Time for the Internet Marketing Industry to Get Its Act Together

6 replies
Surely Internet Marketing is the Internet's second oldest profession. So there is no excuse for the shoddy offering of so many marketers these days

I'm not talking about product content, by the way. I may not find something of use but maybe you will. If I don't think a product merits the purchase, I'll just ask for a refund.

I'm talking about an industry where cash is king and the customer is too often a distant second.

Here are examples I have experienced from different marketers, some of whom are "IM gurus", over the past 2 months:

#1 - I spent a four figure sum by a 'leading marketer' on a product with online and offline content. The offline content - a big, heavy box - was sent to my billing address, not my shipping address. Caused by a problem with the Marketer's fulfillment system. The product is sitting 3,500 miles away in another country at a house I won't be visiting for another 4 months. No resolution yet.

#2 - Signed up for an IM membership upsell. *Zero* content until almost a month after launch (and billing)!

#3 - Membership cancel request ignored repeatedly; at the same time the marketer continues to send regular JV mails out.

#4 - High end (read: expensive) product member areas (eg forums & member-only blog posts) are abandonded by the marketer a few months after launch as he moves onto next product. (He continues to sell the product).

#5 - Products designed to make marketer's life easiest, not the customer. Example: videos only available for viewing online, no download option.

Each of the marketers above are known on these forums.

Have I had good experiences in the same time period - absolutely. I've gotten some *great* products with great support.

But it's still too hit and miss. Too many product launches and products where the customer experience *post-purchase* is not the primary concern.

I'm not down on Internet Marketing. Far from it. There are great marketers with great products out there. But this is a rallying cry. There is much room for improvement when it comes to how we think about the customer.

The next time we launch a product, let's over-deliver.
#act #industry #internet #marketing #time
  • Profile picture of the author James Turner
    Originally Posted by knmrwarrior View Post


    Have I had good experiences in the same time period - absolutely. I've gotten some *great* products with great support.
    Why not name and shame the examples of great products?

    James
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    • Profile picture of the author knmrwarrior
      Originally Posted by James Turner View Post

      Why not name and shame the examples of great products?

      James
      I like that! I hate being unbalanced/negative, believe it or not.

      Purchases in the last couple two months that I really liked:

      Commission Blueprint - Solid content, easy to use, did exactly what it said on the tin and every single video easily downloadable. Great!

      Double Digit CTR - I definitely learned a few new things here. This will pay for itself easily. The price was great and yes, every mp3 and video downloadable

      Market Samurai - This is going to become an invaluable tool for me. A real time-saver and super smart. If only all online apps were this good.

      CB PayDay - There was nothing new for me in the main ebook (good for a beginner though) but the flowcharts and launch plans were fantastic and easily worth the price of admission.

      Last but not least, Tirstan Bull's WSO: The Internet Marketing Uncut Launch Diary. Didn't cost much but this was a brilliant insight into how a no name marketer hit the big time with a single successful product launch. This, for me, is a real product launch blueprint.


      Geez, I need to spend less money on IM products! Seriously, I have one expectation when I buy an IM product - that it serves me (not vice versa) and that I will get a return on investment. All of the above do this and more.

      Der
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  • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
    Fortunately, we can get refunds for whatever we purchase rather quickly and without majors hassles.

    I've purchased and refunded plenty of over-hyped stuff.

    TL

    Ps. If the marketer does not respond you can...

    - Contact the payment processor ( paypal or clickbank )

    - Last resort = your credit card company
    Signature

    "It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled. -- Mark Twain

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  • Profile picture of the author write-stuff
    Thanks for those product mini-reviews. This is the kind of information that is really helpful.
    - Russ
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  • Profile picture of the author James Liberty
    Originally Posted by knmrwarrior View Post

    #5 - Products designed to make marketer's life easiest, not the customer. Example: videos only available for viewing online, no download option.
    I think I'd have to excuse this one. The last thing an online business owner wants is to have his/her content downloaded... and then passed around the internet for free.
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  • Profile picture of the author bobsedge
    There are a lot of businesses in the Internet Marketing arena. And like all sectors, there are some that don't have their stuff together. How easy is Microsoft to deal with? As far as I'm concerned they suck, but they are held to a different standard.

    Perhaps customers that are displeased should reach out to these businesses and help them improve their customer support, particularly if they otherwise have a good product. I believe that most try to do the right thing, they just get overwhelmed or in over their heads.
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