ClickNewz! Internet Marketing Blog
by Lynn Terry
Joel Comm just released Adsense 4.0, a long awaited update to his popular Adsense Secrets guide. Joel has had the #1 top-selling Adsense guide on the market for over 3 years now, which has sold for $97.
Today, you can get the latest edition for under ten bucks...
About Lynn TerryLynn Terry is a full-time Internet Marketer with over 17 years experience in online business. Subscribe to ClickNewz for the latest Internet Marketing trends & strategies, Lynn's unique case studies, creative marketing ideas, and candid reviews...more»
Lynn Terry is a Professional Blogger, Super Affiliate, and full-time Internet Marketer with over 18 years experience in online business. ClickNewz is where she shares creative marketing ideas and... more »
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You were the first in my inbox with the offer. I can't wait to dig into it...I'm so excited to have this quality product for such a great price. Adsense is something that I've played with but haven't used extensively because I didn't have the tools.
Thanks for the heads up...
Liam
Printing it out now that I have fully-functioning printer again. But color ink is about to give out. Yep. window just popped up. (I don't change ink cartridges until I must.) I'm printing it two pages per sheet. Anyone else do that to save trees (or $$)?
Deb Gallardo
Yes, yes Lynn. Thanks I actually visited the site and am still on it before coming here to your blog.
Though i am not into adsence yet, but from what I've heard about Joel Comm abilities (and your recommendation 🙂 ) I think it's worth buying.
Thanks for the head up
The report looks good value for just $10, but I'm suspicious about the follow-up. It looks like you are forced into subscribing for a $29.95/month subscription to his newsletter, with only vague instructions as to how to cancel.
I can see that you could easily lose one or two $29.95 payments before getting that subscription cancelled. Why can't he make it an option to subscribe?
I'll give it a miss until I can be sure it's for real.
Ta ra
J
I passed on that follow-up offer, J - and clicked through the screens to get to the download page, so I didnt pay attention to it. It *is* an option - you can pay only for the guide at 9.95 and skip the upsell 😉
Actually the $29.95 newsletter is part of the regular download, and not the upsell. I still think the book is worth even though I'll have to mark it on my calendar to cancel before the $30 charge....or not.
Thank you for the clarification Courtney - obviously I didnt read the fine print. Or any of the copy at all lol - being a returning customer I was presold before I arrived on the page... Got me! I look forward to checking out the free report and will make the decision then 😉
Oh no...Joel's forcing continuity too. 🙁
But actually, it's reasonably clear on the details of the order page, but not on the actual payment form. I wonder if that's a limitation in 1SC that they really should fix.
In a case like this, where the majority of buyers are "presold" and only go to the site to find the order button, I do think it should be made clear on the order confirmation page (when entering payment details). No big deal, as I'm interested in the report - but I'm curious what percentage of buyers actually realized there was a recurring charge involved...
Hey Gang!
I wanted to make sure we were completely and totally up front on the sales page AND the order form.
Two things you should know.
1) I don't produce sub-par stuff. This newsletter is going to exceed and surpass everyone's expectations. I really want to get the first issue into people's hands so I can demonstrate this.
2) We're making it very easy to cancel if you don't want to continue. My support desk is easy to reach and our email and phone # are public in the newsletter itself. I will NEVER make it difficult for people to reach us, nor will I refuse a refund request. People have been burned in the past by some marketers. It will not happen with me. 🙂
I hope everyone enjoys the book and I can't wait for you to see the report!
Joel
Thank you for the clarification, Joel. I do think with any continuity program it is good measure to mention it on the checkout page - especially in a case where a high percentage of your buyers are pre-sold before they arrive on the sales page. People like me dont read the sales copy... we click the buy button 😀
Just for the record, I've been a repeat customer of Joel's for several years now and I can confirm firsthand that Joel and his team are quick to resolve issues and answer any questions.
You're in good hands 😉
Anyone know when the first subscription payment kicks in? Is it 30 days?
I need to send myself a TweetLater to remind myself to cancel (and where).
Deb
I bought a copy last night and just noticed an e-mail in my inbox from Joel stating that Lynn was among the top sellers. Nice work!
Thank you, Chris 😀
Lynn,
I got bit by this one apparently as well and I do agree it should be made more plain.
Like you, I refused upsells and thought that was that.
Unlike you, I DID read the email that came after and I only saw that I would have an opportunity to do this or that and not that I HAD BEEN SIGNED UP for anything.
I'm sure I'll get my money's worth out of Adsense Secrets but I will be canceling the newsletter and anything else I can finally figure out I've been enrolled in.
Jeff
Always time to cancel after you check out the freebie, Jeff. I promise you will not regret it. And you see how accessible I am. You won't have a problem cancelling if you decide to.
Joel
Glad the discussion came up about this. I too just hit the buy button knowing I was getting quality, with Joel as author and Lynn recommending.
Financial bleeding due to subscriptions I have not utilized to best advantage is something I used to do. I have become diligent in either using or cancelling those subs that I pay for monthly and do not use to immediate advantage.
My main goal is to learn, network and utilize what will bring a significant roi, either now or in the near future, for what I wish to do in my home based business.
I know I will not be disappointed, considering the quality content. I also know that I will keep a pulse on when and whether cancellation is an option.
Thanks for the clarification, Lynn, Joel, and the good comments from everyone.
Best,
Mary
Is there a way to cancel BEFORE the 1st issue arrives? Just so I don't forget.
I can always order it again later, right?
@Joel,
I am still going through my emails from you to find where it says that I have anything else coming to me and I still can't find it.
I know you produce top-notch stuff and I'll be sure to give it a full review before I cancel.
I also know you stand behind your stuff and have issues with internet marketers who get too big for their own good.
Thanks for replying,
Jeff
When I received notification, I jumped on it, but I read the terms all the way through. I've been following Joel and Lynn. I trust Lynn and was surprised she hadn't said anything. However I knew this was a referall and to check it out for myself. Joel made it very clear before I hit the buy button, that I was getting the newsletter for $29.95 a month and can cancel anytime.
-I appreciate Lynn sending out a notice, giving a heads up that she missed it. That's why I know I can trust her.
Terra
When the freebie arrives, there will be a note telling you exactly how to cancel if you don't want more. I and my team believe that most people are going to want more. 🙂
Thank you Terra - I appreciate your taking the time to post your thoughts here, and your kind words regarding my intentions.
I'm looking forward to The Top 1% report, now that I realize I'm subscribed to it 😀 , but sent that email to clear up any confusion on that as soon as I realized there was some concern.
For those of you that missed the email I sent out last night, you can find it archived online here.
Looking forward to it, Joel 😀 Thx!
I know I want it, just don't know I can afford it. i do know i can't afford to have it taken by surprise (if that makes sense), so thank you for clearing that up. 🙂
For some reason my "I's" don't like to be capitalized, sorry about the sloppy lol.
Take the plunge: http://www.adsense-guide.com/
For less than ten bucks you get to taste-test the controversial bonus and cancel before the billing starts if it doesnt suit your 'buds 😉
I bought the book. I was referring to the $30 newsletter 🙂
I bought the book, I live in Jamaica. I am pretty sure it will take a long time to get here,if it does.
My question to Joel is, do you know when I get the book?
So basically what I want to know is, will I be charged within a 30 day period of purchase?
The ebook is an instant download that you recieve immediately after making payment online. If you didnt get the follow-up email with your download link, submit a ticket at: http://www.thehelpdesk.us/
The bonus "top 1%" report and cd is what is coming in the mail as a physical shipment - and it should arrive well before the billing kicks in.
Already received the ebook, I am just worried about the 1% report not arriving in time.
Lets hope it does!
Thank you for the heads up on this Lynn.
No, I did not realize that I had signed up for a continuity program and I'm not very happy about it.
I would not have made the purchase if I had. I don't want a 30 day trial to anything, regardless of how great it might be. I just wanted a book.
Yes, it is absolutely my fault. I did not pay attention or read anything on the page. I usually don't make purchases in that manner and always watch out for this kind of thing. I trust Lynn, so when she recommended it, I just went and bought the product without paying attention. I went straight to the Buy Now button without reading. I'm not blaming you, Lynn. I understand it is not your fault. You were not aware ahead of time. I also thought that Joel Comm had a good reputation so I didn't think I had to worry about anything.
I did, however, look over my email receipt quite thoroughly and there was no mention in there at all that I had subscribed to a newsletter. There was also no mention of this subscription to the newsletter on the actual order page. It most definitely should have been in both of those places.
The issue is not whether Joel provides high quality material. The issue is the matter of "forced continuity."
In my opinion, no matter how you cut it, "forced continuity" is not a direct and upfront method of marketing. Its success lies in manipulating people and taking advantage of human nature. Marketers know that most people don't pay attention when they're placing an order. It's very easy to rake in a bunch of unsuspecting subscribers. Marketers also know that most people forget to cancel their subscription after a free trial and again an easy way to rake in more.
I was not a repeat customer. I was a first time customer, but I will be a last time customer, because I don't do business with people who use forced continuity.
I think it is disappointing when internet marketers feel they have to take this route.
I'm glad you made this clarification to everyone else, Lynn. I got caught with a different promotion where I hadn't read everything fully, and it was a couple of months later when I picked up on it, so I knew to look for it this time around.
This is not correct, Cynthia.
On the sales page, it says...
"If after the free report you decide it's not worth ten times the subscription cost (which won't happen because you will be blown away by the content in this report!), simply contact us and cancel your subscription at any time! Otherwise, you may continue to be in the Top 1% for the discount rate of just $29.95 every 30 days. Wait until you see the bonus that comes with your first edition!"
When you click the buy link, it says this on the ORDER page...
"Please send me a copy of your "Top 1% Report" as stated and do not bill me for the first issue! If I don't like it, I will call you and let you know. But if it is as valuable as I anticipate, please keep sending it for the discount price of just $29.95 per month."
It's very clear twice. 🙂
Joel
One more thing...
It will not be possible to "forget" you are in the program. We are mailing a PHYSICAL product that will have a very conspicuous note telling you exactly what is taking place and how to cease your subscription if you want. Totally up front and above board. 🙂
Joel
Who else thinks forcing continuity on a BONUS - NOT on the product itself - is not quite 'playing the game'! I call 'Foul'.
Whether its 'easy to cancel' or not is beside the point, imho.
I blogged about it in greater detail. The title is deliberately provocative:
"Forced Continuity - Great Concept, Stupid Implementation"
All success
Dr.Mani
Admittedly, I did not get the book because I saw the forced subscription, and I wasn't interested in paying an additional $30 a month for anything (I'm sure it's great quality stuff, but that's not what I was wanting when I went to get the Adsense Secrets book). I figured Lynn didn't realize this was part of the deal when she sent her initial email promoting this $9.95 ebook otherwise I'm sure she would have mentioned it upfront.
I was pre-sold on the book, so I didn't bother reading the sales page and went right to the order button...that's where I noticed the additional charge/subscription. While the salesletter and order page may have been clearly marked regarding this bonus subscription, I didn't like the way the book was offered for sale. It's one thing to offer a "really great value" for only $9.95 (which I'm sure the ebook is), it's another to offer a "really great value for only $9.95 plus a $29.95/mo subscription". I would much rather have been offered the ebook for $9.95 and then received another offer later for the subscription.
Consider this comment merely feedback on one previous Joel Comm customer's experience.
If you go to the cart and click CANCEL, it will provide you with an opportunity to buy the book only. 🙂
Joel
I don't understand why people are beating up Joel for trying to help people become successful.
The reason people don't like forced continuity is that they don't want to be successful and have financial accountability.
Try it... see it you like it... it's funny to see people say... I need to set up my reminders so I can cancel before the day... gimme a break, you have not even seen his product yet...
But people will gladly spend $3.95-$10 a day for a cup of bean juice.
They will spend $29 a month for a DVD rental company.
They'll spend $30 for a magazine subscription they never use.
Joel is offering great content. If you use it, I don't think you'll be caring about the $29 fee cause you'll be making much more than that with implementation of the ideas and soon you be asking Joel for his back issues so you can get more ideas to increase your business results.
The bottom line is... people don't want to pay to be successful and people are afraid of accountablility. And a $29 bill after reading two incredible newsletters is not that high of a charge to swallow, unless you are just information libraries that store content and never take it off the shelf.
It's win/win for both parties.
Joel gets more backend
Comsumer gets money making ideas if implemented.
I think Joel should be charging $197 a month for his stuff like most marketers do.
Jeff
http://www.outsourcecompendium.com
Hi Jeff,
I dont doubt that the Top 1% report will be high quality material, and I dont think anyone here is beyond spending ~$30/month towards their business success.
Not true. And I dont appreciate the insult to ClickNewz readers. The reason for the controversy is because the subscription wasnt advertised, and the incredibly low price of the product that *was* advertised created an unusually high conversion rate - a high percentage of which I would guess were presold and caught unaware that they were agreeing to the recurring subscription at 3x the price per month that they believed they were paying for the product 1x.
The cost is not the issue. The fact that it wasnt an option... is. And for ClickNewz readers specifically, I am the one that sent them an email without clear details (because I completely missed them myself). Which I later cleared up in a second email - all of which is outlined above.
Had I reviewed and recommended the Top 1% report at $30/mo, it would have likely sold just as well as the 9.95 ebook. So be clear on the facts. The controversy is not about the cost, its a matter of principle.
Best,
Lynn Terry
ClickNewz.com
@Joel
I hate to burst your bubble, but most of us don't have time to hang on every word of a sales or buy page anymore. You can plead, "Caveat Emptor," but the fact remains, you could have done this differently.
Did you seriously believe people would read every word at the top of your shopping cart page? It's invisible real estate. It passes for a logo or a header, especially the way you have it set up. If you were being as transparent as you claim, the reader's eye would not travel from "Yes Joel" (in bold red) to "I am ready to take action" (in yellow highlight) and skipping down to the next yellow highlighted phrase in bold and larger type (after the paragraph about the newsletter) : "I am ready to get started," completely bypassing the information about your continuity program.
Look at it yourself and see if your eye doesn't glide right past that important paragraph. You KNOW people skim. That's why sales copy is structured to make the eye stop in certain places. Put those stop signs too close together and people jump from one directly to the next.
I know you're this big guru with your own reality show online that everyone is buzzing about. You had power and control over the fate of those participants. And you operate a multi-million dollar business. So it can't be easy taking grief from a bunch of us "little people" telling you things you don't want to hear.
But you know what? We're your buying public and we've been telling you something important that you're not really hearing. Instead you're arguing, explaining and defending your position.
I get that you're feeling defensive. I would, too, in your place. But it's not about you. Sorry. It's ALL about your customers. You're not looking at this through our eyes, you're looking at it through your own. I'll bet you even teach this, but you're not practicing it here.
You're telling us stuff like how clear your sales copy is so it's our fault we didn't know. And how much value we're going to get because you only deliver quality and we'll get something in the mail so we will know exactly when our 30 days are up. That is sales propaganda, pure and simple, regardless of how true it is. And it presupposes that this is about you caring so much about us as customers that you want to "get this newsletter in our hands."
Nice try. This is about FORCING us to have to cancel to get out of something we didn't ask for to begin with and might not be able to afford.
I wonder how many of us were pre-sold just because it was your product, the price was right, and Lynn recommended it? You made it easy for us to skip the sales letter by putting 4 BUY NOW links before you even got to the price and bonuses. One is at the top right under your video. If we skipped the sales letter, why would we want to read MORE salesy copy on the next page, when all we want is to finish our transaction and download our product?
Here are some suggestions for how to correct this:
Put the newsletter on its own line in the shopping cart, under the ebook. In parentheses, IN BOLD PRINT, say ($29.95 monthly after 30 days - cancel any time) and $0.00 in the Total box. I have seen this done and appreciated the reminder at the point of purchase.
In addition, make a checkbox people must mark that says, "I understand I will receive a free print issue of The Top 1% newsletter and after 30 days I will automatically be billed for subsequent monthly issues, unless I cancel within 30 days of receiving my first issue." Without marking that box, the transaction would not go through.
Or, gee, how about treating us with some respect and ASKING us if we want the print newsletter? Give us a checkbox to mark that says something like,
"No thanks, I'll pass on getting the free print newsletter. I know I'm probably making the biggest mistake of my internet career, and people will laugh at me for my stupidity for decades, but just let me make my blankety-blank purchase already and download the product I came here to buy."
Joel, you can tout your reputation and track record as reason enough for us to wait and see about your newsletter. It was that reputation and track record that attracted us to buy.
But the fact is, a forced continuity program is ONLY good from the seller's viewpoint, NEVER the buyer's. I don't care what kind of quality you deliver. The bottom line is, this model says, "If you want my product X, you have do Y and on MY terms."
Book clubs, collectible memberships, add-on credit card services and other businesses use this model SPECIFICALLY because people are inclined to "do nothing and every month we'll automatically bill you..." Don't tell us you're not counting on people forgetting until after the 30 days are up, because otherwise, you would have used another business model.
The last thing I want to do is rile someone of your stature. But I can't emphasize enough that in these comments on Lynn's blog you're getting some of the most valuable customer feedback you've ever had.
We're not taking potshots at a "big dog." We're trying to make you understand that FORCED CONTINUITY IS WRONG. We expect this from predatory business owners, NOT marketers we trust.
Your customers are being courageous in telling you the unvarnished truth, not just telling you how wonderful you are. Do you have the ears to listen, then to hear and finally to admit you were wrong? Or has mega success clouded your judgment and given you feet of clay?
Still a loyal fan, but not nearly as loyal as before,
Deb Gallardo
Hey Deb,
Very valuable feedback, indeed!
I'm nothing if not teachable and I hear every word you are saying. I don't pretend to know everything. In fact, the older I get the more I realize I don't know. (Just ask my wife... she can confirm this...)
I haven't brought up one of the issues we dealt with until now because I didn't want to put any of the blame elsewhere.
The shopping cart we are using has made it incredibly difficult for us to proceed with the order process as we intended.
Originally, we had two line items for the order as you suggested. One is the ebook, the other is the newsletter. That makes it even clearer that there are two items involved here and the customer could then set the report to zero quantity if they wanted to opt out from the beginning.
Well, one hour before launch we could NOT get it working right. It was extremely frustrating and we were forced to combine the ebook and the report into one product. Definitely not the preferred method for a number of reasons, not the least of which are the issues you state.
If you look at the page now, you'll see that there are two line items as originally intended, though we had to come up with a workaround to get it set as we wanted. There is still a problem with the cart functioning as it should. Don't get wrong, it is secure and orders are processing safely, but getting the cart to do some important redirecting to pages has been agonizing.
You can check the link here and I'm thrilled to say that things are exactly as they should be.
http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/netcart.asp?MerchantID=71064&offerid=37141&q=2
I have learned from this experience for sure. Thanks so much for taking the time to write such an elegant piece. I am going to print it out and pass it around my office because I think you speak clearly for the customer. And you are the reason that I am in business.
And as a side issue, I can't wait until someone makes a shopping cart that does everything we need it to do. You wouldn't believe the headaches we've had with our current system for nearly three years now. You may ask, why don't I go somewhere else? All my affiliates are in the current system. All my products are linked to in this system. And frankly, I haven't found a better option... Sigh...
Thanks again for your post, Deb. I appreciate you and your thoughts very much. 🙂
Humbly,
Joel
@ Lynn... Point taken, probably a bad generalization.
I see exactly what you are saying... the issue is not the content or price, it is just if people are aware of it or not and Joel is addressing it.
people should be happy now.
J
I have just bought the ebook...Three cheers to Deb for her excellent comments...
Sandy
@Joel,
Well you certainly went up about 10,000% in my estimation, and not just because you listened to me! LOL! It takes a real man to admit what you did and I am HONORED, yes, HONORED that you would respond to me personally. I am also humbled.
And thrilled out of my mind that Joel Comm talked to me! Aaaaaaa!!
Okay, breathing normally now. I think. *fanning self*
All kidding aside, thank you for listening. It means more than you will know. I feel like Rosemary Clooney when she put that knight on the white horse into Bing Crosby's Santa gift bag.
(Those of you who haven't seen "White Christmas" every December for the past 40 years won't get this.)
Suffice it to say that, as far as I am concerned, Joel,
You are the MAN!
And I'm your biggest fan!
Sheesh! I can't keep from rhyming, guys! Look out. I feel another IM bedtime story coming on.
"There once was an IM named Joel..."
Deb Gallardo
One more thing for Deb... you said.. "The last thing I want to do is rile someone of your stature"
Deb, I'm just a guy. I'm not better than you or anyone else. No pedestals, please.
And I don't rile easily. I just pout. 😉
Joel
LOL.. I didn't see your post until after I posted mine, Deb. You made the White Christmas reference where the Knight in armor was put on a pedestal! Oh, that's too funny...
If you ever go to a conference I am at, please come up and say hello. Would love to meet you. Of course, that goes for anyone here. 🙂
Joel
Hi Lynn,
To tell you the truth I passed on this offer 1st time around because of the newsletter offer. I thought it was a tad unethical, but many people are turning to marketing tricks these days.
And, I was a bit disappointed that you (Lynn) would recommend such a product without fully investigating how the offer worked. (I know you got tripped up yourself)
I am glad that you send out another email explaining what was going on, and the ensuing conversation on the blog.
Because everybody has been so open about this, I have just purchased the Adsense guide and have taken the newsletter option also.
I will wait with much anticipation to see if all this hype is justified. I hope it is.
$30.00 is not much of an investment if the value is there so I will love to see how it plays out.
I am again a happy camper . . .
Al Smith
Thank you, Al - I appreciate you giving me the benefit of the doubt. I generally always disclose full detail as you know.
I'm sure we'll all be back again soon to discuss the report in hand - looking forward to it! 😉