What do you think of this marketing tactic?

13 years ago

Originally Posted by ERPConsultant

Hi,

So, I received a series of emails from a well known marketer inviting me to a webinar. It was supposed to be a "FREE Step-by-Step Training" on getting free targeted traffic. Some of the assurances in the emails were as below:

---------------- Begin ----------------
It's 100% FREE (there's NO SALES PITCH)

I actually got to see over $532,563 being created RIGHT BEFORE MY EYES.

This gets … My FULL Recommendation

The absolute FASTEST way to make money TODAY on the internet,
even if you have ZERO MONEY and ZERO EXPERIENCE

---------------- End ----------------

The timing was past midnight for me but I woke up expecting some useful webinar. The webinar turned out to be a 100% sales pitch for a software that can drive free traffic to your affiliate links automatically. And it costs $997 !!

I was really annoyed as this was completely opposite to what the invitation emails said. How could a person with "ZERO MONEY" afford a $997 product. Also, as he said that there would be no sales pitch, it looked like he was lying just to get people to his "Sales" webinar.

I don't want to name the guy or the product that was being promoted as my point is not to bad-mouth someone. But I can't help thinking that the way this was promoted is completely unacceptable.

Am I wrong in thinking that this type of marketing is unethical?

Well after reading the email you posted there is no way I would have even turned up to the webinar... "I actually got to see over $532,563 being created RIGHT BEFORE MY EYES." Yeah right. I would have hit unsubscribe right away on that idiots list. Obviously just another magic bullet pusher.

P.S. Next time someone tells you they are doing a webinar and there will be no pitching, don't listen to them. It's an absolute load of crap. They are doing the webinar for one reason - to make money. There is the odd exception but they are about as frequent as those flying pigs.

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jahangir87

13 years ago

Just trying to remember how many emails like this I'm getting everyday.No doubt 99.99% of them are fake and they are just trying to make money by making you fool.is it? So avoid those messages.I don't even open them.

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dadamson

13 years ago

I see this time and time again. People trying to get rich by scamming people into their way overpriced products.

If it was so good he would be making money from it instead of running a webinar to make money selling his software.

Anything that sounds overly hyped up is a big red flag in my book.

Things like:

The absolute FASTEST way to make money TODAY on the internet,
even if you have ZERO MONEY and ZERO EXPERIENCE

turn me off right away.

Here's how it should probably read:

A slightly easier way to make money maybe in a few months time on the internet, even if you have about $997 and some good knowledge in IM as well as some fairly established websites.

Sadly, he wouldn't get many people turning up to his webinar.

Funny thing is... I tried to make that sound as unappealing as possible, but I would probably have more chance visiting the webinar if it read like this instead of the original.

Dave

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xavierfok

13 years ago

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

everyone is trying to sell something, might as well find those who are honest and have credentials. Many of them are ethical and give free information and once in a while promote their products.

There are many reputable warriors here that are very willing to help and have created products that are reasonably priced like between $7-$17

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Benjamin Ehinger

13 years ago

It is unethical in my mind and I receive these types of emails all the time. I find it to be very close to a scam if you tell me something is free, then you pitch me an expensive product.

Benjamin Ehinger

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ERPConsultant

13 years ago

The sad think is that this was from a known person in IM. I had even bought some products from him before and made some money with them. So, I thought that he would be one of the good guys. But asking people to come to a webinar promising that there would be no sales pitch and then doing a pure sales pitch for an expensive product is way off base.

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WillR

13 years ago

Originally Posted by ERPConsultant

The sad think is that this was from a known person in IM. I had even bought some products from him before and made some money with them. So, I thought that he would be one of the good guys. But asking people to come to a webinar promising that there would be no sales pitch and then doing a pure sales pitch for an expensive product is way off base.

You will see this happen all the time. The marketers that start out nice and friendly and with your best interests at heart. They then start promoting the odd product and the commissions start to roll in. Cha-ching. It gets the better off them and they do an about turn and the focus then becomes the products they are promoting NOT the people they are promoting those products too.

I've seen it happen with several 'popular' WSO sellers on this very forum. It's been interesting to stay on these guys lists and see the transformation happen right before my eyes. One day they are your best friend happy to help with anything and everything, the next day they are promoting the crap all the others are promoting. Greed gets the better of some.

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PatriciaJ

13 years ago

Originally Posted by WillR

You will see this happen all the time. The marketers that start out nice and friendly and with your best interests at heart. They then start promoting the odd product and the commissions start to roll in. Cha-ching. It gets the better off them and they do an about turn and the focus then becomes the products they are promoting NOT the people they are promoting those products too.

I've seen it happen with several 'popular' WSO sellers on this very forum. It's been interesting to stay on these guys lists and see the transformation happen right before my eyes. One day they are your best friend happy to help with anything and everything, the next day they are promoting the crap all the others are promoting. Greed gets the better of some.

That's true, but greed can be their downfall too.

I've seen that transformation myself and only stay on some lists to remind myself how not to get.

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sal64

13 years ago

Agree that free webinars are usually just a sales pitch.

There are exceptions... all be it vary rare ones.

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Jeff Marshall

13 years ago

I can't recall ever attending a webinar with no sales pitch embedded somewhere in the session I think I'd be rather disappointed if there were none.

But yes, what you experienced was higly unethical -- and frankly, pretty desperate-sounding on the part of that marketer.

It'll catch up with him.

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ChrisAlta

13 years ago

That's really just bad list marketing. Obviously the guy doesn't care about his list nor respect his customers.

He should be offering tons of free value and then recommending products and or courses he's personally used that have actually helped him out.

It's sad to say but that's how internet marketing gets it's bad name. Email services created spam boxes for one reason, to send the crappy/spammy ones straight there!

It is what it is now, you can only learn from it and move forward. At least you have the brains to make the right decision! Good job yo!

cheers!

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Marcus Demanse

13 years ago

You are absolutely right in your thinking. It is unethical marketing to deliberately mislead people just to be able to get them to look into a very expensive product that they wouldn't otherwise be interested in. And he probably knows that too, probably why he had to resort to that kind of tactic.

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MoneyMagnetMagnate

13 years ago

I think the "well known" GURU ought to be called out on this...Name Them -

I for one will delete anything they ever send me again...

For the most part we all expect a pitch or an OTO - But that's B.S. and we all know it...call it what it is - especially when they are that specific and none of it is true -

If they can explain themselves, they'll get a chance -

I've been getting a lot of webinar invites lately that aren't even specific what they're about or who is hosting it - that's annoying -

(and most IMish should know by now any guy who uses a large exact number of earnings is full of crap - plain and simple - it's just never true...ah, but we want to believe...)

(and no offense intended to the OP - just a general statement...)

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JohnMcCabe 13 years ago

MMM, read the forum rules. Calling out individual marketers on the forum violates Rule #1 - 'If you have a problem with another Warrior, a guru or God, take it up with them directly, not on the forum.'

As for the OP, it's just another bait and switch. Why would a "known marketer" do it?

As WillR mentioned, some simply are seduced by the dark side. Others paint themselves into a corner by engaging in quid pro quo promotions, and now they have to pay off their end of the bargain.

Some are just amoral schnooks...
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Richard Van 13 years ago

Originally Posted by MoneyMagnetMagnate

I think the "well known" GURU ought to be called out on this...Name Them -

Like John says above, you need to read the rules, that would be the OP's quickest way towards getting an involuntary break from this forum.
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Michael Oksa

13 years ago

The words in brackets are how my thought process would have worked:

It's 100% FREE (there's NO SALES PITCH)
["Okay, I will continue reading"]

I actually got to see over $
["STOP! This sounds like it could be a sales pitch"]

532,563 being created RIGHT BEFORE MY EYES.
["Yep. Sales pitch."]

This gets ... My FULL Recommendation
["I don't trust the recommendations of liars."]

The absolute FASTEST way to
["...get me to unsubscribe from your list. Click!"]

All the best,
Michael

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mikeyzebra

13 years ago

A lot of these guru are making money teaching you how to do it. If they knew what they were doing, they would be making more money following their own advice.

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Elliot DeSilva

13 years ago

I think it stinks but am used to it.

I get tons of these emails and intend at some point to remove myself off as many lists as I can.

It probably is unethical too. Let's naem and shame!

Elliott

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Michael Shook

13 years ago

If there was a software that drove traffic to your affiliate links without any effort, it might be worth $997, depending on what you are selling as an affilaite, and what the conversion rate was.

If there was such a software, the chances that it would be promoted through a free webinar with absolutely no sales pitch are pretty slim.

And if they can't tell you in the email what you are going to be learning about, but that the only way to get the info is at the webinar, you can sure there is going to be a sales pitch.

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ERPConsultant

13 years ago

Originally Posted by JMichaelZ

If there was a software that drove traffic to your affiliate links without any effort, it might be worth $997, depending on what you are selling as an affilaite, and what the conversion rate was.

There is another thread inquiring about this same software but nothing there suggest that it is worth the asking price.

This is the thread: http://www.warriorforum.com/internet...-solution.html

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billyski

13 years ago

I've reviewed many of the techniques they are teaching. They are so basic that you couldn't make any money in this competive market place. Stick to reading Warrior Forum and learn all the latest strategies.

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ERPConsultant

13 years ago

Originally Posted by sal64

Agree that free webinars are usually just a sales pitch.

Originally Posted by asdf88

Why would anyone do a free webinar - get eyeballs. There are some good ones for noobs that have some content before the pitchfest ensues.

Originally Posted by Jeff Marshall

I can't recall ever attending a webinar with no sales pitch embedded somewhere in the session I think I'd be rather disappointed if there were none.

I wouldn't have minded a sales pitch if the webinar was advertised as being for a product that can bring free targeted traffic, etc., etc. But what really blew it for me was the claim that the webinar was going to be pure content and no sales pitch. I dedicated the time (woke up at midnight) in order to attend this webinar only to find it containing nothing but a sales pitch for a product. Only shows that he does not care for his customers.

Originally Posted by Jeff Marshall

But yes, what you experienced was higly unethical -- and frankly, pretty desperate-sounding on the part of that marketer.

It'll catch up with him.

I emailed him but no response so far. Even posted a question during the webinar but the question was ignored.

Originally Posted by MoneyMagnetMagnate

I think the "well known" GURU ought to be called out on this...Name Them -

The rules of the forum don't allow naming them or to complain about the way a product is marketed. I know because I have had posts deleted for that.

Originally Posted by MoneyMagnetMagnate

(and most IMish should know by now any guy who uses a large exact number of earnings is full of crap - plain and simple - it's just never true...ah, but we want to believe...)

(and no offense intended to the OP - just a general statement...)

No offense taken. I generally don't believe outlandish claims but I guess I trusted this "guru" too much. Now I know that my trust was misplaced.

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Gary M.

13 years ago

I would totally unsubscribe. It's sad when you have to lie to make a sale.

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What do you think of this marketing tactic?

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