Quick! Buy this new thing. I'm sure it's great!

by TheNightOwl

Posted: 15 years ago 11 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

Am I off my chops here or what?

I just got this email through my box for a $2000+ product:

==================================================

NightOwl,

If you're interested in learning how to publish
"information products" - but you're not an expert
on a particular topic, then read this:

[affiliate link here ]

It's probably the best system to use.

I haven't actually seen the system itself yet,
but the guy who created it is very sharp, and
he has made millions publishing information
products that he had OTHER people create.

Let me know how it works,

[ name of sender ]

==================================================

Perhaps it's just me, but I find this downright insulting.

You haven't even SEEN the system... it's probably the best system to use...

...but you're still willing to promote it?

Okay, the dude selling this supposedly wonderful system might well have made tons of money from previous products. Great.

But, y'know what? This one might be a dog!

Are you willing to put your name to something sight unseen?

Oh, hang on... would it have anything to do with the, uh, price tag, perchance?

What a joke.

The guy who sent me this is supposed to be respected in the IM community.

Correction: Not "supposed to be"... IS.

But this email makes me question that. Big time.

I commented recently on a thread here about the axiom of "providing value"--the very same axiom that gurus like the one who sent the email above advocate again and again...

[ You can find that thread here: http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...-rich-b-s.html ]

...yet they send tosh like this to their own lists.

Look, the product linked to might very well provide tons of value, but how would you know if you haven't seen it, used it, nibbled on its earlobes a bit, eh?

I've been on this guy's list since he stepped into the IM limelight and I've received almost NOTHING of value to date. Just pitch after pitch for extraordinarily high-priced products and seminars. (I'm only on his list because he's supposed to be such an ace marketer and I'm therefore paying attention to what he does.)

Kind of boggles my brain. I'll make heaps of money by telling you to do XYZ, but I'll make even MORE money by doing (the no doubt much more effective) ABC.

Comments?

#buy #great #quick #thing

Dixiebelle 15 years ago

I get a lot of that stuff too. I just delete it and move on.

Dixie
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nick1123 15 years ago

Unsubscribe from their list and tell the list owner why you're unsubscribing.

Many list owners promote crap this way because they were told it's effective or they are just lazy.

Give them a little feedback and maybe they'll change their way....well maybe...
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dhudiburg 15 years ago

I think this is far less insulting than if they guy actually endorsed the product and claimed to have used it, but really didn't. Lots of people 'promote blind' but you gotta give this guy credit for telling it straight.

He made you aware of a product you may not have been aware of, was honest that he hadn't tried it, and gave you the power to make your own decision. I fail to see anything unethical here and there may be some people on his list who were happy they got the email.

If he really thinks it's "probably the best system to use" there's nothing wrong with saying so.
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Tsnyder 15 years ago

NightOwl...

I think you're being a little over critical.

The guy was up front and honest about the fact that
he hasn't used the product himself. He recommended
it on the basis that the seller apparently has a history of
offering quality products.

He probably assumed you could read the sales letter and
make your own decision. I'm sure the seller offers a money
back guarantee for those who try it and don't like it.

I really see nothing wrong with the recommendation.

Tsnyder
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rosetrees 15 years ago

Originally Posted by TheNightOwl

Let me know how it works,

So he want YOU to spend $2k to tell HIM if it's any good!!
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Tony X 15 years ago

I got that email today. I know who you are talking about (I think). He's a great marketer. People may be surprised at who you are talking about.
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Christ Follower...
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- John S. Rhodes 15 years ago
  
  This is why we try to always give our JV partners full access to
  our products and services. You want your business partners to
  have some intelligence because it bleeds into your product. If
  they are idiots you look like an idiot.
  
  Notice that I said "JV partners" above. We also try to educate
  our affiliates. We give them tools, content, keywords, and so
  on to help them succeed. But, this doesn't always mean that
  they have bought our product or service. It's a bummer but
  that's how it works. It's also why we try to work with smart,
  motivated and savvy JV partners.
  
  If you don't quite understand "JV partner" and "affiliate" then
  spend a little time gaining that understanding. It comes down
  to personal relationships vs. impersonal relationships, at least
  in my opinion.
  
  ~ John
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
  Signature
  
  Important message from John S. Rhodes:
  I think you're awesome.
  
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  TheNightOwl 15 years ago
  
  Some great comments here that I appreciate greatly.
  
  It appears I was little off my chops there.
  
  And more than a little hypocritical too.
  
  dhudiberg and tsnyder make some excellent points. Thanks guys.
  
  What you said made me realise that I have, in the past (and, actually, truth be told will probably do so in the future too), made affiliate recommendations for products that I have not actually purchased and gone through myself.
  
  I try not to do that, actually, but I have done. (As is, I'd suggest, the case with the person who sent the email I referred to in the OP)
  
  I don't have any sites that deal with topics I couldn't give a toss about, where I'm just hitting them based on the "hotness" of the market, but I think that may soon change slightly for two reasons:
  
  1. That thread I mentioned in my OP about providing value. (Read it if you haven't already; I really think it's an interesting thread. Probably eye-opening for some people and "**Yawn!**" for the old hands)
  
  So i really shouldn't have gotten on my high-horse there, I guess.
  
  On my (currently very small number of) sites where I make affiliate recommendations, I try, if possible, to get a comp-copy. And if that's a no-go, and the price isn't too high, and it really does look like the best solution, then I'll buy it myself.
  
  But not always. Not by a long stretch.
  
  So I appreciate the comments to this thread because it's made me pull my head in a bit on the issue and think about living in glass houses.
  
  2. I'm setting up a little hub site for niche topics which will involve some ghost-writers and affiliate recommendations and stuff. I'm hoping first and foremost that it really will provide value to visitors and make recommendations for affiliate products and offers for my own that will improve things or solve whatever problem they want solved (as the case may be).
  
  And that's not in response to ideas in the thread I referenced above, it's an idea I've been fleshing out for a while now, but that thread has made me stop and think about things there a little harder. About the "starving market" stuff and getting eyeballs.
  
  Regarding the recommended products on those sites, the "advice" I've bought into is that it's not feasible to go through every product individually and review it before recommending it.
  
  But maybe that's just bunk.
  
  Anything I can't get a comp copy for and which is expensive... perhaps I should pony up for if I'm then going to turn around and ask(expect?) my visitors/subscribers to pony up for it!
  
  If it really is good enough, then not only will my recommendation all the stronger, but I should make my money back pretty fast anyway. And then I'm not promoting stuff sight-unseen, which doesn't make me feel right.
  
  [Hmmm... that just about rules out making long-tail cash-keyword-catching sites with datafeeds for physical products. Or a lot of stuff on CJ and LinkConnector and so on... Hmmm...]
  
  That feeling was actually the impetus for the site linked to in my sig. All recommendations there are things I have personally used and benefitted from. That's why I've instated the policy on that site of "direct links" and "butt-naked links".
  
  On my other sites, almost none of my links are "butt-naked links", but most of them are things I've tried (comp copies or paid-for) and thought were good.
  
  Most, but not all. I must confess to having affiliate links to things I have not read or used. I may need to go back and reassess those links in light of my feelings on this issue today. And maybe pony up for the products to see if they really are worth promoting. Or if that's not possible, instating the direct/butt-naked policy with a disclaimer that "I haven't actually seen it, but it's probably the best solution".
  
  -----------------------
  
  As I've said elsewhere, I'm relatively new to all this. I don't have so many posts here, but I've been lurking and reading for a while; all the while twiddling around with my own little projects (things I'm [insert guru-advice-speak here] "passionate" about (well, mostly), learning the ropes and the mechanics of it all slowly but surely. For example, 18 months ago, I didn't even know what HTML was!
  
  Your responses here have been extremely useful to me.
  
  Thank you!
  
  -----------------------
  
  Right, I'm off to move apartment and clean this one. I may be off the air for a couple of days.
  
  Look forward to hearing your thoughts when I get back.
  
  Best,
  TheNightOwl
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  
  Who is Gatchaman?
  
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Chris Lockwood 15 years ago

At least the email sounds like the truth.

Would you rather have him say "I've spent hours going through this product, and it's great" when he really has not seen it at all?

If he had seen it personally, then you'd probably complain that he was just recommending it to make money.
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socratous139

15 years ago

Originally Posted by TheNightOwl

==================================================

NightOwl,

If you're interested in learning how to publish
"information products" - but you're not an expert
on a particular topic, then read this:

[affiliate link here ]

It's probably the best system to use.

I haven't actually seen the system itself yet,
but the guy who created it is very sharp, and
he has made millions publishing information
products that he had OTHER people create.

Let me know how it works,

[ name of sender ]

==================================================

I got the same email and it was from Eben.

Thanks

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