Alan Bechtold has released the latest issue of ‘E-Wealth Report’ Newsletter. The featured article is titled “Some Serious Questions for Eben Pagan and Alex Mandossian”. [Newsletter]


Alan Bechtold has released the latest issue of ‘E-Wealth Report’ Newsletter.

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Some Serious Questions for Eben Pagan and Alex Mandossian

I listened in on one of Alex Mandossian’s teleseminars the other day and got TRULY excited. Alex’s guest on the call, Eben Pagan, claimed he had developed a superb way to “out-squeeze” squeeze pages (the name Internet marketers have given to Websites that fist ask for a name and E-mail address before taking a visitor to the information he or she is seeking).

Eben went on to explain that he has multiple online businesses delivering a total of nearly $2 million in revenue per month. He also said he hates the term “squeeze page,” because it implies that you’re literally forcing people to give up information they don’t necessarily want to provide.

Instead, Eben said, he preferred calling them “opt-in pages.”

I heartily agree. It was only a few minutes into this call and already I decided, “I LIKE this guy and what he’s saying.”

Then, Eben explained how he took a Website that was converting people (opt-ins) at a rate of 10-20%, up to a 60-80% conversion rate — by getting site visitors involved in a simple survey.

Now the guy DEFINITELY had my attention!

It seems Eben uses a system he created to post a five- ten-question survey, promising participants they’ll receive a detailed analysis of their answers and what it all means to them.

The psychology at play here is dumbfoundingly simple and powerful. You offer people a simple multiple-choice survey that promises to reveal something in the results that the participant wants to know. To get the analysis, the participant must first provide his or her first name and an E-mail address.

I could instantly see TWO powerful results from putting a system like this into action. People would be much more likely to enter their names and E-mail addresses into a Web form after they’ve filled out a survey — to get the promised results. And — if the survey is fun and engaging, and if the results are tailored to still deliver the perfect “hidden” sales message, the participant is also more engaged and more open to considering whatever it is you’re offering.

This was HOT!

Then, Eben sent everyone listening on the call to a page where we were presented with a simple 10-question survey. The survey promised we would receive a detailed five-page analysis of our current business, based on our responses — complete with valuable tips and suggestions for improvement.

I went through the survey and it worked just like he said. The questions were interesting and informative. I gave my very best, honest answers, then I hit the “Get My Analysis” button. This brought up a simple form I needed to fill out, so I could receive my analysis. The form asked for my name and E-mail address and, optionally, my phone number.

I filled out the form and the anylisis was, indeed, very informative and interesting.

I noticed there was a link in the analysis of my answer to the last question in the survey, taking me to a site of Eben’s where I could receive continuing helpful information and training videos to grow my business. When I went to the site, my jaw dropped open.

On this site, I found a page that invited me to get the same software that Eben used to create his surveys. He said it would gather up people’s E-mail addresses and build any opt-in list faster. He also stressed the importance of getting all the data from people’s responses to the surveys you create.

I was SOLD!

He explained that the software was for sale for $197 — or you could get the free Beta version of the software in return for providing the names and E-mail addresses of three friends who might like to hear about this exciting new survey software.

I was blown away at the brilliance of this sytsem. I now wanted this softare badly. I already had several uses for it in mind and I couldn’t wait to test it out. So — I gladly entered three friend’s names and E-mail addresses into the box to get it.

I hope they’re still my friends after this!

I got the software, just as Eben promised. I quickly installed it and watched the training video Eben had also provided. It was, just as he said, very simple and straightforward — easy to figure out. You could use it to quickly create surveys. Then you spent a little more time writing some creative detailed analysis text for each possible answer in your multiple-choice lists, and hit “save.”

Boom! Out came an HTML file, ready to upload to a Web server and get it rolling.

But — after spending more than five hours working diligently on a great survey and posting it to a Website to test it, I discovered all my work was for nothing. It would appear the software I received was NOT the same software Eben was using.

For one thing, the survey I had online presented participants with a form to enter their E-mail and name at the bottom of the survey, above the “Get My Analysis” button — not on a second page. And there is no way we can find to actually retrieve the names and E-mail addresses of anyone who has taken the survey, let alone anything related to a list of their responses.

After studying the script, it’s clear the software doesn’t capture ANYTHING or save ANYTHING ANYWHERE. It requires a name and an E-mail address to get the survey analysis, then displays the analysis — but it saves nothing and never E-mails the participant the responses.

The analysis appears on a refreshed page, online. That’s all.

I wondered … did I miss something?

So — I watched the “training” video again. Oddly, it ends just after the presenter hits “save” to create the resulting HTML file you can post on a Web server. There isn’t another word about how you might go about gathering the data that the system is supposed to collect.

So — there I was. Five hours in. Lots more time testing the software and having my programmers look through the code, trying to figure out what was wrong. No answers where to be found anywhere I looked.

I realize Eben made it clear the software was beta, and that he wouldn’t support it because it is in beta, but even beta software should at least do what’s advertised — shouldn’t it?

I started looking at the facts. This Eben guy had just captured MY name and E-mail address and those of three of my friends with an incredible system that made me feel GREAT about giving up that information and getting on his list — until he delivered software that fails to live up to what he said it would do.

I wrote to Eben through his support E-mail to ask what is going on. I carbon copied the same E-mail to Alex Mandossian, through his partner, Rick Radditz.

That was yesterday. So far, I’m still waiting for a response.

Unless I hear otherwise, I’m forced to assume this Eben guy just literally defrauded me into providing information he can then use to market to FOUR people.

Some might argue that fraud is too harsh a word to use in this situation. After all, the software was free. He did say it’s unsupported and in beta.

But, he also IMPLIED that he was providing you the SAME software he was also willing to sell you for $197, that it was the same software he was now using (indicating it would work the same as the surveys on his own sites), and that you would benefit from the opt-ins and additional data the survey would deliver.

I can’t imagine what this guy’s thinking is. Or why Alex would even promote him and assist him in perpetuating this.

I DO know one of Eben’s goals — to build a large list of people interested in taking their businesses to the next level. I’m sure he’s accomplishing that goal because HIS software WORKS! He’s also preparing to launch a special high-end workshop and I would assume the leads he’s generating will be used to that purpose.

But — he’s actually knocking away almost ANYONE who actually tries using the software he’s giving away. Once they try it and see it doesn’t do what was represented — why on earth would they then trust that he’s going to deliver value in a workshop?

Then another POSSIBLE motive popped into mind. Eben MIGHT be giving away tens of thousands of copies of this broken “beta” software, only to prepare a vast market that’s ready for him when he announces he has now brought the software OUT of beta and you can upgrade to a version that DOES work — for just if you act quickly.

That would certainly provide a HUGE windfall for Eben — IF anyone believed the next version would work any better than the one they’d been given for free.

For now, I wanted to bring it to your attention because it is a brilliantly-conceived system, but also so you avoid what I went through. Until If and when I get some answers from ANY of these guys, I’ll share them with you. Until then, I have to say, in my opinion, you’d be better off avoiding this offer entirely. Sit tight. Wait and see what shakes out next.

Remember — this software isn’t really free at all. It costs you three friends’ email addresses … friends who might just hold it against you if you lure them into what appears, at this time, to be some kind of trap.

That’s not a great way to keep friends!

IMPORTANT NOTICE! There will NOT be a new issue of E-Wealth Report released next week. As summer winds up, we’re getting in some last-minute vacation requests and our staff will be reduced next week. I decided to skip a week of publication so we can all keep up.

We’ll return to regular weekly publication the week of August 20.

Now — I normally give away some kind of gift in each issue of this newsletter. I think the above warning is a pretty good gift. I certainly went through a LOT of trouble to deliver to you.

But — I always like to go one better, so here’s something TRULY valuable for you:

Mark Hendricks is conducting a special 2-day conference in Atlanta August 18-19. That’s right around the corner, so you need to act QUICKLY. Mark asked me to make sure you were invited, so you’ll just have to hurry and make plans.

If you live in the Atlanta or surrounding area — this is a no-brainer. Get signed up and go.

You can attend this event f/re*e both days and you only need to make a refundable deposit of $100 to reserve a seat. Even better — Mark is conducting this seminar to simply answer any and all questions all the attendees might have.

That’s it. No hidden agenda. No multitudes of other speakers, all with something to sell you. Not even a credit card machine at the back of the room. Just Mark Hendricks. Teaching. Answering whatever questions you have about Internet marketing in the way only Mark Hendricks could answer.

Do yourself a big favor and accept this gift from me. You’ll make me happy knowing you’re in good hands for two days of SOLID information from a master marketer.

This is clearly at least a $500 value. Just pay the $100 deposit, get your money back at the door when you arrive (no gimmicky fake bucks or credits towards purchases because — remember — there’s nothing else to buy) and enjoy!

Here’s the link to register and reserve your seat NOW (HURRY — there are only a total of 80 seats in the room and time is almost up!):

http://www.internet-success-system.com/amember/go.php?r=192&i=l2

Another thing: Lori Steffen and Jeff Wark just won’t let UP! I made the comment, somewhere (I think it was on a teleconference call to one group or another), that Web 2.0 is crap and they simply won’t let it go.

They’re HAMMERING me to explain myself. I intend to explain — just NOT to them.

They’re calling me, E-mailing me. They won’t let up! They’ve even posted a blog where now there’s a video poking fun at me and calling me names for ignoring them.

This is getting out of hand. I made the statement and I know why I did. The only way you could understand why I made that statement is if you’ve been doing what I’ve been doing online for a long, long time. Their refusal to simply accept my statement, or to see why I MIGHT have said it, only exposes their immaturity in this market. They’re good! VERY good! And sharp. Just not when it comes to this matter.

Maybe after they get a few more years of serious online marketing and publishing under their belts.

Do me a favor. Go look at their blog. Make a post. Defend me or join them, I don’t care. Just contribute to the conversation. Then send me an E-mail at marketquest@sysop.com and send me what you posted there (I’m avoiding them — remember?). Make the subject line of your message: “Web 2.0” so I can find it easily and I’ll put you on a special reserved list of people who will be able to get on a call with me where I will FULLY explain what I meant.

Thanks! Have a GREAT two weeks and I’ll see you next issue!

Alan R. Bechtold

President/CEO

BBS Press Service, Inc.

‘E-Wealth Report’ Newsletter

*IMNewswatch would like to thank Alan Bechtold for granting permission to reprint the latest article.

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