As you may or may not know we recently won about $5,000.00 worth of Apple stuff from Sponsored Tweets for refering the most users to the sponsored tweets system.
When IZEA made the announcement that we had one I was really surprised the post was mostly from the whiners:
Trisha Lyn Fawver said on 2.2.10 at 5:25 pm
It hardly seems like these referral challenges are fair considering that the people with a couple thousand followers are S-O-L when up against people with tens of thousands of followers.
jtGraphic said on 2.2.10 at 5:28 pm
@Trisha I think that’s totally true. They should reward the best conversion or something. Of course ShoeMoney would win…
Colin Dean said on 2.2.10 at 5:31 pm
Agreed with Trisha. The people who would benefit most from this contest had no chance, because they simply don’t have the audience. Shoemoney and John Chow and the like already have such a massive following that trying to beat them at their own game is futile.
chromedaffodils said on 2.3.10 at 1:16 am
Agreed with everyone, I knew he would win anyway. Why not have a lets give a bunch of stuff to shoe while all you worker bees dream you could win something. Pathetic, I could really use this stuff too. I seriously feel like crying, maybe this should be a random draw or something. I know it helps them with his audience, but bigger is not always better. Smaller more intimate groups are more loyal. I also am guilty of being very jealous, did I mention I could really use these? :0) Take care everyone, peace
Paul said on 2.3.10 at 2:11 pm
Something not right with this contest…Its not a hating thing…6 apple product going to one person, the picture doest look right.I wouldn’t even attempt such contest if ShoeMoney in it… Shoemoney education equivalence on online marketing and advertising is equal to 10 PHD…
Most of the things these guys do, they can’t talk about it…Its a unspoken language between them.
A random contest of some sort will be best next time…
Julie Bryant said on 2.5.10 at 4:48 pm
I didn’t do this contest; I just came in the site to start the advertising program, which is just up my alley and good to hear from Wil it pays over time — I just earned my first $2 — oh yeah!). The thing is, people like contests, people like to think they have the chance to win — and if you know right off the bat that you are up against internet superstars, there just isn’t much reason to do it.
Soooo Sponsoredtweets, you might think about splitting in too so Shoe can always win his part of it (nudge nudge wink wink) and others can fight it out over what’s left. Just a suggestion.
Shoe, really it is not bad enough you win the prizes but then you and cronies have to rub it in about how much better you are than the unmotivated small unwashed masses. Humility and staying above the fold are better virtues to have than being a blow hard who toots their own horn while the masses jeer.
All to which I responded (somewhat pissed off):
Thats right. I never did 1 post or tweet (other then the required participation one) promoting the contest.
When I made that comment asking people to please show me what they had done in implementing the API or promoting sponsored tweets I had every intention of giving away ALL the stuff we won from Sponsoredtweets. Much like we have done with every other contest we have won in the past.
I was stunned when not one of them responded to my question.
Surely all these people super upset about how they did all this work but could not possibly compete with the massive ShoeMoney were eager to demonstrate what they did and why they should have one?
Guess how many responses we got…. ZERO.
After checking back and not hearing anything I proactively went to these peoples sites… and looked for posts or other things they were doing… nada…
Are you serious you guys did nothing and just expected to have stuff fall in your lap?
One of the guys in my office made a good point like why in the hell am I trying to give these people stuff that we worked hard to win?
So guess what whiners, suck it. I took back all the stuff IZEA sent yesterday (yes, you are right we don’t need it) and I got a Apple gift Card for almost $5,000.00 which I will blow on 5 decked out iPads for our staff when they come out.
About the author...
Jeremy Schoemaker – who has written 2415 posts on ShoeMoney.com.
Hi I am Jeremy Schoemaker and ShoeMoney.com is my blog. 99% of the post here are done by me but you will see others occasionally make guest posts. This blog is fun to write but for my day job I run several online companies.
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{ 96 comments… read them below or add one }
Jeremy, I agree with you. Those folks that are complaining believe that it can’t be done should get out of the way and let those who can get it done.
I am somewhat new to the online world when it comes to blogging and social media but so far I love IZEA. I love that they allow me to make money with Twitter. Good job on you and your teams hard work. I read your blog religiously so that I can learn more to help me be sucessful. I truly appreciate that you share all you know and have learned. Folks like you that are successful and are willing to give are profitable in more ways than one.
Keep up the great work and please make sure to reward your staff, they are amazing.
people who lose (losers) will always whine and thats always something that you should expect (either their whining makes sense or not).
anyway, its refreshing how you seemed to be always competitive and hungry for things like that. i mean most people at your level won’t really pay attention on that.
Building sites to win a contest – WIN.
Whining without trying – major FAIL.
Using the proceeds for your staff – major WIN. Good job.
Good for you Jeremy!
Though sponsoredtweets could have handled this a little better and simply spread the prizes a bit. I’m sure they learned a lesson from all this if they decide to do another contest. But no matter what they do, people will always complain
Hey Shoe,
I have a ton of respect for you, and I didn’t mean to come off as whining in that post, but shit happens
-JT
I actually wanted to enter this but since it was U.S residents only, couldn’t.
Anyway, I’m glad we won their $7500 API challenge for Tweetburn at least!
Ha. That reminds me of back in the working world when we’d have sales contests and no matter how they’d structure it, someone would complain. First they thought total volume was unfair, so they created % of improvement. Then that was unfair because the people with a small amount of business could easily double their portfolios. In the end, they stopped the contest. ha
Solid point.
I think you are doing the right thing, you can’t complain if you don’t do anything to really win the competition.
And seems like you’re a pretty cool boss.
Wow!
Shoe, there’s two sides to every story & I can see both. I didn’t participate in the contest so it didn’t matter to me who won. I agree with everything you said but I can see the loser points of views also & not just because of followers as they claim but because your a whole company with massive money & brilliant staff to implement your vision all of which probably 99% percent of those don’t have. It’s like Walmart squashing mom & pop stores. In the end it’s not your fault & you shouldn’t need to defend yourself. Ted could’ve structured a better slightly fairer contest unless he wishes to alienate the smaller tweeters with less resources but just as equal influence.
Shoe didn’t start out with a company and massive money & brilliant staff – he had to work his way up to that point. Anyone who wants to win these contests will have to work their ass off and do the same. These contests aren’t generally marketed as “Which little guy is the most needy? We’ll give them free stuff for putting in a half-hearted effort!”.
Read the bio. Shoe got lucky in the ringtone market early doors. He did no more or no less than a lot of marketers around at that time.
I’m well aware of his bio.
So, him getting off his ass and putting up a ringtone site was no work? Sure, he may not have planned everything out originally, but he took the initial step, and he certainly didn’t continue to get “lucky” every step of the way…
Things like saying he just got lucky are just more excuses for one’s own lack, IMO.
One’s own lack? Don’t get what you mean?
I got LUCKY in another niche in the mid/late 90′s and made plenty of money. It finally dried up last year which was a bummer. Didn’t plan it at all. In another instance I chucked up a stupid webcam, it hit mainstream media (the BBC) 3 years later and I made more in Adsense in 2 weeks than what most people make working full time for 2 years. Of course there is work involved but no matter what anybody tries to tell you some things are out of your control.
I’m no Shoemoney hater, I’ve signed up for “the system” and have no reason not to like the guy. But if you honestly believe that it’s the hardest workers that always make the most money then you’re a mental. I often work 18 hour days and it can still be hit & miss as to whether something takes off or not. It’s possible some jack-ass can have a brain fart and make a killing. That’s just the web.
Seems like basing the contest on strictly conversions rather than total leads would make everyone happy. Then it would be tough to argue that “its not a level playing field”.
A person who converts 300 but only sends a total of 1000 would beat someone who converts 1000 yet sent 50,000.
However, even if it was set up that way, the whiners would probably find something to whine about….
Booooo, I want free stuff.
I’m with you on that one. Free stuff all around!
I didn’t play….even if i did …i probably would’ve lost
but
i least i dont get manicures hehe
You gotta put in the work to get results, why don’t people understand this?
“The people who would benefit most,,, ”
“Pathetic, I could really use this stuff too.”
Those comments are pathetic. It wasn’t a contest for who needed something the most!
It’s easier for them to tear you down instead of building themselves up to your level. “Haters gonna hate” Good work man.
what was the goal of the contest ? increase earnings from more publishers or just to increase earnings?
Who could drive the most new users (new to sponsoredtweets not to twitter)
seems like a fair win then to me.
Fuck ‘em, Shoe. Any time someone says “deserve” or “need,” throw them in the garbage pile with the rest of America’s lazy, bullshit entitlement culture.
You worked your ass off to get where you are…and so what if you had a bazillion followers? You earned ‘em.
I’m very new to this business. But I have learned rather quickly that if you don’t work your butt off, you will not be successful.
Thanks for affirming this to us.
The very best way to NOT be successful is to sit around blaming other people for your lack of success.
I try hard to win … but you won’t see me baby crying like that … even though I didn’t win… I’m amaze by the data I get from it… my trick wasn’t scalable enough … at least I try and now I know more about those people… priceless data … Until the next contest I’ll be on my way up ….
Giving all the whiners link love? Shoe, give the ones that love you some link love too.
One should never begrudge the success of others…seriously, you were nicer to those people than I would have been.
Shoe-
You need haters. That’s what makes all this online blogging, etc even more interesting and I’m sure it motivates you also.
There will always be haters no matter what, they even work in your favor most of the times =).
OMG, that is so funny. Busted winers all “boo hooing” and called out for doing nada. Love it…
That’s funny – this post is generating a bunch of traffic for my review of the Shoemoney System…
Shoe is this the same guy you supported a year ago with his endeavors ?
http://www.shoemoney.com/2009/01/26/jtgraphic-takes-the-polar-plunge/
Now he rags on you and takes cheap shots? Sounds like a piece of crap!
By the way I am a ShoeMoney System member also and your review is crap. Seems like you just want to bitch.
I doubt it surprises anyone your already whining about the ShoeMoney System with your history.
I’ve said it before (even on this post). I have a ton of respect for Jeremy. I was just reviewing it as I saw it. When I do a week 5 review it will actually be a bit more positive. Now that we’re getting into arbitrage stuff, I think the value is starting to pick up.
I disclaimed that whole thing by saying it wasn’t for advanced users. I actually found a guy as a consequence of that review that LOVES the Shoemoney System, and I posted a link to it on THAT review and said it was the best review I’ve seen yet. He’s new to the arena and is getting a ton out of it.
I’ve been a long time commenter, and I support everything Shoe does. I provide that insight so he’ll make it better. The whole Sponsored Tweets thing was just an idea, not a rant. I totally think that if he drove them the most referrals, he should get the cake.
All of that is why I’m on his blog commenting about what I said. For the record I ended up at Sponsored tweets (near the end of this contest I might add) because of Jeremy. It’s funny that none of the other people have posted anything yet though
So to boil it down – I still love the shit he does even if I get caught in a shit storm every once in a while.
Jeremy you are a jackass. There are so many needy people that could really use this stuff.
Let me guess, you’re broke?
Welcome to the Obama – entitlement area. Oh you don’t want to do work? Here let us who do give things to you for free.
Completely agree. I checked out some of these guys sites, and some of them simply had it as a 125 x 125 box on the side. Or possibly a small post months back. They did nothing in actively promoting it.
Whereas guys like me on the other hand…..i developed a small desktop app to parse data from sponsored tweets, and then you could rank users based on followers/following count, klout etc. And i couldnt even enter since its USA only
Hey Shoe! Can you at least post some examples of how you implemented the api and the urls of these websites you created.
Ok in another post I will lay it all out
and those haters will come back and say … I did everything like your examples and it doesn’t work … you did not give it all lool
Dumb idea of the moment: a website where haters can hate about everything
You the man. Can’t wait to see it.
People need to come to a lil reality and understand you have been pushing this site for like 5 yrs. So of course you we will win things and be able to do things that someone with a 1 yr blog can not.
Like Jeremy or not, you can not take away 5 yrs of busting ass to get this site to where it is today.
With 5 yrs and 150,000 uniques a mnth, he better be able to win a contest.,lol
Hard work, hard work every day will get you to a point where the effort is a lil less and the benefits are huge.
HAHA haters pwnd!
Seriously if yall haters are gonna bash on someone who worked their ass off, the least yall can do it fight back when that person pwns on you!Ball-less circle jerkers
First of all, LMAO. i can see tons of whiners here
. Hats off shoe, none can beat you in this. @jtGraphic, just checked out the Polar Plunge, dude, wtf, hahaa, take it easy
That shit was cold
I love the idea of taking the items back to get a gift card. Hahaha Awesome!
“I was stunned when not one of them responded to my question. ”
I responded…
Do a video when your new apple stuff arrives. I’d like to see all the toys you and your staff earned.
I responded too, but not a negative ones. I wasn’t participating anyway.
Your staff will be greatly appreciated to be rewarded with an iPad (although they might don’t need it as well).
Izea’s main goal here is to go for critical mass, so they care about rewarding VOLUME. Should they have to worry about who thinks its fair, how many Joes get an ipod?
Classic amateur marketers worrying about whats in it for them rather than considering the promotion from the company’s point of view, understanding the ‘advertisers’ end goal
I never win anything, so none of it pisses me off. Hope that all the prizes go to good use.
Most should know that if they don’t have a huge following, just don’t bother with these type of contests at all. It’s pointless.
lol people will complaint about anything. Shoe, enjoy a good laugh at your haters. You will feel better. I know I would.
Haters will always be haters. You just gotta look on and keeping pushing. Although I don’t think this post was the greatest idea, I definitely agree with your message Jeremy. You hustled for it and anyone who does, has a shot.
Yea people are def bitter. Oh well lol you worked to what you are today. So you deserve it. Would be cool to be on the staff to get one of those decked out Ipads!
Anyway congrats my friend.
Hey Jeremy. Can you please show examples of API implementation on some of your websites and give URLs of the brand new twitter properties you built.
Cheers Mate.
Nope. I won
Who gives a fuck about the whiners? You got the prize. Sometimes success makes you look like an asshole. I’m ok with it.
Dudes, he sent SponsoredTweets the greatest number of users which will (likely) correlate to the greatest increase in revenue.
IZEA had the contest to grow their business not to donate cash to people who threw out a few spammy tweets about their services.
That’s the way she goes…
LOL, this is a entertaining post. Congrats Shoe for the win…..and what a surprise.
Didn’t any of these peoples parents tell them, “Life isn’t fair”.
You worked hard to get to where you’re at today. Just because you leverage what you have acquired from all the years of creating the Shoemoney empire, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t reap from it.
Instead of complaning about how unfair it is, people should ban together to take on the big experience players like shoemoney. Thats what I will do next time. Form my own team with the sole purpose of winning. If their is a will, their is a way and it dosent matter how big the other guy is, you will figure it out if you want it bad enough.
Amazing,
of course the big dogs will win every time. Gaming the system is the status quo.
Example: Turn 7 negative comments into linkbait and receive 50 or 60 comments with “sheeple” swingin on your nuts.
I love the interwebs.
Dude…it’s “won”.
Wait, if you only need 5 iPads that should leave a little extra cash. Give one away?
Bunch of cry babies.
to the victor go the spoils.
LOL shoe, that funny thing is your even bothered :p
people are always whining..although whining too much can be very annoying, so yes..Suck it up whiners!!
WOW. Now I know how we ended up with a Socialist in the White House.
Good for you on the “suck it” post! You put in the most effort, so naturally you would win. I don’t get the whining.
IZEA contests are good except they do not allow people outside USA. They should change this.
of course people will be annoyed..your letter sums it up. We busted our ass/we built sites/we implemented. An individual with some solid blogging skills can’t compete with that.
Thats a load of crap John.
Before Shoemoney was a pleb that was a `we` he was a pleb that was an `I` and he still spanked all our asses in the SEO competition.
Cunningly throwing dp link weight with 20 minutes work at the last moment.beating people who had been working on their sites for weeks if not months.
One smart individual could have spanked his bald ass and won all the apple crap if they had a good strategy and implemented it with precision and passion.
“Are you serious you guys did nothing and just expected to have stuff fall in your lap?”
Shoemoney, surely you understand the dynamic. They are just following the example of their leader, President Obama. Not only did they fail because they did not do any productive work but now they need to be bailed out by taking the resources from the productive, you, and redistributing it to the unproductive, them.
As Mrs. Obama said, “The truth is, in order to get things like Universal Health Care and a revamped Education System, then someone is going to have to give up a piece of the pie so that someone else can have more.”
Long live the looters and moochers!
Like I’m not a whiner and would love to get some ShoeMoney knowledge on what you did and are doing to make these kinds of things a flat out success each time.
Show me the way Shoe!
I hate whiners, but I hate ass-kissers even more.
Great response Shoe! Too many people just complain and never get anywhere or even try.
I think we should give thanks to these kind of people because of them we will be able to get success.
Instead of criticising they should learn from this.
You can not build so much faith and credibility over night and I think they are missing this point.
Don’t hate the player, hate the game.
Seriously though, for all you whiners, take this as a lesson learned, stop complaining… and just keep plugging away.
I think it pretty much reflects life in general.
Positive people vs. Negative people
Those on the outside looking in wishing they had what the others have.
Those who are risk takers, (the doers) and those who make excuses. (whiners)
It is what it is.
That’s LIfe!
Well done Jeremy! Will you show us how to do this on the shoemoney system please?
I love Apple stuff, as much as my girlfriend loves shoes, (more in fact) which she can’t understand!!
Perhaps you could donate the proceeds as a prize in a Shoemoney system competition?
Hehehe, love the fact that you don’t mince words on this blog! No holds barred….
In my opinion both you and them are right.
Seeing as how they didn’t even respond to what he said, they clearly didn’t even work for it so how can they be right? You can’t sit on your ass & expect everything to fall in front of you.
lol @ the cry babies not responding to Shoemoney’s response. Work hard and good results will come. To many people think they can win a contest with doing very little work and then complain when a guru win’s it. Great job Shoemoney for actually working hard, the results are good when you end up with $$
I learned a long time ago that if you have haters, it’s usually because you’re doing something right. Haters gonna hate.
I’m vastly interested in items like this, Please make much more on this topic.
I have a ton of respect for you, and I didn’t mean to come off as whining in that post, but shit happens
office chairs that are made of steel and leather are the best stuff that you can use on your office-~.
$5,000…that’s a lot of money. Did you have to do any additional advertisement?
we have different office chairs in the office and i love to use those office chairs with clothe cover “-*
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