Tuesday, April 15, 2008

More reports on Ann Sieg

We have received a bunch of letters coming to the defense of Ann Sieg and accusing this blog of fabricating information about Ann and the Renegade Network Marketer program.

Yet for each letter of defense we get about 15 that either thank us for the candid info or tell us about their own stories about how they were defrauded. Like the following...

OVER $5000 DOWN THE DRAIN
Vern wrote: "After getting involved with Ann Siegs Renegade Network Marketer I spent $3,200 getting a site setup using a web designer through eLance like she suggested. Then I spent another $2,400 in pay per click ads running ads similar to the ones she suggested and using the keywords she gave me plus a few I found on my own. I got a total of 42 leads. 2 sales. Not a single one joined my company. I wish I would have listened to my instinct."

ULTERIOR ENDORSEMENTS
Cam wrote: "After looking at SiteSell.com a program Ann Sieg endorses I'm convinced that she only endorses those things she gets paid on. "

CAN I HAVE MY CHECK PLEASE
Swen wrote: "I sold over 20 Renegade Courses and never got paid. They tell me because I'm not in the USA they cannot send me a check. I would not tell anyone again to buy this course."

GET A DOUBLE REFUND
Paul wrote: "I bought the Renegade and after telling a few people asked for a refund. I just didn't think it was worth the $67. It's like after buying a car - all of the sudden you notice that everyone has that car. She's not saying anything new. Then 3 months after getting my refund she sent me check - I guess one of the people I told bought it. I don't think she was just being nice either - she must have broken software or something. Not that I'm complaining about that!"

And then I was forwarded a copy of a letter Ann Sieg sent to one of our readers...

In this letter Ann makes veiled threats and asks this person retract testimony made regarding a phone conversation where she indicated that she was competing with Leaders Club and other leaders within Leaders Club.

The letter states, "I am demanding that you retract those statements and that you notify Andre Vatke of this retraction. In addition, I insist on documented proof that not only have you notified Andre accordingly, but also documented proof of any additional parties you may have provided this false information to." (see image on right - this is the actual letter - we don't make this stuff up)

The testimony was never retracted and contribution made to this blog never removed. However most marketers would cave from a bully move like this.

In the DRA forums Ann Sieg and her "Associates" say they were never competing with Leaders Club. Leaders Club said they were terminated for violating a private written contract which included a non-compete agreement. The letter clearly states that Ann was competing by offering her own training and coaching program. I'm not going to make a judgment on that one way or another - but the noise made on their part was more than ironic.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Ann Sieg Under Investigation?

Things have certainly heated up in recent weeks for Ann Sieg (check out her video interview - completely opposite of what she says now) with reports that cease and desist letters have been pouring in from Network Marketing companies legal departments regarding her illegal use of their trademarks and company names.

For over a year Ms. Sieg has had the Network Marketing industry in arms over her false and negative advertising. Specifically her ads allude to companies (use any name you like) not telling you the truth or in some way screwing you over. An ad that seems to work well with those people who somehow share Ann Siegs logic that companies make more money trying to keep people from succeeding than in actually helping them succeed.

Add to this that a former employee or partner (not wishing to be named) has indicated that Ann's success story is exaggerated and that some testimonials are entirely bogus and may have even been compensated and it's no wonder the heat is on. Is the Minnesota Attorney General about ready to file against Ms. Sieg due to all the complaints they have been receiving?

This same person also mentioned that Ann Sieg was ordered by the company she promotes - Send Out Cards (you didn't think her book was all there is did you?) has told her in no uncertain terms that she was not allowed to use their name in ads. Hence - (you can look this up) Ann does not use any special landing page for SOC nor does she come out and say that SOC is lying to you! She does for over 200 other companies though!

Then today I found that Ann's former sponsor blows the whistle on her and Mike Dillard. Turns out they both have something in common - stealing everything they know from someone else. See the whole story here...

Thursday, December 27, 2007

The Secrets Ann Sieg Won't Tell You...

OK, You have seen AnnSieg.com ads everywhere - "Xango Won't Tell You" - or insert just about any network marketing company in there. (And now Ann Sieg teams up with her #1 competitor - Mike Dillard - so expect even more.)

But have you ever wondered what Ann Sieg isn't telling you?

The Renegade Network Marketer is a basic e-book on PPC marketing with some multilevel marketing thrown in (so you'll promote her book). There's also talk about "affiliate marketing" but in her usage it's mostly a redefinition of multilevel marketing.

I've been fascinated by how many annsieg.com ads I see and yet I see very few of her "affiliates" marketing her stuff. Maybe they are all marketing other things - that's possible but it turns out that's not true.

Talking with a man claiming to be a consultant working with Ann I found out that Ann runs over 11,000 keywords.

She won't tell you what they are...

Those are her closely guarded secrets as are her ads. So she doesn't share the truth about what she did to supposedly sell 1000 copies of Andre Vatke course "How To Turn Cold Leads Into Hot Prospects" per month. (Note that the data she shows on her site - sales, prospects etc. had nothing at all to do with her 'The Renegade Network Marketer' program since it predates it.)

She has not even shared this information with her friends!
  • Her sponsor in Send Out Cards only advertises on 150 keywords!
  • Her best affiliate runs just over 1000.
  • Only 1 in 120 affiliates ever advertises her ebook. Out of those who do only 1 in 43 do so for more than 30 days!
  • I have received 32 letters to date from people who have lost hundreds, even thousands running Renegade and Magnetic Sponsoring ads without generating a single lead.
This is because the real secrets to her success are just that... secret!

It's what this keywords list reveals and the pages they go to that are her big secrets. You can't pay her to give them to you. If she did she would lose her advantage.

This proves the point that if a company needs you to advertise it's product in the same place it already advertises - there's a catch! When you have hundreds or thousands of marketers advertising the same thing in the same place - the catch is that you're getting screwed!

Want the keyword list? Write me a short message letting me know your reason for wanting the list and I'll send it over in a text file.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Truth Challenge for Wendy Mills

Former Leaders Club marketer Wendy Mills has made more than a wee bit of noise on her termination from the company.

I recenty noticed Wendy running some charged ads reminiscent of political attack ads on Leaders Club. So I visited some links and saw Wendy still harping on her termination and using some irrational logic to justify her stand.

I asked Wendy some very simple questions about her stance on her blog but I guess I hit a nerve… (Access Wendy Mills' Blog Here)

She deleted my comments. }:-(

What’s the reason for this? Could it be Wendy isn’t being honest?

No one expects Wendy to agree with whatever reason it was that she was terminated. But to attack bystanders as pawns while claiming to be above reprieve is going to far.

So here’s my challenge… I’ve posted my response to her comments here. I’ve e-mailed Wendy and asked her to post her rebuttal here.

So here goes…

Wendy responded to another poster regarding a statement they made about a former Leaders Club employee:
“How do you know what is true in the statement Leaders Club makes about the
termination of Jeff Zalewski?

Without knowing what he says it is difficult to judge isn't it?”
In response I pointed out that this logic works both ways. In other words if Wendy can ask a poster “How do you know what is true…” why can’t we ask her the same thing?

I have not seen a statement by Jeff Zalewski or by Leaders Club on this and I’m wondering what Wendy Mills knows, how she knows it and what hard evidence she actually has.

She responded:

The truth of the matter is, I have absolutely no interest in revenge and have been doing very well since all this nonsense. Even though Leaders Club had no right to take the income I had earned nor keep my residual income, I have more than made up for that income loss in the last 6 months. That is why it is so important to have multiple income streams and not have "all your eggs in one basket" in our industry.

I, and the others involved, certainly had enough justification to bring a class action lawsuit against Leaders Club, but personally I really had no interest in spending the time, energy and money, in doing so. The lawyers end up getting it all in the end, so my focus has been to get on with building my business.

As "mlmtruth" knows, I had nothing to do with Leaders Club going downhill. I was a guest speaker on several of the training calls, but had nothing to do with the running of the company: the drop in lead quality, poor customer service at corporate offices, and more.

I have no reason to lie about Jeff Zawlewski, but Leaders Club certainly does. My
purpose in posting information about Leaders Club was simple to warn others so
they would not find themselves in similar circumstances.

"mlmtruth" is the one who needs to "get over it".
My response is this (Posted here since Wendy deleted it from her blog…)

Wendy says, “I have absolutely no interest in revenge and have been doing very well since all this nonsense.”

The truth of the matter is that Wendy is running ads on Leaders Club and states on her landing page:

From Wendy's Page: “Leaders Club doesn't want you to know the truth, but you can read what really happened on my blog.”

What’s the point of this if it’s not crying sour grapes?

Wendy says, “Even though Leaders Club had no right to take the income I had earned nor keep my residual income, I have more than made up for that income loss in the last 6 months.”

Then why run ads like that on such a low traffic keyword? And would you be willing to show us how much income you’re talking about? One could understand your venom if you lost a $10,000 a month income. On the other hand if you are making this much noise over $500 a month I would say it’s revenge.

Wendy says, “I have no reason to lie about Jeff Zawlewski, but Leaders Club certainly does.”

Can you tell us what reason Leaders Club has to lie about Jeff Zalewski? And what are they saying that is untrue – I have not read a statement by either party – please clear this up.
So there you have it Wendy. Please answer these questions for us in a place where you can’t delete rebuttals or follow-up questions.

Monday, December 10, 2007

Friday, November 2, 2007

OK Ann Sieg, do you really believe that?

On Oct. 1 we told you that Ann Sieg would soon offer a new course.

Just 16 days later she announced her new training program which promises network marketers the following...
You'll never have to pitch anyone on anything again.
People will pitch YOU on why you should let them work with you.
People swallow that crap!?!

Not even Ann believes this!

Just read her site, her e-mails, even the statement above and you quickly see it's nothing BUT "pitch"!!!

She just hopes you are too dumb to notice. Do as she says, not as she does...

You can learn all of Ann's true secrets by watching her! If you are OK with stealing, lying and cheating you can learn a lot!

Monday, October 1, 2007

Sold Into Slavery by Ann Sieg?

Fallen for any great lies recently?

How about this one...

"Succeed At Network Marketing By Burning Your Names List, Ditching The Thursday Night Hotel Meetings And NEVER Paying For Another Opportunity Lead Again" - Ann Sieg (headline from her landing page)

How many Renegade students actually do this?

It's not hard to find out...

Ann's eBook and "system" is all about running your own Google AdWords ads to generate your own leads. Nothing new there - especially since you can learn about 1000 time more from her AdWords Guru Perry Marshall himself - only his book is available for $13 on Amazon.

The "key" as Ann says is to advertise her eBooks and use them to generate leads and even direct sales.

Is anyone actually doing this?

According to Ann, she has over 1000 people a month joining her system. Yet 99% of the ads running on Google are paid for by... (drum role please) Ann Sieg!

The following people provide testimonials on how great her system works...

  • Cyndi Williams - Not on AdWords (10/01/2007)
  • Michael Lemm - Not on AdWords (10/01/2007)
  • Dale Steward - Not on AdWords (10/01/2007)
  • Christian Marquez - Not on AdWords (10/01/2007)
  • Katherine Nyby - Not on AdWords (10/01/2007)
  • Scott Rogers - Not on AdWords (10/01/2007)
  • Sherry Higdon - Not on AdWords (10/01/2007)
  • McKay Earl - Not on AdWords (10/01/2007)
  • Carrie Kearsle - Not on AdWords (10/01/2007)
  • Alicia Bausley - Not on AdWords (10/01/2007)
  • Nancy Christenson - Not on AdWords (10/01/2007)
  • Patricia Kagwiria Makhulo - Not on AdWords (10/01/2007)
  • Curt Johnson - Not on AdWords (10/01/2007)

Hmmm... so what's the deal?

The real deal is that Ann wants you to buy leads from her. When you purchase her eBook she sells your name to one of her associates for as much as $5.00. That's why you don't see them advertising her stuff!

One person even told me that they are forced to buy leads from her and that she will stop supporting them if the don't do exactly as she says - including spending thousands on leads.

And the payoff?

Ann's associates are forced to promote "Send Out Cards" to the leads they buy. They are essentially sold into slavery with the promise of easy riches.

Way to go!

All while we verified a post in this bolg from earlier this year...

Ann S. of Minnesota says, “I started implementing what I learned and you know what happened? I started being successful. Wildly successful. In just a little more than a year, I retired my husband from his airport job! And started consistently sponsoring no less than 20 people every month!” About this course she says, “This course How To Turn Cold Leads Into Hot Prospects gives you a start-to-finish 'blueprint' on how to get a pre-qualified lead to ask you for more information about your opportunity... how to automatically increase their interest level before you even talk to them... how you can naturally position yourself as an expert rather than a nuisance... and how to easily guide them to the close without any ridiculous mental 'tricks.'” found on www.NetworkMarketingTrainingSeries.com

So there you have it... the truth - or at least something closer to it.

- KW

PS - Look of a new course offered by Ann soon! You heard it here first.