Warriors, I Need Your Opinion

Well in first glance, I think if I were reading that I might find some of those sentences offensive. Maybe a softer approach would work better orrrrrrrrr anywhere you can slip it in your ebook like this is called white hat and it's a great way to sustain a business here are some techniques termed "black hat" that can get you in trouble, etc. I don't know about the general market but I would respond better to something in the book that says don't do this it's not good for business and may not even be legal than someone telling me to use my common sense. Again I don't think it's a bad idea it's just kind of strong wording and possibly offensive and not sure I would go there....

I like it... how about adding an offer of 100% money back guarantee for integrity and honoring it no questions asked?

I would love to see that at the end of an ebook that didn't even come close to delivering on the promises made in the ebook's sales letter.

I'm with Ken. I think it's a good idea and it would be nice if something like that was included in all the books we get hold of. But alas, for the vast majority, it won't mean squat.

Experienced affiliates won't take any notice, they'll carry on doing whatever it takes to make more money. If that means scamming, they'll scam.

New affiliates might well start out with the best of intentions but when confronted with all the other books/courses that tell them to do something less than ethical they'll forget all about it.

I'd still put it in though. At least you know you've done your bit to help.

Hi Dennis,

Is this is a paid product?

If so, I don't like it. It could be construed as slightly insulting -- that you're inferring that some of your own customers are thieves. The honest customers may not take too kindly to it.

If it's a free product, then put whatever you want in the ebook, because anyone can get their hands on it. So, you're not inferring that any one group is dishonest.


***

Let me give an example that kind of shows you why I formed this opinion. It's not a perfect example, but you'll get the idea...

You walk into a store. You see a sign up in the store about how shoplifters will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

You're not offended, because the sign is there for all to see. Maybe you even applaud the store owner's efforts to deter crime.

Now consider this...

What if the stern warning was printed on your sales receipt? In other words, only paying customers saw it?

That might make you cock your eyebrow. You just did some honest business with the shopkeeper, and yet it feels like he's waving the "naughty naughty" finger at you. It could make shoppers feel offended, insulted or just taken aback.


Again, not a perfect example, but you see where I'm coming from.

IMHO,
Becky

I encourage you to conduct your business with integrity.

My exact thoughts when I read this: I encourage you to stop being a pompous ass.

I think it's a no-win situation. People who have decided to live their lives with integrity are already doing it and people who don't care, don't care.

I like it. It doesn't bother me in the least. I think it speaks well of your own integrity and it's something you wanted to get off your chest.

There are many things to be offended by but after reading Dan Kennedy and especially Gary Halbert, this is very mild.

I like it - it needs to be repeated over and over and over until people start getting the idea that a scam artist hurts everyone.

But the part that I have bolded -- you are missing your referent. The pronoun this is used without a referent often in speech, but needs the referent in written form or building the bridging assumption will slow the reader down and that causes a credibility gap which subsequently allows them to toss the information out instead of just absorbing it subconsciously.

....conduct your business with integrity. This discretion not......

No charge for the edit, LOL.

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I've decided NOT to include it. As Ken said, it would probably be totally ineffective. Others have said it could be construed as insulting, and that was one of my concerns. The way Becky presented that concern was one of the clinchers. I could probably rewrite the letter it so it was kinder and gentler, but as Dean said, it's probably a no-win for me.

I've always been a bit of an idealist, though I think I temper it well with realism. In the end, I decided those that need it won't heed it, and those that don't need it...well, they don't need it. I do think it's possible it might have helped keep a few folks on track, kind of like locks are used to keep honest people honest, but at what cost?

Thanks again, folks.

Glad to see you've made your decision... At the very least, the text you went to the trouble of writing might make for an interesting forum thread, particularly given recent events.

Backy and Aira worded their concerns better than I worded mine. I thanked them for expressing the issue better. I still think tho Dennis if you put some examples in your ebook or maybe added a chapter on what is white or black hate then you also educate people. I was thinking lastnight until I got to this forum I had never heard the terms. If you have a newbie who doesn't really know then you would do them a great service by explaining it in detail and also explaining why in the long run the black hat stuff doesn't work to build a sustaining business and after doing that you probably wouldn't have a need for that letter :-)