Time Sensitive Offers (BUYING) – One of the things that I picked up that I thought could be applied to the affiliate industry is the use of time sensitive offers.  Basically what I mean by this is putting in an offer, but telling the person your offer expires in X # of hours.  This way you put the pressure back on the seller to either accept your offer (if it is the highest at the time there is a good possibility this will happen) and risk losing it, or holding out for a better one.  Typically if you come in around the amount they are looking to get, but a bit lower usually you will get the site you want and save some money doing it.  I find that far too many people on PAL and other forums have the worst approaches to both buying and selling their sites.  People post offers in a thread (which is now visible to any other potential buyers) and give the seller an endless amount of time to make a decision.  For me personally if I am going to commit to a purchase I want to know if I have it almost immediately, which is why I like using this approach.

Offer Conditions (BUYING) – Another thing that could work with purchasing websites (like they do in Real Estate) is putting restrictions or conditions on your offer.  Almost every real estate deal will have some kind of condition on the offer, so why not do the same with virtual real estate (or domains).  This way you can come in with a good offer and ask the seller to take the site off the market if he accepts, but also give yourself some time to do some due diligence on the property you are buying to make sure there is nothing funny about it.

Holding Back Offers (SELLING) – One common tactic used in the real estate market is to hold back offers.  Basically this means you set a sell date, and allow everyone to present their best offer anonymously.  This can create bidding wars back and forth as the seller will then usually try to work with the top 2 offers on price.  Sure, its annoying as hell from a buyers standpoint and it might discourage some, but this could also lead you to making a lot more on the sale of your property than you had planned.

Anyway, I am sure there are some other things and I didn’t really plan to write this post so most of this is off the top of my head.

Life Update… Well I have spent the last month or so getting settled into the new condo.  It has been a ton of work, but its pretty close to done now.  Just need a couple more small things.  Other than that I have been trying to get some other projects going that I have been working on for a long time.  One is a men’s magazine kind of site that is a cross between Forbes and AskMen.com.  Another one is a Casino Site that I will post more about once it is complete.  Then I have a few more sites that I will be developing further down the road which include a real estate site, a local furniture store site and a site about local restaurants.  I am really just trying to dabble in a bunch of different industries to see what works and what doesn’t.  I also hired a writer that is helping me get many of these sites ready.

Here are a couple of pics of the condo that I think I promised in the last post:

The View:

My Workcenter / Dining Room

Guest Bathroom:

View of most of the place (there is a new sofa now and the dining table is now white glass):

Kitchen:

Affiliate Tip:  I don’t think I have ever really posted many good tips on how to make money for a while so, here is an easy one.  Scour around for domains that have some good keywords in them (I know all the really good ones are gone, but if you look for ones with lower search volumes or find dropped ones its possible – preferably generic with things like “online” “poker” “review” “code” “bonus”, etc. in them).  If you have to spend $50-$100 to get a pretty decent domain.  Then get someone to build you a decent template that you can reuse for several sites (this will be the most expensive part but it is a one time cost and the more you spend the more you will get in return).  You should be able to get something decent for around $400.  Write around 25 pages of good content (the more the better) and add it to the site.  You should instantly be able to flip that site for around $2000 or more depending how much content is there on your $500 investment.

Work has been getting pretty busy lately too.  I am trying to develop a lot of the domains I have just sitting around with nothing on them.  The biggest one that I am building is a casino site, which I will post more about when its closer to completion (just in case any of you readers have similar domains that you are building on )

Other than that, not a lot else going on in my life.  Will try and write some better posts on this blog soon.

I didn’t really get it, but apparently he has an obsession with Robot Porn and who am I to judge.  So in exchange for the link, here is your Robot Porn Mr. Berndt:

And now for the video….

It is good to see that they also updated their homepage from a picture of a bunch of dorks playing poker to a couple of guys with semi-attractive women.  It looks like they are finally starting to find their niche.  Will be interesting to see what comes of this place.

Other News

Affiliate Speedpay closed their doors today and I can’t say that I am surprised.  I think it was great for some people, but I always had a feeling it wouldn’t last and was wary about having my money sent to some shady bank.  I never really wanted to open an offshore bank account because I felt it all seemed a little too shady.

BUDAPEST! In just over a week I will be heading to Budapest for this year’s BAC.  As usual Alex is doing an awsome job organizing it and it looks like this is gonna be one of the MUST ATTEND events of the year.  Will be good to catch up with some friends and meet some new faces / people I have probably talked to a shitload online but never met.  Thanks to Mark for organizing the dinner, looks like it will be awsome!

Anyway, that is all for now…. see everyone going to Budapest on the other side of the pond!

I have been going to a lot of soccer games lately.  A few weeks ago John Goldie and I went over to Montreal to watch Toronto FC take on Montreal in the final game of the Canadian Championship.  Toronto needed to win by 4 goals which everyone thought was an impossible task, but I had faith they could do it.  We did a little pre-drinking before the game with all of the TFC fans, then headed over to the game on the subway.  The subway ride was insane.  Everyone was chanting and jumping up and down, at several points it felt like the train may even derail.  Once at the game, there were between 200-300 Toronto fans.  Toronto quickly went down 1 goal after a penalty kick, but shortly after came back to score 2 before the end of the first half.  The second half was insane as they continued to score and within the last 10 minutes put in the goal to give them their 4 goal lead.  Just before the end of the game they sealed it and put in a final goal making the score 6-1.  It was such a great experience as we stuck it out in the rain screaming our voices out and in the end were rewarded with the Canadian championship.  The players all came over to our section after the game and threw their jerseys out to the fans.

Also soccer related, Zinadine Zidane came to Toronto a few weeks back and I watched him play a friendly against “the Canadian All-stars”.  Most of the players other than Zidane and Palermo (Boca Jrs) were crap, but it was still cool to see one of the greatest soccer players of all time.

Next week I am going to start part 2 of my bartending training: the advanced course.  It sounds fun and will be pretty cool because I get to invent my own drink and present it to the class.  Also, I got tickets to see Sarah Silverman next week which should be fun.

On the work front, lately I have been spending a lot of time building a casino site.  It seems like everyone is getting into the casino side so I figured, why not.  If anyone has any good sites and wants to swap links, let me know.

My other sites are doing all right, just grinding on and not really growing much.  Need to start spending more time on those but as usual I have either been too lazy or have been more focussed on getting the casino site off the ground.

Lately I have also been thinking about heading out to Budapest for the conference out there.  Anyone else planning to go?

Bartending Course – A few weeks back I decided to take an introductory course on bartending and mixology.  I have always wanted to be a bartender and enjoy the high paced environment that comes with the job.  Anyway, 3.5 weeks have gone by and tonight I have my final exam.  Basically there is a written test as well as a practical exam where you have to do things like make 3 different drinks in 3 minutes.  I know that may sound easy, but its harder than it sounds.  Anyway, hopefully I pass tonight then the whole class is going drinking after.  Should be a good time.

Financial Planning – The markets are so bad right now, that I figure this is probably one of the best times to get in (well probably would have been better about a month ago, but never did that).  Anyway, I’ve realized over the years that I suck at trading and I think I have lost on pretty much every stock purchase I have ever made.  So, why not get someone else to do it for you.  I remember my bank telling me a long time ago that if you were willing to invest a certain amount they would give you one of their “experts” to work with you on an investment strategy.  Well, I finally reached that goal and had my meeting yesterday.  The planner is putting together my plan over the next week and a bit so I should be ready to go to make some money shortly.  Fingers crossed.

Trips – Will be heading to Las Vegas in a week for what will hopefully be an amazing weekend with several PAL members.  I have tried to organize some fun stuff, but so far it has been about a 50/50 interest so we’ll see where that goes.  Ah well, will be good to seem some old faces regardless and maybe meet some new people.  After Vegas I think I may go back down to Argentina for about 3 weeks, but still waiting to confirm on that.  After that I may or may not head over to Europe for August and maybe stick it out for Budapest in September, but that is just a  dream right now.

Motorcycle License – I bought the books to get my motorcycle license, but still need to read them and do the test.  I think driving a bike would be a lot of fun, though a little dangerous.  Since I don’t have a car (everything I would want is too expensive) I think a bike would be great to use to get around.  Once I get that done was thinking about picking up a used R6 or something.  I love the Harley Night Rod, but don’t want to spend that much.  Anyone have one?  Tips?

Affiliate Stuff – I am falling so far behind in this game I need to start busting my ass again.  I have like 3 new sites on the go and get so overwhelmed sometimes I don’t know where to focus my time.  To top it off my existing sites need some work and I just finished redesigning one of my bigger sites.  I need to hire someone I think, but am also kinda cheap with what I would want to pay.  Decisions, decisions.

Well… thats pretty much all I can think of for now.  I’ll try and get some better posts up here soon and put more focus into what I write here.  I definitely need to start doing more affiliate tips.  If you are coming to Vegas let me know and I’ll see you there!

Anyway, I’ll leave you with this…

Tax season is upon us now and one of my least favorite times of the year.  Nothing is more fun then sending the government a big fat ass check that they are just gonna blow on stupid bullshit.

Missed out on Amsterdam this time, but looks like everyone is having a blast as usual.  Trying to decide which conference to go to next.  Where is everyone else going?

Jeremy Miller launched a blog recently.  Please, turn off the stupid “YOU MUST BE LOGGED IN TO COMMENT”… where’s the fun in that!

Been having some awful poker sessions as of late.  Just the other day was playing some 2/4 PLO and hit a set on the turn in a decent sized pot.  The other guy bet, I reraised big, and he shoved me all in on a JT53 board (I hit 5′s).  I made the call, and he showed AA97???  Anyway, river came an Ace… gg asshole.  I need to stop playing.

This weekend is the Toronto FC opener and my brother is taking me (allegedly).  I don’t always believe everything he says, but he seems to be serious so hopefully its a go because I really want to go to the game.  Gotta pick up a new jersey for that.

Other than that, life is boring… can’t wait to travel again.

/end boring post

Original Email:

Dear Webmaster,

My name is NAME REMOVED; I am an Account Manager at
www.Affiliateclub.com.
I find your website very attractive for our brands:
www.casinoclub-poker.com,
www.pokerkings.com

Our affiliates are getting fantastic conversion rates!

Do you want to hear more about it?

Kind regards,

NAME REMOVED

Account Manager
My response:

Hi NAME REMOVED,

I am in the process of trying to find a room to get a league going
ASAP.  Here are my requirements that I have been asking rooms for:
Hybrid CPA/Rev Share Deal
Tourmanent Prizes

Tell me a bit about your software and what you can offer.

Regards,

Graham Rowlands
GNG Media Inc.

Her reply to my email (notice how she doesn’t even READ MY FUCKING EMAIL!!!):

Dear Graham,

Thank you for your reply.
We have 2 brands with Boss Media software:

1. At www.casinoclub-poker.com – we offer 100% up to 200€ Welcome bonus ( here we can make a special promotion for you)

2. At www.pokerkings.com we offer 100% up to 300€ Welcome bonus

WE are usually working on Rev Share Deal.

What do you think about it?

Kind regards,

NAME REMOVED

My last and final response ever to Natasha:

Well NAME REMOVED, here is what I think about it…

For one, you never even gave me a proposal, but rather decided listing the standard
bonuses on your websites would get my attention.  I am not sure how that is supposed to
sell me.  I think you started this off with a great attention grabbing title to your
email, but you really need to work on the follow through.

And two, there was nothing “attractive” about it.  I get a million of these kind of
emails all the time, and this kind of junk just wastes my time.  Don’t beat around the
bush, sell your brand, tell me what I am gonna make, and give me good reasons why I
should promote your brand, over one of the competitors.

Anyway, hopefully this helps you in the future and thanks for giving me something to
write about on my blog.

Better luck in the future!

Graham

Anyway, so lately I haven’t been up to all that much.  Just lots of shopping for the holidays, which is thankfully now over, and trying to get some work done, which is as usual pretty unsuccessful.  Also been hibernating in my house as it has been ridiculously cold lately.

Vacations… I bought a plane ticket to head back to Argentina on January 21st for 2 months.  The prices were so good and since I have been hating every day of winter since I got back I thought it was the right thing to do.  Also, I will be going to Venezuela on January 6th for 1 week, so if you are looking for me, good luck!  I’ll be on the beach without my computer.

Work… trying to get back into it.  Have many projects that have been sitting in limbo that I am trying to get going again.  Wish me luck!  Dreading doing my taxes, but I know it has to be done.  I have the gov’t, bunch of criminals!

Hopefully everyone is enjoying this little break in the year and having a nice time with their families!

I end this post with something I saw today on Wicked Chops Poker… possibly the greatest commercial of all-time!  I won’t give any spoilers, BUT be warned… this is NSFW.  Enjoy!

Link:

Well, I survived the paragliding.  What an experience that was!  For the rest of my time in Mendoza I went rafting and biking around the vineyards.  It was probably one of the best parts of my trip and I had a ton of fun there.  Here are a couple pics:

Gettin Ready to Jump

On top of the mountain

Biking to the wineries

Dinner with the Dutch Girls on their last night.  Amazing Tapas and Wine!

After Mendoza I headed back to Buenos Aires where the trip came to an end after a few more nights of partying.

All in all it was an amazing experience and I am so glad I went.  I met a ton of great people from all over the world and made some new friends.

Here are some more highlights from the trip and things that I’ll miss about Buenos Aires…

- Finding out they have Stoli Elite for less than Absolut at Godoy (obvious mistake)
- Celebrating Colombian Christmas at Claudia’s Appt
- Daily beer tips to Plaza Serrano
- Seeing a new “hottest girl in the world” every single day
- My friend Lucio trying to pick up the same girl about 50 times in a row while she is standing at the bar with her boyfriend
- Cheap amazing dinners at sick restaurants every day
- Random blaring of “Feliz Cumple Anos” in nice restaurants
Plus many more!

I might be heading back there again in the new year.  If anyone is interested in coming down, let me know.

Bye for now!