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.
RAPBank.com – An Alternative To ClickBank Marketplace
If you’ve been affiliate marketing for any length of time, one of the things you always look for are new exciting products that you can promote on your website or list.
There are the old standbys like ClickBank’s marketplace and PayDotCom… the downside with these guys is that a lot of these products have been over-sold, so finding “fresh blood” is important to keep the edge.
So, just this past week a brand new affiliate product portal opened up called RAPBank (http://rapbank.com).
RAPBank.com offers “Instant Commission” products that are running on the Rapid Action Profits platform.
This platform is cool on a few different levels:
1. It gives affiliates a new place to find products
2. It gives affiliates an Instant commission product
3. It gives product creators a way to advertise their products (if it’s running on RAP)
So, if you haven’t checked it out yet, I encourage you to go over to RapBank.com and check it out for yourself.
Disclaimer: This blog contains affiliate links that compensate my company should you make a purchase.
Colorado To Ditch Amazon Affiliates
So… Amazon decided to bail on Colorado affiliates today…
The following email was sent out to all Amazon.com affiliates who reside in Colorado today:
Dear Colorado-based Amazon Associate:
We are writing from the Amazon Associates Program to inform you that the Colorado government recently enacted a law to impose sales tax regulations on online retailers. The regulations are burdensome and no other state has similar rules. The new regulations do not require online retailers to collect sales tax. Instead, they are clearly intended to increase the compliance burden to a point where online retailers will be induced to “voluntarily” collect Colorado sales tax — a course we won’t take.
We and many others strongly opposed this legislation, known as HB 10-1193, but it was enacted anyway. Regrettably, as a result of the new law, we have decided to stop advertising through Associates based in Colorado. We plan to continue to sell to Colorado residents, however, and will advertise through other channels, including through Associates based in other states.
There is a right way for Colorado to pursue its revenue goals, but this new law is a wrong way. As we repeatedly communicated to Colorado legislators, including those who sponsored and supported the new law, we are not opposed to collecting sales tax within a constitutionally-permissible system applied even-handedly. The US Supreme Court has defined what would be constitutional, and if Colorado would repeal the current law or follow the constitutional approach to collection, we would welcome the opportunity to reinstate Colorado-based Associates.
You may express your views of Colorado’s new law to members of the General Assembly and to Governor Ritter, who signed the bill.
Your Associates account has been closed as of March 8, 2010, and we will no longer pay advertising fees for customers you refer to Amazon.com after that date. Please be assured that all qualifying advertising fees earned prior to March 8, 2010, will be processed and paid in accordance with our regular payment schedule. Based on your account closure date of March 8, any final payments will be paid by May 31, 2010.
We have enjoyed working with you and other Colorado-based participants in the Amazon Associates Program, and wish you all the best in your future.
Best Regards,
The Amazon Associates Team
If you’re in Colorado (or any other State that has passed this law), it may be time to setup a corporation “out of state”… (consult your CPA or Tax Lawyer about this stuff!).
Senator Greg Brophy tweeted that they “will seek emergency legislation if necessary to fix” this problem.
Here’s another post about this on Huffington Post.
Have a… day.
Inspiring Words From Will Smith
I’ve always felt that having the right “Mindset” is the difference between success and failure in any venture (life, business or otherwise). Because of this I’m often on the lookout for good books, quotations, interviews about successful people and mindset.
Here’s a compilation of different interview with Will Smith talking about success and mindset. Totally worth the 10 minutes you spend watching this video. Enjoy!