Derek Gehl in Malaysia – What’s Your Opinion?

I sat this one out, because I had already gone for the Asian Internet Marketing Seminar back in May 2006, and quite honestly I wanted to put a few thousand Ringgit to better use in developing my own websites.

However it seems like quite a number of people went for the Internet marketing seminar, so I’d like to hear your feedback.

Were you absolutely satisfied? Did you learn a lot of valuable lessons from the seminar? Do you have photos to share? Do you have something to complain about?

Let me know here and I’ll include it in this post. Here’s what others had to say about it:

— Submitted by Anonymous —–

Day 1. 15 Sept 2006 (Friday)

The seminar covered on the basics of internet marketing – how to find niche markets, email marketing (general overview), salesletter, affiliate programs, having newsletter.

Personally, to me it was basic stuff and things i already knew (coz I’m not a newbie). Then of course, between the sessions, the salespitch for IMC’s products.

My first impression was that the first day was just basic info you can find for free on the internet and just a promotion for IMC’s products. I wish they didn’t had the sales pitch too early in the course coz it was a bit annoying.

Well, maybe the newbies needed to hear that stuff…

Okay, I was disappointed about the first day and was thinking, God, did I pay RM3000++ just to hear a salespitch?!

However, the most interesting part of the first day (at least for me), was the direct-to-desktop advertising tool.

In my opinion, as long as it’s not abused like emails (spam) and not used for too many promotions and advertising, it’s okay. The technology is still new, not many are implementing it, but it’s something to try out and consider.

Day 2. 16 September (Saturday)

Derek was more specific when he spoke on PPCs, traffic strategies, salescopy, better opt-in forms techniques.

This part was great, especially the Ebay section and email marketing strategies.
Yeah, once more he integrated his products with the infos but this time it was okay because the tips he gave were specific.

Might seemed common sense in the first place but you’d be surprise how many people just don’t apply them to their internet business (websites, etc), either due to forgetfulness, laziness or they just didn’t think about it.

The good thing was that Derek gave out the facts in a well-planned and easy-to-understand way.

Okay, some of the things I already know, but the thing was, his explanations were very systematic – his lecture notes, the slides. Even total newbies won’t feel overwhelmed or lost.

There was a part on website makeovers, where the IMC team had helped to transform websites that literally had no traffic and/or no sales to something successful, making thousands of dollars per month.

I think this is the best part of the course.

The tips, though common sense, many just tend to forget and not apply them to their websites. He showed before and after slides of websites, with notes on the slides of changes made and how they improve the traffic, SE rankings, improve site navigation, or opt-in rates, etc.

Some of the slides were funny cause some of the ‘before’ websites were horrendous! When the IMC team did make-overs for the sites, they not only improved ‘cosmetically’ but were more user-friendly and search-engine-friendly.

Day 2. 17 September (Sunday)

It was a half-day session.

The first part was on blogging.

Well, since I had bought your WordPress Adsense System, I find this session to be just basic stuffs on blogging. Derek only spoke about Blogger and using Blogger for faster spidering, better rankings. Some good tips here and there.

There was no mention of WordPress, however. (???)

Then there were parts on RSS, podcasting. The podcasting part held my interest since not many are doing it in Malaysia.

The pther sstuffs were on some advanced strategies for extra sales – backend, following-up on existing customers, autoresponders, more tips on salescopy. Good tips here and there too.

Conclusion:

I have to admit, I was at first skeptical about IMC and their seminar, because I had read some stuffs on the Net about them and yes, you can find cheaper alternatives to the products.

Having said that however, I do praise them for the systematic and easy-to-understand approach, the notes are straight to the point and …. hahaha, I enjoyed myself tremendously, especially the networking part.

Why did I go for Derek’s bootcamp?

I just had to attend it myself because, well, he’s a world-famous Internet Guru, he’s doing the bootcamp for the first time in Asia (or Malaysia) and I was just too curious to let this opportunity pass me by… I just had to know what the ‘hype’ was all about…

Was it worth the RM3000++ that I paid?

My take on this – before I went for the bootcamp and also on the first day, I had my doubts and regrets. But, I told myself, you need to have an open mind (especially when just just forked out RM3000++ for a seminar!!!).

Value is a subjective thing. After having completed the bootcamp, went home and had some time thinking about it, well, to me, knowledge and learning is priceless. As long as it’s beneficial, good knowledge, then i don’t mind paying for it.

Maybe to some people, it’s too pricey, not worth it – that’s their opinion. I consider it as part of my training as an internet marketer. Some companies pay thousands to train employees but for most entrepreneurs, they don’t bother about their own ‘personal training’ for their businesses.

There’s no harm in investing for knowledge. The only harm is in being ignorant, refusing to learn and pretending to know it all.

———- Submitted by May ———-

Today is me second day attending Derek Gehl’s internet marketing bootcamp..browsing through the notes given to us ..some pretty useful information i have learned today on traffic strategies that i might be able to adopt if i ever get pass building my site

What can i share with ya from my experience today?? Ahh how about “Will you pay RM 20,000 ++ for a one to one online mentoring programme complete with the tools (softwares) required to achieve your goals and dream by fast-tracking the creation of your own cash-producing internet business in the next 6 months??? THE ENTIRE VALUE OF THIS PROTEGE PROFIT SYSTEM IS WORTH: USD 22,343. BUT IF YOU SIGN UP TODAY, THIS SYSTEM WILL BE AVAILABLE TO YOU AT RM 20,000 ++ THIS IS AN EXCLUSIVE OFFER. DUE TO ITS LABOR INTENSIVE PROCESS WE WILL ONLY TAKE IN 12 PARTICIPANTS FOR THIS PROJECT. WE WILL NOT BE REPEATING THIS OFFER AS WE HAVE NO PLANS OF COMING BACK TO MALAYSIA OR SINGAPORE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

Listen to this folks: To sweaten the deal further we at ****** will write you a cheque (between RM2500 – RM 3400) to fully subsidise the cost you paid for this “2 1/2 days internet marketing bootcamp” right after you sign up for the mentoring programe above. You even have a choice of paying us by installments or the full amount of RM 20,000 ++ and hey because youve been such a great audience we’ll even throw in a couple of freebies.. you wont be able to resist!

Now how about that for a great sales copy ayy??

Lessons learned today:
(Apart from some tips and a better picture of what internet marketing entails)

1. Americans..Canadians…makes really great sales people. If anybody can sell ice to the Eskimos…its them lot. They can bag the awards.
2. Never never never buy into something just because so and so says its very good. Do my own research thoroughly before buying into their sales pitch..end of day its their business to part with our money.

By the way…the reason why i signed up and payed RM2500 for this bootcamp is so i could “get some serious guidance…knowledge..support…and necessary tools so i could fast-track the creation of my own cash-producing internet business in the next 6 months.”

I found out during the bootcamp…for the above to happen i must be ready to fork out RM 20,000++

So basically i paid them RM2500:
- For promoting their softwares and mentoring programme which cost a fortune.
What was i thinking??????? Some of you out there may think i must be so stupid and gullible to buy into their sales pitch… maybe i was… i could only wish you were at the preview of this bootcamp..

Ok fine maybe i did learn somethings in the bootcamp…but i still have tons of question marks hovering my head…and i doubt i will ever get some answers out from them..given the limited time. 3 assistants to answer questions from 150 participants???? i dont think so.

Final lesson for tonight – Dont stay up pass my bedtime..not doing justice to my face.Time now is almost 1 am!! Good night folks.

—— Submitted by Ramani K. ——

Yes, I did go to the Derek Gehl Seminar coz I know nuts about Internet Marketing, well, I know a lot of theory.

Yes all in around 150 people attended the Derek Gehl Seminar.

Some of the colourful characters were a Swiss, American(Texan), an Irish Datin who has been living in Malaysia for the past 31 years, some Penangites, Borneans, Maalacans, Johoreans, 2 Singaporeans, and Klang Valley & Selangoreans. Oh yes, there was even a Malay girl with a Masters from Harvard, 2 Medical Doctors (both Punjabi) and majority professionals ( a lot of them are from IT or sales field.

Yes, I was absolutely satisfied as I’m 80% newbie. The sounds of Derek talking were drumming in my ears all night long for the past 2-3 days. Sleeping and dreaming of Derek talking.

He had brought 3 associates with him, who were very friendly ad quite knowledgeable on Internet Marketing matters. They themselves apparently are quite successful online, actually checked out their sites and what they sell.

Yes I learnt a s*** load more than if I attended AIMS. I say this because I also met quite a few people who also attended the AIMS and many of them said this was more structured and organized in terms of content delivery. Of course Wealth Mentors had some technical opportunities, not having the handouts completed. Now they have to go back and e-mail them out in chunks.

Overall I’m subscribed to about 90% of the Internet Marketers out there; I’m actually doing my research currently to see what’s going on ONLINE. And trust me when I say this, it is a confusing and dog eat dog world ONLINE.

Most of the people I see out there all have their own version as to why you have to buy from them and what they have to offer. But not meeting these people Face 2 Face and trusting something you can’t see or read can be a major obstacle.

I think that was the consensus by most of us newbie’s who attended.

All in all I can’t say that I really have anything to complain about. I saw & read the Actual Materials he has available on his website. I spoke to him and his team in depth about a lot of matters.

Of course at the end they were canvassing their courses and 6 month mentorship.

—– Submitted by May Ong ——

I think the Most Important learning experience as a 1 year-old struggling internet marketer, I learned the following from Derek Gehl’s Bootcamp :-

“Learn How to Identify Basic marketing strategies from Advance marketing strategies of certain marketing models in internet marketing and When to Use them Effectively”

Internet Marketing is such a wide subject and learning how to identify what are Basic strategies to implement first, and gain that experience before going on to implement the next stage of Advance strategies to that particular model is crucial. There are no short-cut process.

Many gurus from the USA shared internet marketing strategies and all of these strategies are excellent, provided a newbie and an intermediate marketer knows How, When and Why you need to use them. Derek Gehl shows us why a Sales Process is important to building a successful Online business.

Having a website does not mean you have an online business. It is only the beginning of a long process to succeed online in the long-run. No short-cuts! We still have to do the work.

Derek Gehl showed up examples of Make-Over sites (the before and after). Many offline business owners have websites up on the internet but many does not know how to turn this into a “money-making” machine, but Derek Gehl showed us how.

May Ong
onlineinternetmarketingtip.com