AGLOCO goes live — but when calculating your riches, check fine print

aglocologo1.bmpAfter some delay, and server problems, AGLOCO is now open for business.

We wrote about the service here. It is controversial because it promises to pay you to surf the Web.

VentureBeat has just signed up, deciding that we’ll give it a whirl and see if it works. We don’t mind sharing basic personal information AGLOCO asks for, because it’s the same many other sites require– and AGLOCO has promised not to pass it on.

We went to the calculator and we practically choked at the earnings it promised based on our plan (see calculator below). It said we’d “earn” 11,720 a month! That’s based on a plan of getting 12 friends to sign up, and an assumption that each of those people will sign up five people on average — and further, we assume each of these people surf an average of five hours a month (all fairly conservative).

Naturally, from the wording, we thought this meant dollars, as in $11,720. So we checked with AGLOCO spokesperson Steve de Bonvoisin, and he set us straight. It means 11,720 shares, and that’s not tied yet to any worth. So don’t get your hopes up. Still, we’d like to try this out. If any of you sign up, and you heard it here first, consider using VentureBeat’s referral ID, which is BBBB0104. It’ll help us with do accurate reporting about this company, and any money we make will be donated to a good non-profit cause. We’ll make it public when we do.

Update: The last piece of the puzzle for getting started, the ViewBar, is still not available. We’ve checked with AGLOCO, and they have not given us a date yet.

aglococalculator.bmp

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Matt Marshall is editor and CEO of VentureBeat. Follow him on Twitter at @mmarshall, and follow VentureBeat on Twitter at @venturebeat.

  • Leon
    I wonder how exactly the company's slogan "Own the Internet" came up. All you could own is a few shares of AGLOGO. Do they mean AGLOGO is the Internet? I don't think so. Who can be sure that the shares will be worth anything?

    Now we got a chance to take a look at the site. They did a good job making a complicated process look simple. Nevertheless it is still complicated. There four things you are supposed to do:

    1) Sign up.
    2) Invite your friends.
    3) Download the ad viewing bar.
    4) Own the company. Get shares (and possibly cash).

    Honestly all of them raise a red flag if I were a visitor of a new site. A lot of trust has to be earned before this bird flies.

    As to the business model as well as the value, if any, it adds to the society, I wrote a comment on TechCrunch.
  • JSP
    So how much are those shares worth?
  • This looks like a blatant pyramid scheme- I can't believe people are publicizing it. Like any pyramid, if you do the math you'll find that you'd have to influence (sell) thousands of people on the idea to see any real return. They may be using the share model because of ambiguities about the legality of this- pyramid schemes are illegal.
  • In Germany we call that a snowball-system. And it only helps the wealth of one person: the founder.
  • S. Whiplash
    It only looks like a pyramid scheme (or snowball) if you're not opening your eyes. A pyramid scheme requires people to pay money into the lower level, which flows to the top. The only flow of money and/or stock at Agloco is from the company down to the members. What you're seeing that makes you think "pyramid" is the fact that their viral marketing method rewards people for referals, and referals of referals, out to 4 levels. This isn't a pyramid, it's just a widening circle of friends who you're getting credit for referring. I was a member of the old AllAdvantage and no member ever lost a dime... in fact, most members made some money, some members made tens of thousands of dollars. So remember, it's only a pyramid if somebody asks you to pay something. It's a layered referral system if they ask you to line up with your friends to get your share of the revenue. :-D
  • It does not matter whether you label it as "pyramid scheme", "multilevel marketing" or "web 2.0-styled viral referral",
    it stinks.
  • Effeminem
    Network marketing isn't a scam, it just doesn't work that well usually. The main problem with this is that the advertisers will not be willing to pay top dollar. If they pay.
  • Online Advertising is a staggering 15.9 Billion, 25% Google will earn. With the right management the idea of get paid to surf is a real opportunity, like the article states don't be fooled about the calculator,unfortunately I know many people will think it is and then scream scam when reality is they don't make that income.
    Thousands of big businesses use the internet to advertise, this is a opportunity for anyone surfing the web to make an extra $$ just like when you watch tv. Do you ever channel surf away from commercials? With online advertising this viewbar will be in front of you and advertisers can still have your eyes on their ad with no fear of channel surfing or web surfing LOL
    Just like google adsense is for content rich sites, this allows the little guys surfing the web to make money.

    Cheers,

    Boris Petersen
  • I agree with you Boris. I believe that this could really take off if managed right.

    I can't wait to see the actual payout structure for the time you browse and your downline.

    I hope they expand the 5 hour/month limit as well.

    I decided to put up a little forum for Agloco members and you can view it at:

    http://www.AglocoForum.com

    I am excited about Agloco because I got paid by AllAdvantage before.

    I think that with the way internet marketing is developing today this could survive and become highly profitble.
  • Ahhh, the good old days! I made over $25,000 with AllAdvantage. Looking forward to doing the same, or better, with AGLOCO! :)
  • A few weeks ago in a post entitled "Web 22 - Where Everybody Has A Share" (see www.bookmansbusiness.com), I said that "In the next web era, which I call Web 22, we will pay people to visit web sites, pay them more to click on ads, and pay more again if they then actually buy something." AGLOCO is a Web 22 site! They just need to pay in milos, the unit of Web 22 currency named after a character in Joseph Heller's novel Catch-22.
  • Paid Instant & Directly to Your EGOLD . .!!

    Earn $ 9,742.92 ++ per 90 Days with your $ 3.5 and Blast Your Ads across LuckyEgold.Com network. Just refer 3 members or NOT.
  • R Z
    Matt,

    I joined AGLOCO before reading this, sorry I am not a referral of yours.

    I read the comments from some of these people- boy these people sure know how to look a ‘gift horse’ in the mouth.

    As I see it, AGLOCO’s bigger short term income is search, not ads (Google pays AOL an average of 10 cents a search - add that to the average Internet user doing 30 to 50 searches a month and AGLOCO has some nice change to start off with. Plus all the automatic referral commissions (Hey with Amazon alone I probably will ‘earn’ AGLOCO $40 to $50 a year - I am too lazy and incompetent to set this up myself through link share, but if it was automatic – heck yes, I would be happy to share in it.)

    Hope you make a lot of money for charity on this one.
  • I agree completely with commenter right before me. It is absurd for people to bash a company whose business model pays you without investing one cent in them.

    That is a godsend to anyone trying to earn money online or offline for that matter.

    I don't know why anyone is complaining about this company. (I do, however, agree that spending on any corporate or political fundraiser party is a complete waste of money and all companies should cease doing so immediately.)

    Back to the point, the company seems to have a viable business model and I am all for it. I am just sorry I missed it the first time around.

    Please see my full review:

    AGLOCO: Make Money Online
  • spectator
    Why are people so scared when they see "multi level"? AGLOCO is NOT asking for any money so the "scared" need not be scared. Let's look at the facts before getting automatically "scared" when seeing a multi-level.

    AGLOCO could spend lots of money on advertising to promore their service. Instead they will reward their members for spreading the word (call it "multi-level" if you like). And those who spread the word more will be rewarded more because they did more work. This type of setup wants to give an income opportunity to it's members instead of spending the money on advertising.

    There is big money in online ads, searches, etc. so AGLOCO is a good prospect if it is managed well. Remember you can't lose money here but could make some (or a lot if you are active).
  • Hey just curious is anyone having problems signing up members??? All day I have experienced problemsI cannot get members join up to work????
  • Lynn, not sure if you're encountering technical glitches, but I was initially hampered by a non-technical issue: The confusing process of having to go back to your original email confirmation to locate your member reference number, etc, which wasn't very clearly marked at the outset.
  • For latest news and updates about AGLOCO you can come to read or voice out your opinions at Agloco Updates.
  • D R Monahan
    Just some clarification needed - the Agloco forum link above is for existing members only? Does anyone know of any forums out there not affiliated with the company to get some more impartial feedback on the software? I'm not sure how I feel about the paying members aspect yet, although I know one person who had positive recollections about the predecessor, AllAdvantage. I just want some confirmation that the toolbar works well. I'm content as the next guy to test out new software, and even better if the company wants to compensate me for it, but I'd still appreciate some more user opinions before climbing on board.
  • Scott
    Feel Free to use my link to sign up http://www.agloco.com/r/BBBG9961
  • Johonny
    Seems like a great idea. Use my link to sign up http://www.agloco.com/r/BBBH5238
  • Hey AGLOCOers,

    So I’ve created a website that will show daily statistics from the ground up for creating your own AGLOCO network. Today is the first day of operation so I’d love some new members to start joining and seeing my project come to life. I’m going to add charts and daily blogs so people can follow along and even mimick my site. The site is:


    http://www.aglocotest.com</a>

    Thanks
    Paul
  • Nothing beats FREE! I'm working on a site that is designed for all you AGlocoer out there to chat and talke about it.

    AllAblutAgloco.com
  • I like the idea of owning your own global corp. Thus I started MyGloCo.com I'm going to list some helpful this for all you glocoer out there.
  • I am getting the sense that AGLOCO is going to work. No one is talking about what I feel is the basic issue. Google and Yahoo dominate the online advertising landscape, they make billions of dollars in revenue. Now, let's take those dollars and distribute them to the people who are actually searching. I think it really is a good idea. Will it work in pratice, I don't know. It will depend largely on the business ability (and honesty) of the the AGLOCO leadership. My gut says this is going to work out well.
  • I also have the feeling that Agloco is going to work and will become very big. I am so excited about Agloco that I build a forum to help AGLOCOers build their network and keep people interested.

    www.AglocoSuccess.com
  • Lou
    My wife and I have been involved in MLMs since the early 1980s. This is the first one that will not cost us anything. I think this is a winner and an easy way to get into the internet search business (which is a HUGE moneymaker)and becoming a stockholder without paying a huge price per share!
  • Lou
    I've been in various MLMs since the early 1980s. It's the first one I have seen with no upfront costs. This certainly is not a pyramid scheme. A great idea--could be getting in on the ground floor of another Google without paying Google's high stock price.
  • For tips, ideas, news , check my blog
    httP://aglocobuilder.blogspot.com
  • I’ve made up an entire website based on AGLOCO. Please take a look around.

    http://agloconews.bravehost.com
  • I was a original member of All Advantage and enjoyed making my $12.50 a month with referrals. I am excited to see them coming back. I see people talking about needing to develop trust with them first. I can understand that if you were putting up money. It's free, what the hell do you have to loose?
  • I to tried All Advantage and made about $10,000 in total.
    This is totaly different but still the same idea. Anyway its free shares for doing very little so you have got to lose by giving it a try.
  • I to tried All Advantage and made about $10,000 in total.
    This is totaly different but still the same idea. Anyway its free shares for doing very little so you have got to lose by giving it a try.

    http://www.aglocobeta.com
  • If you haven’t yet heard about AGLOCO, the next Internet Giant, you need to listen up! This new company, founded by a bunch of Stanford MBA students, is creating quite a buzz. Their slogan is ‘Own the Internet’… they're giving the everyday person a chance to get PAID for things we already do, like read emails and look at ads.

    AGLOCO’s story is simple:

    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 making? NONE!

    AGLOCO thinks you deserve a piece of the action.

    AGLOCO collects money from those companies on behalf of its members. (For example, Google currently pays AOL 10 cents for every Google search by an AOL user. And Google still has enough profit to pay $1.6 billion dollars for YouTube, an 18-month old site full of content that YouTube’s users did not get paid for!

    AGLOCO will work to get its Members their share of this and more.

    AGLOCO is building a new form of online community that they call an Economic Network. They are not only paying Members their fair share, but they’re building a community that will generate the kind of fortune that YouTube. But instead of that wealth making only a few people rich, the entire community will get its share.

    Join FREE today: www.agloco.com/r/BBBB3505
  • Mal
    Give Agloco a try. You won't lose anything. Maybe they (Agloco Team) had learned from their previous mistakes (AllAdvantage.com)

    Join for free: http://agloco2u.notlong.com
  • Agloco, the new AllAdvantage. Get paid when surfing the web.

    For more information, links and discussion.
  • AGLOCO OFFICIAL
    When someone asks what it is, the only thing you need to say is...

    "Agloco offers a toolbar that displays advertising. If you run the toolbar, they will give you a share of the ad money. They also pay you if you refer other people to use the toolbar.”
  • When someone asks what it is, the only thing you need to say is...

    "Agloco offers a toolbar that displays advertising. If you run the toolbar, they will give you a share of the ad money. They also pay you if you refer people to use the toolbar.”
  • za blog poste o AGLOCOu

    Hey guys!

    I am setting up a whole network of localized sites for Agloco! AglocoEurope.com is the crown website of a network of local AGLOCO websites in Europe. On the page you can find a Help Center with guides, hints and tips to build your own AGLOCO referral network. All the content is then translated and posted on local AGLOCO sites!

    At the moment we have this local sites:
    www.AglocoSlovenija.com
    www.AglocoSingapore.com
    www.AglocoPortugal.com
    www.AglocoPolska.com
    www.AglocoBosna.com

    ...and are preparing many more!

    There is also a global forum with local sub-forums available on www.aglocoglobal.com/forum


    Go Agloco!!! :)


    ps: If you'd like to have your localized AGLOCO site, contact me on info@aglocoeurope.com
  • We will also post all of the earnings and shares we make through Agloco and are focusing on health and healthcare topics and websites. Interested in signing up an Agloco health website? Check us out and we'll link to you!

    http://www.aglocohealth.com/
  • I think Agloco is going to go far I always like reading agloco posts and articles and thanks for sharing the information regaurdless if it's for or against agloco I think people should be informed and then make a decition from there this is why I've started a blog called Agloco Hype so people can get better educated with agloco and how to refer people if they do sign up.

    http://aglocohype.blogspot.com/
  • Binoj
    Any way I decided to join caus it doesn't cost me a single penny
    http://aglocosurfing.blogspot.com/
  • Hi,

    Programs can hardly be illegal pyramids, if they deliver a product for a fair price, or there is not a payment or fee, and real MLM do not require thousands of personal recruits.
    About the time to launch, remember Going Platinum, which also offered similar or more benefits, had a great site, and where it is?
    It is also necessary to know the value of shares to calculate profits, as it could be one cent for share, or even less.
    As it is free, what we may lose is time and work, so we will see.
  • The toolbar is coming by the first of April so we'll see!

    JK
    http://www.whyagloco.com
  • Buliding and Maintaining a downline is a difficult task and is a big part of any MLM or Network Marketing business. I uses the following techniques to effectively manage my downline:

    1. Ask questions - guide your downline to the answer for their questions by asking the right questions

    2. Find each individuals strengths - find the strengths in each member of your downline and help them build their business utilizing there strengths.

    3. Lead, dont pressure - lleading is about ,successfully working the business so that your downline members will want to follow you on their own accord. Don't add pressure.

    4. Manage your time - view yourself as a businessperson, and keep each conversation on task.

    5. Consistency is the key to success - create a list of simple business building tasks, and your members to keep a log of the tasks completed each day. Teach them that success depends on how many of these tasks they commit to completing on a consistent daily basis.

    6. Maintain communication - send team updates or newsletters via email to your downline at least every two weeks. Recognize achievements as much as possible.

    7. Know when to move on - you cant make anyone work. You can lead, but if one of your downline wont follow - it might be a better use of your time to find a more self-motivated person.
  • I don't think there's anything wrong with sharing your profits with your users. I run http://www.winzy.com which is a site where we give prizes. We fund prizes with the revenue we make from ads. The site is free and we have a lot of happy users.
  • thanks
  • thanks