AGLOCO for newbs

The AGLOCO pitch in a nutshell

If you go to the AGLOCO blog, you will find this nugget in the 'About AGLOCO' page:

About AGLOCO

Do You Realize How Valuable You Are?
Advertisers, search providers, and online retailers are paying billions to reach you while you surf. How much of that money are you getting?

You Deserve A Piece of the Action
AGLOCO gets paid by companies to reach our Members through our Viewbar™ software.We give that money back to you.

Build the Community, Make More Money
Through our Referral Program, we reward those who are helping to build this Global Community. The bigger the community, the more money AGLOCO makes for its Members.

What’s the Catch?
No catch. Sign up, refer your friends, download the free Viewbar™ software and surf the Internet as you normally would.

Privacy Counts.
Your information will never be sold, rented,or shared with anyone else. Bulletproof privacy is a core commitment of AGLOCO.

So, that is really all you need to mention to someone, really. I plan on e-mailing this out to prospective members, if I ever get any! So sign up now and get on board.

More economics of AGLOCO

From the Simmons report, all newbs should read the following to get a good idea of what to expect from joining and recruiting members into AGLOCO:

The cost of recruiting new users to AGLOCO can vary. For many users it is simply sending an email to friends or contacts – or talking to them directly. For others it is blog postings or website notices and for some users paid ads on search engines. The privacy and anti-spam policies of AGLOCO and the track record on these issues of Ray Everett-Church (AGLOCO’s Chief Privacy Officer) makes the risk of getting spam, pop ups and other trash as a user a non issue.

In general, given the low level of work needed to recruit new users to AGLOCO and the zero cost in terms of money, the cost/benefit ratio of recruiting new users to AGLOCO seems to be highly favorable. Because there is no limit as to the number of referrals a user can recruit, the upper end on this opportunity could be high (which means it can be worth putting in the effort to promote actively). This analysis was done two weeks after AGLOCO launched and there have been user postings noting referral networks of 4,000 and 5,000 already. At $30 value each this would be $120,000 to $150,000 so far, which means AGLOCO could make some serious recruiting users a high return on their efforts.

 Referral Example: 

• A user recruits ten people (10 direct referrals) –
• If on average, each direct referral recruits 3 new users (some will recruit many and some none, but the average is 3 for each level of your network) -- Value of 10 referrals $300
• The user would have 30 indirect users one person removed. – Value of 30 referrals $900
• The user would have 90 indirect users two people removed -- Value of 90 referrals $2,700
• The user would have 270 indirect users three people removed -- Value of 270 referrals $8,100
• The user would have 810 indirect users four people removed  -- Value of 810 referrals $24,300
• Total referrals the user would have in the network would be 1,210.

Interview with Agloco Founders Ray Everett Church and Akshay Mavani

Doing some surfing around today and reading different AGLOCO blogs, here is one that has an interview with the founders of AGLOCO, and some other great info on his referral network of members.

One of the first live interviews with the Founders and Creative force behind Agloco. Robert Scoble does a good job interviewing these two and asking the right questions. Ray is the Chief Council and Chief Privacy Officer, while Akshay is the Chief Strategist; the Video is awesome motivation for those who are either skeptics, or just uninformed about the Agloco Economic Network concept. If you know who Scoble is, then you know how Big Time’ this interview was. I wish they had a sample ViewBar to get us all drooling, but maybe that’s next week - not holding my breath, but crossing fingers...

More analysis

From the 'how does this thing work' file, I came across a very informative analysis of AGLOCO. Read on, newbs:

Analysis:

This analysis is centered around the amount of personal value an AGLOCO user could get, with a special focus on a user who is actively referring new users to AGLOCO. Material used included the AGLOCO website (membership agreement, privacy policy, FAQs and general information pages). management interviews, critical blog postings concerning AGLOCO, internet advertising and commerce data, valuations of other Internet communities and the business model economics of Google, Yahoo, MySpace, You Tube, etc.

 

Conclusions:

The valuation conclusions are based on AGLOCO reaching two million users in a two year time span:

• A user who has no referrals should      receive ownership in AGLOCO worth on average      about $150. (plus monthly cash distributions)
• The average value of an AGLOCO      user’s referral network should be $30 each in ownership shares plus the      referrer’s share of monthly cash distribution.
• The average AGLOCO      direct referral should be worth in excess of $3,000 each (see example      below for details)
• The analysis also shows a range of monthly      cash distributions of between $5 and $15 a month per user.
• The AGLOCO      business model looks theoretically sound – (assuming they get      to a decent size quickly - at least 500,000 users within nine months to a      year.

Explaining AGLOCO to potential members

More from the AGLOCO company blog. A lot of people are asking how does this make me money. Read the bottom (or the whole post) :

Once you get someone’s attention, you might have about 2 more minutes to explain the details. There are a number of points you could hit, and it sometimes involves determining what the person would be most interested in hearing. Remember, you may not have time to explain EVERYTHING, but after referring them to www.agloco.com (perhaps using your referral link), the website can fill in the details. 

Below are some topics you might want to talk about (from the same graduate school friend who gave me the 30-second pitch):

Why does AGLOCO use a referral system?

“The most valuable part of AGLOCO is its Members. By referring others to AGLOCO, you provide them with value and for that, AGLOCO thinks you should get some of that value you provide.

It makes sense. Think about YouTube. The first, most active users were on the site when the software was buggy and there were few videos available, but their Membership (and referrals to others) is what made the site a success. When it was sold for $1.65 billion, how much of that did these first users see? Nothing. With the AGLOCO referral system, Members get more for building the network.”

Member Privacy

“AGLOCO takes privacy very seriously and keeps all of your personal information strictly confidential and secure. Some other popular Internet companies take your personal information, use it, profit off it, sell it to others, and then give you nothing. AGLOCO will not share ANY of your Membership information with any unauthorized third party, and YOU share in the profits made from more personalized advertisements.

AGLOCO’s privacy policy stipulates exactly what information might be collected. It is 100% transparent and spyware-free. Moreover, while you are paid for the time the Viewbar is up, you can turn it off at any time. To ensure that your privacy is kept paramount, AGLOCO has hired a Chief Privacy Officer, Ray Everett-Church. Ray was the Internet’s first Chief Privacy Officer, and co-author of ‘Internet Privacy for Dummies’. You can trust that our privacy is safe with AGLOCO.”

Where AGLOCO makes money

“There are a whole bunch of ways AGLOCO makes money on behalf of Members. Here are just a few quick examples. 

First of all, the Viewbar has a search function you can use to search yahoo, google, etc. Every time you use this search bar, the AGLOCO community makes money.

Second, the Viewbar has space for a text-only ad (no loud, flashing banners – just unobtrusive text). These ads make money for the AGLOCO community.

Third, AGLOCO has affiliate programs with a number of online retailers. Buy from one of these sites and AGLOCO makes money.”

AGLOCO company blog motivational speech

For those that ask, 'well what if I only get like, 1 person, am I going to make any money', the AGLOCO folks have a reply in their company blog:

Some people have asked me, “What’s in it for regular Members who have few or no referrals?” I like this question because I know there is a whole lot these Members have to gain. We designed AGLOCO as an Economic Network to benefit every Member, not just those who help build it.

For example, I was reading a blog post about the affiliate commissions AGLOCO will collect, and I realized that I hear a lot of talk about how AGLOCO will make money from advertising, but less buzz about the other (perhaps even more interesting and directly useful) ways Members will make money.

It's worth a full read to fully grasp what they are up to, and how that revenue makes its way back to you, the member. Some more:

Every year, billions of dollars are spent on online shopping, whether for books, electronics, cars, airline tickets, or just about anything else. Many online retailers such as Amazon, Orbitz, and CarsDirect have programs that pay for attracting customers to their online store (basically, to get you to purchase on their site and not that of a competitor). AGLOCO Members will be able to take advantage of these programs simply by having the Viewbar active while they are shopping.

Building a base of members

I plucked this 'FAQ' from another website that promotes Agloco. I plan to visit each section and give thoughts on what it really means:

What is AGLOCO all about? AGLOCO is the first Internet based economic network, which enables you as a Member to Get your share of the Internet. Advertiser's, search companies, online merchants and other businesses currently pay lots of companies to deliver people like you to them for attention and commerce. With AGLOCO they will be paying YOUR company. AGLOCO is also a global community of Internet users whose active Members can paid for all their online activity. By downloading our proprietary Viewbar TM technology, members benefit from engaging content tailored to their interests. AGLOCO also pays its members to refer their friends to the community (and for those friends to refer more friends through four levels of extended referrals.)
AGLOCO is A GLObal COmmunity that is owned by its Members
Do You Realize How Valuable You Are?
Advertisers, search providers, and online retailers are paying billions to reach you while you surf. How much of that money are you getting?

You Deserve A Piece of the Action
AGLOCO gets paid by companies to reach our Members through our Viewbar software.We give that money back to you.

Build the Community, Make More Money
Through our Referral Program, we reward those who are helping to build this Global Community. The bigger the community, the more money AGLOCO makes for its Members.

What's the Catch?
No catch. Sign up, refer your friends, download the free Viewbar software and surf the Internet as you normally would.

Privacy Counts.
Your information will never be sold, rented,or shared with anyone else. Bulletproof privacy is a core commitment of AGLOCO.

Become a Member
Simple and fast. Entirely Free. Your Information is Private.

Invite Your Friends
Build your Referral Network. Increase your Earning Power.

Download the Viewbar
Viewbar Beta coming soon! Simple, useful, spyware-free.

It's Now Your Company!
Get your share of the Company. Get Cash and other Benefits.

FAQ
What is AGLOCO all about?
AGLOCO is the first Internet based economic network, which enables you as a Member to 'Get your share of the internet.' Advertisers, search companies, online merchants and other businesses currently pay lots of companies to deliver people like you to them to get your attention and sell goods. With AGLOCO they will be paying YOU.

AGLOCO is also a global community of Internet users whose active Members can be paid for all their online activity. By downloading our proprietary Viewbar technology, members benefit from engaging yet unobtrusive content tailored to their interests. AGLOCO also pays its members to refer their friends to the community (and for those friends to refer more friends through four levels of extended referrals.)

How do I earn cash and shares?
Sign up, use the web as usual and earn cash and shares - it really is that simple. Once you install the Viewbar software it automatically records the time you're actively online, and we pay you for it. But the first step is to sign up and become a member. It's fast and it's free. If you refer your friends and family we'll pay you even more cash and shares.

How do referrals work?
AGLOCO pays you an hourly rate when the friends and family you recruit (called "direct referrals") use the web with the Viewbar running, as well as for people your referrals recruit (called "extended referrals"). Extended referrals continue for four levels past your original referral, and there is no limit to the number of referrals you can accumulate. Check out our Referral Page for more information.

Are there rules or restrictions?
There are some rules, and all are intended for the benefit of AGLOCO members:

* Sign Up Only Once: Each person can only sign up once, creating an account for him or herself, and may not establish an account on behalf of anyone else. Accounts cannot be transferred between people, and each account must be for a physical person.

* No spamming: AGLOCO strictly forbids spamming to get referrals. This means you can only tell people you know or who explicitly agree to receive your invitation to be referred. If you use spam to try to get referrals, your account will be terminated. For more information, see our Anti-Spam Policy

* Number of Internet Hours: The maximum number of payable hours per month is currently 5. Over time, depending on several variables that number may change at AGLOCO's discretion. The reason we implemented this limit is to prevent hacking software from continuously clicking and thereby generating online search. Remember you can still increase your profits by referring more people to AGLOCO.

* Active Surfing: You have to actively surf to earn cash for your online usage. Just keeping a website up does not constitute active surfing. If you use a software piracy device that constantly clicks through websites, AGLOCO's anti-hacking instruments will detect and - after investigation - disconnect your account. In addition, you have to be an active online Member in order to get the benefit of your referrals' surfing. If you surf only 50% of the maximum payable hours a month, and your referrals each surf 100%, you will be credited with only 50% of the payable surfing time for each referral. See our Global Payments Table for details of payable hours by country.

* Accuracy of Information: All information submitted during signup must be accurate; members who deal with AGLOCO in a fraudulent fashion will forfeit their memberships, their account balance, and their referrals. You will have to accept these terms before signing up and being able to download the Viewbare. See our Membership Agreement for more information.

Do I need to buy anything?
No, AGLOCO Membership is absolutely free. You will never have to buy or sell anything. Simply sign up, download your free copy of the Viewbar software, refer your friends and family, and get your share of the Internet!
Why is AGLOCO giving 100% of its stock to its Members?
We believe the internet should be a platform for users to benefit from, and if anyone generates money from users' normal online activities, it should be the users themselves.

How will you (the Development Team) make money if all the AGLOCO shares are given to Members?
AGLOCO pays a 10% fee to its management company, much like Tom Cruise has an agent that he pays 10%. In order to make and keep AGLOCO a vibrant community it needs to attract the best management it can. Since no stock is given to managers or founders (only Members are issued stock). This fee serves as an incentive to attract the best talent to help run AGLOCO.

What is AGLOCO's Privacy Policy?
AGLOCO is totally committed to your privacy. We do not sell, rent or give away your personally identifiable personal information to any marketer or advertiser. We have a detailed Privacy Policy which explains in plain language how we protect your privacy.

What will my shares be worth?
As a profit-seeking venture, the value of the shares will be directly related to the value of the company. Since AGLOCO's profitability is dependent upon its Members' internet usage, the greater the number of AGLOCO Members the more the shares will be worth. We are currently in the process of listing the company on the London Stock Exchange (AIM). As with any public company, the market will decide what is the fair value of the share.

How do I change my personal information?
Go to your profile section to change your information. Don't forget to click on "Save" to upload your profile

Can I give my cash and shares directly to charity?
Yes, you will be able to give your cash and/or shares directly to the Charity of your choice. AGLOCO will also work with select Charities so as to facilitate donations. In addition, The AGLOCO Foundation was set up to promote free access to information across the world. The Development Team has agreed to tender the shares they earn as Founding Members to the Foundation.

When can I sell my shares?
Once AGLOCO is public, Members will be free to sell their shares through the stock exchange. (see Cash and Shares).

Can I have more than one account?
Membership to AGLOCO is limited to one account per physical person. Registering under different names will violate the membership rules, and may lead to cancellation of your account.

How do I invite others?
Go to the referral center. It will give you detailed information and a step by step approach on how to refer friends to your network.

Why should I invite others?
The more referrals you have the more you can earn and the more powerful your community becomes. Click here to see how much you can earn.

Is AGLOCO free for everyone?
Yes. AGLOCO is free for everyone. There are no hidden fees or premium accounts.

How can I get more referrals?
Visit the referral center for more information.

How valuable can my referrals be?
Go to the share calculator.

Can I refer someone that is already a member?
No. If someone is already a member, he/she cannot become your referral.

How many referrals can I have?
As many as you can sign up, there is no limit.

Is the AGLOCO referral system multi-level marketing?
No. Multi-level marketing involves Members selling products to new Members that they recruit. AGLOCO is basically the opposite. No Member ever pays AGLOCO. Instead, AGLOCO gets money from companies (like advertisers, search companies and online merchants) and distributes cash and shares to it Members. See Learn More for more info.

How much do I get paid in my country?
Check out the Global Payment Table for details about each active country.

What does the Viewbar do?
Go to the Viewbar page for more information on how the Viewbar works.

Why can't I download the viewbar now?
The Viewbar software is currently in closed beta testing (no one is accumulating hours with the beta software). After thorough testing and necessary improvements, it will be released to AGLOCO Members on a first come first serve basis (according to the date you signed up to be an AGLOCO Member). We are currently allowing our Members full access to the site to build their referral networks. The sooner you sign up, the earlier you will be able to download the Viewbar and start accumulating online hours!

Will it be free to download the viewbar?
Yes, it is completely free to download the viewbar. Depending on the speed of your internet connection, the download time may vary from a few to several minutes.

Do I need to have the Viewbar up all the time?
No! Currently AGLOCO will reward up to five hours a month in Viewbar time. Above that limit, you can keep your Viewbar displayed or minimize it at any time, though most of the Members choose to keep it up. If you don't want your Viewbar to operate at any specific time, just minimize it and it will stop working. However, you will not earn online hours while your Viewbar is minimized.

Will I be able to minimize the viewbar?
Yes! You can minimize the Viewbar any time and it will stop working. However, you will not accumulate any online hours while the Viewbar is minimized.

Can I use more than one computer?
You can install the Viewbar software on multiple computers and get credit for your surfing regardless of which machine you use. However, you cannot use the Viewbar on more than one machine simultaneously. Just download and install the Viewbar software on each machine you use to surf the Web.

How do I change my email address?
You can go to the profile section and change your email address. Don't forget to click on "Save" to upload your profile.

What if I want to quit?
There are no obligations to maintain your Membership, you may quit at any time. If you cancel your account, you forfeit any balance accumulated below the minimum payout level. You also forfeit your referral network, although your referrals remain members. Of course, you can rejoin whenever you want but you will start out without any balance or referrals. To cancel your membership, you can send an email to cancelmembership@AGLOCO.com