By June Campbell
Are you making a living from online sales? Or do you hope to
in the not too distant future?
If the answer is yes, you need up-to-the-minute information about
Internet marketing -- what works and what doesn't. Otherwise,
you can waste a small fortune on services, software and campaigns
that just don't pay off.
Two well-know Internet marketers, Terry Dean and Jim
Daniels, are both offering "marketing packages"
to assist both the seasoned marketer and the newcomer.
Recently, I subscribed to Terry Dean's marketing package called
Netbreakthroughs and to Jim Daniels' package called Make
a Living Online. I will probably keep only one, but right
now, the jury is out as to which one that will be.
Both are excellent although slightly different in their approach.
Daniels' Make a Living Online comes with web site subscription
as well as a well-written book that covers the basics of
Internet marketing. I like the way Daniels writes -- he's very
professional and his material is free from typos and grammatical
errors. He's also very systematic. By reading the book from cover
to cover, you'll learn the step by step actions that will put
you on your way to making a living online. Alternatively, you
can read individual chapters for specific information if that's
what you need.
Dean's Netbreakthroughs doesn't come with a book -- its' entirely
web based. However, Dean does include a substantial number
of articles and reports that provide essentially the same information
as you'll find in Daniel's book. The material is not so well written
and not so well organized -- but the information that you need
is all there.
One big benefit of both these packages is the information they
offer about real-life marketing campaigns. Both Daniels
and Dean provide the results of ad campaigns they have run, followed
by a rating of Recommended or Not Recommended. For
example, in Netbreakthroughs, you learn the ezines or web sites
where Dean is placing his ads, what copy or banner he is using,
the cost of running the ad, the number of click-throughs that
the ad generated and the number of sales that resulted. Dean even
gives you his profit or loss dollar figures regarding individual
campaigns. If you're thinking using paid adverts, its more than
a little helpful to know which ezines and web sites pay off and
which ones don't!
Daniels offers the same type of information about ad campaigns,
but he goes into less detail than Dean. Both publishers provide
updated reports and information on an ongoing basis.
With Make a Living Online, Jim Daniels has teamed up with a number
of service providers to offer free services to his subscribers.
For instance, you can get up to three months free web hosting,
free autoresponders, free ad tracking services and more. These
freebies are high quality products, and naturally, the gamble
is that you will become a paying customer after the free time
elapses. If you're in the market for any of these services, why
not get a few months free? If you're not in the market, this feature
of Daniel's site won't benefit you.
Both Daniels and Dean provide personalized support to subscribers.
Terry Dean shines in this respect -- he offers both a "coaching"
forum where members post questions that he answers, and
a bi-weekly online chat hosted by himself. Granted, the
Q's and A's are public to all subscribers -- but this can be a
bonus. I find that many old-timers are more than willing to share
their expertise with newbies and often add as much valuable information
as does Dean himself. No advertising is permitted, except for
a site link if desired.
Daniels offers Q's and A's via confidential email. The
responses come from a panel of experts in certain marketing-related
fields. The downside here is that since the experts represent
their own businesses, I question whether these answers would be
slanted towards their own services and products. Terry Dean, on
the other hand, gives the impression of offering unbiased opinions.
Which to choose? It's largely a matter of personal taste. Daniels
package offers slightly less "meat" than Dean's, but
on the other hand, it is more economically priced. Netbreakthroughs
runs at $19.95 a month, whereas Make A Living Online costs a one
time-fee of $149 for two years. (Prices subject to change).
The table below compares the two packages:
| |
Netbreakthroughs |
Make A Living Online |
| Publisher |
Terry Dean |
Jim Daniels |
| Target Market |
Experienced marketers as well
as newcomers to ecommerce. |
Experienced marketers as well
as newcomers to ecommerce. |
| Book, printed |
No |
Yes. Make a Living Online. Published
2001. 192 pages. Well written, well laid out, easy to read
and follow. |
| Subscription to Web Site |
Yes. Renewable monthly. |
Yes. For a period of two years. |
| Free eBooks and templates to
subscribers |
Yes |
Yes |
| Regularly added articles, tutorials
and reports |
Yes |
Yes |
| Results of ad campaigns |
Yes |
Yes |
| Free Services |
No |
Yes, but time limited for 1-3
months. |
| Links to recommended resources |
Yes |
Yes |
| Specials and Discounts |
No |
Yes |
| Your questions answered |
Yes, by Terry Dean and other
subscribers. Answers on an online forum. |
Yes, by Jim Daniels and a panel
of other people. By confidential email. |
| Video Training Files |
Yes |
No |
| Contests |
Yes |
No |
| Community building with other
subscribers |
Yes, on forum and in chats. |
No. |
| Seeks Feedback from Subscribers |
Yes |
Yes |
| Interviews with Experts |
Yes |
No |
| Scheduled Chats with Publisher |
Yes. |
No. |
| Price |
$19.95 a month. Price subject
to change. |
$149 for two years. Price subject
to change. |
| Link |
Netbreakthroughs
|
Make a Living
Online |
| Recommend |
Yes |
Yes |
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