Be Very Careful + An Apology...

[ecoverartist]

In an earlier post today I wrote about a software program that I had just found out about that did something I found extremely helpful and insightful and was eager to share it with my fellow Warriors.

What I didn't know (and special thanks to a fellow Warrior for pointing it out to me) was that on the other side of the program was a pyramid scheme designed to recruit people to promote the program themselves.

Getting people to try it out and spread the word about it is one thing - that's just good viral marketing - but this one would manipulate the SERPS to put the owner's affiliate link into anything you searched for.

Originally I posted that Google would have a fit because of the info this program would give you, but it's going to have an even bigger fit when it finds out you're mucking around with its SERPs. That's just low.

I don't want anybody to think I'm putting my name on anything that's black hat. So I want to apologize to any Warriors who thought I was trying to push something unethical or baiting someone into downloading something. I've worked way too long and come to far to do that.

I'm just disgusted by how I fell for this. The info that it gives you really was good and helpful, but be VERY careful - "free" isn't always everything it's cracked up to be.

[Patrician]

Let me be the first one to forgive you for being human.

... and thank you for being good enough to admit your error and try to set everyone straight.

Didn't see the thread but just thought I would say that..

Pat

[Teresa Coppes]

Sherice -

I too thought the program was a good thing. Was playing around with it for awhile and then when I dug a bit deeper I too noticed what you did. There's no need to apologize because this is exactly the type of information that needs to be brought up to others. You found a program you thought was good, wanted to share, and then because of the knowledge others have you got deeper into it. Not a bad thing at all.

Kudos to you!

[Thomas Belknap]

Sherice, I think you are being too hard on yourself. I purchased the product and it wasn't for the viral scheme but for the product itself. I am still playing around with the product and like it so far. If all goes well, I would have no problem referring someone to purchase it. Not for any commissions or part of that other serps thing. But for the tool itself.

I don't think this will take off anyway. It may have a large initial feeding but people will get tired and the serps thing will not work imo. I think you would need a larger audience than internet marketers searching to pull it off.


Anyway, thinking of the tool itself and I understand why you were excited. There really isn't anything to apologize for imo.

[Thomas Wilkinson]

I had that one for a few days too. Usually things from "that guy"
are so good I don't think twice about trying it out or even recommending
it. That thing is awful. Got it off here as soon as I looked into it.

Tom

[ecoverartist]

Hey guys,

Thanks for understanding. "His" scheme is brilliant when you think about it, and even if you do the steps he mentions to brand it (and I too have no problem about recommending something that I've found to be very helpful), it still doesn't work as advertised, so I've set the ball rolling to get a refund.

There's just no sense in hawking something that has to stoop that low to get you an aff commission.

I think Google will likely can it anyway for mucking about with its SERPs. I don't think CB would want to be associated with anything that angers the Google gods either

Glad I've gotten rid of the thing. I'll stay with Aaron Wall's SEO Toolbar for now. That one is quite possibly the most useful Firefox plugin I've ever seen!

Originally Posted by ecoverartist

What I didn't know (and special thanks to a fellow Warrior for pointing it out to me) was that on the other side of the program was a pyramid scheme designed to recruit people to promote the program themselves.

How is it a pyramid scheme?

Getting people to try it out and spread the word about it is one thing - that's just good viral marketing - but this one would manipulate the SERPS to put the owner's affiliate link into anything you searched for.

What exactly is wrong with that?

Originally I posted that Google would have a fit because of the info this program would give you, but it's going to have an even bigger fit when it finds out you're mucking around with its SERPs. That's just low.

Are you certain that Google didn't approve of this tool?

There's just no sense in hawking something that has to stoop that low to get you an aff commission.

Everything was disclosed up front about the product...

How is this stooping low?


Please don't take my questions the wrong way--I'm really curious!

I think that it's an awesome tool--and I didn't find anything wrong with it.

I also have faith in the product owner--and I highly doubt that there is any funny business going on.

Take care!

[ecoverartist]

Hi Marc Anthony!

Originally Posted by marcanthony

How is it a pyramid scheme?

(Those were the other person's words, not mine).


What exactly is wrong with that?

I bought it for a completely different reason than the affiliate side of things. I have no problem buying a program somebody recommends is good, and I'm glad they get a commission from that. I DO have a problem with somebody sticking their affiliate link into EVERYTHING I buy, whether its at Amazon, on Clickbank, etc. It's almost like spyware.

Are you certain that Google didn't approve of this tool?

My jaw would hit the floor if they did! The only way the program can get around Google's iron fist is by saying "well, you can turn it off anytime you want".

Plus, if I'm searching for something - say, medical advice, I want the most CREDIBLE site to come up at the top, say WebMD - not Sally's Breakthrough Stair-Stepper Program!!!***LOOOK***lose 15 pounds a day!!! Clickbank link.

Everything was disclosed up front about the product...

I bought it for the Top 10 keyword results that the program promised. I saw the other part after the fact - and this is just me - but anything that reeks of MLM is something I personally steer clear of. No offense to MLM'ers - it's just not something I want to be a part of.

How is this stooping low?

See above for why I feel that is.


Please don't take my questions the wrong way--I'm really curious!

I think that it's an awesome tool--and I didn't find anything wrong with it.

I also have faith in the product owner--and I highly doubt that there is any funny business going on.

Take care!

Oh yes, I've bought some great software from this individual over the last 4 or 5 years, plus I was really impressed with the tool's basic functionality (not the recruiting part), this just came as a bit of a surprise that this person would go from making helpful software to teaching people MLM.

[Loren Woirhaye]

I signed up but when I started to suspect what it was
I never downloaded it. Isn't this kind of similar to
"spyware" or "scumware"?

I don't know what the working definitions of those
terms are but I wouldn't want to normally recommend
something that spies on users and sends their information
to a database.

That's just my impression what it does. In addition
maybe it's kind of liek SpyFu and a couple of other things
but my real question is this:

Is the data coming from spying on people who have the toolbar
installed? Is it coming from something like AdSpyPro?
Or is it some kind of combination?

Very clever marketing idea. I question the ethics of it,
but still very clever.

I don't have an issue with mlm, I have an issue with
invasion of privacy.

ecoverartist,

It's funny how different one persons point of view can be so different from someone else.

Even though my opinion is completely different than yours--I do see where you are coming from.

Have a nice day!

Marc

[John M Kane]

ooooooooooh you're soooooooooooo evil
Ha
Your penance is give us all a 90% discount on your services FOR LIFE!
With 12 hour turn a round time...

and 10 pushups