2012 Niche Moral Or Not?

35 replies
Ok, so we are now in November 2011 right?....

For years many people are or have been talking about the year 2012 and the Mayan calendar ending and blah blah blah. I wont go into it!!!.... It has been a big topic for the last 20 or so years, but now as we are only 12 months way from this date, there is lots of information and trends floating or circulating around the internet.

I have been selling stuff in this niche and it has been doing well, but I have noticed an increased amount of sales recently as we are getting 12 months away from the so called doomsday date. DEC 21st 2012. It does sound silly but there are some people that do think something big is coming! I just think it is a culmination of the current financial crisis and many people waking up to what is really going on out there, (i.e. Occupy wall street) and the big changes coming for us over the next decade. Financially, Socially, and intellectually! etc.

I am not going to expose what I sell, but it is in no way immoral, illegal, or even weird. it is a small niche within the 2012 niche and I have a list of people that have been after as much info on this topic as they can get their hands on.

I am no Nostradamus, and maybe even going out on a limb here to say, that NO, the world will not end next year in 2012. Correct me if I am wrong! But if I am WRONG who will be here typing on the warrior forum saying anything, or telling the harold campings they got it right and that I got it wrong. LOL

If the world does NOT end next year, (and I am pretty sure it doesnt - just a guess) I still think there are moral issues involved, but there are opportunities out there also.

Do you guys have anything thoughts on this matter ?? Or have thought about selling stuff in this niche but will not due to these issues involved.??
#2012 #moral #niche
  • Profile picture of the author nicholasb
    you could always sell survival gear and a survival plan, there's nothing wrong with that, everyone should have a few months of food stocked up, some fire starting equipment, a sharp knife and a sharpener,a fishing pole, a bow and arrow and a few months supply of water just in case there is some natural disaster.

    There will probably be a surge of people stocking up on that stuff next year.But it is something that everyone should have anyway so there's nothing wrong with it unless your intentionally looking to rip people off just to make a buck, and are focused on helping people in case of a natural disaster.
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    • Profile picture of the author celente
      Originally Posted by nicholasb View Post

      you could always sell survival gear and a survival plan, there's nothing wrong with that, everyone should have a few months of food stocked up, some fire starting equipment, a sharp knife and a sharpener,a fishing pole, a bow and arrow and a few months supply of water just in case there is some natural disaster.

      There will probably be a surge of people stocking up on that stuff next year.But it is something that everyone should have anyway so there's nothing wrong with it unless your intentionally looking to rip people off just to make a buck, and are focused on helping people in case of a natural disaster.
      I guess that saying comes to mind. "It is better to be well prepared, than not at all."

      that way if things are ok, you are fine. Or if things turn sour you are also fine. Win win situation really.
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      • Profile picture of the author Nate D
        Alot of financial guru's with a libertarian leaning - say that when the markets bomb - it would be a good idea to have at least 6 months of cash, and food and water stashed in the house. This could be a good niche to look into.
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  • Profile picture of the author tpw
    I don't believe there are any moral issues here whatsoever.

    People believe in conspiracy theories, regardless of whether there is any substance to it at all.

    I was watching a Nostradamus show last night, and I think it is pretty clear that Nostradamus' writings don't even support the Mayan End of the World theory.

    LOL I don't even think the Mayan's would have been happy to see us babbling on about their supposed prediction of the end of the world.

    The fact as I see it is that people are interested in this stuff, regardless of whether we believe in it or not. And, if they are willing to spend their money on such foolishness, who are we to tell them that they should not buy into such gibberish?

    These folks buying into this garbage are adults who are free to believe anything they want to believe, and they are free to spend their money on whatever they see fit to spend their money.

    So long as what you are selling is not illegal, then there are no moral issues at all.

    I have teased getting in on the 2012 craze myself... But if I sit on it too much longer, I will be letting the opportunity to pass me by...
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    • Profile picture of the author celente
      Originally Posted by tpw View Post

      I don't believe there are any moral issues here whatsoever.

      People believe in conspiracy theories, regardless of whether there is any substance to it at all.

      I was watching a Nostradamus show last night, and I think it is pretty clear that Nostradamus' writings don't even support the Mayan End of the World theory.

      LOL I don't even think the Mayan's would have been happy to see us babbling on about their supposed prediction of the end of the world.

      The fact as I see it is that people are interested in this stuff, regardless of whether we believe in it or not. And, if they are willing to spend their money on such foolishness, who are we to tell them that they should not buy into such gibberish?

      These folks buying into this garbage are adults who are free to believe anything they want to believe, and they are free to spend their money on whatever they see fit to spend their money.

      So long as what you are selling is not illegal, then there are no moral issues at all.

      I have teased getting in on the 2012 craze myself... But if I sit on it too much longer, I will be letting the opportunity to pass me by...
      Some good points.

      I too have noticed SBS and a few other media outlets getting in on the action as well. I do not mean sell this stuff, but get in on the whole conspiricy and subject itself. There have been lots of documentaries on it since January this year.

      For me, something that is so bizarre getting so much media coverage and attention, well that do not go without me noticing that is for sure.

      I can tell you that that harold camping stuff, got me lots of traffic, and was not hard to SEO either. :rolleyes: I felt that week, it was all just handed to me on a silver platter with a napkin attached. LOL.

      Cant wait for the next harold camping prediction...they seem to come out every 2 weeks now-a-days LMAO!. Does he still have any followers, or did they all get rapured on the weekend. :p
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      • Profile picture of the author tpw
        Originally Posted by celente View Post

        Cant wait for the next harold camping prediction...they seem to come out every 2 weeks now-a-days LMAO!. Does he still have any followers, or did they all get rapured on the weekend. :p

        I guess I need to look up that person and figure out who he is. :p

        If it does not air on the History Channel, I miss it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Reese Richards
    I don't see a problem at all - moral or otherwise. If I'm an atheist, can I not sell bibles (maybe I'd take the online route rather than face-to-face tho)?

    People can believe whatever they want and if your product gives them what they want, who are you to judge? lol

    As long as both parties are satisfied in the end. That's just good business.
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    • Profile picture of the author DebbieD
      Same here. I'll just echo what the others above me have posted.

      You are not forcing them to buy - you are just selling to a hungry market.

      Go for it!
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    • Profile picture of the author tpw
      Originally Posted by Reese Richards View Post

      I don't see a problem at all - moral or otherwise. If I'm an atheist, can I not sell bibles (maybe I'd take the online route rather than face-to-face tho)?

      People can believe whatever they want and if your product gives them what they want, who are you to judge? lol

      As long as both parties are satisfied in the end. That's just good business.

      This is a very pertinent point in my mind.

      I used to have a real problem selling things to people, because in the back of my mind, I always thought I would not buy that thing I am selling.

      Then one day, on an incoming call in the telemarketing room, the guy on the other end of the line was so excited to buy what I was selling.

      In fact, he was so excited about the purchase that I did not have to sell him anything. All I had to do was to take his payment information.

      I realized in that moment that people decide to buy based on their wants and needs, not my wants and needs.

      That realization went on to serve me well when I was selling $10,000 TV sets to people. The most expensive TV in my house is $1700 and I had to struggle with myself to justify spending that much money on a TV set.

      As a salesman, it is not my job to decide what people should spend their money on. My job instead is to answer their questions to their satisfaction, so that they can make a good decision about what "they want to buy".
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  • Profile picture of the author The Copy Warriors
    It's moral if you don't fearmonger and just provide a basic overview of the ideas for entertainment purposes.

    Now, saying "get your 2012 survival kit here" and charging $5000 for it?

    Yeah, I'd say it's immoral to do that if you know the difference.
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  • Profile picture of the author UMS
    Selling end of world related products is no different to selling stuff related to astrology, homoeopathy, feng shui, etc, etc, etc.

    I there is a want, then there will always be someone to fulfil that need.
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  • Profile picture of the author tebor79
    Just bought a dozen tamales off one of my many Mayan friends and he doesn't think the world is going to end.

    But people are buying it, so keep selling it.
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    • Profile picture of the author myob
      I have been making a significant portion of my living by just debunking this and other myths for the last eight years. There is a large market in this arena for archaeology, ancient history, astronomy and physics with a vast array of Amazon products such as books, art, telescopes, etc.
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  • Profile picture of the author Thomas
    Originally Posted by celente View Post

    For years many people are or have been talking about the year 2012 and the Mayan calendar ending and blah blah blah. I wont go into it!!!...

    ...we are getting 12 months away from the so called doomsday date. DEC 21st 2012.
    Never mind the Mayan calender ending next year -the one on my wall ends in just under 6 weeks time. Aaagh!
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  • Profile picture of the author Micah Medina
    Question!

    Do you like scary movies?

    There's no moral problem. If somebody wants to entertain themselves by indulging in fear and paranoia, there's nothing stopping you from helping them!
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  • Profile picture of the author DudeAndy
    I own a website similar to this niche, meaning end of the world and things like this. I also seen an increase of activity over the last months and I'm sure it will grow till the end of the world doesn't come and all this madness is ended.
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    • Profile picture of the author Micah Medina
      Originally Posted by DudeAndy View Post

      I own a website similar to this niche, meaning end of the world and things like this. I also seen an increase of activity over the last months and I'm sure it will grow till the end of the world doesn't come and all this madness is ended.
      How long have you run this site? My friend and I think that those sites tend to blow up when a Democrat is President. And there's no evidence quite as good as a guy's anecdotal message board evidence!
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  • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
    What's wrong with filling a demand? Back in 1999 I wrote a physical book titled Crash Course 2000 - How To Pepare For And Profit From The Y2K Computer Crash.

    That book was one of the most successful info products I've ever had. Did I know what was going to happen? Nope. Did I believe there were going to be problems? I did. And when people called me names like 'fear monger' and 'doomsday dude' and other not so nice stuff I always made this argument:

    If the weatherman reported that within the next two days there was a 50/50 chance of a devistating storm, would you prepare or would you call the weatherman a fear monger? Put into that context, most people would agree it was wiser to be safe than sorry.

    Happy marketing. And it it is end of days, happy rapture.
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  • Profile picture of the author ProScribe
    No I don't think it is any more immoral than hollywood producing movies about the same subject matter. I'm sure Steven Sodenbergh can live with himself.

    And what if 2012 does signal the end of civilisation? you may have saved peoples lives. You are a potential future live saver!
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  • Profile picture of the author jamesrich1
    I don't see promoting 2012 products as a moral issue. People will continue to do research and search for information that you can hand over to them through a 2012 product.
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  • Profile picture of the author Marhelper
    I don't see the moral question. However, if your conscience bothers you then move on IMO.
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    • Profile picture of the author Snow_Predator
      Originally Posted by Marhelper View Post

      I don't see the moral question. However, if your conscience bothers you then move on IMO.
      I agree, I don't see the moral issue. If people are willing to pay for information, give it to them and start cashing those cheques. Though I might have an issue on providing information on how to commit suicide.
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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    Personally, I can't sell things that I don't believe in and personally endorse.
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  • Profile picture of the author creature
    Since when has morality been an issue on this forum?

    I seem to see endless posts asking for "guru" advice on how to make a quick buck by "fooling the Google", buying backlinks, creating crappy spun articles, etc. Hoardes of posters want to know how to get rich quick no matter what it involves (excpt for hard work).

    So, selling something that scared people want should not be any problem at all.
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    • Profile picture of the author celente
      Originally Posted by creature View Post

      Since when has morality been an issue on this forum?

      I seem to see endless posts asking for "guru" advice on how to make a quick buck by "fooling the Google", buying backlinks, creating crappy spun articles, etc. Hoardes of posters want to know how to get rich quick no matter what it involves (excpt for hard work).

      So, selling something that scared people want should not be any problem at all.


      And....there we have it ladies and gentlemen.

      Comment of the day should go to you so true, so true.
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    • Profile picture of the author pwtmike
      Originally Posted by creature View Post

      Since when has morality been an issue on this forum?
      lol it's not? I think maybe it's about income generation?

      Anyways, I am invested in the 2012 niche... as for any niche with search traffic trending up and ready buyers I'd say invest heavily. And with this one, you don't have to pitch the fear too hard, the impending doom of the date alone does that for you.
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      • Profile picture of the author Ralph Moore
        Drawing from my memory of the year 2000 survival sales hype, if you decide to do some survival preparedness sales, I would recommend you hedge your bets and only use the 2012 stuff as an example and not as a long term strategy.

        After all, isn't preparedness always a good idea, regardless of the disaster of the moment?
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  • Profile picture of the author Andy Money
    It's not immoral, it's just kind of dumb. Your time is way better spent working on a product in a legitimate, long-lasting niche that'll make money in 2013 and even 2020, why waste time with something like this?
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  • Profile picture of the author E. Brian Rose
    You did not create the 2012 survival market. It existed before you. There is nothing immoral about catering to a market that has a desire to purchase certain things. That would be like saying a Jewelry store owner could not sell religious pendants, because he is an agnostic.
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  • Profile picture of the author dougb
    Just switch over from end of the world niche to survival methods, equipment and supplies, regardless, considering what is out there being sold right now, there is nothing wrong with marketing 2012, if you don't guaranteed someone else will
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    • Profile picture of the author thedog
      I did see a survival equipment site a while back that had a big cheesy ad up after the Japan earthquake to get your survival gear now.

      I thought that was in pretty bad taste.

      Money before morals for some people.
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  • Profile picture of the author sal64
    I don't really see this as a moral issue. Let's get real for a second... There's a ton of theories out there and people making money from them.
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    • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
      Banned
      Originally Posted by sal64 View Post

      I don't really see this as a moral issue. Let's get real for a second... There's a ton of theories out there and people making money from them.
      I don't see it as a moral issue either. It's a marketing to whackos issue. I just don't promote things I don't personally believe in or endorse.
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      • Profile picture of the author sal64
        Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

        I don't see it as a moral issue either. It's a marketing to whackos issue. I just don't promote things I don't personally believe in or endorse.
        I actually had to to stop myself when typing that... but there are some serious fear mongers out there who pass as "legitimate", especially when it comes to religion and the occult.

        But yes, I agree with your stance.

        Sal
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  • Profile picture of the author LBO
    some pretend to take the high road others live it so get with your emotions together
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