I've been talking to hundreds of people both by email and here at my blog over the past couple of weeks. Of all the points made in those conversations, the one thing that stood out the most was the need for step-by-step help to learn how to make money online.
I did some research, asked around, and finally found someone who is offering exactly that. And for FREE, even...
Its called the Thirty Day Challenge and its hosted by Ed Dale and Dan Raines. This challenge is specifically for people who are struggling to make m0ney online. Here is a description:
"For a full 30 days we are going to show you exactly how to start your own Internet business and generate your first income online without spending a dime."
The challenge begins on August 1st 2008, but the pre-season training has already started. You can join in by registering at this link:
http://www.thirtydaychallenge.com/challenge/24627
This is an EXCELLENT first step to learn how to make money online. Even if you already have a website, or have spent a bit of time trying to learn various internet marketing strategies, this may be just what you need to get over the hump.
I registered myself to give it a full review, as they offer this challenge on a regular basis. It comes by VERY high recommendation from other SSWT readers & members. Including Jason Moffat (aka J-MO) who first started out on our forum and found his way to this challenge.
If you dont know Jason, do a search. He's quite a character, but also incredibly wealthy - as a result of what he learned and applied in his own (now super successful) online business.
I am actually recommending this 30 Day Challenge to the people who ask me about Traffic Secrets 2.0, but are so new to online business that they dont even have a (real) website yet.
You can see an example of that in my latest TS2 update:
http://www.clicknewz.com/1636/traffic-secrets-2-update/
Check it out for yourself. This may be JUST what you've been looking for to finally learn how to make money online. And you cant beat the price 😉
Best,
p.s. This is my referral link to the 30 Day Challenge. Its not an affiliate link as there is no cost to join in: http://www.thirtydaychallenge.com/challenge/24627
You'll get your own referral link once you sign in, so that you can invite your groups & friends too.
About Lynn Terry
Great idea.
If Lynn can see value in joining, we all can learn something.
I'm joining right now
Hi Lynn,
I am looking at the preseason videos not. Now sure
about the challenge begins on August 1st 2008.
Not sure about its cost. Will be checking it out on
August 1 to see.
Lonnie
Its completely free, Lonnie - start to finish 😉
No credit card required 😀
THANK YOU SO MUCH for this info Lynn. This is EXACTLY what "I" need; someone to take me by the hand, and show me what to do, to make my 'first' dollar, online.
I actually gave up a few weeks ago. Then your email arrived, with this offer.
This 30 Day Challenge 'sounds' right down my alley. I need a LOT of help.
I just joined, so look forward to getting started. Thank you again Lynn, for passing this on.
RJ
Lynn, thanks for posting this.
I encouraged my mom to sign up for this a few days ago. I'm trying to lure her into the blogging business since she's such a great writer (she's a journalist).
I finally signed up myself after hearing great things about it last year. It will be an interesting journey me thinks!
It's great to hear that more experienced bloggers are joining too. I think there is something in the 30DC for everyone, whether they're just starting out or have been doing it for years.
I've already learned about some cool tools just by going through the pre-training. Ed Dale is a great teacher 🙂
Not to throw a wet blanket on this, but here's my perspective from last year's 30DC.
The group you get into makes all the difference in the world. That will make or break you in this challenge. By the time I heard about it last year, pre-season was almost over and groups with the kind of people I wanted to be with were already filled up. So I thought I'd start my own. Five of us started out. Two of us made it to week 2. None of us made it any further than that. None of us had any experience in practical IM. Not a good mix.
The inherent problem with such challenges is the feeling of starting at a disadvantage. Then add to that the feeling that you're falling behind when all the tasks start piling up and you can't get them done in a day, and then there are more the next day. (Ed did have a few "catch up" days built into the schedule, but they didn't necessarily solve the whole falling behind problem. I'll talk more about that later.)
There is much to do each day, including listening to Ed Dale on his audios and videos. And although I like Ed a LOT (and give him every bit of credit he's due for coming up with this challenge, for the team that works on it, for the fact that it's totally free, for all the FREE cool stuff like toolbars and other tools etc.), his rambling, stream-of-consciousness style of talking without any sort of outline and no apparent point for over half the video or audio made me crazy. (Personally I love his Aussie dialect, but not everyone did.)
Last year when people complained about his personal style, he basically said that he was who he was and he wasn't going to be changing the format.
However, one thing that helped, which I hope they will do this year, is to have someone give a text summary, with good content, on what Ed said. Those saved me SOOOO much time.
But people got huffy, along with Ed, when some criticized him. It was pretty nasty the way the Ed supporters jumped on anyone who dared to say "This could be improved. This takes too long. I don't have time to watch videos or listen to audios that take so much of my time."
Sorry, no one has yet to be elected to god status. Let's have some perspective here. I know Ed reads this blog sometimes, so I'm sorry if I offend him. But the truth is (and Lynn, I know you agree with me about this. Well, actually *I* agree with YOU about this) I'd rather READ. That's my preferred way of consuming information (unless I'm commuting -- would that I had a car still...).
And if I've learned anything from Web 2.0, it is that although lots of people want audio and video, to change over entirely to either of those or both is to cut out a segment of your target market. Of course the same is true of text only marketers, so I'm trying to take that to heart myself for my product launch on Tuesday.
Sorry, Ed, but not all of us have time to listen/ watch for that long every day. And not all of us want to stop what we're doing to be locked into a set time period of listening/watching.
With text, I can skim and focus. And I'm good at that. I can't skim and focus on video or audio.
The final problem I encountered, was falling so far behind I didn't think I could catch up. IT WAS NOT THE FAULT OF THE 30DC. The feeling of falling that far behind may have been perceptual and not actual. The trouble is, PERCEPTION IS EVERYTHING.
Our perceptions *are our own particular reality*. We can be so off, so totally wrong, but how we perceive our world colors everything we think, see and do.
That's why reality checks are so important. They show us when our perceptions are wrong, and hopefully straightens them out.
I'm NOT saying people shouldn't try this. I just don't want anyone going into the 30DC with rose-colored glasses on, expecting it's going to be this wonderful experience every day through August. It MIGHT be. It might NOT.
I still say that some of what happens depends to a huge degree on the group you join. Some groups are cut-throat. Some are supportive. Some are clueless (like my group, where I was the blind leading the blind).
So IMHO, there is an element of chance to the 30DC: the group you end up in. And group size matters.
If they keep up the text summaries of Ed's audio/video posts, ("Summary" is not the best term, as it's not a transcript but it's MORE than a summary. It's kind of the Reader's Digest or Cliff Notes version), then people who prefer to read will have that available to them probably from the beginning. I haven't checked out the site this year yet.
Certainly people should TRY it if it interests them. The concept is great. The tools are phenomenal. The information is exceptional. And if you have a good group, the camaraderie is second to none. So is the support and encouragement (not to mention the social bookmarking potential with people actively digging and delicious-ing and stumbling your sites).
You MUST join a group and be an active participant for others to reciprocate and help you by promoting your endeavors as you promote theirs. In THEORY you could go it alone, but who will do your 2.0 promotion and who will you promote? See the point?
So go into the 30DC with your eyes OPEN. Get through the pre-season training and FIND A GOOD GROUP.
Say, Lynn, how about a group of us working with YOU? Now THAT I would jump on in a heartbeat.
Deb Gallardo
30 day challenge is fantastic!
I didn't do the tasks but i learned a lot from the videos that i watched and from the forum questions.
Each person has to follow what they feel is the best way for them to learn. There's a lot that they can get out of it. It really changed the
way I do keyword research
Even though Ed loves to talk a lot-lol- he is very entertaining and funny too.
But most of all he explains some things in a easy to follow format.
Definitely excellent material.
Another place for free trainings is the
black ink project.
Lots of good free stuff there for sure.
all the best,
Eren
You're not a wet blanket Deb. I logged in and looked around and it seemed cool. But I loaded the first video (started at "square 1")... and its 41 minutes long 😐 Wow.
I havent even made it through the first 5 minutes. You know how I am about video. A cheat sheet or cliffnotes version would make me VERY happy 🙂
I'll keep you posted, of course...
Hi Lynn and thanks for the info. I also signed up as I am the newbie that needs the step by step and you certainly can't beat the price!
I just have to see how my time allows me to watch all the videos and not fall behind.
I liked Deb's idea about joining a group with you. 🙂
Jean Mandel
I've actually been in that before! It's a great competition and it really helped me out a lot. I recommend that all of you check it out 😉
Great Jean - I am still reviewing the preseason training. Its been a busy weekend here, so hopefully I can finish that up before the 1st rolls around (time flies!). I'll be sure to keep you all posted with fresh notes here at ClickNewz. Be sure to subscribe by email for updates - there is a form at the top right of the page!
I signed up and went through the preseason. Man, Ed has some nice music gear!
I'm not sure how much time I will be able to dedicate to the 30 day challenge - probably not enough to get max results as I'm spending about 4 hours a day setting up a new blog.
But I am going to try and absorb as much of the info as possible as I know Ed's stuff is always top notch.
Got me hooked there - going to use 30DC to pull myself back into business
Thanks for the link. This does seem like some good stuff. I'll be sure to join and post back my experience here 🙂
Thanks for your information.I am very much intrested in online money making.If the service is completely free i am going for an experiment.I have a personnel website using that I want to make money.
Henrik - great to hear from you! 😀
I just started Black Ink Project 2 today. 15 day free course from Jeremy Palmer. Plus you get his OMS PPC tracking script for free. It's selling for $94.
The only caveat is you must sign up for a 14-day WebEx trial since that will his case study during the course. It's a creative way of getting paid via affiliate commission so we can get this course for free. Just make sure you cancel your trial so you don't get charged by webex. It's easy. I did a video recording showing you how:
http://www.imnirvana.com/black-ink-project-20
Anyway just another great free training for affiliate marketing from one of the best, Jeremy Palmer.
Great link Lynn - looks like just the thing my readers would be interested in so I'll be sure to share it. Thanks for the heads up!
Alan - I have heard great things about the BI project as well. Thank you for posting an update here about it. Did the new series just start today (7/28)? I noticed you can go through the archives here: http://www.theblackinkproject.com/when-does-it-start.php
Thx!
Lynn - Jeremy is doing BI2 a little different than the first so it's now live per say. Each course is recorded and available for download as windows media, quicktime for macs, mp3 for the ipod/mp3 players, and flash. So very handy. Each session has at least 4 supplemental materials to keep you on track. And every Friday he has a live chat to discuss the weeks session. Right now he has 9 sessions posted and ready to rock n roll. He'll have a total of 15.
It's an entire affiliate marketing course all for free. Plus you get his $94 PPC tracking software for free as well. I've never seen anything like this offered for free.
Sorry, messed up above...I meant to say unlike BI1 the course is NOT the live call in format but recorded.
This style is a lot better for me than the lives weekly calls. 🙂 It was too much info to get through in one call.
He basically took the pros/cons of BI1 and made it better with BI2.
Seriously, I tried! I could not get through an entire video (I started four). Bored me to tears. And what about the rants...mac vs. pc and ms explorer? One video had such poor audio that I stopped it almost immediately.
I can't wait for the next great tip but this one simply is not for me.
By the way Lynn...I have identified myself as a time waster. Thanks! I needed that! But I am committed to changing my classification!
I haven't watched the videos yet, but what great idea. Plus, it's free. I could always use more help on how to make more money online. Thanks.
I understand Troy - Its no secret I am not a fan of video. I am having a hard time setting aside the time to review all of the preseason videos now to be honest - but working on it 😉
@Alan - thank you again! I sent the link out to SSWT readers this morning. Another excellent resource!
I watched the live broadcast tonight for the 30 Day Challenge - anyone else? My browser crashed right as Ed Dale was announcing the prizes... but I found out via Twitter that I won the 3rd place prize. Very cool! We did it again 😉 w00t!
Anyway, I have to say... Ed Dale just may convert me to a video watcher yet (lol). Luckily there WILL be transcripts for those that want to use them, so that was good news!
Everyone still in - excited about kick off??
Oh - and FYI there's a call out to anyone who hasnt yet found a "team": Calling All Lynn's Terry SSWT Forum Members
Hi Lynn, I took part in Ed Dale's "Thirty Day Challenge" Last year and he definitely delivered what he promised. I would highly recommend his program.
Ed gives so much valuable content for FREE.. and you can have fun using his strategies and techniques to make money.
It has already begun. I've participated.. hoping to really learn some good stuff 🙂
Just wanted to thank you Lynn for the 30 Day Challenge referral. What a crash course, especially when you start 9 days late. I'm already learning a lot and can not believe the tools and insight they give us.
Thanks again,,,,,,,,,Del
Just a great info by the author . I’ve also participated.Hope it will work
Have you heard of the internet marketing program called Wealthy Affiliate? I would love Lynn's review on this.
Yes, I have heard of it but I haven't reviewed it.