It was just brought to my attention that the Friday Traffic Report was not in private mode for the last 2 years. One of my friends just told me she had been reading everything I’ve been posting every day.
She had even told some others about FTR and they’ve been reading it as well.
The shock set in when I realized that, what I thought I had been writing all this time as a personal diary, was actually being consumed by upwards of 24,000 readers per day and passed around the web via RSS and links in an effort to show even more people my private marketing tips!
I blog for me…
I guess I should tell you all, my ramblings here were never meant for public consumption. I was merely keeping a record of what I do and see online to market better. That it has been shared all over the web and linked to from blogs and social sites from all over the world comes as quite a shock.
I guess this explains why people keep sending me checks and signing up for my membership sites. I thought they were all from people landing on those sites directly, but apparently many of my members and clients have been coming from FTR.
This is not for you…
Please, if you have any heart at all, don’t link to or talk about FTR anymore. I appreciate that you thought traffic and notoriety was something that I wanted - that I wanted to become a major authority blog - but I assure you, I thought this blog was hidden and I hope it will be forgotten by the web soon.
I don’t blog for the money or fame. While now it may appear as though that is the only reason I’ve kept this journal, I assure you it was not. I blog for my own sense of peace and as a record of where I’ve been.
My webmaster told me no one could see FTR but me. He has been fired as of this morning.
If you have been reading FTR regularly, I would appreciate it if you tried to forget anything you’ve learned here and please don’t send me any more traffic! I’ll never sell a single book if this information gets out to more people!
Don't
Miss Out On Free Traffic!
Subscribe to the FTR RSS feed
or our
email list so you don't miss out on real, traffic driving tips from Jack
Humphrey! Thanks for visiting!
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
wesley 09.02.08 at 7:59 am
What are you talking about? YOu have ads on this blog, a feedburner widget asking to subscribe (with over 7,000 people subscribed as the image shows) and you do not know this blog is public? …
Or am I missing something here?
Jack Humphrey 09.02.08 at 12:45 pm
Yeah, you’re missing something or my biting wit isn’t as good as I thought it was.
Miguel Alvarez 09.02.08 at 1:13 pm
ROFLMAO!
You crack me up Jack…. and Wesley’s comment really made my day!
Fred Hopkins 09.02.08 at 1:36 pm
I am sorry Jack. I have been using the information on your site for a while with success. I should have told you long ago that it was open too the public but my greed prevented me from alerting you.
Please accept my sincerest apologies.
Oh yeah, I won’t link to you anymore either, I promise!
Fred
Fred Hopkinss last blog post..Animoto Slideshows: My First Guest Blog Post
Jack Humphrey 09.02.08 at 2:35 pm
Fred,
Thank you for understanding. I only hope more people take your lead and do the same. The links to this site are getting way out of control and its not funny anymore people!
Jonathan 09.02.08 at 3:25 pm
Jack
I think you should take a leaf out of Lemony Snicketts PR.
More denial ..
“I wouldn’t read this book. It’s too depressing..In fact it’s really unfortunate that anyone reads these books at all. In fact don’t buy any more of my books PLEASE or you might find ourself addicted to the unfortunate circumstances in which the Baudelaire children find themselves embroiled.”
Good one Jack.
Jonathan
Jonathans last blog post..Jonathan_Gunson: Yes … repeating that Stomping The Search Engines 2 is free: http://www.tinyurl.com/STSE2
Stephen Spry 09.02.08 at 3:56 pm
So THAT’S what I’ve been doing wrong for the past few years!!!!
The “secret” to Internet Marketing is to keep it a “secret”
Dang it - now we ALL know!
Cheers
Stephen Spry
Stephen Sprys last blog post..Super Affiliate Management In WordPress
Jen 09.02.08 at 6:13 pm
Wow, this is kind of strange. I’ve been on your mailing list for four plus years and I thought you gave folks the option to follow you via your blog. As a matter of fact, if my memory serves me correctly, your email approximately 3 years ago stated you would no longer send updates via emails for the Friday Traffic report but that we, your readers would only be able to follow updates on your blog.
Perhaps something was lost in the translation.
Is my account of events incorrect? If so, this is more than a little bit confusing.
Hope it all works out for you.
Kenny Ritchie 09.03.08 at 12:53 am
Sorry Jack,
I’ve just joined BackType through your link.
Which makes my comment toxic to your future wishes. (cool post.)
Kenny Ritchies last blog post..Free or paid autoresponders
Debbi Bressler 09.03.08 at 4:20 am
Jack,
Sheesh…I really didn’t need this aggravation!
In checking with a forensics lab, I found that you can never really erase the data on your computer. So, outside of running over my computer with a steamroller, I don’t know how to protect all this valuable information from the eyes and ears of the public.
The ball is in your court. If you can wire me $2,345.98 for a new computer, I will take this one, hide it in a car at the junkyard, and wait until it is crushed (I actually think this is what happens when people say you can crush your competition, but nobody will actually admit it!)
If this option doesn’t work, you will just have to trust me to not spill the beans.
Please advise. I’m losing sleep over this…
Debbi Bressler
Jack Humphrey 09.03.08 at 5:27 am
Jen - You get some kind of award for that memory!
Debbi - since the blog was private I will have to confiscate your computer. Please send it here ASAP. Email is fine.
I’ve turned this page into a petition everyone can sign by commenting which indicates your pledge not to read FTR from today forward.
Anyone caught linking to FTR after today faces the chance of being linked back or submitted to StumbleUpon multiple times.
I will fight fire with fire. How would you like a bunch of people reading YOUR blog?
Not so funny when the shoe is on the other foot!
Fitzillo 09.03.08 at 6:35 am
I don’t know what was funnier, the actual post or the dips in the comments that thought you were serious.
Great post… how nice would the internet be if everyone looked at their blogs in this way. I know I need to.
Fitzillos last blog post..Top 10 Lies told to Beginning Artists, Designers, & Illustrators…
Denise 09.03.08 at 7:15 am
Jack,
I’m Simply shocked at this news! I was running around in a complete panic after typing in SimplyD on Google and realizing that I was also coming up all over the place. Now look what you’ve done, you’ve dragged me into this! Is your webmaster still looking for work?
SimplyD
Denises last blog post..Success
Jack Humphrey 09.03.08 at 7:38 am
@SimplyD - I know. It’s terrible. I didn’t know you were also trying to keep a low profile on the web. I have read your stuff and I apologize. Someone linked to you and I just blindly followed the link, thinking nothing of it.
Jack from eyeflare.com 09.04.08 at 9:04 am
I’m really sorry, but I’ve been stealing your ideas in my day job for quite a while…
Funny post, perfect that you got someone fooled in the first comment!
Tim Stark 09.06.08 at 4:56 am
Jack,
I think that’s why I enjoy listening to your Podcasts and reading your material. It’s like when i’m having a back yard BBQ and talking to one of my buddies. You walk the walk yet you “seem” approachable and down-to-earth as if you are just being yourself and not trying to impress people that you are someone or something you are not!
Thanks for being yourself!
-Tim
PS.
Remember when your webmaster told you about that “Private” Twitter application to catalog your private micro-thoughts? When you get a moment, and are calm and sitting down, give me a call and we can discuss it!
Tim Starks last blog post..Have You Been Chromed?
Eran Malloch 09.08.08 at 11:00 pm
Drat Jack!
Does this also mean you will be refunding all those SPL folks who signed up after they found you via this “private” blog?
or will you keep the funds to pay for the legal bills?!!! 
I can’t begin to imagine how difficult it will be to ensure that each & every one of them returns all the info they “stole”
from you. Best ensure they all sign NDA’s and threaten them with lawsuits if they discuss ANY of your content anywhere or with anyone!
As for this blog, I will format my HDD tonight, to ensure all info on it from your site has been irrevocably removed!
Eran
Eran Mallochs last blog post..Some Google AdWords Best Practises