Yahoo Publisher Network Shuts Down!?!
So… I got this email today:
Dear Publisher,
Yahoo! continuously evaluates and prioritizes our products and services, in alignment with business goals and our continued commitment to deliver the best consumer and advertiser experiences. After conducting an extensive review of the Yahoo! Publisher Network beta program, we have decided to close the program effective April 30, 2010. We expect to deliver final publisher payments for the month ending April 30, 2010 to publishers no later than May 31, 2010. All publishers eligible for 1099s for the 2010 tax year will have those mailed by January 31, 2011.
Because our content will no longer be delivered to your ad unit spaces after April 30, 2010, we recommend removing all YPN ad code from your pages by that date.
For the opportunity to continue earning revenue, we suggest using Chitika, a leading advertising network that syndicates Yahoo! Content Match and Sponsored Search ads. Chitika has set up a special process for YPNO beta publishers to participate in its platform.
We thank you for your participation in the Yahoo! Publisher Network beta. If you have any questions regarding this announcement, please contact our Support Team at (xxx) xxx-xxxx, Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PDT.
Sincerely,Your Partners at Yahoo!
What a drag…
On a couple of different fronts.
YPN was possibly the 2nd largest ad network next to Google Adsense program, which means that we now have to switch all of our sites back to Adsense, or if you don’t have access to Adsense, it means you’ll have to go with Chitika or some of the other 2nd or 3rd tier ad networks.
Secondly, this means I have to go into dozens of sites and switch out the code! 
(creating more work for me… and other publishers using YPN).
In any event, I’m actually a bit saddened that the YPN network is falling to the wayside… but perhaps this will mean that Chitika will become a stronger alternative.
Before You Market Anything Online…
Before you market anything online, you should watch this video (it’s amazing)! Make sure you watch it all the way through, because at the half-way mark there’s a surprise!
Secret Copywriting Resources
Here are some cool free copywriting resources that I’ve found (this list does not include some of the great copywriting blogs and such):
Marketing Bullets by Gary Bencivenga – This is probably my favorite resource for copywriting. Gary Bencivenga is the MAN (in my opinion).
Boost My Response – Audio interviews with Gary Halbert and John Carlton conducted by Michel Fortin.
Scientific Advertising by Claude Hopkins (this ought to be a “must read”)
Gary Halbert Letter – An awesome collection of Gary’s thoughts and teachings. Gary has been widely known as the “best” copywriter ever (alongside Gary Bencivenga). The “Boron Letters”, a series of letters that Gary wrote to his son, come highly recommended by many top copywriters.
My Life In Advertising by Claude Hopkins (click on the links to the left when you’re on this site to view the book / pdf)
Jay Abraham School of Copywriting – Here he discusses a cool way to leverage Amazon.com for copywriting
Hard to Find Ads – Swipe file collection of editorial ads (from 50 years ago… classic ads in there)
Hard To Find Seminars – Copywriting Resource – This site offers a nice collection of interviews (which includes mp3 and PDF transcripts) by top Copywriters, including: John Carlton, Ted Nichols, Gary Halbert, Joe Vitale, Dan Lok and more…
Agora Publishing Swipe File – This is a HUGE swipe file, about 1100 different sales letters.
John Carlton Swipe File – Here are several sales letters written by John Carlton – not all are written by him, but you can get some great ideas nontheless. Click on each “product” to read the sales letter.
The Golf Niche – including the now famous “One Legged Golfer” letter (you can see that one here).
The Guitar Niche
Self-Defense Products
100 Greatest Headlines by Jay Abraham
Matt Furey Swipe File – Matt Furey has made a fortune from re-publishing public domain works (and putting his twist on them). His sales letters have pulled in millions of dollars. Definitely worth reading each of his sales letters. Just click on the products to read them.
I have a ton more really sweet resources… but that’s all I have time to put up… for now. 
/Steven
Add To Cart… The Movie?
How cool would it be to take an inside look of the lives of some of the more successful internet entrepreneurs? I’ve always envisioned a “reality show” or at the very least a documentary of the life of an internet marketer and how “cool” that would be.
Well… it’s being done.
Check out the trailer of the upcoming documentary called “Add to Cart” (what an appropriate name) over here at Chris’ blog: http://www.kickbacklife.com/2010/03/10/add-to-cart-trailer/
I’m thinking it’s going to be a good one.
Have fun!
Paul Smithson & Xsite Pro team just launched Xheader Pro!
If you’re a niche site builder you’ve probably run across Xsite Pro at one time or another (by Paul Smithson). If you’re not familiar with it, it’s a Wysiwyg HTML editor that built with the affiliate marketer in mind (it’s a great tool and you can find it at http://xsitepro.com).
Some time ago around the time Xsite Pro 2.0 was released Paul released a software called XHeader, a totally free design tool specifically for building website and blog header graphics. It works quite well and I even created a video tutorial on how to create a header graphic with this tool about 6 months ago (if you’re interested, the video can be found here: http://supersimpleblogging.com/wordpress-installation/ – look for video 14).
In any event, Paul is just about to release a PRO version of XHeader for $37 (it opens on March 11th, 2010).
The main difference between the free and the PRO version?
The new version includes 5000 headers! (wow!)
So if you’re doing a lot of website building, it may be worth checking out. You can find it here: http://xheader.com
If you want a different alternative to creating headers and other graphical elements for your website, you may want to check out GFXwriter.
I created a short video on how to create a header graphic (for Blogger) some time ago that you may find helpful as well. Check it out:
If you want to learn more about GFXWriter, go here: http://verysimplemarketing.com/GFXwriter/
Have fun!
Disclaimer: This blog contains affiliate links that compensate my company should you make a purchase.
Do You Pay Affiliates?
If you have a business online that pays out to affiliates… READ THIS.
If you’ve ever paid out to an affiliate without getting the right Tax Forms from them, you could get into some serious legal issues with the IRS.
You are required to have signed IRS forms so you know who you are paying…
if you don’t have all of your paperwork in order and get audited by the IRS, you will have to pay the taxes ON BEHALF of your affiliates.
On top of that you could be faced with fines, penalties, interest and even criminal charges.
So, don’t screw around with that stuff.
Mike Filsaime knows first hand what can happen, and created a totally free site that helps you track all the forms for your affiliates in order to keep the IRS happy.
It’s called PayPeopleOnline.com.
If you have a business that pay affiliates, you owe it to yourself to check it out today.