There's A CPA Offer Being Advertised All Over The Radio

[bobsedge]

This is something new. As I'm driving around today I kept on hearing an advertisement on the radio stating that they are giving away free laptops. This is one of the highest rated stations in New York, so the ad is not cheap and it was running during peak time. Curious, I checked it out and it's a giveaway CPA offer.

Frankly, these giveaways are marginally deceptive but when you come across them on-line at least you can see the catch and what has to be done to get the freebie. When done on the radio, it comes across as being a con. I think the marketer is taking a BIG gamble and is risking getting in trouble.

What do you think of these giveaways and do you think tv and radio is the future trend of internet marketing?

[Eric Land]

Originally Posted by bobsedge

This is something new. As I'm driving around today I kept on hearing an advertisement on the radio stating that they are giving away free laptops. This is one of the highest rated stations in New York, so the ad is not cheap and it was running during peak time. Curious, I checked it out and it's a giveaway CPA offer.

Frankly, these giveaways are marginally deceptive but when you come across them on-line at least you can see the catch and what has to be done to get the freebie. When done on the radio, it comes across as being a con. I think the marketer is taking a BIG gamble and is risking getting in trouble.

What do you think of these giveaways and do you think tv and radio is the future trend of internet marketing?

Well it probably will not work out in his advantage because once people go online and see that there is more to it then just getting a free laptop it probably wont convert.

Just because people will be so hyped up about getting a free laptop then when they see there is more to the story the will be turned away by that fact.

But what radio station im from Long Island as well

Eric

[alexshelton]

Quite possibly...

I know people are still using print to great success, personally I think this particular marketer is taking a slight gamble but admire their boldness.

Alex

[bobsedge]

Eric,

It was all over WFAN Talk Sports Radio. I have to imagine an ad on that station runs a couple hundred dollars a spot (unless the economy has killed advertising much more that I realize). I heard it at least four times over a three hour time frame. I can't imagine that the economics work out on this campaign.

[bobsedge]

I just noticed that the CPA offer site has "As seen on TV and heard on radio" so they are obviously trying this on the television as well. Interesting

[Scott Ames]

I think some of these CPA offers are quite deceptive. One I tested to see what the customer got totally turned me off. I got the product fine, but the continuity program was so well hidden even I didn't see it until I looked over it carefully again.

They simply had a "I agree to the terms of service" and you had to read those terms in order to understand that it was a continuity program. In addition they attempted to hide the costs. Instead of " if you decide to continue it will be only $69 a month" they wrote it out like this "if you decide to continue it will only be sixty nine dollars a month" All of this was buried in about 6 point type while the FREE for shipping offer was Huge.

This is just going to attract attention by the FTC eventually. Too many people get caught, can't get a refund, complain, and it ends up on the RipOff Report and other sites.

[bobsedge]

Originally Posted by Scott Ames

I think some of these CPA offers are quite deceptive. One I tested to see what the customer got totally turned me off. I got the product fine, but the continuity program was so well hidden even I didn't see it until I looked over it carefully again.

They simply had a "I agree to the terms of service" and you had to read those terms in order to understand that it was a continuity program. In addition they attempted to hide the costs. Instead of " if you decide to continue it will be only $69 a month" they wrote it out like this "if you decide to continue it will only be sixty nine dollars a month" All of this was buried in about 6 point type while the FREE for shipping offer was Huge.

This is just going to attract attention by the FTC eventually. Too many people get caught, can't get a refund, complain, and it ends up on the RipOff Report and other sites.

The offer I'm referring to mainly requires actions, not money.

The way it works is that to get the free laptop you need to participate in other CPA offers. Most of the offers pay out for taking surveys, submitting a leads or for trying something free. The company offering the laptop probably makes at least the cost of the laptop if someone actually carries out the tasks but I assume the real profits are from those that start to carry out the tasks and never finish so they get nothing. Some of the tasks are easy such as completing a survey. Others require more detailed actions and in some cases applying for things.

[Scott Ames]

Ah... yes.. I know those. They go on forever and ever. I think you are right, the money is in those that drop out. I can't imagine anyone filling all the requirements to get a free laptop. I suppose someone has the time and patience to do it.