DoFollow Installed / $500 in Cash and Prizes
February 21st, 2007 by TatmanThe DoFollow plug-in is installed (so now, every one of your links counts as a real link).
My linkback/postback policy is now in full effect. I’ve already talked about how I reciprocate linking and writing blog posts about your favorite posts here on your site/blog, in which I mentioned a commenting contest.
Let me clarify, then, what I consider a comment, before we get into cash/merchandise prizes. Pay attention because this one important point could help you win.
Rules
Writing about me on your blog with trackback, I consider both a link and a comment. It only counts once.
Linking to me from both a blogroll and a post I’ll count as another comment, because I believe the sites you link to from blogrolls that are on every page of your site are a transfer of trust. You’re saying to your readers, “you’ll benefit from going to this site”. This also only counts once.
Real Comments on this site count as many times as you make them. I consider a real comment to be a relevant contribution to the conversation at hand. If I smell bullshit/spam I won’t count it. I reserve the right to decide, but I’m not a tyrant. You’ll probably be cool if you say something more than “great post” or “hey, visit my site” and things of this sort.
So those are the contest rules. In case of a tie-breaker we go to sudden death.
I’ve always wanted to say that. The Sudden death rules will be determined by me at some later date if it comes to that, or looks like it will be close.
Reciprocation
Commenting on a site is much harder to reciprocate. If you comment on me and I see it, I’ll do my best to comment on something on your site within a week. I have a lot of time on my hands as I do my withdrawal from Internet Marketing, but as the popularity of this site continues to grow, that could get out of hand fast.
That’s why I’m having a contest instead.
Prizes
Top commenter will get $100 USD in cash.
The person whose comment is exactly in the middle of all the comments after today will get a $100 Amazon gift certificate. The comment I consider to be the most helpful will get $250 in cash.
Some other person I pick at random will get $50 in cash.
The contest is from now until midnight on my reveal day, April 14, 2007. Comments will be added up and tallied and spot checked by some other impartial party and annouced a week from that day. (Also making it easy for me to deliver the prizes because I’ll no longer be anonymous.)
Note: The first 8 people who commented on this site who left their real information will get an Amazon gift certificate for $25. I think that’s only fair because the contest started after they got here. They were all instrumental in sparking interest in my site, so that’s my thank you to them.
If I can mail them and still be anonymous, I’ll send them next week. Otherwise, on April 14, 2007, my reveal day. So, Dane, Mark of 45n5, Scott , Josh, Ibnu, Faith, Matt, and Mark of bloglyne, please contact me at im@imtellall.com so I know where to send your certificate.
Why Money?
- You will be more likely to take my commitment to you seriously if I back it up with cash. I think.
At least, you’ll pay more attention to the site.
- I wanted to be different.
In other blogs I’ve done, I’ve reciprocated for people linking to me or talking about me with return links, etc. That’s not bad and I’ll still do that, but with a new blog, it seems like you as the commenter wouldn’t get much more back than a free link to your site, and my appreciation extends farther than that.
One could argue all the intrinsic social benefits, but since this contest is an experiment about that, the point is moot.
- I wanted to have a good reason to do a press release on Tuesday that people will really pay attention to, not one of those “Hey, Gots Me A New Blog” announcements.
I’m thinking of the title “Crazy New Blogger Gives $500 in Cash and Prizes For a Common Blog Practice.” Maybe Crazy Anonymous Blogger. Which is more sexy?
- I achieved the traffic goal of this site in TEN DAYS without leveraging on my name or spending a thin dime.
I figured this will give me extra motivation. After all, I have to keep writing or you’ll have nothing to comment on.
- I want to know what the reaction of the Blogosphere is going to be, if, that is, they pay attention to this experiment.
Will people think it’s unethical to give away money for commenting? It’s not like pay per post, it’s a contest. But is there a difference in people’s minds? If so, what’s SO bad about pay per post? *pulls tongue out of cheek*
- I’m curious to see who wins.
Will it be someone with four comments, because everyone thinks I’m bullshitting and won’t enter?
Or will it be a person who is smart enough to leverage the attention I’m paying for in a smart and ethical way, making 100 comments, a blog post about me, and a link back from their blogroll, all of them useful - even funny and entertaining?
Will the money make the quality of the comments better? Or will it skew them in the opposite direction? Will people forget about the contest as they begin to enjoy participation in a community and visiting each other’s sites?
- It’s all part of my overall marketing research.
And my plan to take over the world, Pinky.
Posted in My Internet Marketing Secrets, Yada |
February 21st, 2007 at 9:09 pm
Hey Tat,
I stopped by to say Hi and to thank you for being part of my community.
I appreciate the comments you have left on my blog and think that I and my readers can benefit from your advice.
Please don’t use this comment as part of the contest and if you must and I win something, please just give it to your favorite charity.
Thanks again, as Liz says… You are a stranger but once, then you become a friend.
Joe
February 21st, 2007 at 9:18 pm
Hey Joe!
I’m happy to be a part of your community and I really enjoy my visits to your blog. I feel like I should be thanking you. Your blog carnival was the first one I’ve ever really been in, and it really helped launch my site.
(Under my real identity a friend used to enter me in one, but I had no idea how it worked.)
I think we’ll be great friends and it’s awesome having you by.
February 21st, 2007 at 10:02 pm
Tat,
If only I knew your real name, I may be able to find out how the friend’s submission went.
BTW, I sent you an email on a totally different subject.
February 21st, 2007 at 10:22 pm
OK, I’ll log in and check it out.
February 21st, 2007 at 10:28 pm
Let me be honest. I’m not buying that you’re a hugely successful internet marketer that will reveal your secrets on X day and leave the game for ever.
Not that it isn’t possible, I just don’t get that vibe from this blog.
“I’ll be revealing my identity to the world on April 14, 2007, if this site is still here and enough people care.”
If enough people care? I can’t imagine anybody that makes more than a few bucks per month from the internet can’t make people care?
And somebody that wants to make a “splash” would give away more than $500 I would think.. (reviewme gave away $25,000 for launch)
I could be completely wrong and would be fine eating crow all day. And it isn’t a personal attack on you as you come across as a nice person.
I’m just calling your bluff.
And if your still down with your offer you can send that amazon certificate to mark @ 45n5.com
February 21st, 2007 at 11:01 pm
I’m successful, but I’m not a millionaire. Ballpark idea - I’ve made more than a quarter of a million dollars a year, but I didn’t last year. Shit, I’m not Shoemoney.
I’ve never said “hugely” successful. I’ve never said I was going to tell all my secrets - I’m going to share what I know *about marketing* and my story, that’s it. I’m in the Internet Marketing industry, but that’s not what I’m known for. So answering people’s questions about marketing doesn’t cost me anything.
Having said that, I don’t take your comments as disrespect. I’ve done everything here very deliberately. A lot of people may *take notice* of this contest, even if I raise the prize. That’s not the same thing as people *caring* in my book.
As for the prize money, that’s about targeting. I’m targeting struggling marketers who don’t believe they can quit their jobs and become a marketer full time. That’s more than most of them make in a month from their marketing efforts, and that’s what I’m going for. If I was a millionaire not operating anonymously sure, I’d give out some big prize like $25K. But who’d believe that some anonymous person was going to give away even $2500?
But, you make a good point. I might raise it to $1000 or $1500, even $2500, if it comes across as believable. And yeah, I’ll send you your certificate. In fact, I’ll even give you a choice - You can be in the contest and try for whatever prize I decide on, or I’ll email you the certificate and tell you who I am. Up to you, holla back.
February 21st, 2007 at 11:18 pm
“I don’t take your comments as disrespect”
Thank you becuase I didn’t mean them in a disrespectful way.
If anything, the takeaway here is if I’m not buying the story, then others might not either. Take it as advice if anything.
It’s not just the prize, that was only one example. I reckon the concept just confuses me a bit, or I need to get some sleep.
Good luck with April 14, 2007, I’ll keep watching
February 21st, 2007 at 11:23 pm
“I’m targeting struggling marketers who don’t believe they can quit their jobs and become a marketer full time.”
Then why play games? I reckon that’s where I’m confused.
This is somebody that really cares about the little guy in my book and isn’t playing any games: this is me, here’s my video, ask me a question and I’ll answer it, because I really want to help you:
http://www.affiliatetip.com/blog/archives/ask_shawn_collins_advice_for_new_affiliates.html
Either way, I’ll be staying tuned.
February 21st, 2007 at 11:41 pm
Okay, I’ll spell it out a little.
Part of the point is to see how much people are buying the truth, vs what people believe in the hype they read in sales letters.
Part of the point is to show how the truth is more mysterious and compelling than any made-up hype, regardless of whether anyone actually believes it or not.
Part of the point of the whole blog experiment is to prove/disprove how much sincerity comes through, and if it does or doesn’t, what that says about the person who believes, or the person who is marketing.
Part of the point is the fact that you felt it important enough to react, to respond. Part of what I’m sharing about marketing IS this site, and how I’m promoting, not just the articles in it.
Are all marketers really liars as Seth says? How important is what I’ve said so far? If people don’t believe me, and still comment, what does that mean? How surprised is someone who may have thought I was full of shit going to be when they get their prize?
See, I’m not launching a new site, or product when this is over, like others have used an exit strategy as a promotional tool.
This isn’t going to end with me selling Anything. I’m not going to do a “Mark Joyner”. I wouldn’t even dream of thinking of myself as a Mark Joyner.
(Although, if you have followed internet marketing these past four years, you’ve probably heard of me, at least in passing. Think well known, not famous.)
This isn’t a promotion for some new magic whistle. I’m ACTUALLY leaving. I have a sincere desire to pass on what knowledge I have.
There’s nothing TO “get”.
I don’t want to leave the impression that I’m some huge marketing genius or that I’m coming out with some miraculous cure-all on the 14th of April, and that’s why I’m being so detailed in my responses to these kinds of questions, in public or in private.
On the 14th, I’ll see you here, but please don’t expect anything more than a blog entry revealing myself, the prizes and a list of winners.
February 21st, 2007 at 11:43 pm
“Why play games?”
I’m not playing games. I *have* to be anonymous right now. Building a blog around that is just good marketing.
February 21st, 2007 at 11:55 pm
“This isn’t going to end with me selling Anything.”
I’m not sure where I got the impression it was, but I had it.
Peace and chicken grease.
I could go on a bit longer but I think I have a firm head start on the competition now. Comments are a competition here now correct?
;-p
February 22nd, 2007 at 12:00 am
It’s cool. And yeah, comments are a competition, if you chose to participate.
Or, in this thread, a revelation of how being anonymous for nine weeks makes people curious enough to comment. Vince, you owe me three hundred dollars. This is the 12th comment in this thread.
February 22nd, 2007 at 12:03 am
uh, what if i don’t exactly Have three hundred?
February 22nd, 2007 at 12:05 am
Guess it sucks to be you.
February 22nd, 2007 at 12:06 am
“if you chose to participate”
how do I choose to participate?
February 22nd, 2007 at 12:14 am
So, by posting the next legitimate comment after you win the bet means you have to split your winnings with me, right?
Listen, I am very intrigued by the whole thing you have kicked off here. I have to admit that I have some of the same feelings that 45n5 has described.
But, since you decided to include me in your first “awards” ceremony, everything is “cool” now - wow, I am a cheap date!
To be honest, if you are being honest about “I thought I was going to die.” I can relate to what would bring on this sort of project.
I think I will be writing an article about my very recent (Feb 2nd - 5th) experience in the next few days which has caused me to re-examine some things, but I will take a queue from you and be a bit cryptic so folks will have to watch http://www.bloglyne.com for the article *grins*
See, your efforts are not falling on deaf ears…
February 22nd, 2007 at 12:19 am
Just commenting.
I just didn’t know if you wanted to take the Amazon gift certificate or be in the contest.
February 22nd, 2007 at 12:32 am
I understand now. I’ll stay in the contest then.
thanks
February 22nd, 2007 at 12:42 am
lol. cool.
February 22nd, 2007 at 6:31 pm
Mark,
Sorry I missed your message during yesterday’s discussion. I’m interesting in reading your story, and yeah, I’m serious about thinking I was going to die, though I’m not quite ready to share the details yet.
Cryptic is good, but you can only go so far. Being too cryptic would be like killing that chick on Grey’s Anatomy - you risk alienating the fan base/audience that brought you success.
February 22nd, 2007 at 7:58 pm
“Mark,
Sorry I missed your message during yesterday’s discussion.”
I think that was beldorian.
February 22nd, 2007 at 8:46 pm
Nice idea! Here’s me throwing in my hat!
February 23rd, 2007 at 12:18 am
Tatman,
Over the past 12 months I’ve noticed some significant changes in the
way how internet marketing is done. Some have chosen to use “Controversial Marketing” to build a huge list while there are also
another group of marketers who pay people to download and read their
reports.
Your is another category-I’m seeing it for the first time. At the end
of the whole exercise (well, by April something ?)you’ll have 1,000’s
of new readers and/or contacts and this site (or blog) should be worth
a lot of money ! Then so much more you can do to reap the reward of your
creativity/innovation. You can even earn while you sleep by such time.
Retire from IM ? I don’t think so. As long as this site is still around
you don’t and won’t stay away from IM (’cos you CAN’T).
Your style of writing seems to be very familiar–I believe I’ve come
across it many times over the past years. But I won’t give it any
wild guess at the moment. I’ll eventually know.
BTW, there’s nothing personal I’m trying to say here.
You DO have VERY GOOD STUFFS here which I admire and repect.
Have a fabulous day !
SChee
February 23rd, 2007 at 3:05 am
[…] Today I have come across an article at Internet Marketing Tell All. The author is offering $500 in cash prizes, just beacuse he installed “DoFollow” plugin? Well, in order to qualify there are some rules. […]
February 23rd, 2007 at 4:01 am
It seems you went for the classic dofollow plugin - it might have been even more incentive to use the new link love plugin that makes links followable after a certain number of comments.
The marketing concept is actually extremely clever, and possibly far cheaper than the Adwords campaigns that John Chow used to launch his blog, (but never reveals in his statistics)
Giving it a bump, I would much prefer seeing this novel marketing on my sidebar for a few days (Bumpzee Widget) than MyBlogLog baiting.
Please don’t count me in the competition, though I might still link and comment regardless
February 23rd, 2007 at 6:24 am
Going backwards -
Hi again Andy,
This is the one I went with.
http://kimmo.suominen.com/sw/dofollow/
I don’t know if that’s the classic one or not - when it comes to the world of plugins, I only know enough to be a danger to others, lol. I set it to zero days because I plan to put in the “can you do math” plugin and deactivate Akismet.
I hear you on John Chow, I saw his ad on a couple of blogs and that’s the only way I knew. It’s part of why I decided to go with this - I wanted it to be a method anyone could vary on and make their own regardless of financial limitations.
The subtle compliment is very much appreciated, and is humbling given my respect for your style.
Chee,
Big up to you for stopping by. Thank you for all the good words, and I’m glad you’re enjoying your visit(s). Can’t claim I came up with some new marketing style, I guess we’ll have to see. And it’s likely that I’ll get a few writers to join me on this blog, so I can stay immersed in the subject of marketing online in general, but as far as PROFESSIONALLY, ie, actually selling products, nah, it’s time for me to skate. Once I’m recovered, I’m going to treat my health like the precious commodity it is, and that’s means hanging up my spurs.
Doesn’t mean I won’t go wrangle me a steer every now and again, just not for profit.
Listerate,
Thanks for coming here. I loved the way your blog is set up. I was getting short on time so I didn’t do much exploring, but I aim to.
Mark of 45n5,
I was referring to Mark of bloglyne. He signed his name Mark, so til I hear different, I plan on calling him that.
Good to see you, though.
February 23rd, 2007 at 9:04 am
Well, now that we have the names cleared up *grins* I think it doesn’t hurt to BUMP this article, I think I can benefit myself from side/residual traffic, eh?
Keep up the interesting work.
February 23rd, 2007 at 9:07 am
LOL… thanks for the bump. As for traffic, wait until I actually put some elbow grease behind the promotion.
February 23rd, 2007 at 12:58 pm
I also have just started blogging and am enjoying it. I like reading different blogs for a fresh viewpoint. It’s fun to watch you stir the pot.
If you want visits mention money in your release.
My blog is not a business but I enjoy ideas that engage the reader.
Have fun
February 23rd, 2007 at 5:35 pm
Welcome Peter. I wish you’d leave your link so I can go visit your blog. I guess it will be obvious from your email addy. I’ll keep your tip in mind for the release - I wasn’t sure if it was too crass to put it in the subject line. I want to attract a certain type of person to the blog, one who won’t Just be commenting for a shot at the prize, but maybe to network and meet people, and get traffic, and of course, out of interest in the topic.
Thanks for coming by, and for adding your thoughts.
February 23rd, 2007 at 10:37 pm
As the saying goes, innocent until proven guilty.
I’m just curious and interested to see how this contest goes though, and who you really are. Which I believe (an assumption however) many of us are hoping to find out as well.
Perhaps as kids to adults, the fascination with masked crusaders stay in us.
Like Andy, you need not enter me into the contest. But I’ll still check back.
February 23rd, 2007 at 11:29 pm
You’re welcome here anytime. And curiosity is fine as long as you’re not a cat.
Thanks for stopping by.
February 26th, 2007 at 12:11 am
heh… I don’t think that phrase was coined as a warning for cats.
September 17th, 2007 at 7:40 am
You’ve been dofollow for a while now. Is the traffic and comment increase you gained significant enough to pay for the extra moderation you probably have to do?