It's with sadness that I write what i expect to be my last posting on my StomperNet blog.
If you are a member of StomperNet, my advice is to grab what you can while you can.
For a number of years StomperNet have had a difficult relationship with affiliates.
Difficult in that affiliates have found it very difficult to get paid for sales made. In other ways the rlationship was very good - great marketing, high converting offers and free products for review and as prizes for success.
In the September 2009 relaunch of Stompernet, after Andy Jenkins escaped, there was supposed to be a special deal to help affiliates get up to date. I think all it did was confuse everyone so no one knew what should have been paid and when.
Now the Salty Droid blog has revealed that the StomperNet moderators haven't been paid (see Salty Droid).
This looks like the last rites on what I believe was a great idea.
Internet marketing marketing is so full of hype and bluster that it was difficult to know who to trust. Stompernet created an umbrella of respectablity by bringing together many of the leading experts under one brand name.
The SMARTS program on social media was good and I loved Stomping The Search Engines 2.0 and Formula Five (although I thought it could have been targeted better).
I enthusiastically endorsed the relaunch of StomperNet membership in September 2009 when the monthly price came down from a whopping $800 to $200 per month.
There is a huge stack of great content within the StomperNet training resources.
In fact I think that's one of the problems. There is an overwhelming amount of content.
If affiliates aren't getting paid - it's over six months since I've seen any money despite promises made all the way up to Brad Fallon - and if moderators aren't getting paid, then it's only a matter of time before it collapses.
I admire Brad Fallon for trying to do the right thing and turn around the business. It is often easier to cut and run and start again than to face up to problems.
But the leaked email featured on the Salty Droid blog makes it clear (if true) that the turnaround isn't working. Allegedly members are falling away and insufficient new members are joining.
Clearly there have been mistakes.
A great concept, great marketing and products but terrible financial control and management. Worse, there has never been an explanation of how they got into such a mess.
If you are a member, i recommend spending the time to download the training sessions you want and picking the faculty's brains about your issues.
If you're not a member, it may be worth a raid. You won't get the premium courses but much of Stomping The Search Engines 2.0 remains relevant and there are a lot of webinars with tips and tricks that are well worth your time and attention.
Will StomperNet rise again?
It's difficult to see it happening when launchs rely so much on affiliates.
Will the idea of a best in class group of Internet marketers colloborating appear? Yes I think it will. One of the big problems is the continued specialisation of Internet marketing so it's a great role for someone to bring everything back together.
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