In this episode, Mark finally tells the story of being mentioned in a sermon, shares the latest Corn Sheller site statistics showing a puzzling earnings drop, and addresses a heartfelt message from a 61-year-old listener named John who has lost everything and wants to start over with internet marketing.

What You Will Learn in This Episode

• Why the Corn Sheller site's earnings dropped 75% despite steady traffic
• How helping others can ripple outward in ways you never expect
• Practical advice for someone starting from zero with internet marketing
• The Zig Ziglar philosophy applied to real business relationships

Episode Summary

Corn Sheller Update

The Corn Sheller site continues generating approximately 6,000 pageviews per month. Traffic is stable and click-throughs to eBay are at their highest levels ever. However, eBay conversions have dropped dramatically, causing earnings to fall from $40-$50 per month to around $10. The data shows the problem is not traffic or click-throughs — it is conversion on the eBay side, possibly related to available merchandise in the marketplace.

The Sermon

Mark's friend Scott, a colleague from his semiconductor day job, sent an email revealing he had mentioned Mark in a church sermon. Scott referenced Mark's habit of quoting Zig Ziglar about helping others get what they want. The connection between a business podcast, a Zig Ziglar quote, and a sermon illustrated how helping others creates ripple effects you cannot predict.

A Guy Named John

John, a 61-year-old listener, wrote that he had lost everything — no pension, no savings — and wanted to build an internet business. What impressed Mark was John's accountability (he owned his mistakes), realistic expectations (he wanted to earn $10 per month per site), and willingness to work. Mark provides practical advice for starting from zero.

What Has Changed Since This Episode

Mark recorded this in November 2013.

The eBay affiliate model Mark described has largely been replaced by Amazon Associates and other affiliate networks. The diagnostic approach Mark demonstrated — following data through the funnel to find the breakdown point — remains essential for any affiliate marketer.

Starting an online business from zero is more accessible than ever in 2026, with platforms like YouTube, Substack, and social media offering paths to monetization that did not exist in 2013. The “services first, passive income second” advice Mark gave John remains the most practical approach for anyone who needs income immediately.

Listen and Subscribe

Listen to Late Night Internet Marketing on Apple Podcasts or subscribe at latenightim.com/internet-marketing-podcast/. Have a question for Mark? Call the digital recorder at 214-444-8655 or leave a comment below.