I just tweeted this pet peeve, but it’s big enough (to me) that I need more than 140 characters to really vent about it. I’ve titled this blog post #1 because I’m sure there are bound to be more pet peeves that pop up along the way and I couldn’t leave it unnumbered and then be stuck for a completely new post title next time around. See, I think ahead.

Ok, so my first pet peeve has to do with the video sales letter. I get that they are all the rage and that they work, but I personally don’t like them. I’ve mentioned this fact before and I know I’m not alone as I’ve read many other posts from people who feel the same way. But the video works and so people will keep using them. That’s not the annoyance for me.

My pet peeve with the video sales page are the ones that you can’t control. You can’t fast forward to skip past the “personal story” that is probably a big fat lie anyway, and more importantly, you can’t skip to the PRICE. THE only important factor for me at the moment.

I don’t care if you’re selling a money printing machine, if the price is out of my range, I’m not buying. Twice last year I forked over more money that we could really afford because of a hyped up sales letter promising to make me rich. And these days, nearly everything I come across sets my bullshit meter off, so unless you can give me a price right off the bat, or allow me to fast forward your video to find out, I’m not going to spend what precious time I have looking at something I most likely won’t be able to afford.

So yes, while the video sales letter might work, I personally switch off as soon as I see that I can’t fast forward or even work out how long it’s going to be. If I’m just one person, then nobody has anything to worry about, but you have to ask yourself, am I the only one that feels this way?

My last blog post on here was a while ago now, and it was a heads up to all that I would be distracted for a little bit while I set up a new site. Well I’m VERY happy to announce that I am set up!!

I present to you… *drum roll* The Guru Guide!!

blog was to call a spade a spade in relation to internet marketing. There are so many bad products out there, dodgy sales letters and self-proclaimed gurus who care nothing more than the amount available on your credit card. I had written a few posts and the feedback was very good.

While lying in bed my mind wandered… the idea came out of nowhere. Wouldn’t it be good to have a site out there that could profile these so called gurus and allow everyone to share their thoughts, feedback and opinions on how truthful these guys really were. My blog on steroids and in the hands of the community.

I spent the next hour picturing a site where these big shot internet marketers could post their details, a full profile with a detailed history of what exactly they’ve done along the way and most importantly, list all the products and services they’ve offered. To create a single online profile for each person where others interested could come and find out what sort of reputation the product creators have.

At the time I pushed the idea aside due to the work involved that would be required to code it all, but the idea refused to be ignored. 2009 saw a lot of people screwed over and ripped off by ‘gurus’, myself included and I had had enough. I wanted to put an end to the lies and fluff pushed upon those trying to succeed. Eventually I caved and started investigating and before I knew it, everything was falling into place! The Guru Guide was born!

Originally, The Guru Guide was created for internet marketers creating and pushing their own products. That creates a very limited ‘review’ type site however and I want to provide a place for all those interested in internet marketing. A place to network with other people, communicate, make contacts and help each other out. For everyone person who has succeeded, there are ten still struggling. After all, that’s why the whole ‘work at home’ niche is so popular right?

This site is for ANYONE involved in the wide world of Internet Marketing. It doesn’t matter what level you are currently at, you will be able to benefit from The Guru Guide. While the base functionality is to provide a single ‘profile’ for everyone involved in internet marketing, there is so much more to it than that. From seeking other people’s opinions on a product or a person to wanting to sell products yourself, to getting in contact with mentor’s, joint venture partners or seeking general assistance, you can use this site to help you along your journey.

To learn more, please have a read of the main page here: The Guru Guide.

At the moment sign up is via invitation only as I am seeking out testers to help poke and prod to see if they break anything. As a treasured reader of Affiliate Spam, if you’d like to help test or just want to have a poke around, please shoot me an email or catch me on Twitter (either @AffiliateSpam or @TheGuruGuide)

I am so super excited at the potential for The Guru Guide and would love to hear what you think!

Hi guys!

I apologize for no blog update last Friday but I promise I have a good excuse! Well, I think it’s a good one.

See, for a while now I’ve had an idea lurking around my head. It came to me very late one night when I was trying to get to sleep and while I loved the thought of it, I pushed it aside as I never considered my skills to be at a level to make it happen. Since that night however, the idea refuses to leave and eventually I caved into investigating it all a bit. After looking around, I realised it was not only possible to do, but also the skills required were not that far a stretch from my previous 6 years online!

All of a sudden I couldn’t switch my brain off and the ideas were flooding in! Like all bright ideas I have, I’ve jumped in with both feet and went from “nah, I couldn’t do that…” to “Ok! Let’s go!” Since around the middle of last week when everything fell into place more perfectly that I could have anticipated, I’m been completely distracted working on it. It’s been a long time since I was this into a project and I’m super excited about it.

Frustratingly, I can’t tell you what it is. I know, I know, what a tease right? As much as I want to scream it from the roof tops to build excitement and anticipated about it, my paranoia personality steps up and reminds me that if I speak too soon, someone might jump on it first and beat me to the punch. See, from all my researching, there’s nothing out there like what I’m creating. (That’s got you thinking didn’t it?)

All I can tell you is that the idea that sparked it all falls into the same category as what got this blog started in the first place – being sick of all the lies, hidden truths, misguidance and general BS that’s polluted the internet marketing world recently. The new project is about truth, honesty and standing behind your claims.

I can also tell you that it will be useful to everyone taking part in internet marketing – from the newbie just coming in to learn right up to the guru claiming to know it all. Not only useful, but I dare say even benefit them! No matter what aspect of IM you are involved in, you will find at least one benefit from what I’m creating!

But… *zips lips* that’s all I’m going to say!

As of this post I’m already mostly set up, working out the final features and double checking all settings. Obviously I’m wanting to work on it as much as possible to get it all up and running ASAP, which is going to be very easy as I’m loving it and can’t stop my brain ticking over 24 hours a day at the moment. This may mean that the blog is going to take a temporary backseat however… sorry. It just means that now is the time to subscribe (points to the subscribe box) so you don’t miss when I do post something. After all, readers of the blog will be the first to hear any news or updates!