Today's Adventure in the Biz Opp Jungle:
"In which Charlie admits he's a wuss... struggles to get his
junk mail... and offers some advice about biz opps from
Cobb, Wilson and Shaw."
Hi,
There's nothing like a bit of crimbo bowel trouble to garner the support of a nation!
Since Sunday's Biz Opp Jungle, I got a pile (ouch, sore
subject!) of sympathetic emails regarding my festive illness.
If you were the one of those who wrote in, thanks.
But remember. I'm a MASSIVE hypochondriac. A "wuss", if you like. I've a canny ability to make ailments seem worse than they are.
Just ask Sarah, who puts up with many of my monthly near-death experiences.
Of course, when it comes to business opportunities, I try to keep a level head. Which brings me (forgive the Tony Blackburn-style link) onto the business of the day...
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First up, Chris Cobb's CDC Marketing
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I have this weird problem.
Try as I might, I can't get enough junk mail (or 'direct mail' as the professionals call it.) I've moved flats so often in the last 10 years I've shrugged off all the junk pushers.
Yeah, I know. Most people complain about the opposite problem. And, yes, I'm a weirdo.
But let's move on...
Although I'm not on his list, it seems that Chris Cobb has been heavily promoting his CDC Marketing biz opp.
My contacts, and some of your fellow Junglers, inform me that this is a perfectly sound opportunity. Pay your £67 and Chris will introduce you to internet marketing, with a package of videos, books, DVDs, with decent customer support.
The opportunity is basically getting hold of products and marketing them online.
Nothing revolutionary or necessarily new. It's the sort of thing Andrew Reynolds and other internet gurus will show you.
If you see Chris Cobb's sales promotion and fancy your hand at internet marketing, don't be afraid to try it out and let me know what you think. He honours his refunds, which is nice to hear.
But one thing...
Most courses that you get for less than £100 will be first steps in a long process. Don't expect to pay £67 and become an overnight success. So ignore the shouty, big money headline.
Yes, this is a proven business model that works. But it's a flooded market. Also remember that online marketing takes time, trial and error... and a lot of patience.
Dedicated and driven? Go for it.
Prone to procrastination? Find something more 'bite sized' first.
The same goes for this...
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Can you make £1000 before breakfast?
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Streetwise publications are promoting a similar product by a guy called Terry Wilson. It's called 'How to Make £1000 before Breakfast'.
His manual is all about making money from publishing products like manuals, cds, and DVDs.
The idea is that you take products, repackage 'em, then sell 'em. He gives you advice on choosing products, setting up a websites, and attracting traffic.
Again, this is totally above board and genuine.
My concern with a lot of these biz opps in that they, in themselves, are repackaged ideas that have been around for a while. There are a lot of gurus out there with the same message, and they've been singing the same tune for a very long time.
It's like 'Auld Lang Syne'.
Yes, you can make money selling information products through a variety of online strategies. Thing is, it's THEY who are making the money by selling on their idea to people like YOU and ME.
I wonder if there's something more original we can hear about... fresher... more ground level... stuff that taps into the new crazes for blogging, e-letters...?
Don't you want something NEW? Something to get into while it's in its early stages, so we're not the guys at the bottom of the food chain?
I mean, do you ever feel like a plankton in a tank full of blue whales?
No?
Me neither. I'll move on...
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A welcome return to fixed odds
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I haven't talked about fixed odds betting since the early days of the biz opp jungle. There doesn't seem to be the same buzz about it that there used to be.
But it's still an interesting way to make money...
One of my readers recently read my review of The Idiot's Guide to Fixed Odds Betting, which I wrote way back last April:
http://www.bizoppjungle.com/review/2006022.html
For those of you who've never heard of it, The Idiot's Guide is a book by Matt Shaw, published by Fleet Street Publications and costing £29.
My reader posed a very good question:
"Where is the catch? Why sell it so cheap? It is the oldest conundrum in this game; why on-earth do people make money and then tell the world for just £29? It just does not make sense."
Yep, it's one of the most common objections people have when they read a biz opp promotion:
"If you're so rich, why are you telling me?"
The answer is that there are many levels of business opportunity, with levels of support, detail, back up and information.
Nobody can ever present you with an entire business in one fell swoop. Years of work and experience are hard to pack completely into one product.
So many entrepreneurs condense as much as they can into an affordable manual. This way, as many people as possible can put their toe in the water.
Matt Shaw's book is like this. It's not an instant passport to overnight riches. It doesn't provide software or let you watch his every move.
This is basically a book that explains what he does, how he does it, and how you can do it to.
Most biz opp products priced at £20 - £50 are introductions, 'how to' guides, educational tools or overviews.
They don't take you by the hand. And they can't ever give you the instinctive abilities and vast experience you need to be a top-level trader.
For that, you need to pay hundreds, if not thousands, to follow someone's trades, email them for advice, and use their fancy software.
Products that do this are things like the 'The Insider Signal' and 'Don't Tell The Professionals'.
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Just one tiny problem...
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Both have reached full capacity and have closed their doors to new subscribers. (Although you can get on the waiting list here:
http://www.canonburypublishing.com/tradingsecret )
So if you want to get into trading, whether it's spread betting or fixed odds, my advice is to begin your own self-education. Buy a book like 'The Idiots Guide to Fixed Odds Betting' first.
Read it, send it back if you think it's rubbish.
http://www.bizoppjungle.com/review/2006022.html
If you think there's potential, then use it to learn the basics, always bearing in mind that you can LOSE money.
(Paper trade until you see some gains, then try it with some money you can afford to lose).
Once you know the basics and have given it a go, it's time to move up a level. Find a tipping service to follow so you can tally up some experience.
Or try something that offers more support...
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Here's a higher level product to think about
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Streetwise publish a good mid-price product called 'Trading The Easy Way'.
I've recommended it before, because for less than £150 you get to learn the basics of spread betting future, plus you get 3 months of email support from Ian Williams.
http://www.bizoppjungle.com/review/2006009.html
By moving up this way you can slowly learn the art yourself, finding your own style and approach.
Although they might not deliver the vast sums of cash they promise in the headlines, I reckon lower priced biz opp books are a good thing. They allow people to start at a basic level.
"Don't run before you can walk," as the race official reminded me as I turned up to the London Marathon drunk.
Don't forget to check out the site:
http://www.bizoppjungle.com
Cheers
Charlie Wright
The Biz Opp Jungle
PS: if I haven't answered you recent queries in today's email, don't worry. I'll come onto it in a future email.