Awww… Google Loves Me

by Lyndon on February 14, 2010

Happy Valentines Day to me.  Talk about the best Valentines Day Gift ever.  Okay, maybe a few links would have been better ;-) .  But I’ll take an Adsense credit any day.

Valentines Day Card From Google

Valentines Day Card From Google


Inside of Valentines Day Card from Google

Inside of Valentines Day Card from Google

Envelope and Front of Valentines Day Card from Google

Envelope and Front of Valentines Day Card from Google

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Bada-Bing Better Start Mastering AdCenter

by Lyndon on February 4, 2010

Bing Search Engine Screen Shot

Bing Search Engine Screen Shot

Nostradamus himself predicts a big push from Bing.  I personally hate but all they would have to do to get me using it here or there is clean things up a bit.  I find their background gradients and pictures terribly distracting and annoying.  Yeah, I am picky, whatever rip me for it if you like.

Anyway Bing stands a chance to gain market share for a few reasons:

  1. Their results are actually good
  2. They results don’t have as much noise (maps, tweets, images, videos, etc.) in them
  3. They are apparently buying their way into the browsers as the default search engine (Google currently has/had FireFox and Safari)

There was a time I was paying .04 to .08 cents a click on Facebook while everyone was ignoring Facebook’s advertising platform – I’d trade my house to pay .04 cents a click again.

Another opportunity *may* present itself.  Go exploit it.  Come back and thank me later.

Everyone has been concentrating on ranking and rocking Google SERPS and Paid Search.   In December 2009 Microsoft was accounting for about 10% of searches.  If this grows as some expect there could be huge opportunities in the AdCenter game.  Start playing now, master it in time, drive some killer affiliate stuff, and then enjoy the 12 months of record revenue.  Before you know it everyone will be in there and it will be too late.

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We Can Beat It

by Lyndon on February 3, 2010

A while back DK asked us to throw up a quick post about the charity we prefer to support.  I posted that mine was the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

Sadly, it’s rare I hear of someone who has not been affected by breast cancer.  I never got to meet my grandma because breast cancer took her away from me and my mom while she was pregnant with me.  My aunty is also battling and beating breast cancer.  Some of my best friends in the internet marketing industry have family members fighting breast cancer right now (I think of you guys every day) and some friends of mine have had some really tough battles as of late.

In December I said that I would donate $500.00 to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation if I won Shoemoney’s Affiliate Summit West contest.  I managed to pull it off and I’ve made my contribution to the fight against breast cancer.  Better yet, charity goddess Missy Ward and DK ran a fundraiser for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.  I eagerly sponsored and participated in the fundraiser.   I am extremely proud of Missy and DK and thrilled to report they raised over $15000.00.

As they say, we are in this together.

Mom, aunty, friends, marketers, and everyone touched by this terrible disease I am thinking about you today.  Visitors, please consider giving generously to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

And, men you should go donate as well – Save the Boobies.

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Goal Review – January 2010

by Lyndon on February 1, 2010

This post is a monthly follow-up to my 2010 goals.

Woah – January was a success.  I am sure  my earnings are down from December (a lot of my affiliate stuff is done through eBay and the Christmas season where all the money is made) but a lot of excellent things have happened.  I won’t reiterate as it’s all on the blog.

Okay let’s take a quick look at the goals:

  1. Earnings of $1K a day through the monetization of web sites by the end of the year
    My earnings are down and far from $1000.00 a day but I have a few things on the go and a few of them are big with huge potential.  I hope to launch one of them in the next 30 days.  I returned from ASW with a new attitude – I am now concentrating on things that can be huge.
  2. Get/Stay in shape.  Keep “bad” weight off and put “good” weight on (ultimately I’d like to lost 5-10 bad pounds and gain 5 good pounds)
    My training has been sporadic but I am probably a few pounds lighter.  I’m stocked up on food, supplements, and ready to keep given ‘er.
  3. Workout 4-5 days a week
    Been averaging about 4 days a week.
  4. Continue to be a great friend, uncle, and family member, and dog owner
    For the most part I think this is going well.
  5. Wear my seatbelt all the time (when I am in a moving car)
    Umm, this one is easy.  I am getting way better.
  6. Pay off all consumer debt
    Haven’t even looked at this yet.
  7. Stop hitting “sleep” on the alarm clock
    I am guilty here.  I struggle with this.  I do know I feel great when I get up right away.  I end up groggy all day if I hit sleep too much and so I am going to jeep working at this.
  8. Wake up at 5:45 am
    See above.
  9. Be a productive employee
    I had a good month at the office.
  10. Be a productive entrepreneur
    Doing much better in this department. Social media is becoming less of a distraction.  I was up until 4:00 am yesterday coding a new product. I’ve hired a developer who I think is going to work out well.  Definitely making forward progress here.
  11. Sleep between 6-9 hours every night
    I am getting better here, still a little inconsistent.
  12. Run the half marathon with minimal training (I’m not going to put on “good weight” running all the time)
    Still debating this.
  13. Post on my blog every once in a while
    Success.
  14. Keep better books
    eeekkkk.

All in all I am moving forward in the right direction. I am super motivated.  These monthly reviews are going to work well for me, it will ensure these goals are not forgotten.  It is a reminder that I need to continue to work at certain things.

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So, last month I won a contest hosted by Shoemoney and sponsored by Epic Advertising.  They gave me $2000 to throw down on a single hand of black jack – I ended up hitting a black jack  – it was ummm EPIC, John Chow even caught it on film.

Lyndon Reid and Shoemoney at Azoogle Booth Ready to Bet

Lyndon Reid and Shoemoney at Azoogle Booth Ready to Bet

Then they let me join them at their party as well.   Again, it was a big deal (read as EPIC), they booked the Hugh Heffner Sky Villa Suite at the top of the Palms Hotel in Las Vegas (yep the one you see on TV all the time) and threw a killer party.  Everything you’d expect – networking, open bar, beautiful people, great views of the strip, and killer music.  It was the most anticipated party of Affiliate Summit West and it proved to be toughest to get into.

Everyone is aware that they threw an out of this world party last year,  at the Playboy Mansion in LA.  It had everyone talking.  I even mentioned in my ASW contest entry that I was hoping I’d be able to find my way into their next mansion party. Here is what a few people had to say:

DK states “THE BEST PARTY I HAVE EVER BEEN TO.”

Shoemoney says: “ It was a unreal experience

Well guess what?  They are pulling out all the stops and hosting another party at the mansion in August.

Affiliates, especially super affiliates, often stress that marketers should follow the money and not get caught up in the contests networks hold.  What Epic advertising does is an exception to that rule and pretty much everyone knows it.  We all want to win their contests.  It doesn’t matter if you are male or female, if you are 21 or 81 years of age – chances are you’d love to party at the mansion and god knows it’s one of those once in a lifetime opportunities that will leave you with stories and memories that will be retold thousands of times.

Hurry over to Epic/Azoogle and register to win.  I’ll be doing everything I can to get an entry.

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What can you do?

by Lyndon on January 28, 2010

Can you code, write, or design well?  I mean really well? Not afraid to work hard?

Looking for some free lance work?  What about a joint venture?

Contact me immediately (via email please)

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Shoemoney System Sells Out

by Lyndon on January 27, 2010

Shoemoney wins Affiliate Blogger of the Year at ASW w/ Missy Ward and Shawn Collins

Shoemoney wins Affiliate Blogger of the Year at ASW w/ Missy Ward and Shawn Collins

If you are reading my blog, then you know of Shoemoney.  He is the face of Internet/performance marketing.

Yesterday he launched the Shoemoeny System a private video based training system that shows students exactly what they need to know to make money online.

I am happy to report it has sold out.  Access was limited to 500 students because Shoemoney and his team will be personally assisting each student realize their goals.

I had the pleasure of hanging out with Shoemoney just two weeks ago so I know firsthand hard he worked on the Shoemoney system over the course of the last year and how excited he is to bring it to market.  Congrats Shoemoney.

The Shoemoney System currently has a waiting list – go throw your name on it now.  (not an affiliate link)

Originally I had chronicled some of Shoemoney’s successes, ups, and downs as part of this post but I realized it was unnecessary as he says it best and blogged it all.  Go browse his blog and learn more about him – how he build and sold Auction Ads in a four month period, how he dominated the ring tone industry, how he overcame an addiction to video games, how he founded the Elite Retreat Workshop/Conference, and the list goes on.  I am positive that your name will be on the waiting list once you realize what Shoemoney has accomplished and you see the list of people he has helped in the past.

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I spent the last week like a degenerate gambler/drunken sailor super affiliate rockstar – and it was one of the best weeks of my life.    Here is a recap the way remember it (barely).

It’s a long post but the week had a big impact on me and so I have a lot to say.

ASW 2010 started Sunday and ended Tuesday.  I added a couple days so that I could check out the Vdara and Aria for a site I am building out.

Friday – Pregame

I arrived in Las Vegas at 10:00 PM and jumped in a cab with Michael Martin and Steve Ratson who were also in town for ASW.  I checked in and rushed over to the Rio to have a drink with some people who were in early as well – Missy Ward, Sean Collins, Brian Clark and Jim Banks.  Later on, a few of us made or way to Aria to meet NickyCakes and play some craps and black jack.

I ended up at a table with a group of nice people and by nice I mean sexy of course.  We gambled, shot patron, and drank double vodka sodas like they were going out of style.  Before I knew it was 7:00 am-ish and so I trekked back to my room at VDara and requested a late checkout.

Shooters at Aria

Shooters at Aria

Drinks on Friday at I Bar

Drinks on Friday at I Bar (or Middle Bar as Rockstar @Kristy would renamed it)

Saturday – Party Time

The conference started Sunday but the official parties and networking started Saturday.  I spent some time in the afternoon hanging with Jim Banks who I have known for a while.  It was really nice to join him for a drink and chat outside of a chaotic night club or ultra busy atmosphere.

At 6:00 I went to a great dinner at Daniel Boulods in the Wynn hotel organized by DK of Purpose Inc.  The dinner was amazing.  I highly suggest you attend DK’s events when you can.  They are always open to everyone and DK, who is making a name for himself by mastering Facebook advertising, is a superb networker and a genuine good guy who will go out of his way to introduce you to the people you want to meet and to help you out.

I enjoyed the world famous DB burger which is stuffed with truffle-and-foie gras-laced short ribs.

It was great connecting with John Holloway, Ruben Orozco, Robert Drysdale, and others.

Following dinner it was back to the Rio to play aggressive (I mean that in more one way) poker in a tourney hosted by DK and Missy Ward in support of the National Breast Cancer Foundation.  Robert Drysdale, 6X world Champion in BrazilianJiu Jitsu choked me out and threw me in a couple of arm bars on top of the poker tables at the Rio. It was awesome.

After Poker a group of us headed over to an unreal party at Rain night club in the Palms hotel.  Huge thanks to Jim Banks for lining us up and Buy.at for hosting.  Buy.at rented out the entire top floor and opened the bar for us which would have been cool enough.  But there was more, world famous DJ Paul Oakenfold was on the decks and there were thousands of people going crazy on the dance floor and probably about a thousand people waiting outside trying to get in – all of sudden you start feeling lucky to be an unreal party.

The night ended late and by late I mean early morning.

DK and Robert Drysdale at Dinner

DK and Robert Drysdale at Dinner

The DB Burger

The DB Burger

Robert Drysdale KOs Lyndon Reid on Poker Table - Photo Credit TheChrista.com

Robert Drysdale KOs Lyndon Reid on Poker Table - Photo Credit TheChrista.com

DK and Lyndon Reid at Poker Tourny

DK and Lyndon Reid at Poker Tourny

Video of Paul Oakenfold Ripping it Up at Rain

Sunday – Show Time

The show started late Sunday.  I bumped into John Chow and checked out the exhibitor hall with him for a while.  Later I caught up with Shoemoney and we socialized and made some plans for the big blackjack hand.

It was very cool to be hanging out with Shoemoney, John Chow, Missy Ward, etc.

Monday we hit the ShareASale party for a few drinks and laughs with Carolyn Shelby, Kate Morris, Kristy Bolsinger, Christa Watson, Raven Jon, Taylor Pratt, Michael Martin, Joe Laratro and Jeff Randal.  Later in the evening we made our way to Double Play party in the Hardwood Suite at the Palms Hotel.  It was another one of those nights that makes you say wow, I’m lucky.  The style of these parties backs up the idea that performance marketing is thriving in the midst of a recession. The party was inside a two-floor suite that included a basketball court on the main floor and of course an open bar.

After the Party the group headed over to the Playboy club and finally Moon joined by Joseph Morin, Rae Hoffman, Streko, and Brooke Murphy.

Another late night, things winded down somewhere between early and mid morning.

Missy Ward Shoemoney Lyndon Reid

Missy Ward Shoemoney Lyndon Reid

John Chow in Exibitor Hall

John Chow in Exibitor Hall

Little Lounge Packed ASW

Little Lounge Packed ASW

Monday – Black Jack Time

Monday morning came quick – I got up early because I had to grab my camera from the Palms hotel (I had to check it and I ended up forgetting it there).  After retrieving my camera I attended Dr. Robert Cialdini’s keynote which was awesome and then bounced around some sessions, grabbed lunch, and hit the Killer Facebook Tactics session which had the top Facebook advertisers speaking.  The room was packed, so packed they actually stopped letting people in as there wasn’t room to sit OR stand.

Unfortunately the audience asked guideline related questions for the most part (the same stuff you see on the forums).  I didn’t get a chance to ask if 5 Cent clicks are a thing of the past or if they are still attainable. I was killing it with 5 cent clicks back in the “Facebook Flyers” days.

After the Facebook session we were off  to the tables as it was my time to lay down $2500.00 on a single hand of black jack.  If you don’t know what happened read this post.

After the killer Black Jack hand, while on a huge high I went for a dinner that was organized by DK at Okada a very nice, high end sushi restaurant.  The food was great and the company was phenomenal.  After dinner it was off to the world famous Hugh Heffner Suite with Tim Ash and Steve Poland for an “Epic” party hosted by Epic/Azoogle Ads. For obvious reasons it was a blast to hang out at the Playboy Party which was loaded with beautiful woman and sat on top of the Palms hotel overlooking the strip from a patio that featured a swimming a pool.  Unfortunately I didn’t shoot as many pictures as I should have.  Huge thanks to Shoemoney and Azoogle Ads for lining me up.

After the party I made my way back to the Rio where I partied with Streko, Kristy, Christa, and John Jordan until the early morning – again.

Facebook Panel at ASW

Facebook Panel at ASW

Lyndon Reid and Shoemoney at Azoogle Booth Ready to Bet

Lyndon Reid and Shoemoney at Azoogle Booth Ready to Bet

Buying Chips for the Big Hand

Buying Chips for the Big Hand

The Winners Circle

The Winners Circle

Video Interview

Video Interview

Team Mama Reid - Thank You www.TheChrista.com

Team Mama Reid - Thank You www.TheChrista.com

Team Mama Reid - Thank You www.TheChrista.com

Team Mama Reid - Thank You www.TheChrista.com

Are we Having Fun Yet?

Are we Having Fun Yet?

Yes we are!

Yes we are!

Pondering a Dip

Pondering a Dip

Tuesday – Get some sleep dude

Monday night was late and I wanted to get down to the conference hall early again.  I checked out of the hotel as I had a booking at Aria for Tuesday.  I made it down to the theater in time for the Affiliate Summit Awards where a couple of homeskillets won– Nicky Cakes took Affiliate of the Year and Shoemoney walked away with Affiliate Blogger of the year.  Next I listened to Tuesday’s Keynote by Brian Clark of Copy Blogger and then went to sit in and watch some my close friends Kristy, Kate, Carolyn, Christa, and new friend Jane host the Woman of SEO panel.

That session was followed by laughs and socializing in the blogger room which HeatherInBC had organized for speakers and guests who needed to get a little work (or socializing) done.

Chaos ensued when we were challenged to drink 20K worth of booze in an hour and a half and everyone around me was going nuts (I almost got involved in the debauchery;)).

More drinking and dinner followed with many of the names I’ve mentioned earlier and then before I knew it I was playing black jack with Rae Hoffman and Kristy.  Things became crazy quick.  When we couldn’t get a drink fast enough Kristy went to order some from the bar.  She told Rae that some men from the military were there.  Rae insisted we buy them drinks and then the next thing I know Kristy was sent with fistfuls of money to take care of them all night.  Kristy ran back and forth partying with both groups while Rae and I played blackjack like it was going out of style.  People were going for lunch by the time we finished playing blackjack, I was already supposed to be checked out of Aria (and I hadn’t even made it there yet), I was still wearing the clothes I had put on the previous morning, and I had to rush to the airport.  Needless to say it was great way finale to a great week and a terrible flight.

ASW Award Winners NickyCakes Shoemoney

ASW Award Winners NickyCakes Shoemoney

Woman of SEO Panel

Woman of SEO Panel

Party in the Blogger Room

Party in the Blogger Room

Good Conversation LOL

Good Conversation LOL

Conclusion – Wow

The week was amazing.  There were so many highlights.  I could go on and on.  Reuniting and spending time with great friends.  Meeting, getting to know, and spending quality time with some of top internet marketers in the world, hitting blackjack on a $2500 hand, visiting the Playboy club, watching Paul Oakenfold spin live, meeting and getting submitted on poker tables by Robert Drysdale, being surprised with Team Mama Reid T-Shirts, enjoying fine food, okay I’ll shut up now.

Best of all I’ve returned home motivated, excited, confident, feeling fortunate, and with a few new ideas that I am sure you will be hear a lot about in the coming months.

A huge thanks to Shoemoney, Azoogle Ads, and the entire Affiliate Summit team (spearheaded by the infamous Missy Ward and ShawnCollins) for an amazing week. Love ya guys!

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Black Jack Please: The $2500 Bet

by Lyndon on January 21, 2010

A full recap of Affiliate Summit West is coming soon but there is a ton of hype about my killer Black Jack hand so I wanted to get a post out about that first.

If you are a regular reader of my blog than you’re aware that I was the lucky winner of Shoemoney’s Affiliate Summit West contest.  As part of the prize I had the luxury of taking $1000.00 and walking away or betting $2000.00 on a single hand of Black Jack.

I did what any degenerate gambler on a high from partying and hanging some great friends and some industry leaders would do  – I choose to bet the $2000.00 and slam my $500.00 of reimbursed airfare on the table as well.  DK of purpose inc. wanted to contribute and threw his small bills into the pile and so my wager was $2532.00.

We walked over to the only table that wasn’t busy on the casino floor at the RIO and I bought my chips.  It got the attention of the pit boss(es).

I was with some of the biggest affiliate marketers around including Shoemoney and his team, John Chow, and DK.

I placed all the chips in the betting box and Donna started shuffling.   When she was done her relief came but the pit bosses gave me the choice to use either dealer.   The group insisted I use the same dealer and so that was the decision that was made.

When asked to cut the deck I deferred the responsibility to Shoemoney.  And what a cut!

The cards came quick, a queen of clubs and then an Ace of hearts!  Black Jack.  It meant I couldn’t be beat and that I was walking away with 3-2 instead of 1-1 so long as the dealer didn’t draw a black jack as well.  My take was a cool $6330.00.

It was unreal – and the best part is that the story, experience, and excitement of playing that hand with some of the best internet marketers is easily as valuable as walking away with $6330.00.

Boy did the stars align for me, again.  Thanks to everyone especially Shoemoney, Azoogle Ads, and Affiliate Summit West for sponsoring and hosting the contest.

Here is the video shot by John Chow – Check it out – It is EPIC.

Some Pictures

Shoemoney Passes Cash to Lyndon-Reid

Shoemoney Passes Cash to Lyndon Reid

Shoemoney and Lyndon Reid in front of AzoogleAds Booth

Shoemoney and Lyndon Reid in front of AzoogleAds Booth

The Cash

The Cash

Ready to Place the Bet

Ready to Place the Bet

All the Guys after the Win

All the Guys after the Win

The Chips and a Celebratory Cigar

The Chips and a Celebratory Cigar

Video Interview after the Win

Video Interview after the Win

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Affiliate Summit: The Day Before

by Lyndon on January 18, 2010

I arrived a few days early for Affiliate Summit to ensure I had adequate time to damage my liver and so that I could attend some of the kick off parties.

I just wanted to throw out a couple of thank you’s and a recap of Saturday.

Saturday was great, it started with drinks at the Rio with several fellow affiliate marketers and led to some great events.

The evening started with dinner at Daniel Bouluds (organized by DK of Purpose Inc.) I finally got to try the world famous burger with Foi Gras and Truffles. It was all that it was cracked up to be. The food, atmosphere, and networking was great. I had the pleasure of meeting and hanging with Robert Drysdale who is widely regarded as one of the best (if not the best) grapplers (Brazilian Jiu Jiutsu) in the world.

Following dinner I played in the charity poker tournament organized by DK and Missy Ward. It was a blast and best of all over $15000.00 was raised for a the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Robert came down to the poker tourny and threw me into some choke holds and ams bars on the poker tables which made for some great photos (will post them later today).

A huge thanks to DK and Missy Ward for organizing these events it was a blast.

Following the poker tourney I hit the Buy.at party at Rain in the Palm. A huge thank to Jim Banks for lining us up and to Buy.at for throwing a bad ass party. They had the top floor booked, the bar open, and everyone was having a blast. Rain was unreal, there were thousands of people inside and there had to be a thousand people waiting outside, trying to desperatly to get in. Paul Oakenfold was on the decks (videos coming soon) and killed it !

All in all it was awesome day with remarkable parties and tons of laughs and was one of those days that makes you feel lucky.

Stay tuned for more…  Pictures and Video to follow

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