Many affiliates felt the old Display Rate and Success Rate concept complicated things and were intimidated by it. Because of this, Tissa has waived the old system to let all of the affiliates enjoy a 100% display rate from their People Search engine affiliate links, which includes AdSense, ClickBank, MyLife and HD. Furthermore, it is mandatory to subscribe to Step 3 for at least 45 consecutive days for an A.P.S. referral commission payout, which must exceed $200.

“Userfriendly” not just a word?

Whether the new system with a 100% display rate and free hosting for the People Search engine makes ACME People Search easier to grasp for new affiliates, is still debated. With numerous details still not in place and the back office resembling an ongoing experiment, in its current state ACME People Search is hardly the most userfriendly experience. Admittedly, the back office is easier to navigate now, with referral earnings showing and important links easily accessible.

Tissa’s statement, posted in the A.P.S. Support forum on January 30, 2010:

• The “Display Rate” concept for the free People Search engine will be waived and referrals given access to their own People Search page with a 100% display rate for ClickBank, HD, MyLife and AdSense on Step 1, which is “free forever”. This to avoid further confusion on what’s included with each step.
• Step 3 subscription is now required in order to receive GDI sign-ups, otherwise they go in Tissa’s GDI downline. Previously, Step 1 & 2 were needed for this, but with most referrals cancelling Step 3 within long, it was hurting everybody’s success rate.

Step 1 Free with 100% Display Rate

Step 1 has always been free, with a limited Display Rate. When activating Step 1, new affiliates get their own free People Search engine with a 100% display rate for ClickBank, AdSense, MyLife, HD and US Search Social Network Search. They can stay at Step 1 and earn money off of the affiliate links, or upgrade to Step 2/3 and gain additional income streams and other perks.

Included with Step 1:

• Free hosting for People Search engine, affiliate links for:
• ClickBank
• HD Publishing
• AdSense
• MyLife
• US Search-Social Network Search
  

Included with Step 2:

• Brand your search engine using GDI, Host Gator or GVO web hosting, customize and add your People Search engine in your own blog or website, use it to provide free people searches or let your visitors put in their e-mail address to register in your downline.

Included with Step 3:

• Additional income streams from GDI, Host Gator, GVO, and referral commissions; you become eligible for commission payouts from Tissa Godavitarne, and you can also become a Super Sponsor by helping other users in the support forum.
• Access to the GDI “Secret” Sign-up Sauce Ingredients (basically a Forced Matrix)
• The “Super Affiliate” switch offered as a free bonus

The Step 3 requirement was added to balance out the generous offer for Step 1 affiliates. GDI usually is the main reason for joining A.P.S., and it is too early to tell how the current updates will affect it. The added incentives for subscribing to Step 3 could help with building a retentive Step 3 list, at least in theory.

A GDI membership is $10 per month and comes with (very) basic web hosting features, your own .ws domain name and its own MLM affiliate program. Works well in combination with ACME People Search, if the affiliate knows how to earn money online in the first place.

In conclusion

ACME People Search is not as userfriendly as it could be, and it has a way to go before I would call it that. The 100% display rate for the People Search engine in Step 1 makes ACME People Search available to everyone with Internet access, and they can’t afford Step 2 and 3, or they just want to earn money by means of affiliate links in their free People Search engine, they are free to do so.

As for Step 2 and 3, no-one knows how many Step 1 affiliates will jump in the pool for their share of the fun rather than waiting around for the water to heat up. These are pretty significant changes, and only the future can tell what comes out of it. With a supportive community, a hard working team and new revenue streams added, ACME People Search looks pretty safe for now, at least.

So, what’s the bad news, you might wonder? In order to still be eligible for referral commission payout, and now, to receive any sign-ups in their GDI downline via ACME People Search, it has become mandatory for A.P.S. affiliates to subscribe to Step #3 via PayPal.

I’ll repeat that: ACME People Search affiliates must now subscribe to Step #3 ($29,95 per month) via PayPal, or their GDI referral sign-ups will be passed on to their upline sponsor.

Other A.P.S. affiliates report their success rate for Step #3 is dwindling, and it looks like the program is losing affiliates every time Tissa decides to add a new rule that makes it even less affordable for new users.

I am not sure what to think of this; ACME People Searched used to be an excellent income opportunity in 2008 and at least the first half of 2009, and I used it for building my GDI downline. But now the question is rather, whether to stay with either. I am currently building new websites to monetize in other ways, and it is so much easier than having to constantly keep up with Tissa’s latest additions to the t.o.s., and his community.

I welcome any comments on this, and I would appreciate your angle on it because, right now I feel totally lost when it comes to these two companies. GDI was first and Tissa decided to piggyback on their success with his own ACME People Search, with heavy emphasis on GDI. Maybe GDI isn’t good enough for Tissa any more?

Effective from November 19 2009, in order to get paid referral commissions, all A.P.S. affiliates must subscribe to Step 3 for at least 45 days before they are eligible for a payout. This in addition to the first steps, meaning a total monthly cost running at minimum $39.95. More if you choose to subscribe to GVO and/or Wealthy Affiliate as well.

Also, the commission system for Step 1 through Step 3 has changed:

You now earn $1 when a referral completes Step 1, $2 for Step 2 and $3 for Step 3. These amounts no longer depend on each step’s success rate, something that aggravated affiliates before. Additionally, a %15+ success rate in Step 3 adds a $32 bonus, although this is 100% voluntary.

“I am poor, how am I supposed to earn anything with ACME People Search now?”

• Register in the Support forum after registering as an ACME People Search affiliate.
• Read and learn, start posting helpful answers in the forum on a daily basis (important!).
• Subscribe with Step 3 via PayPal (the first month is free).
• Continue subscribing with Step 3 via PayPal until you have become a Super Sponsor.
• Alternatively, wait with Step 3 and promote A.P.S. with only Step 1 and 2 activated.

You need a plan for how you are going to promote ACME People Search. Many prefer Google Adwords. I was recently banned for life from their program when promoting ACME People Search with it (I am not bitter, just frustrated at how Google treats their paying customers), but there are many other PPC companies around, most being more affordable than Adwords. Also look into utilizing SEO for articles, blog posting, e.t.c.

“Okay… but, I think ACME People Search is not for me after all… what about GDI?”

If money is an issue, I recommend GDI (Global Domains International) at $10/mo. With 10 active referrals your membership fee is covered and you’ll profit from there. GDI pays on time, offers a $100 bonus for every 5 active referrals recruited by you in a week and they have been around since 1999. GDI’s requirement for the bonuses is that you purchase one of their 10-packs with promo DVDs. This is a one time purchase and each DVD comes with your personal GDI affiliate code, for giving away to friends, family, colleagues, e.t.c.

The first week of your GDI membership is free of cost, then you will be charged $10 for the first month and onward. If you are (still) worrying about the money, I help my referrals by showing them ways to easily earn enough money to cover the membership fee until they have enough active referrals to make it sustain itself. It is important to get past that point, because it means one thing less to worry about and gives you peace to try out different free and affordable ways to promote the program.

Also: I am not promising you anything, but if you show a genuine interest in succeeding with GDI, I’ll move new sign-ups under you to help you build your own downline. I believe in paying it forward, and I always ask my referrals to help their own downlines. This way, everybody wins!

Click here to find out more about GDI

Click here to learn more about ACME People Search

In conclusion:
This most recent change in the ACME People Search policy means more effort and money required in order to earn money with it. Tissa Godavitarne has confirmed additional changes in their policy is coming. I don’t know the details, but I will post and update whenever.

The main problem with GDI is not the product itself, but the way affiliates sell it. Many claim that “I made $4,500 in only two weeks with GDI!”. While super-affiliates can earn that kind of money with GDI, they are determined, know exactly what they are doing and are experienced. Most new GDI members on the other hand, are inexperienced with (Internet) Marketing, they must learn everything from step 1. Even though GDI provides a userfriendly and complete business solution, it is not a magic get-rich button.

One of the golden rules of marketing and business is: Be honest about the product that you are selling. By selling GDI as a self-maintaining super-income machine, you will only hurt the company reputation rather than strengthening it.  Being a GDI affiliate means building a business opportunity: It takes time, dedication and determination to succeed. Having a helpful and supportive upline means a lot for your future success with GDI, and your sponsor (GDI member whom you joined under) usually reach out to help you get started.

As for the myths, I published an article at GoArticles yesterday, and I wanted to mention it my blog as well. These are myths I have seen being brought up several times in numerous IM forums and blogs.

Myth: It is almost impossible to sell the product GDI because everybody already knows about it.

Fact: Thousands upon thousands of people world-wide are introduced to the Internet on a daily basis. They have no idea how to make money or how Internet Marketing works, but they are desperate to find a way. GDI is a perfect opportunity for beginners as well as experienced Internet users, it offers a complete solution with your own Back Office, domain name and hosting features. With GDI they get started building their own, affordable business from the moment they sign up, whereas it would take months and even years to learn how to establish a business on their own.

Myth: “I was told that it is easy to make money with GDI, but I can’t get anywhere with it, why?”

Fact: Thanks to the Internet, the word “easy” has developed into a sticky cliché poised with false promises and big claims, when it comes to Internet Marketing. If you put your mind to it, almost anything can feel easy, but for inexperienced Internet marketers, selling GDI as a product could become a challenge too great for them to overcome, so they simply give up. A dedicated upline is also important. They welcome new members, help them as much as they can, share information and otherwise provide them with support whenever they ask. It still requires effort to make money with GDI, but a helpful upline makes it better.

Myth: GDI is the most expensive web host service on the web.

Fact: As a web hosting and .WS domain name service, GDI is rather expensive at $10 for a membership, but GDI offers much more than that: It is a complete business solution and one of the best opportunities for anyone who wants to build their own business at almost no cost. In addition to your own www.YourWebsite.WS domain, you get 100MB storage, 10 e-mail accounts with 1GB storage each, URL forward, several professionally made web templates to use on your www.website.ws/username sales page, a template-driven website builder and more. You do not pay for the domain name and website alone, but a complete business solution.

Myth: “I sent tons of traffic to my GDI sign-up link, yet nobody signed up, so I was scammed by GDI!”

Fact: Many affiliates use Traffic Exchange websites to send visitors to their affiliate links, and complain about bad conversion rates. If you have surfed on TE ad pages, you already know that you will simply stop looking at the ads after a while; you just want the timer to count down, so that you can get to the next ad for more traffic credits. How would you expect other TE users to think differently? Educate yourself on SEO and you will soon understand how powerful free SEO traffic can be, when done right.

Myth: It is almost impossible for people who doesn’t speak English, to cancel their GDI membership.

Fact: As a security measure in place to protect their own user base, GDI members who wants to cancel their membership must call the main office in order to confirm. However, as not everybody speak English well, or at all, and the support department are only humans like you and me, who can understand if this is a problem for you, you can submit an e-mail and explain your situation to them. They are more likely to help you than not, depending on where you live. If you use PayPal when signing up for the 7 day free trial period, simply unsubscribe.

GDI is like any other business: You must work for the money

Like I mentioned earlier: Treat GDI like a business, because it is one. Some effort is required, and you will learn how to promote and sell a product. Starting your own business can be a painful experience, and it can all be gone over night together with all the money that you invested into it. With GDI on the other hand, all you need in order to build a business is already included in their complete and extremely affordable ($10 per month) solution:

• Your own .WS domain name
• Web hosting
• 10 e-mail accounts with 1GB storage each
• Web mail
• Template-driven website builder
• Strong support and leadership
• Great user community to help you out, as well as your upline and sponsor.
• Complete business opportunity with a solid company established in 1999.

I have done my best to explain some of the most common myths about GDI. If you are interested in signing up for the 7 day free trial period, please use the link provided below. This is completely risk-free, and I will help you with things like setting up your own Word Press blog and finding traffic.

Watch the video and register using this link

Splinterbiz