Archive for March, 2008
The Internet Marketing Gurus Rich List
(Thanks to Barry Dunlop and Dean Hunt for help with this list.)
I wanted to lift the veil and tell you exactly who’s at the top of the internet marketing world. Ray and I recently returned from the Underground Online Seminar IV held this year in Downtown Los Angeles.
The who’s who of internet marketing was there and along with knowing how to make money, they also know how to party! (Click for Footage from Mini-Kiss Concert)
And as a result of meeting all these “gurus”, I decided to take their names down and create a list based on my experience, the value they’ve added to my marketing career and the $$$ they bring in for their respective businesses:
Here it is:
- Carlos and Lupe Garcia
- Tom Bell
- Jim Lillig
- Eben Pagan
- John Reese
- Yanik Silver
- Joe Polish
- Brock Felt
- Buck Rizvi
- Frank Kern
- Mike Dillard
- Mike Filsaime
- Jim Edwards
- Jonathan Mizel
- Dan Kennedy (honorary)
Please feel free to give feedback on this list, if you think there is someone out there who is deserving.
Otherwise, it’s my blog and I’ll name who I want to.
-Ferny
Why Your Funded Proposal is NOT Working …
The Truth About Why Lead Generation Systems
are No Longer Working in Today’s Saturated Market…
“Many of these theories have been killed off only when some decisive experiment
exposed their incorrectness… Thus the yeoman work in any science… is done by
the experimentalist, who must keep the theoreticians honest.”
- Michio Kaku, Theoretical Physicist
Hopefully, I won’t anger too many of you, but I think the writing is on the wall and this needs to be said.
Over the past couple of years, ‘automated MLM systems’ have taken the MLM industry by storm. Initially, what made a ‘funded proposal’ so attractive was that it offered us a much easier and better alternative to the “traditional prospecting” methods.
Finally! No more “3 foot rule”, cold calling, buying leads, home meetings, hotel meetings, and everything else that our uplines said was part of their “system”.
We were watching guys like Mike Dillard, Daegan Smith, Ty Coughlin, Jay Kubassek, among others, growing massive downlines almost overnight, without needing to talk to a single person.
In fact, Daegan Smith even gave himself the title of “The King of Never Calling a Single Lead”.
Ah, those were the good ol’ days…
Since then, the online MLM market has become saturated with systems promising things like:
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“No selling”
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“The system does the work for you”
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“We close sales for you”
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“No phone skills, needed”
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“No prospecting”
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“Build your downline on autopilot”
I have to admit, I was sold on ‘attraction marketing’ for these same reasons. I was tired of coaching and wasting my time with people who had no business, being in business for themselves. I needed to figure out a way to filter through the “losers” and “tire-kickers” to get to the real leaders who were going to build this thing.
Then Magnetic Sponsoring walked into my life and forever transformed my business and life. Raymond and I went on to create the ‘Attraction Marketing Formula’ based on the teachings from Magnetic Sponsoring, but geared towards Google Marketing and some of the “techie” stuff.
But then we started noticing something…
The MLM Pendulum is Swinging Back the Other Way
Recently, I had some pretty eye-opening conversations with fellow networkers involved with some of the most popular “turn-key” systems out there. (You’d recognize these systems immediately if I mentioned them by name.) And I have to admit, it was ‘deja-vu’ as I was listening to them.
It was as if I had gone back in time 3 years, before Magnetic Sponsoring was released, and I was listening to the struggles, trials and tribulations of your “Uncle Bob’s MLM”.
“I’m not making any money…”
“No one is joining my team…”
“I’ve lost all my savings…”
“I’m not getting any upline support…”
These conversations confirmed the suspicions I’ve had floating around my head for a long time…
Traditional Methods are Making a Comeback
Now, before you get upset and start sending me hate mail, allow me to explain exactly what is happening.
First of all, NO you DON’T have to go back to cold-calling or prospecting at Starbucks and frisking people for a “dream”. We already know that’s not going to work.
But there’s a subtle trend I’ve been watching happen over the past year.
The systems who were promising “turn-key” businesses, with “no selling” started having live training calls on…
PROSPECTING OVER THE PHONE?
Huh?
What are guys like Todd Falcone, Joe LoBalsamo, and Mark Wieser doing on these live training calls for “automated systems”?
These guys are old school. These guys make like 40 dials per day to grow their businesses. What do we need them for?
This is the Internet Age, baby! Prospecting calls are like soooo 1980’s…
…or are they?
The Ultimate MLM Advantage
The bad news is that if you are expecting to build your business from your computer without talking to anyone, you’re screwed.
The good news is that if you are willing to pick up the phone and talk to people, it will give you the ultimate competitive advantage in today’s saturated “mlm systems” market.
The reason these “old school” trainers are watching a rise in their businesses, is because at the end of the day, people want to talk to people. If they are going to join a business with a $2000 entry point or buy a high-end information product for $500, they want to know there’s a real person behind the system and someone there to help them.
*********Ad: Learn How To Sponsor and Prospect Online*********
My buddy Joe LoBalsamo has agreed to do a FREE live training call on how to use ‘traditional’ phone skills with a ‘funded proposal’ for maximu profits and results. Learn more: http://attractionmarketingformula.com/prospecting
*************************************************************
That’s the whole reason why Web 2.0 is so huge now. People want to interact with other people, especially when it involves taking out their wallet.
The fact of the matter is, if you are interacting with your customers or prospects via chat, email, forums or by phone, you have a much, much, much higher chance of getting them to buy or join your business.
It’s that simple.
But there are also some very crucial things you should be doing to ensure your success in a web 2.0 world.
Traditional Prospecting 2.0
First, you want to create as many opportunities for your prospects to contact you for support. Here are a few simple things you can do:
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Put your phone number on all your capture pages, emails and sales pages.
To protect your privacy, I recommend you use a Business Voicemail service, where calls are forwarded to you via an 800 number and only after the caller has identified themself. (If you want to learn more about this, call me at










866-834-3625
so you can see it in action and I can give you the purchase details.) -
Use a real email address when delivering your autoresponder messages.
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Provide AIM, Google chat or Skype details, so people can send you messages.
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Have an “Ask Us” form on your website, which allows people to submit questions via your website.
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Have a guestbook form on your website, where prospects can say “I was here”. Have them provide an email address when they sign. This gives you an opportunity to start a conversation by emailing them.
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Send personal emails to as many of your leads as you can, every day. People know the difference between automated emails and real emails. Take 20 minutes a day to start a dialogue with new subscribers.
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Here’s the scary one – have your prospects provide their phone numbers when they opt in and CALL YOUR PROSPECTS!
Now that last one is probably not making your feel warm and fuzzy, but it’s actually the most important one. This is where the training from guys like Todd Falcone, Joe LoBalsamo and Mark Wieser come in.
The great thing about using your own ‘funded proposal’ is that the prospects on your list requested information from you first. Your calls will be primarily consultative in nature. You are not calling them to pitch your business, but just to help with what they requested information on.
However, it is inevitable that people will eventually ask about your business with questions like:
“What company are you with?”
“How much money are you making?”
“How do you market?”
Your answers to these questions will be the difference between having ZERO success and growing a huge and profitable business. That’s why investing in courses like Blackbelt Recruiting will make a huge impact in your business, but also on you personally and how people view you through your everyday interactions.
The Inner Game of MLM
Finally, as you start to develop your phone skills, and prospecting skills, you’ll start noticing that you’ll start attracting leaders to you. All forms of your communication (email, copywriting and speaking) will start exuding this ‘mystical’ magnetism and people will be naturally drawn to you.
And the real kicker is that you’ll start attracting leads to you in the OFFLINE world, as a result of your new magnetic personality!
As you start seeing the cost of PPC and advertising rise, your ability to acquire a lead using more “traditional” means, will be very easy and FREE. It’s the most ironic thing I’ve experienced since I took my business online.
So the truth about all these “automated turn-key” systems, is that they are not what they initially claim to be. The system can be a very powerful tool, but it’s not your entire business – unless you happen to own the system.
At the end of the day, the advantage that you can have over another rep using the same “automated system” will be YOU, INC.
They already know what the system can do for them. Now they are going to want to know what YOU can do for them — that’s the difference maker.
To help you get through this process, my buddy Joe is an expert on internet prospecting and figuring out, which people on your list are most likely to join your business. He’ll be doing a FREE LIVE training call, exclusively for AMF subscribers on Monday, March 17th.
Go here to register for FREE:
http://attractionmarketingformula.com/prospecting
To Your Success,
Ferny Ceballos
Inside the Magnetic Sponsoring Factory
What ‘Building on a Budget’, 2.5 Margaritas, Mike Dillard and an
Aston-Martin Drive Through Downtown Austin Have in Common…
“What does that button do? “
- Ferny, While Riding in Mike’s “Spy Car”
Whoa, dude!
So what can I say? I just happen to be strolling through Austin, TX and decided to give Mr. Dillard a call so I can stop by and say “hello” since I just happen to be in the neighborhood.
(Real Story: I flew to Dallas for a seminar, but I arrived 3 days early, so I rented a car and drove down to Austin to watch Mike press the Big Red Launch Button for ‘Building on a Budget‘.)
So I phoned and asked Mike if it was ok if I stopped by. AND before he had a chance to answer, I rang the door bell. (Asking is simply a formality in today’s age.)
Ferny Wonka in the Magnetic Sponsoring Factory
Just like I expected, Mike Dillard opened the doors wearing a big black top hat and welcomed me into the magical world of the Magnetic Sponsoring factory. I met the queen of the factory, Steph (Mike’s girlfriend).
Aside from the elves who ran around turning the cranks to keep the Magnetic Sponsoring Community running, the Sofas stuffed with 100 dollar bills and the waterfalls of Xango juice, the place looked pretty normal.
Mike had been watching the numbers come in for ‘Building on a Budget’ with an inquisitive look on his face.
Apparently, one of the M.S. elves had tripped while turning the crank and caused the system to have a failure on Internet Explorer. Needless to say, Mr. Dillard was none too pleased.
The problem was resolved, elves reprimanded, and then the tour of the factory continued.
What I saw I cannot possibly describe, but let’s just say that I was exposed to the secrets as to how everything you see on Magnetic Sponsoring comes to life.
Mike literally snaps his fingers and the elves mobilize to make things happen.
(Real Story: Mike calls the MS programmers on his iPhone and barks orders.)
Mike and Ferny Go For a Ride
So after a hectic morning, Mr. Dillard took off his top hat and put on his sun glasses. He led me to the back of the factory and we walked through the secret door to the MS underground cave and saw this…

Mike (w/out the top hat), Ferny and the Aston-Martin (worth more than my house)
I gotta say, you can’t get any closer to riding in the Space Shuttle than riding in this thing with Mike behind the wheel.
I made the unfortunate mistake of pointing at a button with an image of a car with skiggly lines under the wheels and asked, “What does that button do?”.
He said, “Let me show you…”
Whaaam! In under 1 second he managed to ramp to 3 G’s, the Aston-Martin starting skidding and I turned pale white, (I’m naturally a dark beige).
2.5 Margaritas and “Queso” at Polvos
So after our adveture through Downtown Austin and being seemingly invisible to police radar, we arrived at a ‘hole in the wall’ joint called, ‘Polvos’ that looked like the walls were going to cave in… It’s an clear sign of some good eatin’.
There I had some of the best margaritas I’ve ever had, (paid for by Justin and Tim Erway’s share of Magnetic Sponsoring, LLC).
After some masterminding, my 2.5 margaritas and the best ‘queso’ this side of the rio grande, we hopped back into the ’spy car’ and headed back to the MS factory to make sure things were running smoothly.
From ‘Building on a Budget’ to MLM Millionaire
Back at the “factory”, I asked Mike a little bit about his life before MS and if you aren’t familiar with his story, it’s pretty pathetic (no offense, Mike).
Mike was literally living off the dollar menu of Taco Bell, had no furniture in his small apartment and pawned his DVD’s to survive. Every cent he earned went towards “building” his MLM business.
I use the term ‘building’ loosely, because he did a lot of the same stupid things most MLM’ers continue to do today, (i.e. buy generic leads, sizzle cards, 3 foot rule, prospect at cafes, cold calling, etc.)
Are you doing any of these?
He told me about having been mentored by Joe Schroeder, Robert Blackman and learning the way they did business and then applying their teachings to the internet.
The Most Important Thing to Spend Your Money On
Mike discovered that the most important thing to spend your money on in any business, was not leads, flyers and other prospecting “tools”. The most important thing was investing in yourself to develop the skills to do business online.
So essentially, the new “Building on a Budget” course is Mike’s way of giving YOU what he had learned from Joe and Robert, but updated for the Web 2.0 world. On top of that, Mike knows better than anyone what it is like to be in dire straits and needing to find success.
It’s amazing to know that story, then experience the millionaire lifestyle Mike has created for himself after having lifted himself out from the MLM gutter. And this isn’t anything that is unavailable to anyone.
The only difference is the time, effort and education Mike is providing in his course.
My visit with Mike ended with a few more margaritas and enjoying a great view of Lake Travis:

Lake Travis from 100’s of feet above (simulated blur to account for margaritas)

Feelin’ Good in Austin
I thanked Mike and his beautiful girlfriend, Steph, for their hospitality, tour of the MS factory and continued my Texas tour towards San Antonio to spend time with my girlfriend, (she was in Texas for the March 4th primaries).
I then headed back up to Dallas for a seminar with Keith Baxter and other affiliate marketers.
It’s important to remember that Mike, (even with the Top Hat), is as human as you and I are. The only difference is that he was focused and willing to do what others weren’t willing to do.
Like myself, you can learn through ‘Building on a Budget‘ and stand on his shoulders to strive for the success.
It’s the best investment you could make, because the alternative is living off the dollar menu from Taco Bell and being dead broke for 6 years, like Mike was.
You’d be silly not to take advantage of it.
So Here’s Exactly What To Do
All you need to do is register at http://attractionmarketingformula.com/budget, and follow instructions to purchase ‘Building on a Budget‘.
You’d be silly not to pick up a copy of “Building on a Budget“. For less than thirty bucks, it’s a bargain.
If you do, you’ll be well on your way to living the lifestyle I got a taste of, this past weekend.
Thank you, Mike for your hospitality!
It’s time to get to work.
To Your Success,
Ferny Ceballos