Yeah – I didn’t create this (I believe it was Aaron Baker), but when asked if I’d post it on the blog I reluctantly said OK.

Have a laugh at my expense – CLICK HERE!

Hello Everyone,

Welcome to MTPT #44. Forty Four videos already and we aren’t even half way through our employees (I doubt we will ever get half way through at the rate we are growing). Anyway, This week we have Lauren Barge, Lauren has been with us for around 6 months now and is part of our sales and management team. Lauren enjoys sports, and outdoor and extreme sports, watch as Lauren tells us about herself and her life here at Pepperjam.

Meet Lauren:

For those of you who don’t know the “rules” behind the Meet the Pepperjam Video Series, here they are:

Every Friday Pepperjam will post a new video interview of a member of our staff – everyone will be included – affiliates managers, executives, search-engine marketing managers, directors, software engineers, assistants, online media buyers, and interns. The person being interviewed won’t know he / she has been chosen until about 30 seconds before the interview – this way you’ll get an unrehearsed, real world look at the employee…hopefully, this will make it interesting and non-corporate, which is what we are known and respected for across the internet marketing industry.

Why are we doing this? Well, I am proud of our team and I think you’ll find them as interesting and intelligent as I do. Also, I’m a student of viral video and the social media space and I want to test the waters as it relates to what corporate america is doing (and not doing) to spread buzz and build next generation work places.

Finally, I just thought it would be cool to put some people in front of a video camera that have never done so before, have a little bit of fun, and see if Pepperjam can spread some additional buzz about why we are the leader in online marketing.

FYI – all videos will also be posted to YouTube. If you think what we are doing is outside-the-box and interesting please blog about it and share the story with the world.

Our previous videos include:

Maura Goodwin
Tara Lou
Dean Karasinski
Kim Noler (dated YouTube founder)
Stephanie Yachim
Roxy (Pepperjam’s English Bulldog)
Kris Jones
Katharine Dempsey
Ken Mohn Jr.
Mandy Foley
Tara DeGiusto
Robyn Martin
Kate Sarnak
Aaron Baker
Michelle Foley
Megan Rogan
Mike Jones
Maggie Oldziejewski
Daehee Park
Leslie Stewart
Trevor Brennan
Brock Siegel
Sarah Hohol
Matt Bradley
Chris Thomas
Nick Jurista
Derek Traver
Amber Sansky
Pepperjam All-Stars (Kris Jones, Mike Jones, Shoemoney, Mediadonis)
Quinn Kavanagh
Jaclyn Francese
John Heil
Alan McLaughlin
Lee Dodd and Dave Adams
Janice DiPietro
Brigade Quartermasters Girls
Christian Wenzel
Jill O’Brien
Steve Donlin
Ian Howells
Jim Boykin
Krista Golanoski
Brian Gill

Other fun Pepperjam Vids:
“What would you do for a One YearSupply of Energy Drink”
Naked Crazy Man Video
Pepperjam Adds Ping Pong Table to Pepperplex
Roxy with the Tony Robbins Beach Ball

Joel Comm is the mastermind behind the internet’s first ever reality show – The Next Internet Millionaire.

For those of you who don’t know Joel, he is a very smart entrepreneur and marketer – he’s always planning for the next big thing….the next big idea.

While you might think that the Next Internet Millionaire was Joel’s biggest project of 2007 he’d probably tell you it wasn’t.

Why?

Because he believes his biggest idea (no offense to the show, which was a tremendous hit!!!) is the launch of “the Secret Classroom,” which includes over 24 hours of educational footage from the “teachers’ behind the Next Internet Millionaire show.

The Next Internet Millionaire teachers included Mark Joyner, Armand Morin, Jeff Walker, Marlon Sanders, Brad Fallon, Michael Koenigs, Kristopher Jones (that’s me), Dave Taylor, Perry Marshall, Mike Filsaime, Rich Schefren, and Ray Edwards.

Here’s what Joel told me about “the Scret Classroom”:

“During the course of taping NIM each teacher spent about two hours each day TEACHING, and there was no pitching. Pure content.

Our contestants heads were exploding with information, as you might imagine.

In each episode, the audience only sees a few minutes of the teaching, and they are asking for more.

So we’re going to give it to them.

“The Secret Classroom” is a 12 DVD set with accompanying workbook, providing ALL the teaching that the contestants got.

And there is more.. .of course!

We are also including the entire show, all 13 episodes, of The Next Internet Millionaire, on DVD. Many people have watching online, but even more want to be able to watch in glorious DVD resolution on their television set. This will finally give them the opportunity to do so.

The DVD set will also include a behind-the-scenes documentary and outtakes from the show. It’s going to be an incredible set that we’re very proud of. ”

Well, that’s Joel’s take on “the Secret Classroom.”

Here’s mine.

The Secret Classroom will be a great learning tool for you regardless of your expertise level. The teachers included on the show were chosen selectively to provide a broad expertise across multiple forms of business and online marketing. Whether you want to refine your skills on making a kick-ass sales pitch, want to turn your affiliate business into a 100+ person fast growing full-service company like I did, or you want to promote your product or service via viral marketing and video blogging, The Secret Classroom is likely to help.

While I’m not sure I believe him (hahaha) Joel is claiming that he will only sell a limited number of copies of the Secret Classroom. Regardless, the launch doesn’t occur until December 5th, 2007….so I’m giving you an exclusive head’s up so that you can place your name on the list if you want to learn more.

To learn more about The Secret Classroom - CLICK HERE!

Welcome!

Brian Gill is one of the newest additions to the Pepperjam Team, it was actually surprising when he said 6 months, because I didn’t believe it. But then I checked the records, and it is true. Gill (as he is only referred to as around here) went to a local college, Kings College and he comes from a wild family full of CPA’s.

Most of the time he has some crazy story about how they all stayed in and colored outside of the lines in coloring books. Anyway, it is great to have Gill on the team and hopefully his personality shows through in this video.

Anyway, Meet Gill

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For those of you who don’t know the “rules” behind the Meet the Pepperjam Video Series, here they are:

Every Friday Pepperjam will post a new video interview of a member of our staff – everyone will be included – affiliates managers, executives, search-engine marketing managers, directors, software engineers, assistants, online media buyers, and interns. The person being interviewed won’t know he / she has been chosen until about 30 seconds before the interview – this way you’ll get an unrehearsed, real world look at the employee…hopefully, this will make it interesting and non-corporate, which is what we are known and respected for across the internet marketing industry.

Why are we doing this? Well, I am proud of our team and I think you’ll find them as interesting and intelligent as I do. Also, I’m a student of viral video and the social media space and I want to test the waters as it relates to what corporate america is doing (and not doing) to spread buzz and build next generation work places.

Finally, I just thought it would be cool to put some people in front of a video camera that have never done so before, have a little bit of fun, and see if Pepperjam can spread some additional buzz about why we are the leader in online marketing.

FYI – all videos will also be posted to YouTube. If you think what we are doing is outside-the-box and interesting please blog about it and share the story with the world.

Our previous videos include:

Maura Goodwin
Tara Lou
Dean Karasinski
Kim Noler (dated YouTube founder)
Stephanie Yachim
Roxy (Pepperjam’s English

Bulldog)
Kris Jones
Katharine Dempsey
Ken Mohn Jr.
Mandy Foley
Tara DeGiusto
Robyn Martin
Kate Sarnak
Aaron Baker
Michelle Foley
Megan Rogan
Mike Jones
Maggie Oldziejewski
Daehee Park
Leslie Stewart
Trevor Brennan
Brock Siegel
Sarah Hohol
Matt Bradley
Chris Thomas
Nick Jurista
Derek Traver
Amber Sansky
Pepperjam All-Stars (Kris Jones, Mike Jones, Shoemoney, Mediadonis)
Quinn Kavanagh
Jaclyn Francese
John Heil
Alan McLaughlin
Lee Dodd and Dave Adams
Janice DiPietro
Brigade Quartermasters

Girls
Christian Wenzel
Jill O’Brien
Steve Donlin
Ian Howells
Jim Boykin
Krista Golanoski

Other fun Pepperjam Vids:
“What would you do for a One YearSupply of Energy Drink”
Naked Crazy Man Video
Pepperjam Adds Ping Pong Table to Pepperplex
Roxy with the Tony Robbins Beach Ball

The final episode of Next Internet Millionaire (NIM) debuted this week and Jaime Luchuck won the first ever “Next Internet Millionaire” title by generating nearly $100,000 in book sales in less than one (1) week. Jaime beat runner-up and YouTube celebrity Charles Trippy whose Viral Video Fever video sold less than $50,000 in its first week.

I blogged about Jaime and Charles products HERE.

As the NIM winner Jaime takes home $25,000 in cash and becomes a joint venture (JV) partner of proven internet millionaire Joel Comm. It is likely that Jaime will make her first million within the next 12-months or sooner, while Trippy left the show with a check for $10,000, which was a share of his initial product sales.

Early next week I will be blogging more in detail about Joel Comm’s newest product – Secret Classroom, which I am involved.

In short, the product is a 12-disc educational DVD collection that was created during the taping of NIM. It will provide you with behind the scenes access to each and every session led by one of the NIM teachers!

The NIM teachers included Mark Joyner, Armand Morin, Jeff Walker, Marlon Sanders, Brad Fallon, Michael Koenigs, Kristopher Jones (that’s me), Dave Taylor, Perry Marshall, Mike Filsaime, Rich Schefren, and Ray Edwards.

Well – 12 shows = 12 DVD’s with about 2-hours of exclusive footage from each teacher. If you purchase the product you’ll be able to see my entire presentation that I gave during Episode 7 of the NIM! FYI – the launch will take place on December 5th – Stay tuned for more!

Here’s the last and final episode of this season – Episode 13 (note I’ve included a copy of Episode 7 below – that’s the show I was a guest):

Welcome!

This week we have one of our most tenured employees Krista Golanoski. Krista has been here, as she puts it, “2.75 years”. I have known Krista for most of this time and she is not only a great employee but funny, smart and talented as well. She has handled most of our largest search accounts with ease (like it ain’t no thang (I think she says that too.)). Recently she has been repositioned to the Director Of Comparison Shopping, which involves overseeing our site Shogging.com.

Anyway, Meet Krista

For those of you who don’t know the “rules” behind the Meet the Pepperjam Video Series, here they are:

Every Friday Pepperjam will post a new video interview of a member of our staff – everyone will be included – affiliates managers, executives, search-engine marketing managers, directors, software engineers, assistants, online media buyers, and interns. The person being interviewed won’t know he / she has been chosen until about 30 seconds before the interview – this way you’ll get an unrehearsed, real world look at the employee…hopefully, this will make it interesting and non-corporate, which is what we are known and respected for across the internet marketing industry.

Why are we doing this? Well, I am proud of our team and I think you’ll find them as interesting and intelligent as I do. Also, I’m a student of viral video and the social media space and I want to test the waters as it relates to what corporate america is doing (and not doing) to spread buzz and build next generation work places.

Finally, I just thought it would be cool to put some people in front of a video camera that have never done so before, have a little bit of fun, and see if Pepperjam can spread some additional buzz about why we are the leader in online marketing.

FYI – all videos will also be posted to YouTube. If you think what we are doing is outside-the-box and interesting please blog about it and share the story with the world.

Our previous videos include:

Maura Goodwin
Tara Lou
Dean Karasinski
Kim Noler (dated YouTube founder)
Stephanie Yachim
Roxy (Pepperjam’s English Bulldog)
Kris Jones
Katharine Dempsey
Ken Mohn Jr.
Mandy Foley
Tara DeGiusto
Robyn Martin
Kate Sarnak
Aaron Baker
Michelle Foley
Megan Rogan
Mike Jones
Maggie Oldziejewski
Daehee Park
Leslie Stewart
Trevor Brennan
Brock Siegel
Sarah Hohol
Matt Bradley
Chris Thomas
Nick Jurista
Derek Traver
Amber Sansky
Pepperjam All-Stars (Kris Jones, Mike Jones, Shoemoney, Mediadonis)
Quinn Kavanagh
Jaclyn Francese
John Heil
Alan McLaughlin
Lee Dodd and Dave Adams
Janice DiPietro
Brigade Quartermasters Girls
Christian Wenzel
Jill O’Brien
Steve Donlin
Ian Howells
Jim Boykin

Other fun Pepperjam Vids:
“What would you do for a One Year Supply of Energy Drink”
Naked Crazy Man Video
Pepperjam Adds Ping Pong Table to Pepperplex
Roxy with the Tony Robbins Beach Ball

Because we can.

What a great time.

Ad-Tech was an exceptional time…..partially because we co-sponsored one of the most fun parties ever thrown at any conference ever, which featured Rob Base (it takes two / joy and pain), DJ Red Alert, and Break-dance legend Turbo.

Special thanks goes to fellow Pepperjammers Michael, Aaron, Kat, Amber, Quinn, Sarah, Lauren, and Brock….and all our special Pepperjam invites – we hope you enjoyed our party and VIP lounge!!!

Here’s a video from Monday nights “Money Makers Party” at PASHA in NYC.

We were honored to sponsor the party with Zanox, Rocket Profit, Jamster, Options Media and other notables.

Here’s a video featuring Rob Base:

By the way – we will have a special edition of MEET THE PEPPERJAM TEAM on Monday featuring one of Pepperjam’s most tenure employees….no other than Krista Golanoski, head of Web 2.0 shopping comparison blog, Shogging.com.

As you know I was a featured guest on EPISODE 7 of the first ever internet reality show Next Internet Millionaire hosted by Joel Comm. Haven’t seen Episode 7 – CLICK HERE. The experience was amazing and I had an opportunity to meet the two finalists, which include model…singer..and dancer – Jamie Luchuck and YouTube celebrity Charles Trippy.

CLICK HERE to watch Episode 12 where Jamie and Charles go head-to-head to win it all.

Here’s why you ABSOLUTELY need to watch Episode 12 – there is a twist to the show in that the winner will be decided not by JOEL COMM….but by you and me!!!

The deal is that Joel gave Jamie and Charles an opportunity to create a informational product that he agreed to help produce and support. The contestant that could sell more copies of their product within a 7-day period would be declared the winner!

I’ve spent some time reviewing both products and I’m absolutely convinced that you as an affiliate or search marketer can make a ton of money by buying Jamie’s and Charles’ products.

First, let me tell you about Charles Trippy’s product called Viral Video Fever (yeah, I agree..kind of a cheesy name); however, Charles is one of YouTube’s top video creators. In fact, Charles has had millions upon millions of people watch his videos and more than one million people have visited his director page to see all the videos he has produced. TO say the least, Charles knows how to create viral videos.

Viral Video Fever is a DVD (learn more here) produced by Charles Trippy that provides you with a detailed tutorial for how to create viral videos on YouTube. I’ve already purchased the product and expect to share with you a few examples of videos that Pepperjam produces based on Trippy’s video. I’m uber excited about this product!

Here is my pic with Charles from my appearance on the show.

OK, let me tell you about Jamie Luchuck’s product called “From Cubicle Slave to Next Internet Millionaire.” While Jamie’s product name isn’t that cheesy her landing page / website is super spammy looking (if you watch NIM then you’ll know that my opinion of info product landing pages is similar to Charles Trippy – these pages look like spam….however, I concede that they work!). Anyway, I had the opportunity to meet and spend time with Jamie in Colorado during the shooting of my show and she was without question one of my favorite contestants. Jamie is from Canada and is a charming dancer and model – she’s a part-time web designer and made it to the finals of NIM based on her natural intelligence and likeable personality.

From Cubicle Slave to Next Internet Millionaire is Jamie’s detailed recount of her experiences on Next Internet Millionaire. She provides details from each and every Next Internet Millionaire teacher (including me) and provides her interpretation (sort of a journal) of other NIM contestants and the show in general. The idea is that she provides you with information from each of the speakers from the show that would cost you thousands upon thousands of dollars to see each of the teachers in person. My guess is that anything that the book says about my appearance is worth the value of the book!!!! LOL

To learn more about Jamie’s product CLICK HERE.

Here is my pic with Jamie from my appearance on the show.

Jamie Luchuck

OK – there you go. How do you vite for the winner of Next Internet Millionaire – Buy Jamie’s or Charles’s product!!!

Reports emerged sometime ago that Azoogle and other CPA networks were being investigated for the possibility of fraud as it relates to various tactics used to promote ringtones. For example, there were questions around the idea of affiliates promoting offers for “free ringtones” when in fact the ringtones weren’t free since a monthly membership fee or similar payment structure was required to download a ringtone.

I will let you read the settlement arrangement for yourself (see below), but a financial settlement of this size, in general, suggests either (1) avoidance of prolonged or expensive litigation, regardless of guilt or (2) guilt based on the facts.

I guess there is also a hope through settlement that it won’t reach the news but others have already started the news train that is likely to follow.

If you read the press release carefully you’ll see that on the one hand Azoogle made a settlement, but on the other hand they are being praised for providing considerable assistance to the Florida Attorney General to help protect consumers from “fraudulent” online marketing practices – that’s definitely one way of making bad news seem not so bad!

It appears that the original story was posted on Digital Point, but has since been taken down (again, it’s my guess that Azoogle doesn’t want this news to spread?????).

However, here is a link to the actual press release posted on the website of the Attorney General of Florida (and former republican Congressman) Bill McCollum and here is basically what it says:

“TALLAHASSEE, FL – Attorney General Bill McCollum today unveiled a sophisticated team to combat internet-related fraud and simultaneously announced the first agreement reached by the newly-created CyberFraud Task Force. The task force, which takes action against companies who defraud consumers online, is part of the Attorney General’s efforts to make the internet safer for Florida consumers. Housed in the Attorney General’s Economic Crimes Division, the task force today reached a $1 million agreement with internet marketer Azoogle (Azoogleads US Inc.), a New York company that creates and manages internet marketing of cell phone products.”

“Consumers in Florida and throughout the nation have long been victimized by internet marketing that promises one thing and delivers another,” said Attorney General McCollum. “This task force will be instrumental in identifying problematic trends in the industry and working towards solutions that will hold the industry and its players responsible for their practices and provide remedies for our citizens.”

Today’s agreement, which will serve as a model for the way cell phone content will be marketed online, resulted from an investigation conducted by the CyberFraud Task Force into the marketing of ringtones and other cell phone products. Investigators determined that consumers, usually children or teenagers who were responding to “free” cell phone ringtone offers, were often enrolled into subscription plans without their knowledge or consent. The fees for the plans were then billed to consumers’ cell phone bills. The cooperative agreement will require the true cost of ringtones to be clearly and conspicuously disclosed on all internet ads and order forms.

In working with Attorney General McCollum’s Office to resolve concerns about its marketing practices, Azoogle has already provided and will continue to provide substantial cooperation and assistance to the CyberFraud Task Force as the working group endeavors to reform the industry….”

For the remainder of the release CLICK HERE.

To read the actual agreement between Florida’s CyberFraud Task Force and Azoogle CLICK HERE.

By the way – it’s my guess that Azoogle did the right thing here.

The truth is that the US ringtone industry of six-months ago and the ringtone industry of today has changed considerably. I have no idea exactly what Azoogle or Azoogle affiliates were doing that could have led to this settlement, but I do not that many CPA and Affiliate Networks were likely using similar practices.

The affiliate ringtone industry continues to mature and as the state attorneys general and the feds get involved I believe there will continue to be a shake out.

This is a smart move by Azoogle to put this behind them. I bet other CPA Networks will have to follow or face stiff legal bills and bad press.

**Update**

In a somewhat disappointing announcement Google has announced Android, which is basically a mobile phone operating system. While this still holds all of the promised features I know myself and probably most of you were looking forward to a new piece of hardware from Google. Regardless Android is an open source operating system. Now whether this excites you or not, is another questions. It should be interesting to see where this takes handsets, perhaps down the road that facebook is currently going? It is definitely going to be a more social phone.

Morning Folks.

Rumor has it that Google is supposed to announce their plans for the Google Phone Today. I will keep this post updated throughout the day as the news happens but here is what we know so far.

Google is planning on giving away its software to handset makers and then letting them promote the openness of it to software developers to create new applicataions.

Sprint Nextel and Verizon Wireless are said to already be working with Google.

The GPhone is said to be free, the service will be paid for by users watching advertisements each time they want to make a call or do a Google search

Is This The Future?