To Stompernet Open Letter From Michael Campbell
My post about un-subscribing from the email lists of people who sent you Stompernet offers over the last 2
days, took aim at the damage coordinated product launches have on our productivity. Nathan Anderson, SEO Expert, wrote a brilliant piece today Death of Product Launches on the backfire they create for the marketers who bomb us with these blitzes.
While I've had a hot blast of comments from my readers, the most compelling came from veteran online marketer Michael Campbell of Internet Marketing Secrets. Michael is a very well respected professional with a unique perspective as you will soon see.
Every Internet marketer needs to read and ponder the implications of his thoughtful comment, and consider the implicatons for your own business.
Reprinted here by permission:
@ 7:31 pm May 23.2008
I was brought in as an "advisor" to Stompernet for a brief period over a year ago. They have great talent inside, but what I found was, instead of serving up made-to-order sushi grade slices of wisdom, they continually smacked your face with a whole bluefin until you unsubscribed 
It was info overload x100. I advised them to do three things…
I suggested that Stompernet model a real university. To set up an interview process with an administrator and series of tests, to determine what level of courses ie: PPC 101, SEO 301, Copywriting 402, etc, that each new customer should start at.
I told them to set up coaching with an assigned mentor or teaching assistant. People don't want to be pushed information that they don't need, or that doesn't apply to their business model. They need personal time on the phone with a coach.
Finally I suggested something like a "call in radio show" over the internet, where customers could have access to a panel of gurus on a daily, or at least weekly basis. People need just-in-time answers, immediate solutions to problems they may be experiencing today.
Stompernet… it's been over a year, so here's my last piece of advice. Stop the launches before you irreparably damage your reputation. Just open the doors already.
If you were to focus your energy on setting up a proper curriculum, you would retain your membership through sequential selling, instead of having this continual "grand reopening" binge and purge of your membership. You can only hit the "panic button" or the adrenalin gland so many times before it stops working.
I hope that you eventually realize, that by opening the doors and leaving them open - like a real university - and offering a sequential program, you wouldn't have to lose credibility with these undignified launches.
You could continually replace the membership you lose through attrition, with a standard affiliate program and a constant stream of advertising from your affiliates, who believe in the faculty, the staff, the training, the institution and its history of success, instead of…
All units must be sold! Panic button + direct response + scarcity + urgency + all 2008 models must go + we'll throw in bonus tires + hot dogs AND rides for the kids! Just look for the giant pink inflatable gorilla on the roof…
My friends - inside Stompernet - each and every one of you, are way, way, better than this, you know you are! I know you. I coached many of you in your early years and launched several of your careers. You are very smart individuals, but your marketing model stinks and it's undignified. (In my humble opinion.)
Trust me Stompernet, the time to manage your reputation is now.
Just open the doors already and model a real university… because if people start doing what I've already done - unsubscribe from all the direct marketers - who will hear the noise?
Editor: "Whew" What a powerful insight for every online business about the design and values of our businesses. I truly value your comments here - and ask that you bookmark, Stumble, and Digg this important post…
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Comments on To Stompernet Open Letter From Michael Campbell »
Rick,
People are sick and tired of the deluge of crap and "clear your cookies" and all of that.
For the person struggling to succeed online, STRUCTURE is key.
Without a formal structure and built in accountability, many of the folks forking over big bucks will simply spend a pile of money and never get up to cruising altitude.
Mark Riffeys last blog post..Is your business dependent on suburbia?
[...] Continue Reading [...]
I really have to agree whole-heartedly. I know that the Wealthy Affiliate guys are kind of trying to set up curriculums and in my mind this needs to be the next step for internet marketing programs.
The thing that really bugs me is all of the marketing hype and the same tired processes, I here that they will reopen stompernet on Tuesday just for an hour, like no one has seen this every time. I am surprised that they did not have their servers go down and I also have received a million emails from people telling me I had to buy. Heck they were already offering so many bonuses that I was wondering what the program would be offering that the bonuses were not covering.
I started a couple of days ago to unsubscribe from all of my lists and then resubscribe to only the ones that are great content from now on. I have enough ways to spend my money online that I don't need 10 pitches a day in my mailbox for the new hottest product that my own business does not need at all.
Rick, thank goodness for people like you and Michael, who have the 'nads to stand up and speak the truth, especially when it is the opposite of what everyone else is spouting.
[iamsbm]
Sharon Bray-McPherson
http://twitter.com/sbraymcpherson
Sharon Bray-McPhersons last blog post..Let's Here It For Clickbank
Excellent! If Michael ever opens up a course, sign me up!
GiGis last blog post..2008 Food & Health Survey - Some Surprising Finds
Hi Rick, Michael and Nathan, Sherman Hu here. Great post recommending improvements on StomperNet's curriculum structure and promotional practices - appreciate it!
I'm here as a friend of Michael's and also as StomperNet faculty. The good news is…
1. Course Levels: Backstage at StomperNet "University", there's already a whole host of courseware on various online biz/online marketing subjects categorized by levels. In fact, the courseware is programmed to guide you through beginner to advanced training on the topics they choose, so folks get the whole picture.
2. Coaching: This is a critical part of StomperNet's offering. Per the new launch offering, ALL new members qualify for personal 1-on-1 coaching from StomperNet business coaches. This has delivered overwhelming tangible and intangible results for existing members, and from speaking to members at our Live events, they LOVE their coaches and the accountability and results they benefit from the weekly sessions.
This is critical for any business owner, and at every level. Michael, you're right. The value of personal coaching is invaluable, priceless, and members are held accountable to focus on their business end goals, needs and action steps to achieve success.
3. "Office Hours" - Michael, this standard feature, what you call the "call in radio show" has been around since last year (if memory serves me right) - its called "StomperNet Office Hours".
Members have access to our panel of faculty experts on private teleconference sessions, asking any and every question they have on topics that each faculty is an expert on.
In fact, there are 3 faculty sessions this week alone. All our 15 faculty (I think that's the final count?) rotate so we're conducting sessions for an hour each session about 3 times a month. You're right - our members need "just-in-time answers, immediate solutions to problems they may be experiencing today", and that's what they leave the sessions with - solutions to their pressing needs/problems.
Michael, your requests are valid. And something that all marketers should pay heed if they truly are concerned with the success of their customers/members.
Organizations like StomperNet, with the elite leadership, faculty and team are constantly listening to "the word on the street" and our members, and responding with solutions, value, results and success that are second to none in the industry.
I'm confident that anyone who's an **Action-Oriented business owner** considering a membership to an "online training university" that offers self-learning videos, personal 1-on-1 coaching, group Q&A sessions with experts, LIVE conferences to network while getting your site reviewed, with a long list of successful members/students to show for it, will find that they'll be in good company with StomperNet.
As far as their launch practices, I can't speak to that. I personally prefer that the doors be open for good. However, you never know, that may in fact be what's around the corner
Rick, thanks for the opportunity to share with your audience about StomperNet from the point-of-view of a faculty member. Cheers!
Sherman Hus last blog post..Sorry Jack. I Love You.
Rick
Michael has a great idea. I was on the $1 trial last year and it was definitely mega overload. It got so much I basically just left it alone other than to laugh at Ed Dale's videos.
To break it up into differnts levels 101 etc and different categories that people could pick and choose from is a perfect way to keep people interested.
Unfortunately it is Scott said in his ebook most of the people pitching hadn't ever used or experienced what it is like from the other side of the desk.
Hmmm how does Butts U sound for an institution of higher learning?
Yet another marketer talking sense…..
What is the world coming to …..lol
At this rate I'll be running out of people to poke fun at!!
It was also nice to see so many comments on the earlier post Rick
The more people who are educated properly - the more the future may hold real hope for others that follow - instead of continuing the perpetual motion of circular activity that surrounds the IM niche.
Right - I'm off before I say too many sensible things…lol
Randy
http://www.SalesLetterABC.com
Randy Smiths last blog post..Another 2 Free Gifts, & The Massive GiveAway is Doing Well!
Excellent comments here from everyone - thanks!
I just made a "Modest Proposal" about turning these big Internet marketing DVD libraries into a Netflix type business at http://rickbutts.com/243/first-person-to-implement-this-business-idea-wins/
I'd LOVE to hear what you think about this one?
I'm glad to hear from Sherman Hu that StomperNet has made some changes. I was a member over a year ago and definitely was hit with information overload. I couldn't keep up and I found it very difficult to weed through and find what I really needed. I ended up canceling my memebership because of the lack of structure and information overload.
I think all of Michael's ideas are excellent.
Tami
http://www.speechtherapyweb.com
Tamis last blog post..Preschool Age Dysfluency - Normal or Not?
Interesting Points made by Michael.
I am still a little overwhelmed with
this Internet craze of Launches and Information overload.
Nothing on the Net is any different
than Success Off-line.
Create a Product your Market Craves,
present it clearly and fairly priced.
And be there to Service your clients (customers)
Been working for me for 50 years,
and is working on line also.
At our simple membership site the serious Members
understand the importance of Business Mind-set, the Importance of a Business Plan and cash Flow projection and more importantly the importance of constant communication
with their Master Mind Alliance and then their clients.
In some ways I am in awe of the Large sums some Internet Geniuses have earned, but I haven't met many who know how to accumulate Wealth.
Bravo for Mr. Butt's position in his newsletter the other day.
My clients enjoyed the Facts, well presented.
Business is so easy with the right ingredients
[...] this week when Stompernet opened its doors and Ed Dale video responded to the Open Letter To Stompernet I was thinking along different lines. I have always applied the "quality product" tag [...]
Hey Michael, Well put. I am a Moderator and a coach at Stompernet. And I agree and I'll bet Andy and Brad would agree that what they offered was too much for a lot of folks.
As Entrepreneurs a lot of us are prone to overwhelm, lack of focus and the "shiny penny syndrome". And Stompernet was a great place to display those traits.
But… Stompernet has been an ever evolving entity. The Faculty has grown so we can offer more personal attention through our Faculty Office Hours. We are finally able to give one on on personal coaching to our members, and while we offer general internet marketing education, there are quite a few specialties covered too.
In regards to the whole product launch model for growth, I kind of agree with you. I think this space has gotten used to the launch, gotten used to the scarcity etc. I loath the "heap tons of bonuses on" method of selling. If the product won't stand on it's own and be worth the asking price, I ain't buying! Who knows, maybe one day it'll be open like you mentioned.
I have been a Brad and Andy follower and marketer since they had a handful of CDs and an e-book. Back when Brad only sold $100,000.00 a month in Wedding favors!
I've seen them grow, sometimes stumble, but always pick themselves up and continue to move forward.
In my opinion, they have always been they guys with the arrows in their backs!
Thanks for caring enough to write about Stompernet!
John Jaworski
Stompernet Professional Coach
I wish Stomper would hire me too . . . but they never call me anymore!