Choose your New Year present

I would like to offer you all a New Year present, but I don’t want it to be a chocolate teapot. It should be something you, or those on your list, will use. Racking my brains over on Planet Valz, I then thought the best way to find out would be to ask you. Lol. Could have saved myself some brain cells there if I’d cottoned on earlier.

Without further ado, I would appreciate your input to tell me which product you would like me to sweat and toil over for your delight.

The choices are:

1. Speed Reading ebook (how much reading have you done since we
started with the good man, AJ?)
2. Code Protector software (do you protect your web pages from sneaky thieves who want to profit from your hard work?)
3. First Blog ebook (I know we all intend to chart our rise to internet marketing success with our own blogs, but will we? And this will complement our own journeys in the way it is presented.)
4. Traffic, Traffic, Traffic ebook (we all know getting traffic is both our
bane and the secret of success here)
5. Screen capture software (how many times have you wished you could capture what is on the screen in front of you?)

If you think all these choices suck, I can only think in the first instance you are not serious about wanting to be a successful internet marketer, or either you, or I, have totally missed the point. However, if there is nothing appealing within my 5 choices, do drop me a comment to tell me what is on your wish list.

This must be my most scary moment so far, and I’ve had a few. Well, scary tinged with excitement more accurate, but I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. Registering your domain name. Getting your hosting. Grappling to get your blog live. Making your first blog post. Signing up for your autoresponder. Each step taking you further into commitment, and pinning your colours onto the mast.

Yes, big scary moment because I’ve committed myself to creating something FOR YOU. Yes, you will get it FREE. Free to you, and for you to pass on to your list for free, or to charge for, as you choose. You can all hold me accountable. I am not declaring a time scale until I know which product I will be preparing, and then I will work out my expected workload.

I reserve the right to choose the product I create.

Drum roll. Survey here. If anybody can help me put a survey onto my blog, that will be great. Left to me, it may well take me the same amount of time that it takes to run the survey, get the results, and create my first product. On that basis, please bear with me while we stick to the manual system.

If you want to keep your response short, clearly put the number of the item you are voting for. That’s enough. If you want to put more detail in, great.

Number 1. Speed Reading ebook
Number 2. Code Protector software
Number 3. First Blog ebook
Number 4. Traffic, Traffic, Traffic ebook
Number 5. Screen capture software

Thank you in advance to all who fill in this survey. I would also appreciate if you would encourage others to participate because the larger the response, the more value I will be able to deliver to you.

Valerie

Uncategorized | Valerie | December 30, 2008 9:41 pm

49 Comments

By Bobby Winchell, January 1, 2009 @ 2:19 am

Hi Val!
Thanks for the visit to my blog. I would have come by but I have been just using the big boys blog rolls to locate new students, didn’t see you out there. I have been rather swamped in my brick & morter biz. I’ll be glad to add you.
I’ll vote for the speed reading!
Happy New Year!
Bobby
http://www.bobbywinchell.com/blog
By Bill Vannot, January 1, 2009 @ 3:40 am

Hi Valerie

Thanks for stopping my site.

I appreciate your offer of the New Year present and if possible I would like the ‘Speed Reading ebook’

I added a free ebook to my blog too titled ‘Twitter Traffic Magic’ http://www.billvannot.com/free-downloads/

I will be adding more very shortly, I have access to and giveaway rights to so much software and ebooks that I don’t know what to upload first:)

Anyway, as requested I have added you to my “Students Of Alex Jeffreys” blogroll and would appreciate you adding me to yours

Bill:)
By Flynny, January 1, 2009 @ 11:20 am

Hi Valerie,

Thanks for checking out my site and I understand the workload so I forgive you for leaving a standard message.

My preference on your offer is for ‘code protector software’. i just happened to be thinking about that today - nursing a new years ever hangover. So yer, that’s my preference.

I’ve added you to my blogroll and would love you to add me to yours.

Cheers

Flynny
http://www.marketingwithflynny.com
By Gary SIMPSON, January 1, 2009 @ 12:23 pm

Hi Valz,

I think code protector software looks good to me.

Gary
By Di Chapman, January 1, 2009 @ 2:27 pm

I would vote for speed reading.

Would you also mind NOT putting me on your Blogroll. Until the actual reaction to Google to huge amounts of blogs linking to each other is sorted I would rather not take a chance.

I have been involved with SEO since 2000 and have 3 sites at No 1 in Google so this is said with care on my part.

Thank you for the offer.

Di - and you thought you were paranoid!
By Nigel Yip, January 1, 2009 @ 3:38 pm

Hey Valerie,

Thanks for visiting my blog and I too wish you and everyone else a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Best Wishes for 2009 as well and erm… so many choices lol, all of them are so wonderful and each of them have their own unique point so it hard to choose between them, I will go with the majority of votes.

All the best
Nigel
By Tim Buttles, January 1, 2009 @ 5:11 pm

Hi Valerie

Happy 2009 too you as well! Choice Number 4 Thankx

(I noticed Di’s comment above about the blog rolls. I haven’t hit the ’sandbox’ yet and haven’t realized my other targeted keywords to date, but I’m still holding at #2 for building mailing lists, soooooo …) :>

Thankx
Tim Buttles
By Tim Buttles, January 1, 2009 @ 5:15 pm

Google US that is. Google UK it’s around #6 (Go Google!)
By Jean Shaw, January 1, 2009 @ 5:16 pm

Hi Valerie,

Happy New Year to you and thanks for the offer of a free gift. You are clever and very smart. I may well have to adopt your standard comment approach as sadly I am way behind with the oil rig hopping!

Anyway, all your choices sound good to me but I suppose perhaps the code protector or the speed reading would be my first choices. Mind you, I can’t see anyone really wanting to steal my “hard work”.

I’ve added you to my list of students.

Take care and best wishes for 2009. Love your header by the way.

Jean Shaw
By gerry, January 1, 2009 @ 7:27 pm

Happy New Year.

Anything to do with getting more traffic is always welcome to me. I need them to read my posts on http://www.gerrysavage.com to improve their lives.
By Kevin Griffith, January 1, 2009 @ 7:29 pm

Hi Valerie,

Wow, they’re all great choices, I have them all covered but would probably lean toward the speed reading, most of us guys don’t like to read that much so that’s my biggest problem with so much stuff to read.

I’ve added you to my blog roll and hope you’ll do the same for me:

http://www.kevingonline.com

Thanks for the New Year’s gift and I hope you have a Happy New Year!
Kevin

Kevin Griffith
http://www.kevingonline.com

Follow me on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/kevingriffith
By Honey Wesley, January 1, 2009 @ 8:46 pm

Happy New Year, Val! I agree with Nigel that all the choices you offer are great. I’m torn between the code protector and the speed reading (I’ve always wanted to learn how to do that), but I’ll also go along with the majority.

And, I also agree with Di - all the controversy over the blogroll has made me ‘link shy’…so until something more definitive is learned, I appreciate your offer but would rather not be added at this time. (Is paranoia contagious? LOL!)

Make THIS the year it happens!

Honey
By Colin, January 2, 2009 @ 12:04 am

Hello Valerie,

Thanks as well for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment.

With regards to my preference - i would have to vote for the code protector software as well.

Colin
Marketingwithcolin.com
By Valerie, January 2, 2009 @ 3:02 am

Hi Guys,

Thanks for these early responses. I’ve only managed to get about half way through but needed to come back to Planet Valz for a refresh. Will set out again to complete the first part of this mission, and then will acknowledge each comment individually. First impressions: thank you for your kind comments, and it looks like Speed Reading is leading the way. Off for some zzzzs now.

Valerie
By Clayton Moore, January 2, 2009 @ 4:06 am

Hey Valerie!
Your standard message is actually quite good. I had the same thought a while back and may need to revisit it.
Brought me back looking for goodies, LOL!
I will resend periodic updates of the worksheets until it’s full.

Number 2. Code Protector Software has promise.

I’m Ok with reading, but after all these years using computers at work, I am only using 3 digits from each hand, so how about speed writing? Actually there are keyboarding tools to be had if I decided to invest the time.
I feel I’ve been typing faster lately but that is probably due to getting older and thinking slower.
Ok, getting silly now, past my bed time.
Cheers!
Clay

BTW I just noticed there is a large gap on your sidebar. After your form text (Do you Want the Secrets of List Building by Alex Jeffreys?) there is nothing until just after this comment box where the entry form starts.
There may be a minor glitch in the sidebar code causing a stretch effect or something along that line. Check it out, it may just be my browser view though.
By Clayton Moore, January 2, 2009 @ 4:13 am

Just navigated around a couple other posts and it’s the same.
Anyone else seeing this?
Also noticed addy’s in Twitter box running off the template onto the background.
Just a heads up!
Gnite!
By Valerie, January 2, 2009 @ 12:14 pm

A big welcome to my new visitors, and I’ll add you to my blogroll in time, that is except Diane and Tim as I noted your requests.

Please bear with me for we are all now suffering from which task do I make my priority I think. (It can’t be only me who thinks there are not enough hours in the day to get this new venture off the ground, is it? I know, work smarter, not harder. Easier said than done. Yadi-yadi-ya.)

Bobby and Bill: big hello, yes, we have a lot to read, don’t we? Flynny: just added you to follow in Twitter. Gazz-Man: Never seen you write only one line before. All that was needed, agreed. But so many people don’t know when to, and when not to. Brevity is good sometimes.

Di and Tim: I’ve flagged you as internet savvies and will be an early port of call to check things out sometimes. Thanks. Nigel: thank you for your kind words and how sweet that you will go with the majority. Your vote could tip things in the end. Jean and Honey: thanks for your lovely words too, and for your degrees of flexibility also. (Or was it just indecision?) Gerry, Kevin G and Colin: welcome on board too, choices noted.

Clayton, me ol’ mucker, thanks especially for comments about the blog presentation. Mine looks like it always does, but you’ve got me worried. I’m not sure how to check how it looks in other browsers, but if it looks peculiar in yours, it may well do in others too.

Results so far: Speed Reading 5; Code Protector 4; Traffic 2, with two on the fence of either SR or CP, and one who is happy across the board.

I’m going off on Day 2 of my turbo hopping around the world of the F500. Hope I don’t conk out along the way. It’s already taking far longer than I hoped, but it’s an exciting and very interesting journey.

Valerie
By Kath Ibbetson, January 2, 2009 @ 1:48 pm

In think the best choice has to be traffic tr4affic traffic. Who can ever hear enough about it ? The screen saver is a waste since all PCs can save the screen by oressuing ctrl+ print screen wherein it goes to the clipboard - I use it all the time.
By Kath Ibbetson, January 2, 2009 @ 3:20 pm

Hi Valerie this is the second tiem today that a comment IO left disappeared into the ether - fingers crossed this time.
I came to your blog after I saw you on Nigel Yip’s site but now I’m here I feel you are a kindred spirit. We are a similar age and also I too have zero people in my list, although maybe you have some. I just saw Steven de Garacia’s blog and apparently he’s #2 in list member so I’m going to follow him.
http://steven-de-gracia.com/
Interestingly I haven’t seen him in anyone’s blopgroll but he had left a comment on Tim B’s site
Anywau, I like your blog and you seem to be a “real” person but then most people in this group are.
Keep up the goood work
Kath
ps you are now in my blogroll
By Theresa Mayhew, January 2, 2009 @ 4:50 pm

Hi Valerie,
Quite a generous offer.

You might save yourself some time (to devote to other things) by giving software/ebooks that have already been created. Just a thought.

You can get the Poll plugin at http://theresamayhew.com/my-tips-resources/

Wishing you a very happy & prosperous new year,
Theresa
By Mark Austin, January 2, 2009 @ 6:24 pm

Hi Valerie

Another vote for speed reading!

All the best
Mark
http://missioninternetmarketing.com
By Juergen Vollmer, January 2, 2009 @ 6:45 pm

Hi Valerie,

Thanks for checking out my site and leaving your comment. I tend to copy your approach and in view of the workload I see no problem in leaving a standardized message.

My preference on your offers is for ‘code protector software’.
That is number 2.

I shall add you to my blogroll when it becomes available and would appreciate if you added me to yours.

Cheers
Juergen
By Debbie, January 2, 2009 @ 7:31 pm

Hi Valerie,

Really clever idea. I vote for the code protector software. You’re a brave girl!

Debbie
http://debbiefoster.net
By Joan Hughes, January 2, 2009 @ 10:16 pm

Number 2. Code Protector software

Hi, Valerie,

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I have added you to my list.

Thanks for the gift. I put my choice at the top of the post to make it easy for you.

All the best,
Joan Hughes
By Jozef, January 2, 2009 @ 10:17 pm

Hi Valerie,

this New Year present is great idea!

I vote for traffic book.

That is all - I have to go to work on the traffic …

Jozef
By Marit Koskenkyla, January 2, 2009 @ 11:48 pm

Happy New Year Valerie!
Another mother of 3 with a whole family laughing at her technical skills. Nice to “meet” you. Yes, we’ll see who has the last laugh!
Today I registered for a gravatar. I hope it worked. If it does you’ll see my face pop up next to my name: this is a test. If it doesn’t work, I won’t be going to bed until it does…
As for the present, it is a very nice idea: I would be interested in “speed reading” it can come in handy.
Marit
MaritFromCannes.com
By Susan Livingstone, January 3, 2009 @ 12:03 am

Hi, Val -

To respond to the comments about your sidebar - it looks off to me too (lots of people have this problem - can’t be viewed correctly in IE 6.0, which is what I and still lots of other people have). The problem is usually a graphic that is just a tweak too wide for the alloted space. Check your jpegs and see if you can make them a little smaller…

Thanks for the offer of a freebie! Always welcome. I vote for the Traffic, Traffic, Traffic ebook, as I’ve had speed reading courses before and they amount to exactly nothing without months of practice. Trust me, guys, it will be just one more thing you have to “learn” and labor at before it does you any good. And mercy knows we all need to get traffic to our sites!

Thanks, Val
Susan
By Susan Owen-Thursfield, January 3, 2009 @ 12:48 am

Hi Valerie -

Your “standard post” is very sensible given the amount we have to do at present! You’ve got round SO many more than I have if you managed to make it all the way to “S”. Thanks for your kind comments - amazing how a great Wordpress theme makes me look successful. As AJ says, associate with those you want to emulate.

Good choices for the free gifts - although I have been online long enough to have examples of each and I STILL have not read a speed reading ebook. More on traffic I guess as it’s key to success.

And you need the WP Plug-ins for polls or surveys. I’ve just found these two for you…… http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-polls/
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/surveys/
Not tried either personally but they both have 4.5 or 5 stars out of 5 and loads of downloads so I guess they’re OK. just download them, unzip them, upload them to your wp-plugins directory and them activate them from your site admin panel.

Best wishes for the New Year. i can’t believe how much I have to do and my twins start at preschool next week!

Sx
By Kathleen, January 3, 2009 @ 2:34 am

Thanks for getting in contact with me. I will be sure to add you to my blogroll as well. Happy New Year. All you e-books sounds great. Why don’t you pick one out for me.

Great Site!
By John Halderman, January 3, 2009 @ 8:38 am

Hi Valerie,

Saw your comment on my site, thanks - and about your free-bees, cool strategy.

Actually all are nice tools, right now I would go for screen capture, as it’s someting I have been considering.

Oh, and, I wish I was all efficient as you may think. I just spend huge hours at this, still getting set up and geting a routine going for all the socialization I am trying to participate in - whew!!

If your desire is stronger than the problems and setbacks, you win.

Just keep going, failure only shows up when you give up - never!

Learn from everything, adjust and go again.

All the best,

John
By Phil Jones, January 3, 2009 @ 11:00 am

Hi Val,
Thanks for dropping in at my blog and for the supplying the two surnames missing on my blogroll.
That’s a valuable line-up of gifts Val, but if you are gathering votes I think I’d go for the Code Protector. The more time and effort we put into our venture here, the more we need to protect it, and security, although we all understand how vital it is to implement safety precautions, tends to get put off because there is always so much ‘other’ stuff to get done.
Great work Val.
(I have added you to my blogroll.)
I hope you took advantage of my Resources page. I am making an effort to add some new and (hopefully) valuable tool or service there every day.
Phil
http://PhilJonesMarketing.com/blog
By Gordan, January 3, 2009 @ 1:04 pm

Hi,
I would like to thank you for posting to my blog and for offering these products. I would like number 4 please
I have stopped adding students to my blogroll as per possible trouble with Google and installed nofollow plugin which I would advise everybody to do. I am trying to find out the way to organise the list in different way and once is done you will be on that list for sure.

Valerie, have you signed up for ‘Web Prosperity’? This is huge opportunity for all of us students of Alex. With this tool we will be able to promote Alex’ products and much more. It is still in prelaunch phase and it is FREE. You can sign up on my blog if you are interested.
Keep up good work,
Gordan
http://www.gordanbos.com
By Flor Tavor, January 3, 2009 @ 2:29 pm

Hi Valerie
Great idea of sending your email to everyone, is quick. I get side tracked because of all the great information and help I am finding on many blogs.

I Vote for Code Protector

Best Regards
Flor
By Jonathan Hilton, January 3, 2009 @ 4:05 pm

Hey, thanks for visiting my blog. Right now everyone who visits my blog for any reason is my new hero. As for the survey, I like all of your options, but I think number 5 would interest me the most. I just think of ways that I could use that, and it’s intriguing.
By Wendy Wood, January 3, 2009 @ 4:38 pm

Hi Valerie

I would have to go with no 4 - traffic.
Thanks for visiting my blog and your comment. Good luck and thanks in advance for the free gift.

Wendy Wood
By Norman Pascoe, January 3, 2009 @ 6:47 pm

you beat me to it Val, like you this blog search has taken over my life!

If you go to my blog again there is a post with a link to a free program that may well assist you as it auto-searches against supplied key words and in free mode searches wordpress blogs and produces a list of up to. 200 or so

Can I assume you are the Valerie that joined the forum? Trouble is with the profiles not being completed by many it is so difficult to identify anyone as an Alex Student and we want to limit access to AJ students only.

If its not you the URL is

http://www.g4usbmarketing.com/forum

Happy New Year

Norman
By Betty Fellows, January 3, 2009 @ 9:45 pm

Please add me to your blog roll of Alex’s students.

Thanks for visiting my blog, http://www.bettyfellows.com.
By Ken Douglas, January 3, 2009 @ 11:56 pm

Valerie,

Thanks for your visit to my blog. I vote for the code protector software.
Ken
http://www.kennethdouglas.com/blog
By Paul Mracek, January 4, 2009 @ 10:46 am

Hi Valerie,
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment, I will add you to my blog roll, appreciate you doing the same.

In regards to the options, I have already done a speed reading course and use it all the time.
I vote for screen capture software..
Have a great year and hear you soon at the next AJ session..

Best wishes…Paul
http://paulmracek.com/
By Sarah, January 4, 2009 @ 6:22 pm

Hi Valerie,
Thanks for the offer, I think the code protector one would be best for me. It’s the one that seems to have the least amount of focus right now so it might mean higher demand for this type of expertise.

What does all this mean about linking blog problems?

Sarah
By Tony Rogan, January 4, 2009 @ 11:03 pm

Thanks valerie for stopping by my blog will add you to the list ok
Happy New Year Enjoy

Traffic book is always good
Cheers Tony
http://www.emailistbuilding.com
By Matt Cross, January 5, 2009 @ 7:00 pm

I’d have to go with the traffic ebook. I think generating traffic is the hardest part of internet marketing. Good luck and stay in touch!

Matt Cross
http://www.matt-cross.com
By Paul Livingston, January 6, 2009 @ 7:20 am

Actually, I would have been happy with the chocolate teapot j/k

I don’t know, I’m torn between speed reading and the code protector thing. Wait…speed reading is a lot of work. I vote for code protector.

But the others sound good, too. I already have screen capture software, but many others probably don’t. And I’m very new at blogging so the blog book sounds interesting.

Oh hell, YOU decide!

And thank you very much!

Paul Livingston
By Sedrick Smith, January 6, 2009 @ 7:34 am

Thanks for the offer the 5th one sounds good its easy to capture what u want say and make it a webpage!
By Alan Kiel, January 9, 2009 @ 3:49 pm

Valerie,

Nice Blog. I would like Number 4. I will add you to my blog roll and I hope you will do the same for me.

Alan Kiel
http://www.AlanKiel.com
By Doston Stanley, January 9, 2009 @ 4:42 pm

Thanks for stopping by my site. I would vote for traffic ideas.
By Andy Lindsay, January 11, 2009 @ 8:56 pm

Hi Val,
Wow a present! what a great idea. I desperately need to learn more about Traffic please.
Thanks
Andy
http://A-Lindsay.com
By Frankie Sng, January 12, 2009 @ 5:06 pm

Hi Val,

Thanks for dropping by my blog. Have add you to my blogroll and hope you could do like wise.

My vote is no.4 - Traffic,traffic.. because traffic is your life line for your blog.

Thanks
Frankie
http://frankiesng.com

Follow me on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/frankiesng