I just checked and, 19 years on, I still have the "RichJerk.pdf" stored away on my PC:

Modified date is 29/12/2005.

From what I can gather the Rich Jerk briefly came back in 2016 with a new, updated product and also a big marketing campaign that included videos starring Gary Busey. On checking today there is no website on either richjerk.com or kellyfelix.com.

You can, however, read the blog post mentioned in the below update on archive.org. Here's the link:

Archive Link: Prelude to a Rich Jerk

* Update April 2011 *

When I wrote the below review back in 2005 the identity of the Rich Jerk was a closely guarded secret.

However, for the last couple of years the man behind it has been very upfront about who he is and has written a interesting blog post describing his successes online and also the origin of the Jerk.

You can read that particular blog post here:

http://kellyfelix.com/prelude-to-a-rich-jerk

As far as the original book goes, I'd still recommend it, especially at the 10 dollars it currently costs. However, I wouldn't recommend opting for the "free websites" that are promised on the site.

Below is the original review, unchanged, from 2005:

No-one is quite sure who exactly the "Rich Jerk" is but one thing is for certain, this eBook and the sales technique is very original.

Anyone visiting the Rich Jerk sales page will immediately see what I mean here. The language is brash and offensive in places. This "Jerk" is content that he is rich and doesn't care whether you like that or not.

Fair enough...

But what exactly is the eBook about?

Quite simply, this manual aims to show you a variety of ways to make money through internet marketing in general. However, unlike many of the usual eBooks you may have read, this one is happy to show some rather "underhand" methods of making money online.

The author makes some wild claims in the sales letter like "One of my sites made me over $1 Million Dollars in just a few months, and I didn't even have a product to ship". He also claims another website has "been ranked # 1 in Google for over 3 years for several of the most competitive keywords and phrases on the planet".

If the boasts are true then this "Jerk" certainly demands attention...

The eBook itself is 63 pages in length and contains 9 chapters. The length on any particular eBook should not be used to judge its quality and in this case it is a refreshing change with no filler and no "crap". The Jerk talks down to you but gets the point across without repetition.

A brief overview of the chapters follows:

1: Creating An Affiliate Website That Sells Like Crazy
2: Unique Search Engine PPC Strategies - That Kill Your Competition
3: Search Engine Optimization Strategies (SEO)
4: Selling Your Own Informational Product
5: Buying Wholesale and Selling on eBay
6: Websites You Can Make Profitable Right Now
7: Other Online Ventures to Consider
8: Supplemental Info For Beginners
9: Quality Products/Services I Highly Recommend

Chapter 2 surprised me with some very interesting and potentially very profitable ideas. I already knew a little about Pay Per Click but reading that I had one of those "why didn't I think of that" moments. Good stuff which I am putting into practise now.

Chapter 1 is a decent introduction to affiliate marketing although the example of a "Review" he gives is really poor and cringe worthy. It would only sucker in the really guillible (and funnily enough, I have seen quite a few people using it - word for word).

The rest of the manual is well written and informative. I wouldn't have thought it would be of much use to a seasoned internet marketeer but then again, all you need is one good idea from an eBook like this to make a load of money.

All in all, the Rich Jerk program is entertaining and does contain some good strategies for making money online. The author manages to put across his ideas in a down to earth, no BS style but the "Rich Jerk" persona can get a little boring after a while.

This eBook started out at $97, a price at which I balked paying. Once it dropped to $49 I decided to buy it and I am happy with my purchase.

Update May 2007: It is now just $9.97...

In short, I recommend the Rich Jerk eBook to anyone who is relatively new to building websites, PPC, Google AdSense etc. The author includes a 45 day guarantee but this is based on proving that you have tried the techniques put across.

P.S. I am currently testing one of the ideas put forth in the Rich Jerk manual. I will offer results within the next couple of months. Please sign up for the newsletter to ensure you are notified when this page is updated.