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July 28, 2005
Dan Hollings Responds
By QBlog in Blog News
Sometimes what I post on this blog ruffles a few feathers. That's fine, people aren't required to agree with my perceptions. Yesterday I published comments critical of a new blogging tool called Blog-Zilla. Dan Hollings, Blog-Zilla's creator, took issue with my post and responded in an email as well as within the comments of the post.
I've posted excerpts from Hollings' comments below but the full text, unedited, is available for reference. Hollings' comments appear in italics and my responses appear in blue.
First. Multi-blogging is a new phenomena that allows people, entrepreneurs, businesses and organizations to manage multiple blogs each targeted or personalized to a specific readership. The idea was not invented by me, but he has created software to assist legitimate publishers and bloggers multi-blog. It follows the identical logic that a personalized newsletter follows. It is rules based and has capabilities much like common mail merge programs.
Hollings makes an incorrect comparison. This is not like newsletters because a newsletter is distributed to an email inbox and often archived on the Web at a single site. Emails are not (under normal conditions) included in search results. The long-term impact of emails on the Web is the same whether I send one email or one Billion.
An Avon consultant would not read my blog if it talked about MLM...
That's an assumption. There's a very popular forum called Making the Run that gives tips, advice and opinions to people from a multitude of different professions and interests. Another example is the Business Opportunities Blog which has a very diverse audience. I think Hollings is grossly underestimating his potential audience.
You know my content is not garbage.
Yes, and I clearly conceded that in my post. "Technically, it's not quite spamming since there is some genuine content but I don't know what else to call it." Hollings has some valuable content but some of the Quixtar Google Bomb blogs could make a similar argument. Not all were pure nonsense, just most. What I'm pointing out is the spam-like nature of duplicating that content across dozens of blogs and the parallels with Quixtar's WRTF
Duplicating Content?
...an analysis with a duplicate content checker shows that my blogs range from 25% to 60% DIFFERENT when compared one against another...
What's a "duplicate content checker?" Most bloggers don't need such tools because they don't regularly duplicate their content across dozens of blogs.
I invite anyone interested to READ the description of Blog-zilla again (http://blog-zilla.com) and note the ANTI-SPAM notice "Spammers Beware" clearly published on the site.
There are laws against spamming, but that hasn't stopped it. Napster made it clear that copyright infringement was wrong, but that didn't help them in court. I'm glad Hollings has Anti-Spam notices, but that doesn't change the nature of the software.
In addition, please review our strict ANTI-DUPLICATION, ANTI-SCRAPE, ANTI-CONTENT STEALING policy. Blog-zilla is NOT a spam or thieving tool. Blog-zilla has ZERO cabability to "harvesting content from various sites"...
I never accused Hollings of stealing anything. However, I'll also point out that to my knowledge, Quixtar's WRTF never "stole" anything either.
All Blog-zilla users go through a qualification survey to eliminate potential spammers.
Hollings forgot to add "All Blog-zilla users with money go through a qualification survey..."
Dealing With Content and Costs
[From Blog-Zilla's license agreement and rules]
Blog-zilla can be used to post RSS feeds to multiple blogs, but if you are not also posting other quality content, your account can be terminated.
Interesting term. So who's making the determination about what's "quality content?" Hollings? Some neutral third-party? What if I had a Blog-Zilla account and published yesterday's post about Blog-Zilla to 100 blogs. I believe it's "quality content" but would Hollings agree?
...each subscriber goes into a trial period (cost is $1) and while users evaluate Blog-zilla, Blog-zilla evaluates the subscriber by monitoring their posts and observing their participation in weekly conference call training classes.
What, if any, is the cost of those conference calls and training sessions? Do they compare with the rates listed on DanHollings.com?
- 1 Hour One-on-one Consultation $189
- Personal Web Site Evaluation $149
- Four 1 Hour Sessions - One per week $99 per week
- Four 1 Hour Sessions - One per month $149 per month
- Unlimited On-call Consultation $949 per month
Disappointed
Eric Scheibeler was greatly disappointed that other similar topic sites and like minded people (including Eric Janssen) did not do more to offer support for this effort. Instead, support was lacluster and criticle. In fact, Eric Janssen was given the unique sponsorship of word #1 in Scheibeler's LGTWO "Merchants of Deception" online book, yet not even a thanks was ever received. Guess it was just too "link-laden" as Janssen states. Go figure.
Unfortunately this comment is both personal and misleading. I would prefer that Eric Scheibeler speak for himself on this matter unless Hollings is in a position to speak on his behalf. By the way, I did thank Scheibeler for his generosity.
You attempt to link my reputation and activities to those like the Google bombing by Quixtar and to porn sites. Give us all a break Mr. Eric; the only garbage I see is the garbage in your post. Who's spamming who?
I merely presented my opinions about the facts as I found them. If that's spam, then so be it.
Please let me know how you feel about my post. Whether you love it, hate it, think it was unfair or right on — I want to hear about it.
Thanks!
Comments
If you think Blog-Zilla is spam, check out this advanced search string in Google:
link:http://www.blog-zilla.com/
www.customerscustomers911.com/
is another one of Holling's spam fests ... among others
hmmm...looks like spam to me.
I thought your post was very straightforward and factual; I did not see any twisting of the truth, just the facts. Dan Hollings response was more twisted than your post. Also, on his Quixtar page he says that he is an IBO. what's that all about.
I can only IMAGINE the duplicates I will get if I need to any real research in the the future if this thing is running long term.
Southern Deb,
Where do you see this about Hollings being an IBO? Please send a link and detailed references on how to find this.
Thanks.
Seems like Dan is trying to suggest that because he worked for Eric S. he shouldn't be called on any other activities he's involved with. That doesn't make any sense.
I'd rather hear from Eric S. on the subject. I'd be surprised if Eric S. condones any of this Blog-zilla nonsense.
I don't think Eric S condones it, it's just that Dan Holling is a great help to him and Eric S reputation is also some what effected with this.
Eric S basic field is accountancy. He'll understand it though.
Why is Eric S.'s reputation harmed. Dan didn't do Blogzilla for Eric S. did he?
I think he just built the LGTWO site - which is what it is. I've never heard anyone say there's anything wrong with THAT site. So it's guilt by association, and that's it?
Seems pretty thin. I don't know why Eric S. would be bothered by something as flimsy at that.
A question for Dan Hollings:
Will you let Quixtar use Blog-zilla?
DH>As A Quixtar independent business owner, you might be wondering why I'm talking about a futuristic contextual AdSense (AdWord) program like FadSense. It's partially because it's funny, but more importantly, it's because I feel the type of advertising we have been discussing here at my "Internet Marketing Tips for Quixtar" blog, is critical to your future. What I'm hoping to teach you are skills and tips that will not only work for Google today, but for any similar type advertising in the future. Google FadSense, real or not!
Actually, I think he is only talking teh IBO's of quixtar. That first sentence made it sound like he was referring to himself as an IBO; the wording is tricky.
I wish that you guys would just be quiet and build the business. At my Rocking open last night my upline said that if you guys put just a fraction of the energy into building this GREAT business you would all be Diamonds.
I don't understand why you guys think that making money is bad. My upline gave me really a good deal on some starter tools. I got CD'S books, and brochures for my buisness for $500. This isn't even a fraction of the money I would spend in University learning to get a JOB.
My upline told me that I really have what it takes to build this to the top and that's exactly what I am going to do. My parents don't understand and neither do you guys. I don't care what you think I am going to smoke you all!!!!!
If you don't like the conversation here, may I humbly suggest that you disengage from it? I'm really not interested in what you're smoking.
PW
Ryan,
"my upline said...my upline gave me...my upline told me..."
You're well on your way to becoming a good little brainwashed IBO...good luck with that!
You are right Ryan, at least negative losers here can be platinums if they just do it part time, if not diamond.
Seriously, this is such a great business, friends helping friends. And what is help really, just redirecting the buying power.
Go Diamond Ryan. I'm at 4000 PV in my 3rd month. You?
Are you serious Hicks? Have you even bothered to read any of the mountains of info here and on other sites such as Scott Larsen's site? Dude, your getting scammed in the worst possible way. Of course your upline wants to encourage and tell you you can do it, they make money off you afterall even though you might not be making any money. The difference between spending money on college and spending money on "the system" is in college you pay for an education in a certain field and you get a degree that'll help open many doors for career placement and starting salary. The "tools" in Quixtar can be educational (somewhat) and can teach you about the business. However if you decide to quit the business for what ever reason, you can't say in a new job interview that you have "tools" education, you'd get laughed at. The "tools" education is only good in a Quixtar business and no where else. A college degree is good in numerous businesses and can always be traneferred to somewhere else if needed. Hopefully you'll see the light of day before you lose too much on this scam.
Qblog is not even the first person to point out possible issues with Blog-zilla.
Check out:
http://mp.blogs.com/mp/2005/07/on_blog_plagiar_3.html
"The promise is in larger blog businesses, and we're in the early days of experimentation. 'Blog-zilla', if real, is just the 'evil' side of this quest for a blogging business model."
RH>At my Rocking open last night my upline said that if you guys put just a fraction of the energy into building this GREAT business you would all be Diamonds.
X>Mr. Ryan, do you realize that the majority of us were in the business and worked it as hard if not harder than you are now? Take some tips from some people with experience: Get out now before you lose any more. We are not losers, the system DOESN'T WORK FOR THE MASSES!
RH>I don't understand why you guys think that making money is bad
X> To the best of my knowledge, no one here has any objection with making money; the problem arises when that money is made by deceptful and fraudulent means.
RH>This isn't even a fraction of the money I would spend in University learning to get a JOB.
X> My starting salary in 2 years is greater than ALL my college expenses EVER WERE and I don't put ANYTHING back into that anymore. Your 'tools' will require you to keep on buying year after year ad fintium.
RH>My upline told me that I really have what it takes to build this to the top and that's exactly what I am going to do.
X> Your upline will tell ANYONE that who will give him $500 for useless tapes and other 'BSMs' so he can make a profit.
RH>My parents don't understand and neither do you guys
X> We understand perfectly. It is called mind control (not brain washing, that is different). Do yourself a favor and check out this website, it is from an expert on mond control:
http://www.freedomofmind.com/resourcecenter/groups/a/amway/
Good luck Ryan,
I am praying for you.
LOL at Ryan. You are so in for a shock....
Ryan,
So why does Greg Duncan, who you don;t know personally get more credibility than your parents who raised you? Just because he's supposedly wealthy? Why not get advice from Bill Gates, he's much wealthier than Greg Duncan.
And Ryan, you don't go to college to learn to get a job. You go to college to get educated. Yes, you pay tuition, but after you graduate, you STOP paying tuition. After college, you could get a job, but guess what? You could also start a business. College is not about learning to get a job.
By the way, in your Quixtar functions, do they teach you how to file business taxes, how to track and monitor expenditures and profits? If not, then what are you learning in those functions?
Here's a challenge for Ryan, or Tony or M&M. Let's take 100 college graduates
working jobs, and 100 high school graduates (no college or college drop outs) working the quixtar business. Which group will have a higher income??
Hey Ryan,
Your god, I mean upline Greg Duncan. He is so smart, why did he have all of his group taken off Amvox (where you get PV/BV) and replace the phone system with Kate? Shouldn't he be promoting the quixtar phone system and allowing IBO's to get PV/BV for using that system? He had an eagles meeting and they all wanted to retain amvox. Duncan switched the system anyway.
Can you explain this one to us, the critics?
You guys just don't get it. You are getting mixed up in all the details. Greg said something that really impacted me and that was When you have a dream the facts don't count!
I am a mover and a shaker not a whiner!
Ryan,
The facts don't count when you have a dream? Hey Ryan, I have never said you can't succeed or that I hope you fail or anything like that.
I'm simply pointing out some facts that should get your attention before you make a decision such as skipping college.
These are some things that should be given serious consideration:
What did they teach you at the awesome function about actually running your business? Do they teach you to monitor profits and losses? How about filing taxes?
Why did Greg Duncan swith his group from amvox to Kate? Was it better for the group or better for himself?
Why do you give Greg Duncan more credibility than your family? If you miss a function do you think Greg Duncan's going to ask where Ryan Hicks is? I seriously doubt it.
facts should always count no matter what because they are TRUTHS!!! How do you know what Greg Duncan is saying is truth? Have you taken him to task on anything? Have you questioned anything and get clear answers instead of another question? Think about it, if you wanted to jump off a bridge and fly and you knew for a fact that you can't fly and you'd die would you still jump if your dream of flying was big enough? Don't think so unless your perception of reality and the laws of physics is extremely flawed. Again, I hope you can look at things a little more unbiased for a moment. Do you think all of us "negative" people are really lying just for the hell of it? I encourage you to question everything, because taking everything at face value, no matter what it is, can lead you to a terrible fate.
I would point out, Ryan, that if the facts don't count, answering these questions will be of no consequence to you, so why don't you just answer the questions posed to you. I would like to add one more.
Why are we (the critics) negative people?
Ryan,
When I was a kid, I dreamed of being spiderman. I can't climb walls or shoot webs, and I certainly can't beat up all the bad guys. Those are facts.
But if my dreams are big enough I can still become spiderman?
Is this what you're saying?
If my AWESOME upline told me to jump off a clip I would becasue I know there would be a huge pile of money at bottom to catch me.
Is it April Fool's already?
In keeping with my suggestion about a month ago on tapespeak:
RH>If my AWESOME upline told me to jump off a clip I would becasue I know there would be a huge pile of money at bottom to catch me
-Alan Leininger, 'Listen to Bill' (BWW130)
There are many more tapes with this exact phrase in BWW and WWDB (which if you don't know are closely associated).
Well Ryan,
Your awesome upline is picking your pockets and telling you it's for your own good. Greg Duncan must be one heck of a saleman. He's got you thinking an elephant is a cat.
I challenge Ryan, Tony or M&M to explain why Greg Duncan would switch his group from amvox (which gives you PV/BV) to Kate, which is more expensive. Wouldn't this be an example of using a "negative" product??
I anxiously await a response from one or all of you.
Please don't insult anyone's intelligence by saying because Greg said it's better.
Hey Ryan,
Did Greg Duncan tell you that 95% of all small businesses fail within 5 years?
Is he lying or doesn't he know? Or is he talking about quixtar businesses?
Here's the link to SBA:
http://www.amquix.info/pdfs/small_business_faqs.pdf
Joecool, all of Worldwide switched to Kate, not just Greg D. I did like Amvox for various reasons. However Amway wasn't going to support it any longer and replaced it with Ibocs. When compared to the Amway system, Kate was providing a lot more features and there were a lot of challenges with the Ibocs system, actually too many to justify putting it out this inferior system to the entire organization and expect it to perform as well as Kate. If you don't like Kate, you certainly wouldn't have liked the alternative.
Ryan,
I suggest that before you make a decision to get into this business, you step away from it all (especially Greg Duncan) and do some research. There is a lot of information on the forums here about how this "business" is designed so that 99% of the people in it lose money. Go to the Q* critics forum and read dmm's "the math behind buy from yourself and teach others to do the same" and you will see in black and white how it's nearly impossible NOT to lose money in this business. Just try and read it with an open mind. And if you step back from all the pro- Q* hype maybe you can think more clearly. What they're doing to you has been done to thousands before you...including most people responding on this blog.
Don't you find it a little odd that they tell you not to think too hard about this and that if the dream is big enough the facts don't count??? Maybe it's because they don't want you to analyze it too much for fear you'll find the truth.
THINK!!! If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is!!!
emminem> Joecool, all of Worldwide switched to Kate, not just Greg D. I did like Amvox for various reasons. However Amway wasn't going to support it any longer and replaced it with Ibocs. When compared to the Amway system, Kate was providing a lot more features and there were a lot of challenges with the Ibocs system, actually too many to justify putting it out this inferior system to the entire organization and expect it to perform as well as Kate. If you don't like Kate, you certainly wouldn't have liked the alternative.
Joecool> By switching to a system that is not sponsored by quixtar is using a negative product. Something that goes against upline teaching. If you take a step back and look objectively, you will see that anytime upline goes against what they teach, it's benefits them financially.
i.e. Get out of debt, but ok to go in hock for tapes and functions.
i.e. God and family comes before the business, but never miss a quixtar function.
Ryan, Tony, Emminem
You guys know I have nothing to lose or gain by your success or failure. I don't believe I have ever said you should quit or that I hope you fail at this business. I am simply pointing things out that I think are noteworthy. I always felt a bit suspicious even when I was committed to building the business. My suspicions were all confirmed after I left the business.
Some of the obvious mis-triths told by the upline became apparent when I started to look objectively. ie. 95% of all businesses fail in the first 5 years. Here's the proof of that mis truth told by upline:
http://www.amquix.info/pdfs/small_business_faqs.pdf
Actually, Joecool, I don't recall a product or service before or after Amvox that was replaced by the organization, do you?
Some advice in general: I guess if you take the attitude that you are going to be a sheep when you get into the organization, then you will be one. On the other hand, if you feel the system works for you, then fine, work with it then. However if you take an independent view of things and exercise some of your own leadership, you'd probably be much happier and more profitable as a result. After all, it is your own business, act like it.
Emminem,
When I left the biz in 1997, amvox was still used. Since all "serious" business owners were encouraged to get on amvox, why wouldn't the company continue to have some type of voice mail service? Or is there one that exists that is not being utilized?
Secondly, Imran exposed the link showing that 98% of americans are not dead or broke by age 65, and we know that about 40% of businesses are still alive after 5 years, and of teh 60% that close, some of those closures are due to owner's death or retirement, thereby not closure due to failure.
Seeing that the plan presenters just throw out false information, how can you guys give so much credibility to these guys? They even teach stuff like fake it till you make it. Isn't that lying?
Thanks Joe, but lets give credit where it's due. It was Scott Larsen.
http://www.amquix.info/amway_retirement_legend.html
Ryan Hicks> I got CD'S books, and brochures for my business for $500. This isn't even a fraction of the money I would spend in University learning to get a JOB.
My upline told me that I really have what it takes to build this to the top
Joecool18> Good luck Ryan. I guess if you gave me $500 like you gave your upline, I would also tell you that you really have what it takes to build it to the top as well.
I will varify that AMVOX was replaced with IBOCS on the corporate level (which still rewards PV/BV as it is included as a partner store / service while the orginal Q site was up. Apparently they wanted to remove all potential references to the A word)
Kate, however, provides a lot more income to the upline and it does so directly. Did you know that if an IBO retails Kate through BWW, it is worth $6 per month (payable quarterly) per account? And also that your upline (through BWW, not Quixtar) gets another portion all his own?
The IBOCS and Kate are run by the same company I think (I didn't actually verify this, but the layout is almost exactly the same), but IBOCS provides only a tiny bit of PV, just like MCI (I still remember all that hard work getting people in MCI for 0.75 PV and 1.5 BV...Cha Ching!) while Kate provides up front cash return for using it.
xanadustc> I will varify that AMVOX was replaced with IBOCS on the corporate level (which still rewards PV/BV as it is included as a partner store / service while the orginal Q site was up. Apparently they wanted to remove all potential references to the A word)
So Emminem, why would WWDB switch to a negative product (Kate) instead of a system like IBOCS which was run by quixtar?
The only conclusion I can make is because WWDB got more money from it than using the system through quixtar.
Ryan:
Go get 'em bro!
Forget about these moron critics, and just remember that there are many doors that are waiting to be opened by you on your path to diamond success!!!
Just don't let any of those doors hit you in the ass on your way through them! :-) :-)
Can we make Ryan Hicks the mascot for this blog???
well Joe, as I said, there were significant problems with IBOCS (an inferior product at the time, anyway) when it rolled out as compared to Kate. There have been some opportunities for the average ibo though, in signing out some Kate accounts.
I won't argue there is money made with it, as there would be with Ibocs making money for the corporation.
Is it negative? I don't think it falls into the realm of a Alticor manufactured product. Both systems are contracted out, Ibocs is not "run" by Q, as X said. Demonstrate how Ibocs would be a better product for the organiztion, then you would have a point.
emminem,
It doesn't matter whether or not KATE is better than IBOCS. The fact that IBOCS is run through Q means you should be using it. They don't use simple green instead of LOC even if it's better, or any other ocre product for that matter. It sure sounds like upline just lining their pockets once again.
You guys just don't get it, my Upline is cool... you are not. That is the key to a sucessful diamond, being cooler then my parents.
I am going to be rich in six months...count them...one...two...six!
Then its going to be nothing but sleeping in and drinking yoohoo's all day, like six of them!
I wear big boy pants, while you loozers are all in pampers. Get a life and quit your JOB you lazy nuggets of negativity!
Ryan isn't here right now, but please sign up under me after the beep......
qblog,
Sorry to multi-post, but you asked about the rates-
"RATES
Monthly rates will be $30 mo. for 5 blogs and $1 extra per month for additional blogs above 5. There will be a one time poop-scoop fee for monthly subscribers which helps keep Bloggy's cage clean (under $100). In addition, you will have the option to subscribe on an annual basis for discounted rates and the poop-scoop fee is waived. There should be a plan for every budget."
Here's the kicker..
"BLOG 50+ CLUB
For those planning to run 50 or more blogs, you will automatically (that means at no cost) be a part of Blog-zilla's "Blog 50+ Club," a special group of multi-bloggers that will be granted greater access to Dan Hollings' trainings and expertise. Dan has taught internet marketing classes for years to thousands of online entrepreneurs and businesses for $30 to $250 per class (depending on topic and duration). Blog 50+ Club members will be invite to advanced sessions with Dan Hollings at no additional cost on topics related to blogging and internet marketing in general."
Question: why would someone charge so much for a FREE blogging software? I googled a totally free multi blogging software that does something similar and probably far easier:
http://www.wbloggar.com/
Best of all it's FREE!(they do take some small donations if you like the software) highly recommended.
I'd never personally even attempt doing something like this blog-zilla. This would be pure spam. Just thought I'd pass along information...
Mr. Hollings comments notwithstanding, I still could not agree more. Posting duplicate content in dozens of places is spam.
Good content, or not. Still spam!
Thanks, Eric.
Posted by: Bill | July 28, 2005 1:38 PM