Fortune Seeker Blog

Like anyone with a blog, I was thrilled to learn that I had a fan. Well, maybe he’s a fan cause I can never tell if he’s lying or not.  I’m sure you’re thinking how being called “an insignificant little worm” doesn’t sound too endearing, I believe his limited vocabulary of niceties could be the explanation.

I also believe it’s a Michigan christian expression of endearment, something to do with a Jonathan Edwards sermon. At least, that’s how I chose to take it.

Matt LaClear is an internet “guru” that I met about two years ago that was offering an ebook called MySpace Tactics to building an online business. He offered free “hand-holding” training to teach people these tactics, ok, well not really free. Once you got there, the offer kind of morphed into signing up for his personal coaching.

Anyway, I left his board, but I thought he had some interesting insights, so I remained on his mailing list. And every once in awhile I’d attend one of his training calls that he did for free.

Over the course of my time on his email list, he was always pushing some network marketing thing with free leads or squeeze pages or affiliate marketing.

Anyhow, these MLM schemes have always been a part of his many wealth building strategies.  Which is why I never really pursued anything with him.

Personally, I don’t believe network marketing is anything but a scam that our ethically challenged society has embraced and while it’s true some folks make money, the vast majority do not and cannot.

Anyway, I had already sent him a reply to a previous email that I have no interest in network marketing, but like so many gurus, I’m guessing he doesn’t actually read the email, he just files it. After all we signed up to be on his list to make him money, right?

Well, the other day he sends me an email to check out an opportunity. And what do you know, its an MLM opportunity. His email instructed me to reply with either a 1-no interest, 2-some interest and have some questions, or 3-absolutely interested and ready to run with it.

I gave him the benefit of the doubt and watched the video link and sent a reply that I was a reluctant 2, being somewhat interested and attached four basic questions. Well, he never replied to the email, big surprise, but I did receive a phone call at my home from his upline at this MLM opportunity.

I couldn’t believe it. This guy gave my private information to a MLM company as a hot lead. Without my permission!!

You should really expect that from him, because he did what all scammers do, he did what was expedient for him. Because it’s all about him and you are just a lead to make him money.

Because of his breach of trust and our agreement, I went to his last email and clicked the unsubscribe link.

One of the features of aweber has is to ask you why you’ve unsubscribed from this list to give the list owner an opportunity to fix a wrong or improve their service.

I simply wrote “It was time.”

And do you believe this “guru” wrote me back saying…

Yes it was time.

I couldn’t believe this guy would be so arrogant and petty to respond like this for leaving his list. But I recalled his background as collection agent and reformed spammer.  He only esteems himself and holds others in low regard all the while espousing his christian conversion. Unless of course, you are buying from his offers.

So, I attempted to let him understand a little more clearly why I left.

Why did you send this to me? Yesterday, you gave my name and phone number to someone that I didn’t agree for you to share it with. I figured that I should just part ways with you after that breach. Your response to my leaving your list confirms that I made the right choice.

I honestly thought this would be the end of it. But again this petty “guru” had to reply with his self serving arrogance…

Roy…As much as you have purchased from me the last couple years I think I can survive without you being on my list.

You see folks, I’m not kidding when I say this guy has you on his list for one purpose, to make money from you and it’s why he’s always going to be an insignificant little “guru” wannabe.

My advice, steer clear of Matt Laclear.

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The FortuneSeeker has been putting together a guide book, sort of an “Essential Newbies Guide” that contains the stuff you need to know to make a living from internet marketing. 

What it is: 

• Easy to read step-by-step guide to making money online
• Something you’ll actually want to use
• Filled with current links that work
• Free to the first twenty-five (25) subscribers

What it’s not:

• A double spaced fluff book filled with outdated or useless information
• A guide to getting rich quick
• A guide for experienced marketers

If you’re interested in getting a copy, shoot me an email and I’ll put you on the list.

I thought I was free of the disease, but it obviously got in my brain and clouded my thinking. I rambled on about how we were blogrush and power to the people stuff. I mean has my past finally caught up with me?

After four days, I came to my senses. Why on earth did I succumb to the BlogRash again?

Because it’s a very clever marketing virus and sometimes I’m not that smart, that’s why.

I mean who doesn’t want to be popular. Traffic is what we all crave, even Z-list bloggers like me. Personally, I don’ t want to think I’m blogging for an audience of one, even though that happens more than I care to admit. But, when the hype comes from someone you respect, you tend to overlook it. At least, I do. Is that a fault?

Like I said, I had four days to think on my Rash decision to put the widget back on my site. As I re-read my post and visited other disillusioned blogophyles that were rejected by the rashbot, the scales fell from my eyes.

You see, I started this site to help people that want to earn money online. (Pretty noble of me.) And part of that mission was to steer you away from the things that are not in your best interests. I’m sorry to say, but BlogRush is one of them.

I realize that what I have to say isn’t that important to the majority, but I was surprised to learn that I was not alone and that not all dissenters were Z-listers. And these real blogs shared my opinion that BlogRush hyped its way to the top and wasn’t worthy of our support.

So, after my re-evaluation I realized that everything I hated about this program was the same, except now there were graphs on a new dashboard.

But wait, they posted a cure, a way to delete my blogs from their system. I pressed the delete button and I am free at last.

I am sorry to say that I am removing John Reese from my favorites list also. I’m seeing him in a new light and it doesn’t flatter him.

For an excellent read on the whole hypefest known as blogrush, check out this article by Snoskred “The Echo Chamber Effect”

Look at this collection of blogs rejected by blogrush:

• SeoPedia: This site is loaded with content and worth a visit, but somehow doesn’t pass the mysterious BR Quality Review criteria.
• Techipedia: Tamar Weinberg, a brilliant young woman from New York, learned her awesome PR4 site was not worthy, probably because she saw through the hype from the start and never put the widget on her site.
• 134u.com: not enough posts?
• JohnCow: He was rejected and then got a personal letter from John Reese explaining that they had made a mistake. I noticed the widget was back on his site, and he paid homage to the IM gods with his lashing the naysayers.
• LocalSEOGuide: Check out the first comment. John Reese. Also check out the widget back on display. This site has excellent quality, but obvious mistakes (read: getting alot of internet exposure) like this one, get an immediate reply from Mr. Reese. A “case study in crisis management” is how the LocalSeo guide put it.
• Cindalou’s kitchen blues Another PR4 content rich site, I guess they don’t like recipes.
• Steve-Olson.com Yet another PR4 blogger with nothing to offer the blogrash community.
• WorldFamousPhotos.com

I’m sure there are a ton more, feel free to post them in the comments section below.

Okay, the revised BlogRush is released and my micro-protest against BlogRush had the effect I expected and that was… Absolutely “ZERO”.

I’m still not convinced of the benefits (if any) to the small blogger, but I’m going to give John Reese the benefit of the doubt and give BlogRush 30 days to prove to me it has any value to me.

I’ve got my Google Analytics set up, Sitemeter logging visitors, and my own webhosting stats configured to compare my stats with theirs. We’ll see.

I still believe strongly that we (the blogosphere) are BlogRush and that without us it doesn’t exist. And that we as a group, have enormous clout if we want it.

But, alas, most people are too enamoured with the internet marketing gods to stand up and say, “Huh?” 

I think deep down they think if they defend the gods and support them in their pillaging, that they’ll be deemed worthy of some scrap from their table.

I and all my fellow FortuneSeekers will not bow down to the IM gods. We know they are mere men and women and that most of these “gods” have deluded themselves with their own hype and greed.

I’m not saying that John Reese is among those self-deluded, but he has definitely taken the position that BlogRush is his. A real mistake in my humble opinion.

This a 2.0 world we’re in. We want to be part of the community, not serfs and peons with no rights.

So, why the change of heart?

I got the email from the John Reese autoresponder and I stopped in for a visit.

I’m a sucker for graphs and statistics and the new dashboard has me drooling. Yeah, well, that was a little too graphic, but let’s just say I really wanted to see it in action.

So, I’m going to re-install the widget through November and report any increased traffic that can be specifically attributed to BlogRush and if it’s as insignificant as I imagine, I’ll do as John Reese suggests and remove the widget.

I hope you’ll follow along.

I love it when I just stumble upon a fellow beach bum from the other side of the planet that proves the maxim, “it’s better to give than receive”.

Especially when the giver is really generous.

I’m talking about a blogger from downunder, Yaro Starak.

His site, Entrepreneur’s Journey, is a goldmine of tips and tricks to help you grow your blog traffic.

I use the word “tricks” in the artistic sense, (not the cheap gimmicks that exploit some search engine blindspot, that close as quickly as they are discovered), but cool things that really work.

His article, “The Top 8 Search Engine Optimization Techniques” is for printing out and studying, it’s that good. It’s a concise 8 steps of Brad Fallon’s Stomping the Internet course, which I had the pleasure of listening to in the Stomper Simple course they offered.

So do yourself a favor and get on his mailing list, the Blog Traffic Tips email newsletter and learn how to grow your blog traffic from 0 to 1000 daily visitors. It’s one you will read…guaranteed!