It’s that time of the year again where I look back on 2007 that has almost past and review the things I have and have not yet done. So to start, here’s what happened.
Dec 2006:
- I was slowing down my involvement in the HYIP scene as I knew that it wasn’t going to pick up and scammers were just about everywhere. Every new strategy to capitalise was met with a counter strategy to steal by scammers. It would have been insane to stay in the scene and expect things to change. Remember that phrase ‘insanity is doing the same thing over again and expecting different results…”
Apr 2007:
- After a few months of testing out different things, I finally got a grip of affiliate marketing. Choosing and carefully reviewing the different opportunities available was a chore to say the least. Also, in order to ensure that my readers get the best information and value, I did my best to only pick the products and services that would benefit them. Again, falling back old the old phrase “what’s in it for me?”
Aug 2007:
- Realising that the year has been a busy one for me, I knew I had to decide what I was going to do with my blogs, websites and domains. Though I wanted to continue maintaining them, I knew it was becoming an almost impossible challenge. I did a few restructuring of my domains and web content.
Dec 2007:
- I finally decided to put my domains up for sale including surfadsinc.com which was where it all started. The restructuring is still going on which I expect to complete by Mar 2008 at the earliest. proaffiliateincome.com has been my most successful site in terms of ROI but I have put it up for sale too. Much will be based on what happens in the next 2 weeks to decide if I will reverse my decision and and keep the domain. If I do decide to keep it, it will be turned into a website instead of the blog that it is now amongst other changes.
In the past months, some associates and friends have asked me what were the failures and successes I have encountered online.
SwissCash:
- I never got involved in this program. Why? Well, lets just say that I didn’t feel comfortable. Yes, there was the bad press and folks getting arrested in different parts of the world and all. Is it a ponzi? Is it a scam? I can’t say for sure yet my gut tells me it will most definitely be one of them. So what has happened to SC now? You tell me…
Sunshine Empire:
- The Beginning - I have to admit that this must have been one of the key programs/vehicles that engineered my exit from the HYIP scene. At a time where turmoil was the only word I could use to describe HYIP, Sunshine Empire seemed like the only viable program to jump into. I did so after a number of meetings with a couple of ‘Leaders’ and figured why not. Besides, all I had to do was to choose between 2 ‘Sponsors’ The promise to both was straight-forward and simple. In order to see the most return on investments, I had to market the program.
- Research - Well I did speak to a few folks and they were interested however, there was the element of risk. ACRA documents, website research amongst other things were documents that we dug up. When my associates asked me if it was for real, my response to them was that “it’s as real as it gets… for now at least’…”
- Risk Assessment - So what does that mean? That means that it is based on an MLM structure yet it has the unusual patterns of a HYIP. Ponzi or scam? You tell me. All that my associates and myself knew was that the promises rebates were not sustainable in the long hual and cracks will begin to appear. We flagged it as ‘High Risk’ and agreed that we sign-up with the understanding that we did so on our own accord and not to profit from each other. With that, we signed-up individually with no direct liks in the binary matrix.
- Sustainability - Break even point was in 8 months for me which would have happened by now. Another one of my friends had the thought of delaying entry. Till date, she has not joined the program. In some way, I will have to say that she will have to give up the idea and look the other way. With all the bad press and speculation on Sunshine Empire, I don’t see myself suggesting to anyone to even take the risk.
- Cause & Effect - Yes, there are naysayers and there are those who are still trying to recruit ‘partners’ into the program. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. When you have people jumping to the defense and shooting down naysayers, I’d say that is where everything turns ugly. Not just for the individual but the program as a whole. This is the point I would ask myself what was the ’cause’
- Review - All in all, SE reminds me of NOP (Number 1 Product) as few years ago. A bunch of young chaps in blazers (empty shells) walking around an office with numerous products and talking loudly (feigning confidence). Man, the office had woman’s lingerie to magnetic mattresses from Japan. Fresh out of the army, my friend spoke of offering me a ‘job’ at NOP. In real sense, I saw it coming. What happened to that friend? Seriously no clue man. I could find out if I wanted to. Since my friend and his oldman knew my oldman too but what for?
Affiliate Marketing
- As mentioned earlier, I saw the best success in my affiliate marketing efforts in terms of ROI. EZMinisites, CJ, Google, Ewen Chia’s Super Affiliates Inner Circle, FAN, WAS v2.0 and Clickbank will be my personal favourites. Mostly with minimum investment and in many cases, it doesn’t cost you a dime to get started.
To wrap it up, if something seems to good to be true, it probably is. The next step is to decide if you are willing to take the risk. If you are, then understand the risks involved. Understand that you were not coerced into the decision and review as often as necessary. If you are not will to take the risk or your risk assessment has changed, then go with your gut. Most often than not, your gut is hardly wrong. Be well and safe and here’s to a great year ahead in 2008!
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Sam Mok (EmMax)
IMPORTANT NOTICE 重要通告
Dear Our Valued Distributors,
亲爱的会员，
James Phang had made the final announcement that the refund for all Singapore merchant would not be on October 2008 .
Emmax will inform all Singapore Merchant the actual refund date by next year on February 2009 .
For any further inquiry you may contact Emmax Management :00852-2377-1777 or 00852-2199-7887
Regards,
Sam Mok
The EmMax Management Team
帝无限管理层
Sep 23, 2008 @ 4:44 pm
Nicholas
I believe this is in response to the CAD investigation on Sunshine Empire. Seriously, it sounds to me like nothing more than another delay tactic. Pushing back a refund by almost 6 months? I know I wouldn’t be happy if I was someone who had thousands vested. Interestingly, I haven’t heard a peep from the local folks and this announcement comes from someone in Hong Kong. Oh well…
Sep 25, 2008 @ 7:15 am
Sam Mok (EmMax)
IMPORTANT NOTICE 重要通告
Dear Our Valued Distributors ,
亲爱的会员，
James Phang(EmMax) have decided that there will be no pay out for the refund to all Sunshine Empire Malaysia and Indonesia merchant .
Base for the member application form that all the merchant have signed .EmMax would not have any responsible to pay for the refund money.
ICC card would not be issued to all Malaysia and Indonesia merchant .
EmMax will be strong ever !!
For any further inquiry you may contact Emmax Management :00852-2377-1777 or 00852-2199-7887.
Regards,
Sam Mok
The EmMax Management Team
帝无限管理层
Oct 06, 2008 @ 10:42 am
Nicholas
So, I guess this James character wakes up one morning and decides he is not going to return the money he scam of you and asks some dimwit to convey his message?
Its already distasteful that my blog is a vehicle of that communication… but to still rout for Sunshine?
This will be the last comment entry from this ‘Sam’ character.
Oct 06, 2008 @ 11:43 am