I'm truly going to miss your e-mails,although I have not started any websites of my own. I have learned a great deal from being a member of your list which I will be using in the near future. I would like to thank you for being so honest about some of crap to avoid,I received hundreds of emails about John Reeses product it was refreshing to here an honest review. I wish you would consider a weekly or monthly newsletter to those of us who have been faithful.THANK YOU SO MUCH AND GOOD LUCK!!!

Markus, this is kind of a test to see if this message actually stays up because I'm a little surprised that no-one but your fans have posted.

Hey, I don't care what you do with your tips. Some have been valuable, but most are just re-hashed tips. I for one will not miss them (I've tried several times to get OFF your list, but you keep sending them!)

Besides, I never liked your militant view of other marketing people (i.e., your hatred for Corey Rudl and your loathing of Mark Joyner).

Best wishes on your new venture. I do wish you well.

Edited by author 11-18-2005 12:53 PM
Bryan,

One of the reasons I stopped the free newsletter was the added hassles of manually unsubscribing (even though my I required double opt-in from day 1 of publishing back in 1997) -- and as I've promised, you won't get emails from me unless you pay for a membership.

I admit the most frustrating aspect of publishing the newsletter was the mixed messages I'd get on a daily basis. For example, here's a reply you gave to one of my ideas:

> Markus,
>
> Need your kid to learn guitar? Check out http://www.guitartips.com.au/
>
> This guy was highlighted in Cory Rudl's InsiderSecrets vault this month.
> He's got a very successful website and it's not very expensive to buy
> his course. I've not personally bought his course 'cause I don't do
> guitar, but it's worth a shot...
>
> Bryan Noonan
> Zbattery.com
> 800-624-8681
>
> "Your Intelligent Battery Store"
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Markus Allen [1]
> Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2005 6:29 PM
> To: Bryan Noonan
> Subject: MARKUS: 'The greatest sales copy ever' [10/18/2004]
>
> They say sending someone a sales letter is like crashing a party...
>
> ... You've got just a few moments to convince your host why you should
> stay.
>
> One way to appeal to the host without saying a word is by "looking
> good".
>
> Here are 5 fast and easy ways to make sure your sales copy get read:
> http://www.marketing-ideas.org/the-greates...y-ever.php?I=199838
> 739&T=731872

> This is Markus Allen's $10,000 Marketing Tip of the Day Copyright (c)
> 1997-2005 by Markus Allen Worldwide rights reserved.
>
> To modify, subscribe a friend, or unsubscribe... visit:
> http://www.marketing-ideas.org/tips.php?ID=198463255&T=731872
>
> Your subscribed e-mail address is: sales@zbattery.com

Bryan... you seemed happy with the newsletter... you even sent me spam message to boot.

And here's another

> Every business has their own ethics to confront in one way or another.
> I'm sure there are people who would criticize us for selling a potentially
> environmental hazard (http://www.zbattery.com), but we make a concerted
> effort to educate people about the proper disposal methods, etc.
>
> It's all in how you apply each idea...I personally LOVED the idea about
> the RAP chips.
>
> Bryan Noonan
> Operations and Marketing
> http://www.zbattery.com

At the same time Bryan, I've been accused of blackmailing affiliate programs to get paid, told to stick a tampon up my ass on my forum (and I didn't delete it... name anyone else willing to leave negative information on their own forum), and roasted for warning my subscribers about the likes of John Reese, Corey Rudl, and Mark Joyner.

The good news is your test will survive (and won't be deleted) -- actually, I agree with your post below. And the best news is you won't have to endure my militant views any more...

... Unless of course you choose to do so.

Knowledge is Power. You gave away power for free. That is a disaster. Took you long enough to figure it out, chump!

Edited by author 11-18-2005 01:56 PM
Markus,

Manually unsubscribing is simply a technical problem that can easily be fixed with the right software. (You should have tried Mailloop! :) )

Mixed messages? I'm not giving you mixed messages. First I said "Some have been valuable, but most are just re-hashed tips." I never said I didn't like any of your ideas. But you're claiming that the RAP Chips were YOUR idea (following your 'logic'). They weren't your idea. You pointed out someone else's great idea (which you did often and I'm not complaining about that). You did have an affinity for finding other people's unique marketing ideas and those I will miss (the other people's ideas).

The guitar tip wasn't yours. It was Corey's. That was in response to something you said about learning the guitar.

You said, "Bryan... you seemed happy with the newsletter... you even sent me spam message to boot."

I was happy with your newsletter early on. But then when I wanted to get off I couldn't.

I sent you spam? I never sent you spam. I only wrote you personal messages. If you've ever received a copy of our monthly newsletter (free by the way) it's because you requested it. You did ask about some batteries at one point and I answered you. Funny you only include PART of my emails.

You've been accused of blackmailing for very good reasons.

As far as warning your subscribers against the likes of John, Corey, and Mark J., what are you afraid of? Their success? While I do not know any of them personally (nor you for that matter), I have a greater respect for every single one of them than for you.

I won't be choosing to still receive your emails (I didn't want them when they were free so why would I pay for them?).

Thanks for keeping my thread alive. :)

Best of luck.
Bryan

Edited by author 11-18-2005 02:06 PM
Markus, I subscribe to MANY mailing lists and I always found yours (even if you didn't write them, you found them and presented them) to be amongst the very best. I think an e-book "best of" would be very attractive, too. Finally, I too agree with the perceived value of free advice and have had similar experiences with zero response when I offered valuable but free advice. (I teach marketing, after being in business for 20 years, so I teach the practice as well as the theory.) All the best with your future endeavours.

Hi Markus,
I too, will miss your newletter.
I read it as often as I had time, and have been
better off, learning some of the things you advised
about.
I agree, free does not work.
People think if it is free, it isn't any good.
Tough way to learn a lesson, one that you yourself
implemented in many ways.
Good luck in the future.

Hi Markus,
Good for you, you found it out all right, even if it took some time.
Sorry for us, because there was a bunch of worthwile information while it lasted.
Thanks anyway, it was a pleasure to read your "stuff" even if I did not open all of your pages (sometimes I have to work too)
Wish you all the best and thanks again
Eric

I found value in your emailed newsletters and planned in the future to pay for the next step. I don't usually buy from people I don't know and getting to know you was what would have prompted me to pay for information in the future. I'm sorry you are not continuing and I hope to track down your future newsletters when I have money to buy.

Edited by author 11-22-2005 02:18 AM
Hello Markus,

You teach me something very important today... not to let go free what I can sell.

Thank you for that great advice. Now I've to work with it. Hoping you will send us the invitation to your paid membership for your next newsletter.

Have a great week,

Sylvie Laflamme
http://www.vivyrelax.com
http://www.10domainshosting.com
http://www.letramduweb.com

What a way to go....

Your contributions have helped many. Follow your intuition. Consider it a job well done and remain enthusiastic for the next round.

Anthony

Don't let us go to fast Markus and keep a tab on us all, as I'm sure you will discover some small nuance that we should all know about, the moment you discard us to the vagaries of ourselves.

I loved scurrying off and discovering various tips which often proved more than helpful.

I personally will miss your information but understand your frustration and lack of appreciation; that so many of us fail to express under our poor excuses of being to busy.

So enjoy that new found freedom Markus and follow your own guide and path, remembering there will always be an ear hear...if you ever re-find that inclination or time to call in.

Warm regards Byron:
PS: Not one complaint from this quarter

Because of you, my World's Tiniest
Vocal Newsletter www.popeil.com makes many people happy, is an inexpensive way for me
to get people excited about upcoming workshops and I'm just damn proud
of it. Thanks for all your tips through the years...I wish you all the best!!

Dear Markus,

I understand all to well what you're doing and I agree
with your final analysis. I've been stubbornly pushing
on with my newsletter, although, it's not a business related newsletter it do serve it's purpose.

Over the years I've been weening my newsletter membership for the change, so when I finally take the walk you're so boldly strolling now, it won't be a total surprise to all concerned.

My grandmother told me many years ago,people often
perceive free as meaning of no value, what a shame.
So many people can't grasp the importance of what's
being offered as valuable until a dollar sign has
been placed in front of it.

I thought she was being sarcastic but she's right, isn't she? I applaud you on taking action. I wish you well in
all your endeavors.

Sincerely,

Regena English
St.Mary Publishing Company of Houston
http://www.stmaryofhouston.com
http://www.activewearforsinglewomen.com
"Memorable gift ideas for women."

Thank you for all your help!!!!
We aplyed many ideas that you have sended us.
This is not a good bye, it is a hello!
Think about this way:

Your free letter has been a great start for what you are going to do in the future,as we say in Argentina "you are taking distance to run faster"

Good luck
Andrew

FIRST LET ME SAY THAT I ENVY YOU, IN THAT YOUR WIFE IS
YOUR BEST FRIEND....CONGRATULATIONS
SECOND, THANKS FOR THE WORK YOU DID AND THE INFORMATION
YOU PASSED ALONG EACH DAY, THIS IS LIKE SAYING GOODBYE
TO AN OLD FRIEND...
WE HAVE TRIED SEVERAL OF THE IDEAS YOU PASSED ALONG, OTHERS
WE PRINTED OFF AND WILL USE IN THE FUTURE...
I ALWAYS KINDA FELT LIKE YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHARGING
FOR THE INFORMATION...SHOULD YOU RESTART ON A FEE BASIS,
COUNT ME IN....
I PRAY THAT G-D BLESSES YOU RICHLY...