When most people hear the word ‘clone’ in the internet marketing industry, they think of the scams out there claiming you can clone people’s entire campaigns and make the same money they are making. *cough* Google Cash Detective *cough* I personally think of cloning PPC campaigns, cloning sales strategies, etc. When I first skimmed the sales page for Affiliate Clone X, I thought the same thing. However, it’s not quite the case. You’re not actually cloning anything belonging to anyone else, instead, you are cloning a marketing strategy. Much the same as you clone a cooking recipe.

In fact, I’m going to stop using the word clone all together, because really, you’re copying or following the steps required, not cloning. I asked a few people what their definition of clone was when talking in a non-genetic sense (ie not talking about cloning your beloved family dog, but instead a software program or a DVD, etc). All responses came back that they consider cloning to be an exact replica of the original product. An identical, mirror image created quickly, easily and preferably with as little involvement by the cloner as possible.

The so-wrong-it-wasn’t-funny sales pitch for Google Cash Detective is a prime example of the term cloning in an internet marketing sense. “With just a few clicks of your mouse, you can instantly and effortlessly copy the thousand dollar campaigns and make the same money“. I fell for it too, hook line and sinker. I was just getting started with affiliate marketing and the scary world of PPC campaigns; this advertised itself as a cloning system that worked and it was highly recommended by the so called Guru I was following mindlessly at the time. (A completely different guru to my other issue mind you… I know, when will I learn right?)

It didn’t work. Most ‘cloning’ tactics don’t. The people already doing it, especially via PPC already have a big lead over you. The idea is a nice thought – to be able to instantly make the same amount of money with only a fraction of the work. Who would say no to that? But very rarely, if ever, is it that simple. Thankfully, Affiliate Clone X only makes use of an incorrect name in it’s title, for you’re not really cloning at all…

To bake a cake you first mix the flour, then add the sugar, eggs and so on right? Well this is much the same. Affiliate Clone X gives you the steps needed to produce a similar result at the end, however all results will vary depending on many different factors each time and as such, it’s not really an exact clone. (Who says they are going to ‘clone the recipe for tonight’s lamb roast’? No one. I dare say most would comment they are going to ‘follow’ the recipe. That said, Affiliate Follow X really doesn’t have the same ring to it, am I right? )

While you’re not cloning anything in the typical sense, the steps provided to you to follow are fairly decent. The basic formula is to locate Private Label Rights (PLR) products to sell, ideally products that come with a pre-made sales page, thankyou and download pages, graphics, word format, etc. You then take these products, edit them, improve them and make them unique before spitting it out as a PDF and uploading the required pages for clickbank to approve it for sale. Then just find affiliates, build a list and whammo, let the money roll in.

Again the main problem falls in with the use of the word cloning. (Not the actual ebook). It’s misleading. The methods taught are very sound, many a big name in the IM world who now creates their own products, started with PLR. It’s certainly a good launching pad. However, there is a lot more to it than just picking up any product and following the steps – PLR has been around for a while now and like anything, there’s a lot of crap out there. You need to find the good stuff, the golden nugget in amongst all the dirt. And not all private label rights products come with a pre-made sales page and more.

The only other issue is the constant mention of additional expenses. Hire a copywriter to edit the ebook itself, or at worst perfect the sales page. Locate and employ the services of the graphically gifted because you’ll be changing the title of the ebook and thus, need the provided graphics altered. But what if your product then doesn’t sell? While yes it’s not always a lot of money to hire these people, if you’re doing this for every product you try and make ‘your own’, then it can add up quickly. Very quickly if you are not recouping your costs.

Not to mention on top of that you’re going to be buying the PLR products you will then on-sell, and remember, you need the quality stuff which is going to be more expensive. I’m not even going to address the recommendation of a dedicated server to host your product launch day – I maintained a dedicated server for one of my membership sites and they are not cheap, nor are they easy to get set up if you’re unfamiliar with the technical side of website hosting.

All that aside, the information provided is very thorough! Surprisingly so. So far it’s covered all the points I had questions about, even going over how to locate affiliates and JV partners to promote your product both before and after it’s official ‘launch day’. It does leave out the teeny tiny step of where you actually go to find people who might be interested in promoting for you, skipping instead to the ‘What do you do if you can’t find the owner’s name on the sales page?’ dilemma. It’s the middle step of which sales pages you need to find and consider that isn’t mentioned. A fairly important step if you ask me.

Overall though I actually think the ebook is quite good. If you’re looking for a way to start making money online, then this could very well be your beginning. I’ve already mentioned the uses PLR can provide you, although I still stick by my opinion that you should be very wary of using it as your sole content. That said, if you are willing to put in the time and effort to alter any PLR packages you plan on using, and have a way of finding affiliates to promote it for you, then by all means check out Affiliate Clone X.

Please note this isn’t an ‘easy ride’ option to rolling in $45,000 a month like the author claims, if you are just starting out you’re going to have your work cut out for you. You’re going to need to learn where to get the best PLR products to use, it’s going to take time improving them, editing them and then getting everything set up. If you don’t already have an email list, or ways to locate affiliates and JV partners to assist you, you’re going to have to work on that too.

But, and it’s a big but, the general method taught does make money (and certainly has in the past) if you are willing to put in the time and effort. If it sounds like something you’re interested in, put aside everything else, concentrate on only this for the next three to six months and see what you can produce. And of course come back and let me know as I’d love to hear about it!

If anyone does pick it up, or use similar strategies it teaches, myself and I’m sure any readers would love to hear your feedback!

P.S. One fact I did find very interesting is that I received no emails about this product. None. Given how many people out there have my email address on file, and the launch day for it was on the 10th of December, that’s a little odd. A big thankyou goes to @Bourne2Share on twitter for bringing it to my attention because it is one of the better ebooks I have read. Information wise it’s pretty packed and gives you everything you know. Just go into it using your head and you’ll be fine.

P.P.S. I did have one chuckle. At the very bottom of the sales page is the paragraph:

What? No affiliate link. No contact button. No and no. You see, I don’t want thousands of people flooding to my site and asking me if I am the real deal. And my affiliate program is off-limits for non-buyers. And here’s the truth: I have no intention of qualifying myself. I didn’t go through all this just to get my word out to non-believers. If you know you know, and if you don’t… that’s fine too. But I will say this: if you want to hear my voice and know what the guy behind the industry take-over sounds like, then go back to the drop-down box at the top of this page and sign up to the Bombshell newsletter. Just be prepared for the truth – and $500,000 worth of reasons why APX has already given thousands of your competitors the drop on you. The affiliate program – and my personal contact e-mail address – are reserved for my buyers, guys who know a good thing when they see it, guys who can see through the mist, and are prepared to take action to live the life they really want. The decision is yours to make, but make it fast because I may not be here to set you right tomorrow.

And right underneath is a contact and affiliate link LOL! There’s also no opt-in/sign up section to the newsletter.