What’s New From the Publisher’s Viewpoint: Bootcamp Extras

“This is terrible!” Michael Masterson told me. He was talking about ETR’s upcoming Info Marketing Bootcamp. And I was shocked beyond words.

Here’s what led him to say such a thing about ETR’s biggest event of the year…

Now Friday at 5:00 is hardly the time I wanted to get into a “debate” with Michael. But I walked right into it last week. I was telling him about all the fabulous “extras” we’re packing into Bootcamp this year.

That means, on top of the $1.2 million worth of advice from 12 of the world’s top Internet marketing experts, our Bootcamp will also offer:

• An info marketing Jeopardy-style game – during which our attendees have a chance to win exciting prizes. That’s including our grand prize, worth $4,000!

• A VIP networking gala for our Internet Money Club members. Our VIPs will have the chance to sit down, one-on-one, with people like Rich Schefren, David Cross, Yanik Silver, Alex Mandossian, and me. (That’s right – they’ll get targeted, personalized advice from some of the biggest superstars in Internet marketing.)

• A ’50s night cocktail party. Not only will this party provide attendees with the perfect no-pressure venue for meeting up with people in their industries, it’s a great chance for them to have a personal chat with me, Michael Masterson, or any of the ETR staff. Plus, the winner of the best costume will receive a one-of-a-kind prize that cannot be gotten anywhere else.

• An elegant sit-down awards luncheon. Every attendee is invited to see me hand out four very special awards to people who have influenced or changed our industry. This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award is going to Bob Bly – and those who’ve never seen Bob are in for a treat. Every time he presents, the audience goes wild, and the laughter and applause go on and on. This could be one of the last times Bob will ever do it. He’s officially retired from speaking, but agreed to come out of retirement to share some of his six-figure ideas with Bootcamp attendees.

• A chance for attendees to meet and speak with their favorite ETR contributors. You see, many of ETR’s expert contributors will be attending this year’s event, even though they are not speaking. They are coming to mingle and spend time with our guests and other experts.

And, of course, I noted that Bootcamp is the only ETR event at which Michael speaks.

I was so proud of myself and my team for putting this incredible event together. “This is by far the best event line-up I have ever seen for any conference we have held or for any outside event I’ve attended,” I told Michael confidently.

“Any event can get good speakers… even great speakers,” I said. “But even though it adds a huge expense to our bottom line, I firmly believe that ‘extras’ – like our parties and lunches and networking opportunities – can turn a good event into a great one.

“Plus,” I went on, “we have speakers who are doers. Our experts are not professional circuit speakers. They have made millions doing what they do. And they are teaching their money-making techniques at this year’s Bootcamp.”

I explained that we have feedback from previous years’ attendees who have praised our networking events. That’s where they had the opportunity to make contact not only with our expert speakers but with other attendees who often ended up being their business partners. And that is why they come back year after year.

That’s when Michael said those jaw-dropping words: “This is terrible.”

I could hardly get my question out: “Why?”

Michael agreed that we did indeed do a fantastic job of putting events together, as far as getting the best cutting-edge speakers and over-delivering on our promises. He said that I was absolutely doing the right thing by adding all the “extras.” In fact, he said, the extras are what differentiate ETR’s conferences from everyone else’s.

What was terrible, Michael said, was that we’ve been doing an awful job of letting ETR readers know about all those extras.

He said that you deserved to hear everything I had just told him. That you wanted to know about ALL of the opportunities to accelerate your business growth – not just the incredible speaker sessions.

So here it is… here is the full agenda for this year’s Info Marketing Bootcamp. It starts Sunday, November 9 at 3:00 p.m…. and is going to pretty much keep going until you cannot keep your eyes open any longer.

Bootcamp 2008 Agenda

Sunday, November 9

3:00-5:30 p.m. Bootcamp Registration – We will be handing out all of the conference materials, which will be invaluable in preparing you for the week’s events. You will also learn about each speaker – know in advance who to approach in the hallway or at the networking events.

5:30-7:30 p.m. Conference Welcome and Opening Session With Michael Masterson – Bootcamp is your only chance to see Michael Masterson speak all year… and he will appear only twice at this year’s event. Michael always shares his most powerful business-building secrets (not to mention some juicy insider stories) during his opening speech, and this year won’t be any different. Don’t miss out!

7:30-9:30 p.m. Networking Gala and Staff/Speaker Meet and Greet – A big part of Bootcamp is getting to know your fellow attendees. These are potential business partners, after all. Of course, you also have the opportunity to pick the brains of the Early to Rise staff and our marketing experts to get a little “off the record” advice. And what better way to get acquainted than with a few cocktails and hors d’oeuvres?

As if that isn’t enough, we’ll be hosting our first round of “Info Marketing Jeopardy” with our very own Alex Trebek, nationally known comedian Peter Fogel. Contestants are eligible to win a prize worth thousands by answering questions about direct marketing, information publishing, online marketing, and more. Details will be included in the on-site registration materials.

Monday, November 10

7:00-8:00 a.m. Networking Breakfast – Continue the conversation with your new “conference buddies” over coffee and bagels bright and early. Then mentally prepare yourself for the first full day of Bootcamp. By the end of the conference, you’ll be well on your way to a new life as an Internet entrepreneur.

8:00-10:00 a.m. Get a sneak peak at MaryEllen Tribby and Michael Masterson’s new book, Changing the Channel: 12 Easy Ways to Make Millions for Your Business. This is the first book co-authored by these two marketing powerhouses, and they’re going to tell you why you risk leaving millions on the table if you don’t make multi-channel marketing part of your business. Better yet, they’re going to tell you exactly how to do it.

10:00-10:15 a.m. Stretch Break – A great time to stretch your legs and grab a drink (or that last cup of coffee). But don’t be late for the next session. We are sticking to our jam-packed schedule.

10:15-11:45 a.m. The Early to Rise subscriber list recently broke 400,000. MaryEllen, David Cross, and Brian Edmondson tell you step-by-step how we did it and how you can do the same – even if you’re starting from zero.

11:45a.m.-12:45 p.m. Lunch Break – The Delray Beach Marriott has some very nice restaurants just steps from our conference room. The on-property Seacrest Grill and the Cascades Poolside Grill serve American classics. To expedite lunch service, the Marriott will also set up a cash-and-go buffet in O’Grady’s in the lobby.

12:45-2:45 p.m. Web 2.0 (and even 3.0) marketing expert Rich Schefren highlights what you need to know about social networking, blogs, online chat rooms, and other social media… and how to use this new technology to grow your business and make a sizable profit. And don’t get thrown off if you’re not familiar with the subject. Rich has a knack for explaining Web trends in plain language.

2:45-3:00 p.m. Stretch Break

3:00-4:30 p.m. You don’t have a business without products. And serial entrepreneur Marc Charles is here to help you find not just products, but products you can be proud of that will sell like crazy to your target market. Marc will also reveal the details of one the most important secrets of business: You don’t tell the market what it wants, the market tells you.

4:30-4:45 p.m. Stretch Break

4:45-6:45 p.m. Internet entrepreneur Yanik Silver was a one-man show when he started out and didn’t have much start-up capital. But he has grown a multimillion-dollar business working from home by harnessing the power of two marketing channels, joint ventures and affiliate marketing.

7:00-8:30 p.m. VIP Reception – This is an exclusive gathering of Internet Money Club members, as well as other VIPs. The Early to Rise staff and our expert speakers will also be on hand. Get a critique of your business plan, get help with your marketing plan, learn copywriting secrets from the best in the business. This will be the place to do all that – and more! And don’t forget, you’ll enjoy gourmet food and drink in an outdoor, tropical setting.

Tuesday, November 11

7:00-8:00 a.m. Networking Breakfast

8:00-8:15 a.m. Monday Recap – Alex Mandossian, our emcee, believes that repetition of key concepts is a vital part of learning. So first thing each morning, he will go over the main points of the previous day’s presentations. Be prepared, because he will be placing you and your fellow attendees into discussion groups to talk about what you’ve learned so far.

8:15-9:45 a.m. Two of Agora Inc.’s top copywriters, John Forde and Charlie Byrne, share the stage to teach you how to sell with words. And they share with you the powerful writing secrets that have allowed them to sell millions of dollars’ worth of products every year. Learn to grab your customer by the wallet with the written word.

9:45-10:00 a.m. Stretch Break

10:00-10:15 a.m. Info Marketing Jeopardy, Round 2

10:15-11:45 a.m. Search engine optimization expert John Phillips tells you what Google doesn’t want you to hear: how to “game” their system to get a high ranking (even #1) in their search results. It’s all part of doing business online and perfectly ethical, of course. As John says, “What’s good for Google is good for the customer.”

11:45 a.m.-1:45 p.m. Early to Rise Awards Luncheon – We honor the best in the information-marketing business during this luncheon hosted by ETR Publisher and CEO MaryEllen Tribby. Honorees were rigorously selected and adhere to the highest ethical standards, while running extremely profitable businesses. Their success is something to aim for. Lunch will be provided – it’s on us.

1:45-3:45 p.m. Howie Jacobson has been working with Google AdWords, the Internet’s premier pay-per-click ad service, since the beginning. Heck, he literally wrote the book on Google AdWords. So he’s well qualified to show you how to bring huge amounts of traffic (that means prospective customers) to your website by using just three-line text ads.

3:45-4:00 p.m. Stretch Break

4:00-4:15 p.m. Info Marketing Jeopardy, Round 3

4:15-6:15 p.m. Alex Mandossian steps out of his role as emcee and takes the stage as a presenter to reveal how you can make money with just your voice and a telephone. Using teleseminars as the main component of his information-marketing business has allowed Alex to turn what used to be his yearly income into an hourly income.

7:00-9:00 p.m. Networking Sock Hop and Changing the Channel Book Signing – Yes, you read correctly. Get on your dancing shoes and your best “Grease” costume. We’re hosting a ’50s-themed party, and there will be plenty of music and entertainment. There will even be a contest for best costume.

This night will also be your chance to get a copy of Changing the Channel: 12 Easy Ways to Make Millions for Your Business – signed by the authors themselves, Michael Masterson and MaryEllen Tribby.

Wednesday, November 12

7:00-8:00 a.m. Networking Breakfast

8:00-8:15 a.m. Tuesday Recap With Our Emcee, Alex Mandossian

8:15-10:15 a.m. Buck Rizvi and Brock Felt escaped from the toil of the corporate world and struck out on their own. With techniques you can easily “copy,” they made millions using online direct marketing to sell high-quality products. These are regular guys. (You’ll see during their presentation.) If they can do it, so can you.

10:15-10:30 a.m. Stretch Break

10:30-11:45 a.m. Info-Marketing FINAL Jeopardy – The final round of our little game show. The winning contestant will receive the grand prize:… well, we don’t want to spoil the surprise. You’ll have to watch to find out what it is.

10:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. David Cross, Agora’s Senior Internet Consultant, and Internet entrepreneur and success coach Brian Edmondson take everything you’ve learned at Bootcamp and tie it together… and give you an action plan for when you get home and start working on your business.

12:30-1:30 p.m. Lunch

1:30-3:15 p.m. The Expert Panel – We gather the experts you’ve heard from over the past three days and put them on the hot seat.

3:15-3:30 p.m. Closing Remarks – MaryEllen and Michael Masterson bid you farewell and good luck. And encourage you to let us know how you are doing over the next several months. We’re dedicated to making your business a success.

* * * * *

So there you have it.

ETR’s 2008 Bootcamp is going to teach you how to start and grow a blockbuster Internet business. In fact, it could help you earn $1.2 million in 2009. But, as you can see, the sessions with our experts are just a part of what you’ll get as a Bootcamp attendee.

Michael was right. I should have sent you this note weeks ago. Because of that, I’m going to re-open our Early Bird offer until this coming Monday. That means you have three days to sign up for Bootcamp and still get a $200 discount on the price. This is the absolute final chance to get $200 off when you sign up. But I must warn you, there are not a lot of spots left. 

And one last thing…

Because of that conversation I had with Michael, a new column has been born. Each week, I will write you a letter giving you an inside look at something that has happened in our business that made a difference to how we run ETR. You, in turn, can take that experience and apply it to your own business.

Sign up for Bootcamp. And keep reading my new column to get a publisher’s perspective on business online.