Millionaire Internet marketing entrepreneurs thrive in San Diego
Internet marketer Jason Moffatt wears a strand of prayer beads to remind him to "stay in the now" and be responsible for his marketing actions. (Photo by Helen Kaiao Chang)
Internet entrepreneur Jason Moffatt works about five hours per week and makes more than $200,000 a year.
His dirty-blonde hair has that windswept look; his arms are covered with tattoos; and his typical work attire is T-shirt, shorts and flip flops. He spends most of his free time surfing.
In the next several months, he expects to make about $500,000 on a new Internet product he will launch.
Yes, it sounds like a dream life. But this guy is for real.
Surfing in San Diego
Moffatt, 34, is one of a growing number of Internet marketing entrepreneurs who have moved to San Diego in recent years — drawn by sand, sky and surf. These entrepreneurs make money selling products online, while teaching others how to do the same.
The products are mostly information goods - books, ebooks, CDs, DVDs, events. They also make money selling other people’s products through affiliate marketing to their databases.
The other entrepreneurs in Moffatt’s circle are legions in this growing industry: Frank Kern, Andy Jenkins, John Reese, Paul Lemberg, Mike Koenigs, Matt Trainer, Amish Shah and Bob Serling. They mostly live along the North County coast. Many, like Moffatt, spend their free time surfing.
Among his peers, Moffatt is on the low end of the earning pole. His buddies, according to Moffatt, make anywhere from $1 million to $20 million a year.
John Reese made $1 million in one day launching a product called “Traffic Secrets” in 2006. After that, others started breaking the $1 million a day barrier, said Moffatt. One guy made $1.4 million in six hours in 2007.
“I’ve seen it in their PayPal accounts,” said Moffat. “Those guys have money coming out of their ears, wallets, and any crevice you can find.”
Internet hotbed
San Diego is becoming a “hotbed” of Internet marketing experts, said Kevin Koskella, a full-time Internet entrepreneur and organizer of the San Diego Internet Marketers Meetup group, which has about 100 members. This is because San Diego’s lifestyle is more conducive to flexible jobs selling to global consumers, than corporate geography-specific jobs.
Koskella said he is not personally familiar with Moffatt’s network of marketers, though he has heard many of their names mentioned in Meetup gatherings. Koskella also happens to be on Moffatt’s e-mail list, which he never opens. “I’m on a lot of newsletters that I don’t look at,” he said.
Koskella has also met Kern, while both were surfing in La Jolla Shores.
“Frank Kern is one of the biggest names in the industry,” Koskella said.
How they do it
For many Internet entrepreneurs, the goal is to live a lifestyle espoused in The 4-Hour Workweek, by Timothy Ferriss. The bestselling business book talks about pursuing a passionate life, working few hours, and generating income through Web sites by using virtual assistants, outsourcing and Google ads.
In San Diego, these guys are doing it.
“The sky’s the limit,” said Koskella. “If you get into the right topic and the right niche, you can make a ton of money.”
41 Web sites
Moffatt began trading online in 2005, and by early this year, had 41 Web site businesses. They generate anywhere from $200 to $120,000 per site annually.
In recent months, he has been preparing for a new aggregate site, which he projects will make $500,000 in one week. Another new site he and two business partners will launch is an online game - a scavenger hunt, called Find that Tweet.
“This could be huge,” Moffatt said, declining to give numbers.
Database marketing
Moffatt graciously let me visit his home office in Carlsbad, where we logged onto some of his sites and poured over his Web, PayPal and ClickBank accounts.
Moffatt markets these sites mostly through free e-mail newsletters, blogs, affiliate links and copy embedded with words that users search - called SEO keywords.
He currently has 40 databases of about 25,000 people total - sizeable by Internet marketing standards, according to Koskella. They follow Moffatt through his blogs and newsletters, which create enough loyal customers who buy his products.
Moffatt is now at a point where he can generate sales just by writing a few e-mails to his database.
Affiliate income
Depending on the promotion, Moffat has made anywhere from $40 to $40,000 a day, he said. His top three sites grossed more than $200,000 combined in the last year.
The big ticket item was Moffatt’s affiliate site selling Frank Kern’s marketing products, which is only open during certain marketing periods of the year. Affiliates are like sales agents who earn a commission from selling other people’s products to their database of customers. For this particular product, Moffatt earns 50 percent.
For approximately 18 months from March 2008 to August 2009, commissions for Moffatt from this affiliate site was $108,811.68, minus $13,815.28 in refunds, according to records shown to SDNN. That left a net payment for Moffatt of $94,996.40.
Ebook income
On another site, Moffatt’s made about $36,000 in the last 12 months, records showed. This site is about playing poker and offers an eBook for $47 to $97, depending on the promotion. Moffatt started the site about four years ago and has built a following of about 12,000 on this particular database.
Moffatt’s remaining Web sites bring in anywhere from $200 to $40,000 per site annually. He could probably make more, but he focuses on the ones that make the most dollars for the least amount of effort, he said.
Surfing vs. working
Despite financial success, Moffatt said his lifestyle is more important.
“Could I make $10 million a year? Absolutely,” he said. “If I were to sit in an office five days a week and do what I do all day, and I didn’t make at least $5 million I would feel really let down.
“But that (goes against) my whole persona,” he said. “I don’t’ like to work. I’m a slacker. That’s kind of what I’ve made money on — banking on being a slacker kid.”
Content sources
Some of Moffatt’s Web sites offer information that he himself created - such as how to play poker or how to use video online.
Other sites are based on other people’s content. For example, photoshopguides.com mostly consists of user-generated content - information provided by visitors to the site. The free tutorials attract readers, while advertising and Photoshop products sold on the site bring in revenue.
Moffatt does a balancing act between giving away free content and selling products.
“We’re constantly trying to find something that (consumers) will buy,” he said.
Virtual assistants
Like many Internet entrepreneurs, Moffatt leverages his time and expertise as much as possible. To build and maintain his sites, he uses two virtual assistants, a designer in India and a full-time customer service representative in Hillcrest, who appears via live video stream on one of his sites.
Compulsive shoppers
Internet entrepreneur Jason Moffatt spends five hours a week doing "actual work," he said. (Photo by Helen Kaiao Chang)
Many of Moffatt’s customers are compulsive shoppers. Among the customers who buy his online marketing courses, only 5 percent become successful selling products to other people, he said.
Based on the analytics, he estimates that another 5 percent never open the course materials; 50 percent open, but never use them; and 45 percent try, but fail.
Why do so many fail?
“They’re not likeable, not believable or they’re selling shoddy products,” he said.
“Or they don’t learn to market the products effectively. Sometimes people with shoddy products sell more than people with great products, just because they know how to market them.”
Trustworthy personas
As an Internet marketing coach hired by celebrity trainers and motivational speakers, Moffatt has had clients with great products and marketing copy, but sales are still low.
Their personas lack likeability or charisma, so customers don’t trust them enough to buy, he said. In these cases, Moffatt tells clients: “You have to work on you.”
More competition
Going forward, Moffatt sees more competition, as Internet shopping gains popularity and more laid off workers go online to make money.
Moffatt also foresees more government restrictions, “and rightly so,” he said. Businesses will need to have more transparency, as social media gains popularity and creates instant feedback from consumers, he said.
Congress and the Federal Trade Commission are also considering various measures, which will regulate online advertising and marketing behavior. Moffatt’s mentor Kern has already had run-ins with the FTC. In 2003, the FTC filed a lawsuit against Kern for “false and misleading income claims.”
But this created more fodder for Kern’s blogs and has not stopped Kern from growing his business online.
Koskella of the Meetup group said, “It’s not a red flag,” noting that such FTC filings are not uncommon in the business.
More collaboration
Moffatt said the increased competition, regulation and transparency can also help Internet businesses. It will force people to collaborate, such as with affiliate programs to cross-sell and cross-promote products, he said.
Despite the competition, Moffatt believes a few expert marketers will continue to lead the pack, because they have pioneered the industry. And they have put in their time, he said.
Moffatt said part of the reason he is able to work so few hours and make so much money now is because of the long hours he’s spent in previous years.
“The surfing image is because we have worked our asses off,” he said.
Living in the “now”
Moffatt grew up in a lower-middle class family in Portland, Ore., where the family sometimes needed food assistance. As a teenager inspired by violent rap music and TV shows, he got involved in drugs, guns and theft.
Moffatt lived in a shed for $100/mo rent, when he first started trading online in 2004 by running a cable wire up the tree near the toilet. (Photo courtesy Jason Moffatt.)
In his early 20s, fed up with crime, Moffatt started reading books a friend gave him. The books were by Osho, a controversial Indian spiritual teacher who started an ashram in Oregon in the 1980s. For two years, the young man devoured the books and began to meditate.
This taught Moffatt to “live in the now” and “watch my thoughts,” he said. “It’s real simple, you know: Love people, do good, be nice — even to the ones that you might not want to be nice to or love.”
Throughout his 20s, Moffatt worked variously as a street magician, private investigator, and cable salesperson.
Today, Moffatt lives with his girlfriend in Carlsbad, in a five-bedroom house overlooking the ocean. He pays $4,000 in rent, whereas the landlord pays $8,000 for the mortgage, he said. He also owns a house in Portland.
On a tour of the house, Moffatt showed off the balcony view of the beach, the granite-covered kitchen, the music room, where he keeps his guitars, the yoga room with weights, and the garage, where he stores his dozen or so surfboards.
Marketing and spirituality
But Moffatt’s marketing efforts sometimes clash with his spiritual beliefs.
“I love it and I hate it,” he said.
“I hate it because I don’t necessarily like taking money from people, but I love it because we give so much value to people. I hate it because a lot of people don’t do well. And I love it because I see a small group of people that do do well, and I watch it affect their lives, their kids’ lives, the people around them. I watch how people are able to contribute to charities and stuff.”
“The money is cool because it does allow you to do the things you’ve always wanted to do,” he said. “But it’s just money. More money is not going to make a difference in my life.
“However, it can make a difference in other’s people lives. Money can definitely allow me to help other people out. If you have an excess of money and you’re looking at people who can’t even eat, that’s no fun.”
See related stories:
San Diego’s Internet entrepreneurs find new income streams
Small businesses use social media to attract customers
Helen Kaiao Chang is SDNN’s business editor. Follow her on Twitter @helenchang.
Tags: 4-hour workweek, Amish Shah, Andy Jenkins, bob serling, Carlsbad, congress, federal trade commission, find that tweet, Frank Kern, ftc, internet entrepreneurs, jason moffatt, John Reeves, kevin koskella, La Jolla Shores, Matt Trainer, Mike Koenigs, osho, Paul Lemberg, paypal, Portland, San Diego Internet Marketers Meetup, SDNN, timothy ferriss, Uncategorized
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Comment by: Annie Posted: September 29, 2009, 6:20 pm
Hi Mr. Jason,
I am trying to start a web design business: http://www.heartsofvision. How do you suggest that I attract clients to my extroadinary colorful designs for their site? OR do you have any suggestions. …Annie
Comment by: Evelyn Guzman Posted: September 30, 2009, 5:38 am
It is so good to hear about the success other people have experienced in internet marketing. I wish though there’s more honesty in this business or transparency as you put it. At least Moffatt is mulling over this and seems to want to help other people.
Evelyn Guzman
http://www.homebusinesssteps.com (If you want to visit, just click but if it doesn’t work, copy and paste it onto your browser.)
Comment by: Joseph Ratliff Posted: September 30, 2009, 1:30 pm
Good to see J-Mo get the attention…good job dude!
And a little correction to the story is in order…as of this minute the name “John Reeves” needs to be changed to “John Reese” founder of Income.com.
Great story though.
Comment by: Michael Robertson Posted: September 30, 2009, 3:05 pm
I hope everyone recognizes a scam when they see it. This list of internet entrepreneurs sell get rich schemes disguised as online sales and marketing. They’re slick but it’s nothing new - only the sales method (online web sites and video) make it appear new. They boast of their great sales prowess and if you give them money they will show you how. If they could make this kind of money they would do more of it and not be selling training kits. And they surely wouldn’t be teaching others to compete with them. Duh.
Be skeptical. If it seems to good to be true it is.
Comment by: Brian McLeod Posted: September 30, 2009, 4:00 pm
Hey J-Mo,
You just got bashed by the founder of MP3.com.
Pretty sweet, right?
Lolz
Comment by: Dylan Posted: September 30, 2009, 4:41 pm
Rock on Jason!
I loved the quick video, and it is an interesting struggle between spirituality and marketing. Once you venture into MANY markets then it can really take a tole on you.
I am really lookin’ into the balance between the two, and hopefully enhance both at the same time.
BTW - Comments like Micheal Robertson is another reason why doing what we do has a negative effect on ourselves…
Jason works really hard to bring value to his clients (like me and many others), and yet face this kinda of criticism for doing what we believe in is good for others.
“If it seems to good to be true, it is”
It’s that kind of statement that is holding a lot of people down in many areas of life.
One love. One blood!
- Dylan
Comment by: Judy Kettenhofen Posted: September 30, 2009, 5:08 pm
J-Mo has a lot more solid and profound values than most people I’ve met — and would be a surprise, I think, to many people who buy into the slacker image.
J-Mo lays out the formula fairly clearly above — except for the cultural blinders that tie our thinking to pay-per-hour. Isn’t that an invention of the Industrial Revolution ? Maybe it looked pretty good when the alternative was getting up before dawn to feed the animals — not sure.
Comment by: Jim Posted: September 30, 2009, 5:18 pm
Sniff sniff do I smell a rat?
“I hate it because I don’t necessarily like taking money from people, but I love it because we give so much value to people. I hate it because a lot of people don’t do well. And I love it because I see a small group of people that do do well, and I watch it affect their lives, their kids’ lives, the people around them. I watch how people are able to contribute to charities and stuff.”
“The money is cool because it does allow you to do the things you’ve always wanted to do,” he said. “But it’s just money.
Comment by: Ryan Posted: September 30, 2009, 5:32 pm
Michael Robertson is on point.
But most people just don’t want to see reality.
Comment by: Jason Moffatt Posted: September 30, 2009, 6:09 pm
Helen,
Thanks for the write up. It was a pleasure having you in my home and sharing ideas with you.
As for Michael Robertson’s comments, there are elements of truth in what he says. Especially for him. Everyone has their core beliefs about salesmen.
You have to be careful out there. To not be careful would be grave mistake. Sadly, most people are far from careful.
Best wishes,
Jason Moffatt
Comment by: Jason Moffatt Posted: September 30, 2009, 6:28 pm
Ya know, I didn’t read Michael’s post well enough. I didn’t realize he said “this list of internet entrepreneurs” meaning, myself and friends.
It’s too bad he feels that way.
I typically like to get more facts before blaring out such uninformed statements, but to each their own. I don’t recall him being a customer of mine so how he would know the kind of contents I sell is beyond me.
Are you a customer Michael?
Comment by: M Posted: September 30, 2009, 7:10 pm
Jason, shouldn’t you keep records of your customers?
Surely you would have a system in place to easily find Michael Robertson’s account?
It’s business basics 101.
Comment by: SmittyX Posted: September 30, 2009, 8:27 pm
Thats funny, one Guy who sells product he has nothing to do with IE: Mp3s, calling another Guy who at least has some input on the products he sells a scamer. I will agree that most of these products will not make you rich, they can point you in the right direction. Most people buy this stuff and it just collects dust on a harddrive, if you put these things into action they can work. However
I have found that most of these products are not the and all do all answer to producing income online.
SmittyX, the Kahunadude
Comment by: Gregory Matthews Posted: September 30, 2009, 8:28 pm
RE: Michael Robertson
Dude, there couldn’t be a more legit, honest, and humble group of guys than what this Article discussed.
Although I’m empathetic to where you’re coming from, your comments are really unfair, and unfounded.
And although you’re completely entitled to your opinion, let this retort serve to balance this issue.
I speak from personal experience with each of these guys.
Do you?
Gregory
Comment by: Gregory Matthews Posted: September 30, 2009, 8:46 pm
… oh, and the keyword to this silly debate is “action”. If you want a great primer as to what prevents most of us from taking action, watch this:
http://tonyrobbinstraining.com/320/interview-with-frank-kern-and-john-reese/
And no, I’m NOT affiliated with any of this. Just thought that Tony Robbins did an excellent job breaking this obstacle down.
Gregory
Comment by: Jenn Posted: September 30, 2009, 8:51 pm
Jason,
Well, I don’t know if Michael is one of your customers — but I am
“They boast of their great sales prowess and if you give them money they will show you how…Be skeptical. If it seems to good to be true it is.”
Gee Michael — I AM one of Jason’s customers (as are many others I know) and I HAVE made money with the things he has taught.
I too earn a full time living online. I started out so I could stay home with my little boy. It’s pretty uninformed to think that everything being sold about how to make money online is a scam.
If I had been that skeptical 2 years ago, my life would surely be different than it is right now.
There are honest and ethical marketers out there. To paint everyone with the same brush is wrong.
To those who doubt — people buy things online right? People surf the web every single day. Companies are selling things…companies (like Ebay, Amazon, Buy.com, and Google) offer you the chance to get a commission if you drive traffic to what they are selling.
What about that is a scam? What about that is an unreachable dream?
Don’t be afraid to make your own opportunities. I just want to point out to those who want to take control of their financial future to ignore the doubters.
Comment by: HADLEY STARKEY Posted: September 30, 2009, 9:11 pm
I hate Joe Iszuzu! Jason is an “Educator” like so many of us that are internet marketers! Jason, You ROCK Brother! Rock On!
Comment by: James Posted: September 30, 2009, 9:13 pm
@Michael and @M
Competition is almost always good for business.
Some people are scam artists, but the people listed are not. Many are making money outside the “selling training kits” business, in fact many make most of their money outside of that business arena.
Everything from dog training, to poker, to porn. They make money in many different areas and teach many aspiring online entrepreneurs to learn to sell their wares in their areas. They aren’t always competing.
Not everyone is a born salesperson in fact, most of us aren’t, so most people need help to sell online. Personally I am a born salesman, but I am constantly purchasing books, courses, attending seminars and studying the craft so I can perfect my skill.
As a business owner, Michael, you should know better than to put other business people down without having all the facts.
To “M”, I’m sure he was going through his database because he REALLY wanted to know if Michael was a customer because Michael has that much of an impact on his life or the life of anyone else here.
Comment by: Joe Fier Posted: September 30, 2009, 11:14 pm
This was an awesome article!
As a beginning internet marketer myself, I have MASSIVE respect for Jason and everyone else mentioned. By reading this article, it has fed the fire in my stomach to work harder and harder to make this a full-time career for me.
It only makes sense that I’ll be successful in this business, I like it San Diego! It seems like this place is the Mecca for internet marketers. Now I just need to start surfing in the same spots as these guys and make some valuable connections!
Joe Fier
Comment by: Rocky Posted: September 30, 2009, 11:33 pm
It’s possible to make money online.
Comment by: Kevin Posted: October 1, 2009, 12:40 am
“If they could make this kind of money they would do more of it and not be selling training kits. And they surely wouldn’t be teaching others to compete with them.”
See, here’s the problem….you don’t get to decide how others run their business. Just because you’re incapable of teaching AND doing doesn’t mean others have the same shortcomings, or the same shortsightedness.
Comment by: Johnny A Posted: October 1, 2009, 5:06 am
Very interesting post. Hopefully, this will convince all those people who think that making a living online is impossible.
Cheers,
Johnny
Comment by: Robin Skeen Posted: October 1, 2009, 5:35 am
Way to go J-Mo! Nice to see you get some credit due.
Comment by: Jason Fladlien Posted: October 1, 2009, 7:17 am
Great article - I can speak from firsthand experience that Jason Moffatt is 100% real, and offers great value to his customers.
I just got back from a seminar in San Diego that I was speaking at, and the night before it began I got to talk with Jason a little bit. He’s 100% authentic, and a great person who has a lot to offer.
He really inspires others as well, which in the end is what it’s really about.
-Jason
Comment by: Shane Hale Posted: October 1, 2009, 9:46 am
I can definitely say JMo is legit! He offers great content with his products and the circle he runs with are the cream of the crop. Awesome write up !
Comment by: Marc Rodill Posted: October 1, 2009, 9:49 am
What’s even cooler is, Jason Fladlien posted a comment on this article!
That dude rocks!
Okay, maybe just everyone with the name Jason…
IDK.
-Marc
Comment by: JM Posted: October 1, 2009, 11:22 am
Yup, Michael Robertson is totally on point. If you want to meet a REAL internet entrepreneur, look at that guy cause he’s it.
While these “internet entrepreneurs” might make a few duckets to rub together, they’re some of the biggest internet noisemaking d-bags I’ve ever seen. Let’s be honest, they’re just spammers at best and scammers at worst, and horrible human beings throughout.
I can’t believe how much this article read like a sensation piece and was actually printed on SDNN.
Comment by: Michael Robertson Posted: October 1, 2009, 11:31 am
Let me post a follow up with some more clarification about my thoughts.
There are clearly principles of selling which are important for anyone to learn who wants to start a business (regardless of whether its online). Collecting data, measuring ROI, testing various hypothesis, etc. Also there’s value in motivating people to give something a go. To the extent the people listed in this article are educating and motivating that’s good.
However, let me counter that by saying there are no easy ways to to make money online or offline (well none that are legal). You can’t lounge around and just put in a few hours a week and make millions or even hundreds of thousands or even tens of thousands. Life doesn’t work that way. Whatever industry you choose to compete in will take hard hard work if you want to be successful. Our free market system means there will always be ferocious competition. If you find an opportunity to make money it will quickly be copied by a flood of competitors which will take the profit out of the opportunity.
There aren’t any replicatible online sales systems where you put in $1 and get $2 or even $1.50 or $1.10. If there were people would dump millions into it and keep the profit for themselves - they wouldn’t tell anyone else.
Back to the Jason, Frank and the others I slagged in my comment. To the extent they are teaching people about online marketing and sales strategies and motivating them that clearly has value and if Frank’s video is any indication then they make it quite informative and entertaining. See: http://masscontrolsite.com/blog/
But I’ll stand by my criticism that anyone who is saying “give me $29.95 and I’ll show you how to unlock online riches” then that’s just modernized scams like the guys offering schemes to buy real estate for $1 in informercials. Yes, I know they’re buying keywords and then directing it sell online stuff - I get it. But seriously people if there are keywords you can buy for 25 cents that would make you 35 cents don’t you think someone would be writing computer software to do this by the millions? It would be completely automated process with no humans involved and whoever invested in writing that software would want to maximize the money they would make.
I will give credit to Frank who sent me email and offered to get together which I will take him up on in the near future.
– MR
Comment by: James Hendricks Posted: October 1, 2009, 11:31 am
Jason is one of my neighbors and a fellow surfer here in Carlsbad. My personal experience with Jason is that he’s been a fun breath of fresh air in the Internet Marketing space, very approachable, and a 100% stand up guy since the first day I ever communicated with him. He’s always gone out of his way to quickly and personally answer any questions I’ve had, no matter how trivial, and has always treated me with respect and like a friend. Jason really gets it when it comes to customer service and there is no denying his talent. I respect what he’s accomplished and the way he’s done it. Props Jason! Aloha.
Comment by: Frank Kern Posted: October 1, 2009, 12:28 pm
This is probably the most important statement in the article:
“The surfing image is because we have worked our asses off”.
The Internet game is a good one and can be very profitable. But, like any craft, it takes work and dedication to really get great at it.
Here’s a formula that has worked well for me:
1.Find out what people are buying by doing market research.
2. Promote the best-selling products as an affiliate in order to verify that the product is selling well. (PPC networks such as Yahoo Search Marketing are an easy place to start.)
The goal of this step isn’t necessarily to make an immediate profit.
It’s more to simply verify that the product is selling.
Remember, when you promote something as an affiliate, you only keep a fraction of the sale.
3. If the product sells, create a better product of your own and promote it with superior marketing.
4. Treat the customers incredibly well and offer them more products that will help them.
This is obviously a simplified version but that’s about it.
And it goes without saying that the products you develop are good and genuinely help people.
But the bottom line is success like Jason’s RARELY happens overnight.
It takes work, risk, and dedication.
Comment by: Amish Shah Posted: October 1, 2009, 2:14 pm
Hi all,
Thought I would chime in here as well. Any of the people mentioned in this post are not those $29.95 people who sell courses to make millions. In fact we thrive on our own success and want to help others achieve the same. We don’t pitch get rich quick schemes. That’s not our game.
It’s about building a brand and a business. Yes I do PPC and Media Buys and other stuff, but to me it’s about the technology. We have several robust systems that track down everything we do and measure all the data we accumulate. Our database is over 1 terrabyte and we have about 13 employees! I busted my ass to get where I am now and no it was not easy.
It’s about hard work and believing you can accomplish anything you put your mind to. We just provide a route that you can follow to accomplish your ultimate goal. A guide if you will.
That’s it for now!
Amish
Comment by: Mr. Gunn Posted: October 1, 2009, 2:48 pm
I’m not going to mince words:
These are the people who ruined email and are trying to ruin twitter now as well. This is nothing but a Ponzi scheme and if there were an FDA for business practices, they’d all be shut down. The very motivation for social networking was to provide a way to filter these bottom feeders out. Saying they add value to the internet is like saying a stiff headwind adds value to a run.
I don’t say this about many people, nor about marketers or advertisers in general, but truly and unconditionally, the world would be better off without them.
Comment by: Cam Forbes Posted: October 1, 2009, 4:35 pm
First off, Jason, congrats on the piece. Good stuff.
Sadly, we always hear from the vocal few who haven’t seen success, or haven’t been able to duplicate an initial success. Sure, they want to see you get ahead — but never too far ahead of themselves.
Just like the crab in the bucket, if they aren’t going to be the one to rise to the top they’ll just try to pull everyone else down.
Shame on them, kudos to you.
Rock on.
Aloha,
Cam
Comment by: Jason Moffatt Posted: October 1, 2009, 5:42 pm
I’ve received well over a dozen emails or messages from people that are appalled by Michael’s accusations. Some of them are quite bitter in tone and words.
At first I was a wee bit peeved myself. However, after taking a quick breather and assessing the situation for what it really is, the picture is much clearer. It’s always less mucky when you look at things from all angles and with a calm mind.
I’m actually glad Michael posted his beliefs and feelings, as well as the others in this post. Your feedback is great stuff. Of course, us marketers can ignore it and write you off as haters or those that don’t “get it”.
But what would that accomplish?
Despite the fact that I believe Michael’s comment are incredibly erroneous, and ill informed, I do value his opinion. And smart marketers should as well because outside of our little IM circle (and it really is small), many people share the same belief as he. In fact, a whole lot of people. Probably the overwhelming majority.
They just can’t comprehend how this kind of income could be generated so therefore it must be a scam. I get that. I used to feel the same way before I investigated this stuff myself.
I use the word “investigate” because when I got started making money online, I was a “Private Detective” on a mission to find out where the “real money” was on the internet.
Throughout my research I found a lot of scams. I also found a lot of reputable people doing some amazing things. In fact, I wrote this report called “The Truth Serum” which explains much of these findings.
You can read it for free at http://www.profitmoffatt.com/ebooks/truth-serum1.pdf
Anyhow, my point is… instead of getting worked up over a conflicting opinion, it’s a great opportunity to see how someone on the other side of the coin views things.
Of course, I do think it’s a bit malicious for someone to come out and call me a scammer. It may even borderline on slander. But I’d rather use it as a learning experience on how I can further bring value to my customers and even further reassure new customers that we are the real deal.
My business is very transparent. My customer service agent is on LIVE camera everyday if you ever have a question. There’s a phone number you can call during any week day 9 to 5. You can text message if you like. You can refund at any moment.
I’m literally PIONEERING the standard for customer service and transparency in business. Show me ANY company online where you can actually “SEE” the customer service agents you are talking to?
Yeah right. Submit a ticket and wait, and pray for a response. Not here.
Without a shadow of a doubt, I know of NOT ONE company that offers better customer support than I. I’d love for someone to show me a way to improve it.
Our refund rates are well below the industry average and for a damn good reason. We take care of our people. I have hundreds and hundreds of unsolicited testimonials. Google my name and see how many bad reviews you see.
Exactly.
So Michael, I won’t be here holding my breath that you change your mind. You’re entitled to feel however you want about the issue. But it sure would be helpful if you had the facts before accosting some of us in a public forum. Failure to do so sort of negates your argument, which actually has some really good merit, minus the finger pointing. You just pointed in the wrong direction in my opinion. It also kinda kills your credibility, and from all appearances you’ve worked really hard to build that credibility and reputation. Hard work that I really do respect.
However, I do get it. I understand, and so should other marketers reading this article.
People are jaded, and rightfully so. It’s our jobs to provide the best materials possible and do our best to educate people on the “real” ways to make income.
Sadly, cut throat marketers will do just about anything to soil the industry for an extra buck. But does that mean that 100% of make money opportunities online are bogus?
Of course not!
If you buy a Subway franchise are you guaranteed the shop is going to profit?
If you go to Harvard for 6 years are you guaranteed to get a job applying that degree?
If you build your own construction business are you guaranteed to get clients?
So are these business opportunities scams just because failure exists? Of course not.
Every business has risks, and there is no opportunity that I know of that is 100%. It’s absolutely no different with the internet.
You get out what you put in.
In closing I just want to say that regardless of how you feel about income opportunities on the internet, you’ll likely attract that in which you believe. If you think everything is a scam, you’ll probably walk right into a scam. I’d wager money on it.
However, if you do your due diligence (I know this may be asking too much) and really get the facts (they are available) you can start to separate the wheat from the chaff.
Best of luck, and stay safe out there.
Jason Moffatt
Comment by: Karim Dahmani Posted: October 1, 2009, 9:07 pm
I find this article very interesting, I am also involved in the Internet Marketing business as the IT director of StomperNet. What people do not realize is that behind a lot of these launches there big teams of very knowledgeable people that make this happen. Anybody interested in making money online should definitely be checking out StomperNet that offers all the training and tools as well as coaching to help someone succeed online.
http://www.stomper999launch.com
Comment by: R.S. Johnson Posted: October 1, 2009, 11:52 pm
Both Jason and Michael both have legitimate arguments.
As an affiliate marketer, I sadly have to admit, this industry is notoriously shady.
Regardless, there are countless success stories of many who have had huge success and without scamming others to do so.
In order to succeed, one must be diligent, stay way, way, way ahead of the competition and make some sacrifices.
It’s a not a 9-5 job, but a lifestyle.
I guarantee when all these guys started out, they did not work the 4hr weeks they do now.
They payed their dues and are now finally reaping the rewards.
Comment by: James Hickey Posted: October 2, 2009, 10:24 am
Great article, I think most of us live here because of the beautiful scenery that we can use in videos…haha.
Treat Internet Marketing like a business instead of a get rich quick scheme and you will succeed. Also need training, marketing skills and a good mentor.
James Hickey
Comment by: Michael Posted: October 7, 2009, 6:36 am
Yes, I can certainly see how conflicted you are in your spirituality. Perhaps another video poker website will help you find your way in these troubled times.
Comment by: Marcus Posted: October 7, 2009, 7:12 am
We the web designing community of San Diego certainly appreciate the outpouring generosity and sense of community you exemplify by outsourcing your business and new found wealth to India. BTW, can you surf in Bombay?
Comment by: Joe Posted: October 7, 2009, 6:18 pm
Hey, Moffat,
How about you showing us the paypal account not from someone else’s computer and internet connection. I can easily build the PayPal.com that would let me log-in and show tens of millions of dollars. Big deal.
And others are right - this is scheme, not a business. At first there were MLMs, now it’s a free for all where you don’t even need a product to make a pyramid. Just a few e-books and a DVD that can be made in a day. And who cares if there is no useful information once the payments clear.
It’s also obvious that there are maybe 3-4 of you writing up the favorable replies pretending to be customers.
Comment by: Jay Posted: October 12, 2009, 3:29 pm
Anything this easy eventually falls and crashes in life. For the ones who made money, like Jason, congratulations on finding a way many others would have difficulty finding. But for others, just beware….we live in a bubble economy, and everything that goes up must come down. You don’t get something for nothing in life. Choose your paths wisely!
Comment by: Holli Posted: October 13, 2009, 11:28 am
Yeah, Jason’s a case. He’s so conflicted he acted like every multinational corporation farming American jobs out to the lowest bidder.
He worked his ass off.
I wish Frank Kern would just take me under his wing look over my shoulder, excise YEARS from the learning curve and be my BFF/sugar daddy for life…
I’d be livin the good life in San Diego then too.
Comment by: S Posted: October 15, 2009, 2:55 pm
The many faces of jealousy. Haters are funny!
Comment by: TruthBeKnown Posted: October 15, 2009, 6:18 pm
I love comedy pieces. This is one for sure.
Please realize these are scammers %100. They pray on people and would have no problem taking your last dollar.