NOTE: If you’ve never followed along with one of my reviews, you should know that I implement AS I review – I talk about things that bug me, things I adore, shady stuff and more. I don’t hold back. I share my results. I literally blog in one tab and have implementation sites and the course in two other tabs.

Okay people, you talked me into it! Not only have you dragged me onboard the Kindle train (thanks!) but you also praised Geoff Shaw’s Kindling course so much I thought I’d do a Tiffany Dow review of it – because I LOVE implementing while reviewing! So if you don’t own it yet, you might want to grab it and follow along. Because here goes part 1:

Why I Decided to Review:

Months and months ago you guys started asking me if I was coming out with a Kindle course. “Eh,” I said “maybe someday.” Well bend over and someone kick me – I should have jumped on it then! Slacker Tiff was in control, though. Months later everyone I know is emailing me saying they’re making bank on Kindle – and not those people who have to upload 500 PLR products on there (which they don’t want anyway), but I’m talking people with like 3-10 books up who are making $3,000-4000 a month and so on.

That was enough to light a fire under my butt. So here I am. I do NOT know Geoff Shaw. Apparently he’s been a member of the WF since WAY before me, but I still don’t know him – and he doesn’t use a picture that I can find online.

Now I bought another Kindle product before – can’t recall who it was by – but the guy’s videos had him wasting too much time and he was slurping coffee in them and it was just one of those things where it was a deal breaker. It grated on my nerves too bad.

So everyone I know has told me that Geoff Shaw’s course (and another one by Paul Coleman I’ll review next) were DA BOMB so I grabbed it last night or this morning (it’s all a blur now).

Sales Copy Review:

The very top small headline says it’s on-going training, so that tells me updates will occur – I likey.

The main big headline say a new RICH you in 2012 – and judging from the comments I’ve gotten from users, this might not be hype at all.

Love that he starts off talking about it being an investment in education. People glaze over at that but it’s SO true! It’s what makes successful people, successful!

I’m glad he explains that EVERYONE can read Kindle books – even without a Kindle – because not one person I know in real life knew that! They need to advertise that more!

He states FREE updates for LIFE – niccceee one, Geoff!

He’s right about Amazon making it easy. I’ve found it easy so far.

He says NO upsells – sweet! And he emphasizes it’s not an upsell now OR later (you know those sneaky ones who save the upsells for the email series).

It’s a ONE TIME fee to join, too.

He says there might be a 2-way refund – you could refund, or he might refund you if he thinks you’re not committed (now that’s the first thing I’ll bet is hype – but cute, not offensive).

He doesn’t claim to know exactly what all will be in there because it’s growing all the time, but it’s a mix of video, audio, screen shots, plans, etc.

He says you’ll learn about content creation, promotions, market research, misinformation (there’s a LOT of this, I’m discovering!), reviews, syndication, expert advice…

I like the bullet point “How not to be a sausage.” LOL!

It’s sold via the JV Zoo platform and you can buy it here through my affiliate link if you want: Kindling.

WAIT A SECOND! Where are the babes in bikinis pics? No playboy mansion red carpet, Geoff? You forgot your images of Photoshopped earnings! And no fancy smancy graphic image of the course with spiral notebooks, DVD cases and PC screens?

What this tells me is this product doesn’t need any allure.

Could…could it be? A male successful online marketer who didn’t feel the need to brag about fast women, cheap cars – wait, I got that backwards – and loads of money? I’m shocked – in a GOOD way! This sales copy was free of hype and full of inspiration.

Buying Process:

Went smooth! I bought through Paula’s link since she was such a doll in spurring me on to do this in the first place. I like to give credit to people who help me. I reached out and asked her to sign up and get a link. Just the right thing to do.

At the time I bought it, it was $77. He says the price will go up over time as the membership expands.

I was immediately taken to the information where I could access the membership area.

Let’s dig into what’s there!

I log in and there’s a center field and then the modules on the left and right. Those of you in Chris Farrell’s membership will recognize a similar layout but it’s not as cluttered. It’s crisp and clean.

Listen to the initial message. He’s from Australia I think! Love the accents there. So friendly and smart sounding. LOL Guess that’s because I live in the South.

LOVE that Geoff is smart about not recommending a fast grab for quick dollars – better to build a business here the right way. I hate marketers who emphasize fast money, and tricking systems before they catch on. This guy doesn’t seem to be that type.

Okay I went through the read the middle welcome letter type thing before listening to the other centered audio files. I like the first one about losers. Love that there are rewind, forward, stop and pause buttons with my play button. What an invention! (I’m being sarcastic against the other marketers who force us to sit and listen all the way through without those options).

Listening to Losers – Great audio! He’s right about what he says here. Inspirational and motivational.

From Just 1 Book - Love this! Realistic. Anchoring your feet into reality, while still motivating.

Book Length - I can see why he’s doing this “center series” – it’s all about the common stuff people ask him about. Ha! I love his speaking style. He has some honey badger in him – you can hear it.

Cover Images - Agree with this. Good tip in here I had NOT considered! Crap! I already screwed up one thing.  Oh well, from this point on I’ll know better. Makes perfect sense, too!

Kindling the Apps - This one didn’t really apply to me personally but it might have in the future, so good info to know ahead of time.

Cream of the Crop - YES! Love the advice. Ethical, practical and he’s WITH me on the scumbags.

Done with those initial audios – all very short and sweet. Liked them.

FAQ

I start next with the upper left corner and go through the FAQ. Oh my he’s my mentor in disguise, isn’t he? LOL! Same ideology on many things. Ha! Look at #10 – that was cute.

Wow I LIKE this guy! He is no holds barred – tells you to ignore all the software crap out there. He could EASILY have posted links to those and made a killing off of it. He REEKS of intact ethics.

Uh oh – #18 is something I had to go do. It’s a book I had previously written and launched and was now selling PLR rights to.  Like that he’s looking out for us. Got right on the phone with Amazon to handle this. Sucks – I was making sales. Got that taken care of and a little side annoyance, too – while I had them on the phone.

From the FAQ page I went off onto two linked pages he sends us to. One is about rankings. I have a feeling that Amazon Kindle ranking is akin to Squidoo Lensrank and how everyone panicked and tried to crack the code – instead of just doing good work and promotions.

Random: LOL Scarlett just walked up and said, “Can you understand him?” I said “Yes, can you?” She said, “No…” and walked away.

Back to work. Love that his video explained things in the middle of the text – and it was short. 4 minutes about. Good, solid advice.

The other video is about Summaries. Oh Geoff – the example you showed in the pic (not the video) saved my skinny little butt back in high school. I was baaaad. Love the research style he has! He says this is a perfect starting point for beginners and I agree. And I may want to do it, too!

Love step 4 of the summaries lesson. Smart! LOL Okay sometimes the verbiage catches me off guard. I was reading while listening to his video and he mentioned “garage” but he says “garage” (like air for the ar part) and I say garage – like the letter R. I had to rewind and see what he was talking about. Better pay attention, Tiff!

I do have a question: With most summary books, it names the book it’s summarizing. I can’t tell if he’s suggesting we do that or not. For example, “Summary of Dummies Guide to Changing a Tire” or whatever…or just write something that you brand as a short, no fluff book about changing a tire? I’m thinking the basic summary without specifying a book – more like a topic instead?

It’s been a LONG time since I’ve liked a product like I’m enjoying Kindling, people. Seriously. Last time I smiled and got through something this enjoyably was years ago with IPK – remember that? I was in love. I’m feeling like that again.

Getting Your Books to Work for You is up next. Mix of text and audio. GREAT tip in the text portion and i just went and added it to my existing creation.

Co-Authoring is next. Love the market he uses as an example – it’s one I want to be in. One of many. He really gets down to the nitty gritty of details. Little tips all weaved in here. Pay close attention! One thing – teeny gripe (nothing major) – he emphasizes things in blue type – so I have to hover to see if it’s a hyperlink. Old habit. lol

This section isn’t what you’d think it is. There’s a part of me that hangs up here – not huge. But there’s a nagging ethics question I’d consider before doing this. Technically, it’s no different than a pen name. But there’s that slight feeling of unease for me DEPENDING on how it was presented. I’ll have to chew on it before I do this. I could definitely argue both sides like I was back in debate class on this one.

Bottom line – if you’re branding under different categories under different names, I think I’m cool with this. Had to stop and think awhile. You couldn’t tell because you’re reading this, but there was a big pause there.

There are 3 audio files. The first one is the one I could have argued against.  The second is totally cool. Third option is a really good tip!

Who’s the Writer?

THIS is why Paula kept kicking my big fat butt to get it in gear with Kindle. Love Geoff’s real way of talking to me. The video is there along with text. WOW! I had no idea about this author he talks about.  He mentions a tool that makes it easier – but doesn’t use an affiliate link or link at all to it. I’ve used it, but I always go back to traditional ways. I’ll have to whip mine out and try it!

LMAO oh my God listen to the audio file! He is honey badger for sure, Love it.

Sales Magnets

Slight typo top of page (will should be with) – just an editor eye there since I don’t do it to my own products lol. Love this idea! We get a graphic AND explanation. I love the jab (in a nice way) said to make some people come into this century. He logs into someone’s account and shows us how it works. Nice!

I think I’m a little confused on this part. I’m possibly overly enthusiastic and so hyped up I’m not slowing down to understand correctly. I need someone to walk me through this and hold my hand on what gets uploaded where.

Ohhh love that his special tactic includes a try hard method and a lazy person’s method. We all know what I’ll be doing.

The video shows something cool that I didn’t know people did. Highlights the importance of something else.

Book Reviews (titled Buyer reviews on the actual page)

This section is cool. I just offered to do this with someone. Okay, let me brag a sec. Last night I’m on Twitter looking up Vegetarian as my keyword to see who’s talking about it so I can send them a Tweet w/conversation and a link to my Vegetarian Kindle guide.

So in the Tweets, I notice that Matthew Modine (Full Metal Jacket, the upcoming Batman movie, Weeds, etc.) is tweeting about vegetarians – something about turning the world vegetarian one person at a time. I looked at his profile and didn’t think it was him because it wasn’t verified. But then did some digging and celeb mags have said it’s his official Twitter.

Anyhoo…I notice that on his website, he also has a site called cardcarryingliberal.org. So I Tweet him and say, “I’m a rarity – a conservative Texan and vegetarian – but I’m trying to turn people meatless, too” (or something like that) and I link to my Kindle book.

I wake up this morning and see this:

He favorited it! So that made me feel good. Maybe he’s going to go back and look at it later!? Maybe he was just being nice?

Anyway, I Tweet him again today and tell him if he wants to DM me a temp email addy, I’ll gift it to him and would love to have his $0.02. He probably won’t – and that’s okay – but I did offer

Back to topic! I like this section and agree with Geoff’s slant on syndicates here. God that word has such a nasty connotation now that it’s been bashed on SDroid. I like the ethics about competitors’ reviews. Good tip near the end – I did another update of my vegetarian guide for it!

Affiliate Method

Well he answers a nagging question I had! I have another question – can you do a 100% free Kindle book permanently? Or does it always have to have a minimum of 99 cents eventually?

This section has some graphics and video tutorials (both short), and text. He re-emphasizes a basic concept so many people forget to do. Good section!

Full Stop Markets

Like the name – fits the situation.  Good tips here and it’s something I do otherwise off of Kindle, so I’ll add it to this mix.

Research

I agree here. One reason I love it. I do the same thing – even before I got on Kindle publishing!

Okay that is IT today for part 1 of my Kindling review – so far, DREAMY!

Tiff

Find Part 2 here

 

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