Two updates to report here -- hope they are helpful to you.
First, I was contacted by someone who found this blog in a search as she was researching ISN and bookaspeaker.net, and she contacted me to find out if I was bonafide and had a legitimate gripe.
I gave her the info she needed and I'm pleased to say that she has passed on the "opportunity" to work with ISN / bookaspeaker.net .
Secondly, I found a website called Ripoff Report -- and filed some information with them. Never realized one could take their bad consumer experiences online!
As of today, December 31, 2007, I have nothing to show for the money I gave the International Speakers Network. Nuttin. nada. They "tell" me they have followed through but I have nothing to even suggest they have.
Supposedly they have sent 12,000 emails on my behalf targeted specifically to my audience -- health and wellness. But if you do the math for direct mail, then there should have been inquiries from a minimum of .5% of them at this point -- that's one half of one percent.
That math means I should have heard from a minimum of 60 people interested in my speaking services -- and I have not heard from a single one.
I hope this blog will serve to help you decide whether to work with ISN / Innovator's Group / Insight Publishing / bookaspeaker.net all located in Sevierville, TN.
I am so very sorry I wasted my money.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Heard back from the Better Business Bureau
Got the final word from the Better Business Bureau. They have done what they can do, the International Speakers Network is unwilling to budge.
They would rather keep the $950 they owe me than follow through on what their contract with me is, or reimburse the money they stole from me.
Yes -- I use that word "STOLE" -- because in good faith, I paid them for services they have not rendered. It's been more than six months and I have nothing to show for the money I gave them to help market my speaking abilities. Zippo. Nada.
I will continue being a thorn in their sides.
If you are considering joining their organization, or doing business with them in any way -- please consider my experience before sending your hard earned money to these people who make promises they don't keep.
I ask again: David Wright, Greg Wright, Brenda Keefer and others -- how DO you sleep at night? You call yourself good Christians. I believe instead that you give Christians a bad name.
They would rather keep the $950 they owe me than follow through on what their contract with me is, or reimburse the money they stole from me.
Yes -- I use that word "STOLE" -- because in good faith, I paid them for services they have not rendered. It's been more than six months and I have nothing to show for the money I gave them to help market my speaking abilities. Zippo. Nada.
I will continue being a thorn in their sides.
If you are considering joining their organization, or doing business with them in any way -- please consider my experience before sending your hard earned money to these people who make promises they don't keep.
I ask again: David Wright, Greg Wright, Brenda Keefer and others -- how DO you sleep at night? You call yourself good Christians. I believe instead that you give Christians a bad name.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
International Speakers Network: Follow up with Better Business Bureau
David Wright from the International Speaker's Bureau finally replied to the Better Business Bureau. The reply started out by using my name -- and it was misspelled! Gotta love that -- to begin with, they misspelled the name of their client.
Then their reply was the same old same old about how they have been doing what they said they would do, etc etc. I have just completed my reply to the Knoxville Better Business Bureau. Included was some information that could be very helpful to you:
...........................
re: Five Speakers Newsletter program: Let’s imagine that everything is exactly the way ISN states it is, that the email they put together was professional and, at this stage, 4,000 emails have gone out. I have been a professional marketer for more than 20 years. I have been involved in both regular postal direct mail programs for all those 20 years, and direct email programs since 1997. The usual return for postal mail is 2-3%, meaning, for every one thousand mailed pieces, there should be 20 to 30 inquiries. If the email list is targeted, as was claimed by ISN, then the generally accepted rate of return is a little higher, 3 to 5% -- meaning – for every one-thousand emails sent (and received) – there should be 30 to 50 inquiries. Knowing there are 5 people in the speaker program, then 20% of those inquiries should be about my abilities. That means, for every one thousand emails sent out, I should have received at least 6 inquiries for potential speaking engagements from ISN. They claim 4,000 emails have gone – even if 1 out of every 4 bounced back, I still should have heard from 6.
I have heard from none. Zero.
.........................
Now we'll see what they say/do. I still believe these people have stolen my money to benefit only themselves. As I said before, I don't know how they sleep at night.
Then their reply was the same old same old about how they have been doing what they said they would do, etc etc. I have just completed my reply to the Knoxville Better Business Bureau. Included was some information that could be very helpful to you:
...........................
re: Five Speakers Newsletter program: Let’s imagine that everything is exactly the way ISN states it is, that the email they put together was professional and, at this stage, 4,000 emails have gone out. I have been a professional marketer for more than 20 years. I have been involved in both regular postal direct mail programs for all those 20 years, and direct email programs since 1997. The usual return for postal mail is 2-3%, meaning, for every one thousand mailed pieces, there should be 20 to 30 inquiries. If the email list is targeted, as was claimed by ISN, then the generally accepted rate of return is a little higher, 3 to 5% -- meaning – for every one-thousand emails sent (and received) – there should be 30 to 50 inquiries. Knowing there are 5 people in the speaker program, then 20% of those inquiries should be about my abilities. That means, for every one thousand emails sent out, I should have received at least 6 inquiries for potential speaking engagements from ISN. They claim 4,000 emails have gone – even if 1 out of every 4 bounced back, I still should have heard from 6.
I have heard from none. Zero.
.........................
Now we'll see what they say/do. I still believe these people have stolen my money to benefit only themselves. As I said before, I don't know how they sleep at night.
Monday, November 19, 2007
They've Ignored the Better Business Bureau
Just checked in with the Better Business Bureau in Knoxville, Tennessee (closest city to Sevierville, TN with a BBB) --
Seems that David Wright, nor Greg Wright, nor any of their associates have bothered to respond to my complaint. A second notice has been sent. They have until Weds of this week to reply (11-21-07).
If you are interested in seeing their postings for the International Speaker's Network, link here.
http://knoxville.bbb.org/WWWRoot/Report.aspx?site=57&bbb=0533&firm=11488
Please note, they are also called Insight Publishing.
I'll keep you posted.
New! Want to keep abreast of this problem? Contact me at: burnedbyisn(at)hotmail.com and I'll add you to my growing email list.
Seems that David Wright, nor Greg Wright, nor any of their associates have bothered to respond to my complaint. A second notice has been sent. They have until Weds of this week to reply (11-21-07).
If you are interested in seeing their postings for the International Speaker's Network, link here.
http://knoxville.bbb.org/WWWRoot/Report.aspx?site=57&bbb=0533&firm=11488
Please note, they are also called Insight Publishing.
I'll keep you posted.
New! Want to keep abreast of this problem? Contact me at: burnedbyisn(at)hotmail.com and I'll add you to my growing email list.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Two weeks later....
Tap, tap, tap..... still waiting....
Much has happened since I last wrote -- but none of it good -- and nothing resolved....
I did file a complaint with the Knoxville, Tennessee Better Business Bureau (BBB). They have until tomorrow to reply to the complaint. As mentioned previously, ISN (International Speakers Bureau) has an unsatisfactory record with the BBB -- wish I had been smart enough to find that out before signing up with them.
(Sevierville, where ISN is located, is about an hour's drive from Knoxville, in the eastern part of Tennessee -- not far from Dollywood and Gatlinburg -- a beautiful area of the country.)
I finally had a conversation with David Wright, the president of ISN. Very slick man. It was a pleasant enough conversation -- and he PROMISED ME -- that I would receive not only a copy of the email that was sent out to (supposedly at this point) 4,000 meeting planners, but the lists of who those meeting planners are, too.
I was going to have all of those by last Friday.
Surprise!! They sent me the same pdf they sent previously -- which showcases 4 people plus me -- BUT -- NO marketing information, NO contact information, NO way to get in touch with any of the 5 of us OR anyone at the ISN.
To remind you.... I contacted those same people the first time this information was sent to me, and this is what I learned from them:
Much has happened since I last wrote -- but none of it good -- and nothing resolved....
I did file a complaint with the Knoxville, Tennessee Better Business Bureau (BBB). They have until tomorrow to reply to the complaint. As mentioned previously, ISN (International Speakers Bureau) has an unsatisfactory record with the BBB -- wish I had been smart enough to find that out before signing up with them.
(Sevierville, where ISN is located, is about an hour's drive from Knoxville, in the eastern part of Tennessee -- not far from Dollywood and Gatlinburg -- a beautiful area of the country.)
I finally had a conversation with David Wright, the president of ISN. Very slick man. It was a pleasant enough conversation -- and he PROMISED ME -- that I would receive not only a copy of the email that was sent out to (supposedly at this point) 4,000 meeting planners, but the lists of who those meeting planners are, too.
I was going to have all of those by last Friday.
Surprise!! They sent me the same pdf they sent previously -- which showcases 4 people plus me -- BUT -- NO marketing information, NO contact information, NO way to get in touch with any of the 5 of us OR anyone at the ISN.
To remind you.... I contacted those same people the first time this information was sent to me, and this is what I learned from them:
- I had a bit of a clue of what I would hear back because of the other four people, only one even addresses health and wellness issues.
- Not one of them is supposed to be included in that mailing. None of them paid for it.
- Three of them mentioned that they had purchased services for other mailings. Not one of them has ever seen any of those mailings. As far as they know, none were ever emailed.
- None of them has ever been booked as a speaker through ISN or Book a Speaker -- not one booking among five people. Not one.
I have sent one more request for my money back to David Wright and his posse.
Honestly, I don't know how they sleep at night!
I'll keep you posted...
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Is this smear blogging?
I did write to ISN yesterday. Heard back from Greg Wright who said it was the first time he had heard about my disappointment with their service. That's possible.
I made a correction and suggested my disappointment was about their LACK OF service.
He asked me to desist with my smear blogging. I told him this blog is merely a recount of my experience.
He told me that in fact, all the mailings I had contracted for had been sent and he had directed Brenda to send me the confirmations.
The program he's referring to is an email that was supposed to be sent out to 12,000 conference planners with a pdf listing me as a Top 5 speaker.
So I asked him to send me -- within the hour -- a copy of the pdf. Afterall, if it's already been sent out to the conference planners it shoud be nothing at all to send me a copy, right?
So far nuttin. In fairness, all this took place at 5:30 in the afternoon. Perhaps I'll receive it this morning.
I also told him I want the names and contact info for three of the people it was sent to so I can talk to them to verify they received it.
I'll keep you posted.
I made a correction and suggested my disappointment was about their LACK OF service.
He asked me to desist with my smear blogging. I told him this blog is merely a recount of my experience.
He told me that in fact, all the mailings I had contracted for had been sent and he had directed Brenda to send me the confirmations.
The program he's referring to is an email that was supposed to be sent out to 12,000 conference planners with a pdf listing me as a Top 5 speaker.
So I asked him to send me -- within the hour -- a copy of the pdf. Afterall, if it's already been sent out to the conference planners it shoud be nothing at all to send me a copy, right?
So far nuttin. In fairness, all this took place at 5:30 in the afternoon. Perhaps I'll receive it this morning.
I also told him I want the names and contact info for three of the people it was sent to so I can talk to them to verify they received it.
I'll keep you posted.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Still playing dumb....
If you've read this far, and you are still considering spending your hard-earned money with the International Speaker's Network (located in Sevierville, TN ) -- consider my experience:
It's been 4 months since I spent nearly $1,000 to sign up with Book A Speaker, an ISN service, and to be included in an email that supposedly goes to meeting planners. Nothing. Still nothing.
And -- they are claiming they don't owe me any money. However -- I'm still fighting it.
I wish I didn't get mixed up with this bunch! I've contacted almost a dozen of their other speakers and to date I can't find one single person who has ever been booked through their program -- not one.
Nor can I find any conference producers who have ever even heard of them!
These are the business names they use:
BookaSpeaker.net
Insight Publishing
International Speakers Network
The Innovator's Group
The Better Business Bureau listing cites Greg Wright as the contact person -- I think he is David Wright, the owner's son. Doesn't make David much of a role model, does it?
In my experience, corraling us speakers is just their way of getting us to print our speaker materials -- except -- the promises they make to me as a speaker are empty. It makes me wonder what their promises are to authors?
I'll keep you posted.
It's been 4 months since I spent nearly $1,000 to sign up with Book A Speaker, an ISN service, and to be included in an email that supposedly goes to meeting planners. Nothing. Still nothing.
And -- they are claiming they don't owe me any money. However -- I'm still fighting it.
I wish I didn't get mixed up with this bunch! I've contacted almost a dozen of their other speakers and to date I can't find one single person who has ever been booked through their program -- not one.
Nor can I find any conference producers who have ever even heard of them!
These are the business names they use:
BookaSpeaker.net
Insight Publishing
International Speakers Network
The Innovator's Group
The Better Business Bureau listing cites Greg Wright as the contact person -- I think he is David Wright, the owner's son. Doesn't make David much of a role model, does it?
In my experience, corraling us speakers is just their way of getting us to print our speaker materials -- except -- the promises they make to me as a speaker are empty. It makes me wonder what their promises are to authors?
I'll keep you posted.
Friday, October 5, 2007
I want my money back
OK -- so I've written a letter to David Wright and asked for my money back. They owe me $950 all together because in almost 5 months now -- nuttin. None of the service I've paid for has been delivered to me.
I'm an inch away from calling this bunch total scam artists. And yes -- they got me.
I'm an inch away from calling this bunch total scam artists. And yes -- they got me.
Friday, September 28, 2007
ISN and the Better Business Bureau
Well well well.
Looks like I'm not the only person who has had difficulties getting the service I paid for from the International Speakers Network.
Check this out from the Knoxville, TN Better Business Bureau.
http://knoxville.bbb.org/WWWRoot/Report.aspx?site=57&bbb=0533&firm=11488
Looks like I'm not the only person who has had difficulties getting the service I paid for from the International Speakers Network.
Check this out from the Knoxville, TN Better Business Bureau.
http://knoxville.bbb.org/WWWRoot/Report.aspx?site=57&bbb=0533&firm=11488
More September: Experiences with the International Speakers Network
When I continued being put off by Brenda and Dona, I finally decided to do a little research on my own.
Since there is no direct contact information in the proof copy of the brochure I received, I hunted down email addresses for each one of the other four people listed in the proof I had been sent. I sent an email to each one individually, simply asking what their experiences have been, and whether they were supposed to be part of the Five Featured Health and Wellness people included in the brochure.
I heard back from all of them. Here are the results:
That is the status as of today. I'll keep you posted.
Since there is no direct contact information in the proof copy of the brochure I received, I hunted down email addresses for each one of the other four people listed in the proof I had been sent. I sent an email to each one individually, simply asking what their experiences have been, and whether they were supposed to be part of the Five Featured Health and Wellness people included in the brochure.
I heard back from all of them. Here are the results:
- First -- I had a bit of a clue of what I would hear back because of the other four people, only one even addresses health and wellness issues.
- Not one of them is supposed to be included in that mailing. None of them paid for it.
- Three of them mentioned that they had purchased services for other mailings. Not one of them has ever seen any of those mailings. As far as they know, none were ever emailed.
- None of them has ever been booked as a speaker through ISN or Book a Speaker -- not one booking among five people. Not one.
That is the status as of today. I'll keep you posted.
Early September: Experiences with the ISN
Early September came and went. Still no response about whether the mailings were begun. However, I got plenty of email about new programs I could spend my money on. "Five Featured Speakers Here" or "Business Leaders Book" there....
On September 17, I received another one of those emails from another regular contact, Dona Merrit, about another campaign -- this one for 12,000 planners over six months... which would cost me even more money....
Instead I replied by asking the status of my mailing.
My reply was forwarded to Brenda Keefer. I heard nothing. That went on for several days and finally I heard back from Brenda asking me for my proof. What proof? Well, supposedly, she had emailed my flyer to me to proof -- but -- surprise! I had never received it.
It made me wonder -- how is it I had received all those other mailings asking me to participate in further promotional opps, but I had never received the proof? It took her four more days to actually send me what I was supposed to proof -- and sure enough -- there were 5 speakers, several errors, and NO identifying information so that anyone who received it would know who to contact to book these speakers.
I sent her my corrections, and asked when it was going to be mailed. Brenda told me she was waiting to hear back from one more person who had been called out of the country on an emergency and then it would be emailed -- after we all proofed the final copy.
So I waited.... and waited....
On September 17, I received another one of those emails from another regular contact, Dona Merrit, about another campaign -- this one for 12,000 planners over six months... which would cost me even more money....
Instead I replied by asking the status of my mailing.
My reply was forwarded to Brenda Keefer. I heard nothing. That went on for several days and finally I heard back from Brenda asking me for my proof. What proof? Well, supposedly, she had emailed my flyer to me to proof -- but -- surprise! I had never received it.
It made me wonder -- how is it I had received all those other mailings asking me to participate in further promotional opps, but I had never received the proof? It took her four more days to actually send me what I was supposed to proof -- and sure enough -- there were 5 speakers, several errors, and NO identifying information so that anyone who received it would know who to contact to book these speakers.
I sent her my corrections, and asked when it was going to be mailed. Brenda told me she was waiting to hear back from one more person who had been called out of the country on an emergency and then it would be emailed -- after we all proofed the final copy.
So I waited.... and waited....
August 2007: My experiences with the ISN
In June 2007, I had paid for my membership in the International Speakers Network, plus I had paid for a program called Five Featured Speakers in Health and Wellness. The idea was that e-brochures would be sent to 12000 health and wellness conference planners over a six month timeframe.
In August, two months later, the ISN had not even requested I send them the information I wanted included in the brochure. I wrote and asked when they would need it and they said they wanted it right away. They had just sold the last spot in the mailing.
OK -- that made sense. They couldn't send it without commitment from enough people. I put together my information, along with my photo, exactly as requested and forwarded it to Brenda Keefer, the person coordinating the program.
I realized that it would be a good idea for them to begin sending the mailings in early September. Since nothing had gone out yet, they might as well wait.
In August, two months later, the ISN had not even requested I send them the information I wanted included in the brochure. I wrote and asked when they would need it and they said they wanted it right away. They had just sold the last spot in the mailing.
OK -- that made sense. They couldn't send it without commitment from enough people. I put together my information, along with my photo, exactly as requested and forwarded it to Brenda Keefer, the person coordinating the program.
I realized that it would be a good idea for them to begin sending the mailings in early September. Since nothing had gone out yet, they might as well wait.
Why I started this blog about the International Speakers Network
Beginning in late 2006, I began receiving information through email from the International Speakers Network, also known as BookaSpeaker.net, AKA Insight Publishing about their ability to market my speaking abilities.
I received regular emails from them with interesting options that could address my marketing needs.
I went online to see if I could find information about them -- good or bad -- and was unable to find information except that many speakers were on their docket.
So in June 2007, I decided to take the plunge -- to trust that they were good business people -- and to learn more about marketing my speaking services. I spent $595 to join the organization (a one-time fee) and another $400 to become a part of a "Five Featured Healthcare Speakers" program which was to put my speaking information in front of 12000 health and medical conference planners over a six month period.
Today is Friday, September 28, and to this date, three months later, they have not followed through on the commitment to frame my information in a Five Featured Speakers format, and to this date, not one single email has been sent to any conference planners with my information in it.
Many promises have been made. Many lies have been offered as explanations, too. I have proof.
This blog is intended to record my experience with them. More importantly, this blog is intended to be found by those of you who may wish to do business with them in the future. I hope it will cause you to ask more questions before you make any commitments.
Feel free to contact me at BurnedbyISN (at) hotmail.com if you have further questions.
I received regular emails from them with interesting options that could address my marketing needs.
I went online to see if I could find information about them -- good or bad -- and was unable to find information except that many speakers were on their docket.
So in June 2007, I decided to take the plunge -- to trust that they were good business people -- and to learn more about marketing my speaking services. I spent $595 to join the organization (a one-time fee) and another $400 to become a part of a "Five Featured Healthcare Speakers" program which was to put my speaking information in front of 12000 health and medical conference planners over a six month period.
Today is Friday, September 28, and to this date, three months later, they have not followed through on the commitment to frame my information in a Five Featured Speakers format, and to this date, not one single email has been sent to any conference planners with my information in it.
Many promises have been made. Many lies have been offered as explanations, too. I have proof.
This blog is intended to record my experience with them. More importantly, this blog is intended to be found by those of you who may wish to do business with them in the future. I hope it will cause you to ask more questions before you make any commitments.
Feel free to contact me at BurnedbyISN (at) hotmail.com if you have further questions.