The Third Tribe? Is it Me Or Is This Thing Weird?

I’m in complete mixed minds over the “Third Tribe“. I keep hearing the phrase everywhere and nice, soft-sell links to it, but what actually is it and does it apply to me?

The Third Tribe was born out of a conversation or two with Brian Clark of Copyblogger and Seth Godin, and in turn Copyblogger Senior Editor Sonia Simone posted about two tribes. Taking some info from their website now:

Over the last several years, online marketing has been split into two opposing teams.

Two tribes, if you will.

One tribe is called the Internet Marketers. They use aggressive hype and obnoxious tactics to fool people into believing there really is a “get rich quick” magic bullet.

The other tribe is the Social Media Cool Kids. They reject hype and aggressive sales tactics in favor of relationships, community, and value . . . and yet seem to have taken a vow of poverty along the way.

The Internet Marketers make tons of cash, often by taking advantage of fools. Most Cool Kids make little to no money and don’t seem to understand how business works at all, which might lead some to consider them fools as well.

Obviously, that’s oversimplifying things. Here’s the real point.

The black and white division of online marketing into two tribes is not real. There’s a big (and growing) middle tribe, one that avoids spammy IM approaches while having no problem asking for the sale and making money.

This is the Third Tribe.

I agree with that on principle. I try to have no hype on my sales pages and pose realistic expectations to my clients. I even let them leave sales pages without a “STOP NOW!” last-minute discount and annoying pop-up. How very kind of me. I often refer clients to other people who know more about certain things than I do for no monetary gain.

I despise 80% of internet marketing out there as it aims to trick and deceive people into buying worthless products and services. OK, I made the 80% up, it’s probably 99%. I like the no-hype, actually useful stuff some people produce like Blog Traffic Fisher from Michael Martine, an awesome course for free to solve the traffic problems for your blog; a ridiculously cheap ebook on Guest Posting from Chris Garrett; and random acts of swearing from Johnny B Truant.

So it sounds like I could be Third Tribe as I genuinely believe that is the correct way to do things as it’s defined here. But….

…. I hate labels. I call myself Blog Tech Guy but I do more than that, I do blog consulting, some design work, mastermind training with my blogging guide, and all sorts of none blog tech things.

I’m also not sure about Third Tribe as it’s $27 per month to join.

Wait, that’s right, you have to pay a fee to be a member! I guess that sounds like Third Tribe, offering value but no problem asking for the money, but I don’t really get it. They try to explain on the Join page why it isn’t free – if you have to explain that to me, I kind of think you don’t really believe you should be charging yourself. I can tell you too that $27 isn’t “ridiculously low”, $2.70 is ridiculously low. $27 per month is a lot of money to a lot of my clients (and I would guess bloggers as a whole), and the benefit seems to be an “exclusive” club where you can call yourself a member and speak to other like minded folk.

Of course you’re paying for access to people like Darren Rowse, Brian Clark and Chris Brogan (and many others apparently). You also get live Q&A’s, an interactive forum (nothing worse than a non-interactive forum!), some ebook (I guess) guides and special deals.

Perhaps I’m missing something. Perhaps I’m one of those cool kids who don’t make any money but actually really do. Perhaps I’m the Fourth Tribe. Or Fifth. For $27 per month I’ll let you know, but if you have any thoughts, please help me understand in the comments below.

83 thoughts on “The Third Tribe? Is it Me Or Is This Thing Weird?”

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  4. I saw that puffery advert for the first time yesterday! $1.95 is very cheap for a forum and I would never suggest that's all the Third Tribe is worth, though I would feel a lot less guilty about not attending every day if it was cheaper!

  5. I saw that puffery advert for the first time yesterday! $1.95 is very cheap for a forum and I would never suggest that's all the Third Tribe is worth, though I would feel a lot less guilty about not attending every day if it was cheaper!

  6. I claim shenanigans, Link Bait, Puffery!
    hahahaha…actually I was glad to see this post and then to see Brian getting all ruffled. Why it was actually nice to see his feathers in a pinch. I am a member to several forums in which I have to pay for, one is 1.95 a month and I NEVER go there anymore. But I don't want to lose my 1.95 price if I leave. I dno't think I am going to join thid tribe righ tnow till I clear off my plate a little more. Even I still may not.
    Great Post!!!!!

  7. I claim shenanigans, Link Bait, Puffery!hahahaha…actually I was glad to see this post and then to see Brian getting all ruffled. Why it was actually nice to see his feathers in a pinch. I am a member to several forums in which I have to pay for, one is 1.95 a month and I NEVER go there anymore. But I don't want to lose my 1.95 price if I leave. I dno't think I am going to join thid tribe righ tnow till I clear off my plate a little more. Even I still may not.Great Post!!!!!

  8. Fascinating conversation. The comments were more interesting than the post – not that the post wasn't interesting (lol!). Nice to hear seasoned bloggers working through issues that are important to any of us wanting to earn money online.

  9. Fascinating conversation. The comments were more interesting than the post – not that the post wasn't interesting (lol!). Nice to hear seasoned bloggers working through issues that are important to any of us wanting to earn money online.

  10. Yours was an excellent post too thanks Devon. I didn't set out to be provocative, I hadn't seen any of the other articles about it and just stated my thoughts and allowed them to be shaped by comments of others, in a good way of course!

  11. Yours was an excellent post too thanks Devon. I didn't set out to be provocative, I hadn't seen any of the other articles about it and just stated my thoughts and allowed them to be shaped by comments of others, in a good way of course!

  12. Hey Joel,

    I know you already saw my response post but since your most recent blog post is on leaving comments I figured I'd drop the link to that response here http://spiralentrepreneurs.com/valuing-the-thir

    Here's the summary – The Third Tribe represents a culture-wide emergence of a fairly new set of values. Whether you pony up your money to be part of the Third Tribe community or not, pay attention to the values they preach and live because those values will soon be influencing our entire society. If you pay attention to the values (as well as the next set of values that emerge in response to those) you'll be in a good position to take advantage of the upcoming trends and ride the waves to fiscal and entrepreneurial success.

    Thanks for a provocative post Joel.

    ~Devon

  13. Hey Joel,I know you already saw my response post but since your most recent blog post is on leaving comments I figured I'd drop the link to that response here http://spiralentrepreneurs.com/valuing-the-thir…Here's the summary – The Third Tribe represents a culture-wide emergence of a fairly new set of values. Whether you pony up your money to be part of the Third Tribe community or not, pay attention to the values they preach and live because those values will soon be influencing our entire society. If you pay attention to the values (as well as the next set of values that emerge in response to those) you'll be in a good position to take advantage of the upcoming trends and ride the waves to fiscal and entrepreneurial success.Thanks for a provocative post Joel.~Devon

  14. I don't think I ever knew Paypal had that feature! I was more thinking about access and login details but I think they can be handled by the Wishlist plugin, and I see the new Become A Blogger is doing a $1 trial too, so they must be using that, thanks!

  15. I don't think I ever knew Paypal had that feature! I was more thinking about access and login details but I think they can be handled by the Wishlist plugin, and I see the new Become A Blogger is doing a $1 trial too, so they must be using that, thanks!

  16. The easiest way I know of to offer a next to free trial is via Paypal – yuo set up the subscritpion to cost $1 the first month and then the normal rate after that. The customer then has the choice to cancel the subscription in paypal before the end of the first month and they have paid – $1 – I think its a great model – you have a month to convicne a new subscriber that its worth staying in…

  17. The easiest way I know of to offer a next to free trial is via Paypal – yuo set up the subscritpion to cost $1 the first month and then the normal rate after that. The customer then has the choice to cancel the subscription in paypal before the end of the first month and they have paid – $1 – I think its a great model – you have a month to convicne a new subscriber that its worth staying in…

  18. Hi Joe, there was no link in your comments so I couldn't see the reference, but I guess this is the post – http://makemoneyforbeginners.blogspot.com/? My post was not aimed at having a go at anyone personally and while I found it a very interesting I probably only agreed with half of it. It linked to a very nice article by Andy Beard too for those who are interested – http://andybeard.eu/2637/internet-marketing.html

    Thanks for the heads up.

  19. Hi Joe, there was no link in your comments so I couldn't see the reference, but I guess this is the post – http://makemoneyforbeginners.blogspot.com/? My post was not aimed at having a go at anyone personally and while I found it a very interesting I probably only agreed with half of it. It linked to a very nice article by Andy Beard too for those who are interested – http://andybeard.eu/2637/internet-marketing.htmlThanks for the heads up.

  20. Interesting idea, thanks! Being technical the headaches involved with offering a free trial are many I would guess, but it's a concept no one else seems to use for a forum and seminar series so is worth considering. I think it would be great actually, if possible!

    As Lis said earlier, a lot of people new to blogging are new to business so perhaps being new to sales and marketing too. For an experienced person like you perhaps that is not the right fit, but for a lot of people online marketing is brand new and “doing it right” is not something I see very often I have to admit.

  21. Interesting idea, thanks! Being technical the headaches involved with offering a free trial are many I would guess, but it's a concept no one else seems to use for a forum and seminar series so is worth considering. I think it would be great actually, if possible!As Lis said earlier, a lot of people new to blogging are new to business so perhaps being new to sales and marketing too. For an experienced person like you perhaps that is not the right fit, but for a lot of people online marketing is brand new and “doing it right” is not something I see very often I have to admit.

  22. A perspective worth reading (link below):

    “I would love to read Darren's explanation to his readers how a free Blogger blog can achieve everything his readers are hoping for without ever using social media, without a single guest post, without a pretty theme, without spamming Darren's blog and the other Cool Bloggers with inane comments, without doing a single thing that Darren recommends his readers spend their time pursuing.”

  23. Joel, I'm thinking that I belong to a “4th Way” the way of try before you buy. I'd be offering a free day-pass to see if what they're offering is what I want. If they really stand behind what they're doing, that shouldn't be a big deal.

    And maybe it's not fair to judge the 3rd Tribe site based on Brian's comments here, but as someone who's been in marketing and PR for years, I'm left scratching my head. And these guys are going to advise me on sales and marketing…?

  24. Joel, I'm thinking that I belong to a “4th Way” the way of try before you buy. I'd be offering a free day-pass to see if what they're offering is what I want. If they really stand behind what they're doing, that shouldn't be a big deal.And maybe it's not fair to judge the 3rd Tribe site based on Brian's comments here, but as someone who's been in marketing and PR for years, I'm left scratching my head. And these guys are going to advise me on sales and marketing…?

  25. Lis, in addition to the first seminar that's up, we've got great seminars starting Monday for three weeks in a row, plus two live q&a sessions. Plenty of content coming in the first month for our charter members, with more to come each month.

  26. Lis, in addition to the first seminar that's up, we've got great seminars starting Monday for three weeks in a row, plus two live q&a sessions. Plenty of content coming in the first month for our charter members, with more to come each month.

  27. Yes, that's very true, but $47 is pretty standard these days. It's always difficult to work out value and for one person dropping $5k on a couple of conferences a year is more than worth it, for some $500 on an expert forum is questionable.

    I appreciate the insight to the forum, and while everyone has to start someone, there may be better places for questions about sorting out permalinks.

    Your last point is excellent regarding being new to online and being new to business (or running your own business) at the same time, it's one I think a lot of people forget, including myself. Thanks for your comments.

  28. Yes, that's very true, but $47 is pretty standard these days. It's always difficult to work out value and for one person dropping $5k on a couple of conferences a year is more than worth it, for some $500 on an expert forum is questionable. I appreciate the insight to the forum, and while everyone has to start someone, there may be better places for questions about sorting out permalinks.Your last point is excellent regarding being new to online and being new to business (or running your own business) at the same time, it's one I think a lot of people forget, including myself. Thanks for your comments.

  29. Thanks Lance, it's one reason we launched our Income Blogging Guide course in an effort to demystify and bring things all together. However some people did perceive it as another me too course (well it's a lot of courses in one) but on one hand just because some releases a book on motivational speaking, doesn't mean no-one else brings a book out about it. It's the way it's done that differentiates and I think the IM industry has been bad at having any differentiators, or at least explaining them realistically. I probably haven't explained that well, sorry!

    I think we're both cynical British guys when it comes to IM but unfortunately “they” made us that way.

  30. Thanks Lance, it's one reason we launched our Income Blogging Guide course in an effort to demystify and bring things all together. However some people did perceive it as another me too course (well it's a lot of courses in one) but on one hand just because some releases a book on motivational speaking, doesn't mean no-one else brings a book out about it. It's the way it's done that differentiates and I think the IM industry has been bad at having any differentiators, or at least explaining them realistically. I probably haven't explained that well, sorry!I think we're both cynical British guys when it comes to IM but unfortunately “they” made us that way.

  31. A couple of things – its $27 today – but going up to $47 in the next few days – that's an ongoing nearly $50/month! I don't have a problem with that so long as I get more than $50 /month benefit – and there's the rub as they say. Its early days but he forusm so far are very nice and supportive but strangly lacking in any real content. Remembering that this seems to be aimed a newbies – the hand holding and swaping skills is nice – but if someone has yet not worked out the most basic seo for thei site (permalinks anyone?) it all seems a little premature.

    Most people new to being online are also new to business – they need to a soid business plan if they are trying to make money in any reasonable (less than a year) time frame. – I can't see any evidence that Thrid Tribe marketing is going to be offering that

  32. A couple of things – its $27 today – but going up to $47 in the next few days – that's an ongoing nearly $50/month! I don't have a problem with that so long as I get more than $50 /month benefit – and there's the rub as they say. Its early days but he forusm so far are very nice and supportive but strangly lacking in any real content. Remembering that this seems to be aimed a newbies – the hand holding and swaping skills is nice – but if someone has yet not worked out the most basic seo for thei site (permalinks anyone?) it all seems a little premature. Most people new to being online are also new to business – they need to a soid business plan if they are trying to make money in any reasonable (less than a year) time frame. – I can't see any evidence that Thrid Tribe marketing is going to be offering that

  33. Hi Joel,

    I agree with your article. I think the days of the “how to blog” industry repackagaing very similar info is struggling. It's all looks a little like selling snake oil for me. The skill seems to be selling the next “me too” course, rather than selling something usefully new. But even that is okay…

    …I think it's like all these things, you start at point A and then, over time, realise that there are others who need this stuff you had a few years back. but who knows, as remarkabloger says. this 3rd way is probably worth it weight in gold just to soak up the skills of a host of talent.

    Then again, maybe I'm a cynical British guy, and it's probably my loss. Good discussion, thx

  34. Hi Joel,I agree with your article. I think the days of the “how to blog” industry repackagaing very similar info is struggling. It's all looks a little like selling snake oil for me. The skill seems to be selling the next “me too” course, rather than selling something usefully new. But even that is okay……I think it's like all these things, you start at point A and then, over time, realise that there are others who need this stuff you had a few years back. but who knows, as remarkabloger says. this 3rd way is probably worth it weight in gold just to soak up the skills of a host of talent.Then again, maybe I'm a cynical British guy, and it's probably my loss. Good discussion, thx

  35. I suppose it's a bit like any text based communication – it can fail to be received.

    When I worked in the corporate world I used to hate people who would send me emails and say 'can you do this for me by 2pm'.

    Then they would ring me at 2.05pm and say where's the report or whatever.

    “What report?”

    “I sent you an email”

    “I didn't see it. I'm not in front of my pc all the time”

    Why didn't they try and ring me instead of writing the email. Mad.

    Don't tell anyone but sometimes, I used to see the email and pretend I didn't – on purpose! Just so they learnt.

    Andrew

    P.S. Brian, I'm not suggesting you rang Joel or anything like that. I just thought I would share my experiences!

  36. I suppose it's a bit like any text based communication – it can fail to be received. When I worked in the corporate world I used to hate people who would send me emails and say 'can you do this for me by 2pm'. Then they would ring me at 2.05pm and say where's the report or whatever.”What report?” “I sent you an email””I didn't see it. I'm not in front of my pc all the time”Why didn't they try and ring me instead of writing the email. Mad.Don't tell anyone but sometimes, I used to see the email and pretend I didn't – on purpose! Just so they learnt.AndrewP.S. Brian, I'm not suggesting you rang Joel or anything like that. I just thought I would share my experiences!

  37. I have been burned in the past, more than once (fool me once and all that…), but have also had success (Yaro's courses for example). In a survey a month or two back one in three people had bought over 20 traditional IM products and while I haven't gone that far it's not easy to trust people who claim to have a similar ethos to myself.

    I appreciate that you've responded to feedback/comments, that's one step above many others right there!

  38. I have been burned in the past, more than once (fool me once and all that…), but have also had success (Yaro's courses for example). In a survey a month or two back one in three people had bought over 20 traditional IM products and while I haven't gone that far it's not easy to trust people who claim to have a similar ethos to myself. I appreciate that you've responded to feedback/comments, that's one step above many others right there!

  39. It's interesting already. 🙂

    And we plan to keep showing up. A community like this is too valuable in too many ways to pull a no-show on. Maybe you've been burned by too many traditional Internet Marketers?

  40. It's interesting already. :-)And we plan to keep showing up. A community like this is too valuable in too many ways to pull a no-show on. Maybe you've been burned by too many traditional Internet Marketers?

  41. No worries Joel, I trust you (now ;-). I've heard of weird problems like this with Disqus, which is one of the reasons I am leery about outsourcing comments. But if they can get the bugs worked out, it provides a valuable service.

  42. No worries Joel, I trust you (now ;-). I've heard of weird problems like this with Disqus, which is one of the reasons I am leery about outsourcing comments. But if they can get the bugs worked out, it provides a valuable service.

  43. Disqus has now been playing up all day for me on this site and others, so I guess it was something to do with this – http://status.disqus.com/. I wouldn't have approved and then deleted, just straight for a delete 🙂 But now they'll be automatically approved, and I hope the system gets better soon else I'll have to switch. Again.

  44. Disqus has now been playing up all day for me on this site and others, so I guess it was something to do with this – http://status.disqus.com/. I wouldn't have approved and then deleted, just straight for a delete 🙂 But now they'll be automatically approved, and I hope the system gets better soon else I'll have to switch. Again.

  45. Wow! No wonder you're so good at this stuff…

    Very true, I do have the same conversation with a lot of prospective clients – it helps I don't drink coffee too so I can practice what I preach – and yet don't have the conversation with myself (in a non-weird way of course).

    I struggle with finding the time to train, and I know that sounds pathetic and tells more about myself than the value that the courses offer, but it's currently the truth. Investing in myself is something I should take more seriously, perhaps I'm looking more for a one-fits-all solution when one doesn't exist. Simply, none of them appeal to me after some of the ones (not all) have not panned out as promised.

  46. Wow! No wonder you're so good at this stuff…Very true, I do have the same conversation with a lot of prospective clients – it helps I don't drink coffee too so I can practice what I preach – and yet don't have the conversation with myself (in a non-weird way of course).I struggle with finding the time to train, and I know that sounds pathetic and tells more about myself than the value that the courses offer, but it's currently the truth. Investing in myself is something I should take more seriously, perhaps I'm looking more for a one-fits-all solution when one doesn't exist. Simply, none of them appeal to me after some of the ones (not all) have not panned out as promised.

  47. I am in several membership sites: Sean D'Souza's 5000bc, Dan Theis and
    Leslie Rhode's SEO Brain Trust (that one is about $300/mo), Brian Clark's
    Teaching Sells and Partnering Profits, Dave Navarro's More Buyers Every
    Month Mastermind. And a couple more I can't recall at the moment. I spend
    thousands of dollars a year on training because it pays off big time. My
    blog consulting clients get the benefit of my knowledge, and I sell more
    information products when I release them.

    Money can be an issue, but it depends on how motivated a person is. I know a
    lot of people who blow over $60 a month buying lattes every day at
    Starbucks, or pay over a $100 a month for cable TV, but then they say they
    can't afford a training program that if followed would practically guarantee
    them success. I'm like, “What are your priorities?” Success… or empty
    calories and vacuous, puerile entertainment?

    My only regret is that I didn't make this leap of faith in myself sooner,
    but hey, we all move at our own pace. People want it to feel safe and
    risk-free. In one way, it is risk-free, because you can get your money back.
    In other ways, though, it's NOT safe or risk-free. You're taking a chance,
    risking that you'll make your money back and more. And here's the thing: it
    never will be risk-free. It will always be scary and you have to just do it
    anyway.

    That's how I see it. Your mileage may vary. 🙂

  48. I am in several membership sites: Sean D'Souza's 5000bc, Dan Theis andLeslie Rhode's SEO Brain Trust (that one is about $300/mo), Brian Clark'sTeaching Sells and Partnering Profits, Dave Navarro's More Buyers EveryMonth Mastermind. And a couple more I can't recall at the moment. I spendthousands of dollars a year on training because it pays off big time. Myblog consulting clients get the benefit of my knowledge, and I sell moreinformation products when I release them.Money can be an issue, but it depends on how motivated a person is. I know alot of people who blow over $60 a month buying lattes every day atStarbucks, or pay over a $100 a month for cable TV, but then they say theycan't afford a training program that if followed would practically guaranteethem success. I'm like, “What are your priorities?” Success… or emptycalories and vacuous, puerile entertainment?My only regret is that I didn't make this leap of faith in myself sooner,but hey, we all move at our own pace. People want it to feel safe andrisk-free. In one way, it is risk-free, because you can get your money back.In other ways, though, it's NOT safe or risk-free. You're taking a chance,risking that you'll make your money back and more. And here's the thing: itnever will be risk-free. It will always be scary and you have to just do itanyway.That's how I see it. Your mileage may vary. 🙂

  49. No shenanigans in the slightest, I welcome your comments. I definitely only approved your comment this morning (PST), I didn't even get the DISQUS email until then (POP3 through Gmail takes a while to check so I missed it last night) and I have whitelisted you now so your comments appear automatically (if you ever comment again that is!).

    No wonder Chris Garrett complains about DISQUS, though until now for the 2 weeks or so I've used it I haven't had a problem.

    No hard feelings and I do genuinely like the things you do and the idea of Third Tribe, I'm just a cynic with some of these things these days (as I said in another comment), rightly or wrongly.

  50. No shenanigans in the slightest, I welcome your comments. I definitely only approved your comment this morning (PST), I didn't even get the DISQUS email until then (POP3 through Gmail takes a while to check so I missed it last night) and I have whitelisted you now so your comments appear automatically (if you ever comment again that is!). No wonder Chris Garrett complains about DISQUS, though until now for the 2 weeks or so I've used it I haven't had a problem.No hard feelings and I do genuinely like the things you do and the idea of Third Tribe, I'm just a cynic with some of these things these days (as I said in another comment), rightly or wrongly.

  51. Andrew, as I say above, my comment showed as approved last night. Based on that, I thought Joel had deleted it. Not impatience given that set of facts, but it still seems to be some kind of glitch.

  52. Andrew, as I say above, my comment showed as approved last night. Based on that, I thought Joel had deleted it. Not impatience given that set of facts, but it still seems to be some kind of glitch.

  53. Joel, sorry if I jumped the gun, but I received an email from Disqus last night that said my comment was approved. When I showed up this morning, it was nowhere to be found.

    So, at a minimum, something is going on with your comment system. My apologies if no shenanigans are involved. 🙂

  54. Joel, sorry if I jumped the gun, but I received an email from Disqus last night that said my comment was approved. When I showed up this morning, it was nowhere to be found.So, at a minimum, something is going on with your comment system. My apologies if no shenanigans are involved. 🙂

  55. Thanks Michael, appreciate the comment. Not everyone can afford just to join something to learn from their example, however it is cheaper than paying for their advice I'm sure, and something I am actually considering (if Brian will have me after his second comment, though he's put me off himself his teaching is still brilliant).

    Is this the only membership site you're a part of? I ask as when I surveyed my customers a lot of people had bought many products and membership sites, often these sites have a similar hook to the one you mention (which is not mentioned on the Third Tribe site for anyone else reading) – investing $500 per year to learn how to make $X.

    However someone has to break the cycle and the Third Tribe could be one of the few that deliver on the promise and potential I can see in it. There are others of course, I don't mean to suggest every membership site is a scam, the percentage is just weighted against “us”, even in my own mind.

    Thanks for your recommendation though I take your advice seriously.

  56. Thanks Michael, appreciate the comment. Not everyone can afford just to join something to learn from their example, however it is cheaper than paying for their advice I'm sure, and something I am actually considering (if Brian will have me after his second comment, though he's put me off himself his teaching is still brilliant).Is this the only membership site you're a part of? I ask as when I surveyed my customers a lot of people had bought many products and membership sites, often these sites have a similar hook to the one you mention (which is not mentioned on the Third Tribe site for anyone else reading) – investing $500 per year to learn how to make $X.However someone has to break the cycle and the Third Tribe could be one of the few that deliver on the promise and potential I can see in it. There are others of course, I don't mean to suggest every membership site is a scam, the percentage is just weighted against “us”, even in my own mind.Thanks for your recommendation though I take your advice seriously.

  57. I haven't poked my head into the forums yet at 3T, but I can tell the whole shebang will be worth the money, if for nothing else than to observe and learn from their example. I'm particularly intrigued about how they created a long-form sales letter that didn't look or behave like one.

    It's been my experience with Brian's information products that he overdelivers. You can usually expect a few unannounced bonuses out of the blue, for example.

    If I spend $47 a month to be in 3T, that means I'm investing $564 a year. If what I learn inside and the networking I do benefits me to tune of a five-figure product launch day (and that is not unrealistic for me at this point), I'm sitting pretty. I have the confidence in myself that I will make my investment pay off. The folks running this show are the ones I'd love to corner in a bar and pick their brains over a few drinks. It's a slam dunk for me to be in it.

  58. I haven't poked my head into the forums yet at 3T, but I can tell the whole shebang will be worth the money, if for nothing else than to observe and learn from their example. I'm particularly intrigued about how they created a long-form sales letter that didn't look or behave like one.It's been my experience with Brian's information products that he overdelivers. You can usually expect a few unannounced bonuses out of the blue, for example.If I spend $47 a month to be in 3T, that means I'm investing $564 a year. If what I learn inside and the networking I do benefits me to tune of a five-figure product launch day (and that is not unrealistic for me at this point), I'm sitting pretty. I have the confidence in myself that I will make my investment pay off. The folks running this show are the ones I'd love to corner in a bar and pick their brains over a few drinks. It's a slam dunk for me to be in it.

  59. Thanks Andrew, I'm sure they will and I hope it lives up to the promise. It has some great people involved and people certainly need something they can trust in these days. As you say, the contribution from big names is something I've become so skeptical about it pre-judges every thing I see online these days, rightly or wrongly.

  60. Thanks Andrew, I'm sure they will and I hope it lives up to the promise. It has some great people involved and people certainly need something they can trust in these days. As you say, the contribution from big names is something I've become so skeptical about it pre-judges every thing I see online these days, rightly or wrongly.

  61. There's no need for that in the slightest, we can't all be omnipotent and on the computer 24/7. I replied as soon as the comment appeared in my queue, Antti has commented before so his appeared automatically and I replied very late last night. Yours was held for approval and as DISQUS doesn't show me them on the page I replied as soon as I opened an email about it (which was this morning). Give people a chance, no need for that comment.

  62. There's no need for that in the slightest, we can't all be omnipotent and on the computer 24/7. I replied as soon as the comment appeared in my queue, Antti has commented before so his appeared automatically and I replied very late last night. Yours was held for approval and as DISQUS doesn't show me them on the page I replied as soon as I opened an email about it (which was this morning). Give people a chance, no need for that comment.

  63. Hi Brian, I appreciate you comment. I'm not against Third Tribe at all, I just needed some understanding of what value one would get from this. Corporations hire Chris for one on one advice and while I wouldn't expect Chris to provide one one one advice for $27 per month I've been members of forums before where the supposed gurus pop in one every two months and reply to some posts and pass off recycled content as new. There are so many promises and lures of success, when one comes around telling me it's not one of those I'm curious.
    Perhaps the first tribe has made be so skeptical of this kind of marketing, when I hear “big” names I put my cynic hat on. It's a problem we all have to overcome, so thanks again for stopping by, I appreciate your perspective and explanation.

  64. Hi Brian, I appreciate you comment. I'm not against Third Tribe at all, I just needed some understanding of what value one would get from this. Corporations hire Chris for one on one advice and while I wouldn't expect Chris to provide one one one advice for $27 per month I've been members of forums before where the supposed gurus pop in one every two months and reply to some posts and pass off recycled content as new. There are so many promises and lures of success, when one comes around telling me it's not one of those I'm curious.Perhaps the first tribe has made be so skeptical of this kind of marketing, when I hear “big” names I put my cynic hat on. It's a problem we all have to overcome, so thanks again for stopping by, I appreciate your perspective and explanation.

  65. Thanks Antti! I'm glad you've joined and I can hear about your personal experience with it, it's always interesting to know what goes on the inside and whether you think it's worth it and what you get for you money. Again, much appreciated.

  66. Thanks Antti! I'm glad you've joined and I can hear about your personal experience with it, it's always interesting to know what goes on the inside and whether you think it's worth it and what you get for you money. Again, much appreciated.

  67. Really good, critical post Joel! I joined the #thirdtribe as soon as I heard about it… It's too early to “judge” the third tribe, as it's only been a couple of days. But I liked the interaction in the forum and I enjoyed the first bits of contents…

    In general, I've had great experiences from communities and/or “clubs” like this, just for the networking. I've gotten to know fellow bloggers and connect on even a deeper level than through blog commenting, Twitter, etc – I guess that's what “we both paid for this does 🙂 The coaching and the materials come as a bonus.

    But you are right, monthly $27 is definitely not ridiculously low, or maybe it is if compared to consulting prices of the people who started this service, but when compared for example for the Problogger.com forums (blogging) or optional one time fee of the WarriorForums.com for certain sections there… Or compared to the several info-products & coaching courses where you gain lifetime access to related forums and materials, but for which you don't have to pay forever.

    Anyway, I think you are definitely 3rd/4th or whatever tribe because you're doing the right things. And honest post like this is a prime example of that!

  68. Really good, critical post Joel! I joined the #thirdtribe as soon as I heard about it… It's too early to “judge” the third tribe, as it's only been a couple of days. But I liked the interaction in the forum and I enjoyed the first bits of contents…In general, I've had great experiences from communities and/or “clubs” like this, just for the networking. I've gotten to know fellow bloggers and connect on even a deeper level than through blog commenting, Twitter, etc – I guess that's what “we both paid for this does 🙂 The coaching and the materials come as a bonus.But you are right, monthly $27 is definitely not ridiculously low, or maybe it is if compared to consulting prices of the people who started this service, but when compared for example for the Problogger.com forums (blogging) or optional one time fee of the WarriorForums.com for certain sections there… Or compared to the several info-products & coaching courses where you gain lifetime access to related forums and materials, but for which you don't have to pay forever.Anyway, I think you are definitely 3rd/4th or whatever tribe because you're doing the right things. And honest post like this is a prime example of that!

  69. Let me give you some perspective. A site like Marketing Profs charges $127 for a single seminar. We offer at least one monthly of similar quality, plus live q&a, plus the interactive forum for only $27.

    Here's something else. You can't hire Chris Brogan for anywhere near $27 in real life, but you can ask him anything you want inside Third Tribe. Why should that be free? If corporations pay for Chris's advice, isn't it valuable?

    It sounds like this isn't right for you, and that's okay. But we deliver more education than your average ebook (plus a lot more) for less money, so I'm a bit puzzled why this is such a mysterious concept to you. In the real world of business, people pay to belong to trade associations. In other words, the online world is growing up (at least for some).

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