are text ads that look like PPC ads but, they are free, you earn credits by showing other members' ads. This programme is still looking good but it's hard to see how a programme offering free viral advertising would not be popular.
In November's issue I mentioned Submit YOUR Article and thought I'd give it another mention today in case you missed it before. I have been using this service myself for several months and have been 100% satisfied with it.
Enough from me. I hope you will enjoy the rest of this month's Networkers Calendar, there are two feature articles this month, I hope you will appreciate the domestic fowl and lawyer motif running through this month's issue. Keep safe and be happy and I'll be back in a month or so with some more Internet good stuff and, hopefully, a happier frame of mind.
There is a truck driver who whenever he sees a lawyer walking down the street, he always swerves to hit him. One day he sees a priest on the side of the road looking for a ride and so the truck driver picks him up. While they were driving, the driver sees a lawyer, and swerves to hit him. But then he remembered he had a priest in the truck, so he swerved back on the road, but he heard a loud 'thump' anyway. So the driver turns to the priest and says "Please forgive me." and the priest said, "You didn't hit the lawyer, but that's OK, I got him with the door."
Stormpay, 12 Daily Pro and the Internet Farmers
By Elaine Currie - Hunting Venus Work At Home Directory
Working on the Internet can be dangerous: if you are not careful you can pick up a virus or a Trojan; opening an email might unleash a dangerous worm; you can get diverted, hijacked and spied upon. As long as you are aware of the dangers, you can take sensible precautions and enjoy the Internet in safety. Sometimes, however, the danger comes from an entirely unexpected direction. The following is a true story but some of the names have been changed to protect the innocent.
Once, not so long ago, Internet chicken farming was a popular occupation. After all, most people use eggs in one form or another. The biggest profits were earned by the farmers who could afford to invest the most in their businesses. However, with a little work and careful reinvestment, the poorer farmers were able to build up their stock and improve their situation. Although not everyone was able to see the benefits of chicken farming it was, overall, a good life and even people with no previous experience and little capital to invest were able start their own business.
Sour Grapes said: "You're safer working for a boss".
John Farmer said: "I must try, I'll never get rich working for a boss".
Experience said: "Diversify".
As more and more chicken farmers became successful, word spread and increasing numbers of people took an interest in the business. Many people took up chicken farming in a small way to supplement their wages from everyday jobs. People liked chicken farming, it did not take up too much of their spare time and they appreciated the extra income it brought them.
Sour Grapes said: "It isn't a proper job".
John Farmer said: "If this works out as planned, I can quit my job".
Experience said: "Diversify".
One day a new breed of bird was introduced to the chicken farming community. A few intrepid farmers added the new bird to their stock and found that it was just as easy to rear as everyday hens. The big difference was the new bird laid golden eggs regularly every 12 days. The new bird was called 12 Daily Egg Provider, or 12 Daily Pro for short.
Sour Grapes said: "No such thing as golden eggs".
John Farmer said: "I heard it's true. I intend to try it out."
Experience said: "Diversify".
Word quickly spread throughout the community that 12 Daily Pro did, indeed, lay golden eggs. Each egg produced by 12 Daily Pro was worth many times the value of an ordinary hen's egg. More and more farmers started to rear some12 Daily Pro alongside the common hen. People who had never even considered chicken farming previously set themselves up as 12 Daily Pro farmers.
Sour Grapes said: "It won't last a month".
John Farmer said: "Even just a few golden eggs, will give me more money than I ever dreamed of".
Experience said: "Diversify".
Everybody turned on Experience and asked: "Can't you say anything else apart from "diversify"?"
Experience explained: "Even egg farmers need multiple streams of income, not just one or two. Grow some crops, develop a sideline as a mechanic, paint pictures, anything, just don't rely on one or two sources of income. You never know what the future holds"
Everyone was astonished at the length of this statement from the normally taciturn Experience, but they soon forgot and few people took the advice. New farmers kept 12 Daily Pro as their only stock because they couldn't see the point in rearing birds that could only produce ordinary eggs. Even some of the more experienced farmers started to reduce their numbers of common hens and relied more and more upon 12 Daily Pro.
Sour Grapes said: "It'll all be finished by Thanksgiving".
John Farmer said: "I've never before made so much money so quickly".
Experience went back to: "Diversify" but when everyone turned and stared at him he added: "you would miss hens' eggs if there weren't any".
Thanksgiving came and went and, in under a year, many 12 Daily Pro farmers became quite rich and there was a growing trend in the community to give up breeding hens in favour of 12 Daily Pro farming.
Sour Grapes said: "It'll be over by Christmas".
John Farmer said: "I don't care much for eggs anyway".
Experience said: "Without eggs there would be no cakes: pancakes, meringues, omelettes…"
Christmas passed uneventfully for the farmers but January brought them a shock. They discovered that all the chicken feed in the whole world had been taken over by a disreputable ex-farmer, ex-lawyer named Mr Stormpay. Stormpay informed the farmers that they had a choice: to buy feed from him at inflated prices or to go without and let their birds starve. This type of choice is called "Hobson's choice", on the Internet it's called "scampay".
Sour Grapes said: "See, I was right".
John Farmer said: "There's no alternative".
Experience said: "…mayonnaise, batter, custard…"
The farmers paid Stormpay for the feed but he didn't deliver it. He kept the farmers' money and poured all the feed they had paid for into the swill at his pig farm. The farmers tried to reason with Stormpay about the unfairness of the situation but he used lawyers to prevaricate. As Stormpay had all their money, the farmers could not afford to hire lawyers to help them. Without the feed, 12 Daily Pro golden egg production ceased immediately. The strongest of the common hens were able to continue laying their ordinary eggs because they could survive on the grubs and greens they could peck at around the farms but, as the farmers had concentrated so much on 12 Daily Pro, there were not very many hens left, eggs became scarce and the farming community experienced terrible suffering.
Sour Grapes said: "Shouldn't have put all your eggs in one basket".
John Farmer said: "It was a mistake to give in to Stormpay's blackmail".
Experience said: "Shakespeare was right about lawyers".
By Elaine Currie, BA (Hons)
You may republish this article only in its
entirety and with this resource box intact:
Elaine Currie provides ideas and resources
for anyone wanting to start a home business
visit: http://www.Huntingvenus.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don't Let the Turkeys Get You Down
(c) 2006 Charlie Page
http://www.RealWorldTactics.com
------------------------------------------------------
Have you ever heard the story of the baby eagle that
fell from it's nest only to land in a family of
turkeys?
He grew up thinking he was a turkey.
He ate with the turkeys.
He slept with the turkeys.
He even acted like a turkey.
But he knew in his heart that he wasn't a turkey. And
one day he looked up to see an eagle soaring
majestically in the afternoon sky.
At that moment he knew that he was an eagle.
When it comes to websites that want to sell you
something, there are turkeys and there are eagles.
If you want to save the time and heartbreak of wasting
both time and money, it will be important to be able to
spot the eagles, and avoid the turkeys.
Here's how you can do that.
=====> HOW TO SPOT AND AVOID THE TURKEYS
1. They "Teach" What They Have Not Yet Experienced
Ah, my personal pet peeve. The Internet is littered
with sales letters written by people who have only sold
their "how to" book or audio or membership.
They haven't done what they 'teach'. They just sell
books.
They read books, visit forums, ask questions, and
restate what people tell them. Then they sell it.
Sure, they know how to write a sales letter and sound
slick, but they have not experienced operating and
succeeding in an online business themselves.
If you are considering buying a product, look first to
see that the person behind the product is walking the
walk, not just talking the talk.
2. They Use Very High Pressure Techniques
Today we are seeing more and more "once only offers"
than ever before. These pages begin with "You will only
see this page once!" and then go on to make some
outrageous offer where you get a million dollars worth
of stuff for about 15 cents.
Sure. Right. Okay.
Why is such incredible pressure necessary? It's not
necessary, but it works. And because it works more and
more sites are using it, and more and more consumers
are getting hurt.
The good news is that there is a simple solution to the
problem of high pressure sales tactics ...
Don't buy the offer.
After all, how many of these offers have you bought and
never used?
3. They Lie
Here's one example. They send you something "free" that
is valued at over a hundred bucks. But when you click
the link and get to the page you discover that you have
to buy something to get the freebie.
And who in the world invented the phrase "ethical
bribe"?
That's like saying "good bad guy" or "diet cheesecake".
I think we're smarter than that, don't you?
4. They Are Almost Always Negative
Have you noticed how some websites make you feel? Some
sites just make you want to jump off a bridge.
Everything is dark, negative, and full of fear. If you
don't act now you will lose your chance forever!
Of course, their product can solve the problem. ;)
Yeah. Right. Okay.
If you find a website that tells you that email is dead
or the chance to succeed is passing you by or any other
fear related motivators my advice is simple ...
Close the browser.
Find someone who is looking up and will share openly
(and specifically) how you can get your share of the
success you want and deserve. Find an eagle.
=====> HOW TO SPOT AND FLY WITH THE EAGLES
1. They Have Rock Solid Experience
It's easy to spot the real people when you know what to
look for. The people you can trust will usually have
either a very deep level of knowledge about one subject
or solid knowledge on various topics.
The knowledge and experience a person has will usually
express itself in the form of information products,
articles, information on a website, or a combination of
these things.
If you look, you should be able to find other products
or (preferably) free articles or an ezine you can read
to get a sense of who the person is before parting with
your money.
2. They Share Openly
There is always a pull for people who succeed online
between giving free advice and selling their products.
That's natural and to be expected.
It's unfair to expect people who sell information to
give away everything they know free.
But if the answer you get to *every* question you ask
is "buy my product" then be very careful about doing
business with that person.
People who are succeeding online are making enough
money that they don't require that every phone call or
email result in a sale.
3. They Can Be Reached
If you can't reach someone by phone or email with a
question, then watch out.
This is not to say that everyone out there will answer
their own phone or reply to your email in five minutes.
But there is a growing trend among websites to not
answer pre-sale or non-customer questions at all, and
that must stop.
After all, you will be paying your hard-earned money,
and they can't take 2 minutes to answer your question?
I don't think so.
Would you buy a suit or dress from a store that never
answers their phone? Probably not.
Remember this - the level of access you get to a person
before a sale happens is often an indicator of the type
of support you will receive after the sale.
4. They Lift You Up, Not Put You Down
Great websites lift you up and help you see the
possibilities without resorting to hype. They encourage
you that you can learn what you need to know and
accomplish your goals. They speak (as much as a website
can) about you and your goals, not how wonderful they
are and how much you should want to be like them.
There is a fine line here that can be discerned very
easily. Does the site make you feel good - feel like
there are possibilities for you, or not?
To be sure, there are talented writers who write
uplifting sales letters for sites that simply won't
deliver the real thing, so be careful.
If you rely on more than one factor to make your
decision about the site's credibility, you will protect
yourself and avoid falling in among the turkeys.
The three things to remember are these ...
1. There are turkeys in the land.
2. Eagles don't fly with turkeys.
3. You were born to be an eagle.
When you choose who you do business with based on a
combination of the things above, you will move quickly
toward doing business with people who want more than
just your money ... they want you to succeed.
And that is a beautiful thing indeed!
Visit MPAM. To learn the meaning of Prosperity With Integrity.
We are building the largest directory based information source and consumer guide on the Internet today and for the future. Providing visitors not only with the information they are searching for but also the ability to ADD to our directory.
MgrCentral.com is dedicated to fulfilling the dream of many people in the world today, the dream of creating a full-time living, running their own home business and earning an income on the Internet. MgrCentral.com provides online training courses to people from all over the world in all walks of life. Additionally we are building the largest directory based information source and consumer guide on the Internet today and for the future.
Established in 2001, you can trust that we are a successful, stable, long term organisation providing you with the information, products, services and training you need to create and maintain your home business.
Why are we different? We are different because we care about making a difference - and we care about you - and your success. We guide you away from the internet scams and schemes and towards running a legitimate home business combining affiliate sales of products and services, product creation and product promotion.
Click here to see the list of available courses.
Want to work from home but don’t know where to start? You are not alone, everything you need from a free website builder to training and support is here for you when you get your own
Plug In Profit Site.
Don't forget to download Dotcomology before you close this page.
Send me your articles
If you would like to see your own article published here, just email it to me here I will consider articles on any subject, not just home business. As long as your article is interesting and contains no inappropriate material (no adult, hate etc), I will be happy to publish it. Please note, though, that I won’t publish anything which is just a disguised advertisement!
"You must be in business for yourself; you'll never get rich working for someone else."
J. P. Getty, America's first billionaire
Free Resources
Roboform. – Fill in your details just once and Roboform will save them and complete all your sign up forms with just a mouse click. This will save you hours of boring typing. I started using Roboform. when I started doing paid surveys and now I would be lost without it.
Mozilla Firefox Browser – The best browser for surfing. It has a total pop-up killer and is great for surfing numerous sites at the same time.
FREE PDF Converter Print to PDF from virtually any application. Optimize PDF output for print or screen. No annoying pop-up ads - no catch! High-quality PDF creation.
Free Credit Report
Equifax, Experian, and Transunion,the three largest credit
reporting agencies, have set up a special site where
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Google Alerts A free service from Google which will alert you when there is any activity relating
to your chosen subject. You can use this to keep track of interest in your business, the antics of your favourite movie stars or the progress of your favourite sports team.
How does your website look to a search engine? Find out free. You will get an instant report about how well your site is designed for search engines to catalogue it -- and what to change if your site gets a poor grade.
Message Tag is a free software program you download on your computer. It sits in your system tray at the bottom right
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Spybot Search And Destroy – Anti-spy software. Search out and destroy the nasty spy bugs. Essential for surfers. Download free from Major Geeks
Ad-Aware – Anti-tracking software. Get rid of the tracking software that slows down your pc. Another must have for surfers. Download free from Major Geeks
Classified Advertising
Adland Pro – Free classified advertising and an interesting newsletter. They offer free site evaluations in the newsletter as well as articles etc. Upgrades on membership are available for extra features and unrestricted numbers of ads. No pressure to upgrade, so try out the free service for as long as you like.
Traffic Exchange Advertising
Traffic Swarm – The top traffic exchange. Free membership available but it is worth the small fee to upgrade to pro.
Top Surfer. More than just a traffic exchange, you can earn credits when you read the newsletter and also get the chance to win prizes of big credit packages.
Hitpulse. A great free manual traffic exchange. Hitpulse has been around for a while and is a reliable and popular programme.
For more information about Traffic Exchanges click here
Downline Building
Profit Rally - my favourite downline builder. You won't get inundated with emails from your uplinehere. If you take pro membership you also get random referrals. A great way to build downlines while advertising your programmes.
Home Income Team - Another great downline builder. This one is growing and great new programmes are constantly being added to the portfolio.
For more information about downline builders click here
Listbuilding
Admailer – The biggest free list building club on the web.
Payment processors
Pay Pal – The most popular internet account. You will need an account at some stage if you work on the internet. Sign up free.
Alert Pay – One of the new processors which is already becoming popular. Sign up free.
e-gold - You are almost certain to need a "gold" account at some stage. Sign up free.
To see lots more free stuff click here
posted by Elaine Currie @ 11:57 AM
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