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Should I go for it? Some Moral Issues...

by Sumit Menon
15 replies
Few months ago I purchased a domain. I was going to develop a niche site around it. It's a .info domain (I didn't have enough money for a .com domain )

Actually, I had looked up a keyword on Wordtracker and checked for the competition on Google Keywords External.Well, there was decent amount of searches. I didn't check further on Google and quickly purchased the domain.

Well, there's some competition (225,000 results with quotes) but I can beat them cuz most of them are p2p sites.

I was going to develop a site around it, with a plr package I have, (an e-book, articles etc.) and go for affiliate commissions.

Now, the problem is the no.1 site for that keyword is an e-book of the same name. It has been around for 5 years.

I was going to name my 'spiced up' e-book something similar and give it away for free.

Now, I think all the traffic for this keyword is mainly due to the product. It has only 200 backlinks and there is not a lot of competition after that. So, I think I can get to the top with some article marketing (the no.1 guy has not done a lot of it).

So, if I get to the 2nd spot and advertise my e-book as FREE in the title, I'd sure get some click-thrus (probably more than him. I'm assuming).

But, should I do it or just let the domain expire? Is this illegal or something? Is it a bad thing? :rolleyes:

Thanks,
Sumit.
#issues #moral
  • Profile picture of the author danabbamont
    One of the central themes in the progress of online marketing is giving away what used to be expensive. Even if this other book created the market, there's a demand to be met. Go for it!

    I only jumped back into IM as a hobby recently but I've generated almost all of my traffic by creating and giving away better versions of stuff people are selling (those "backlink sources" except all dofollow, dofollow forums but with PR, keyword tools, etc)
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  • Profile picture of the author Art Turner
    How do you plan to monetize all that traffic for your free book? Build a list, I guess?

    Is there an affiliate program for the book in the number 1 spot? Why not offer an incentive to buy through your link if there is? That way you could set it up and then go do something else while it makes money?

    You can't copyright titles, so I don't think it's illegal for you to have the domain name. People who make money off product launches buy domains all the time with the product name in them.

    Art
    Signature
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    • Profile picture of the author Sumit Menon
      Originally Posted by Art Turner View Post

      Is there an affiliate program for the book in the number 1 spot?
      Art
      No.. Not that I know of (or what shows on the front page).

      The Payment processor is Authorize.net. So, I think it doesn't have one.
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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    It's not illegal or immoral. It's called competition. If you think you can do it, go for it.
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  • Profile picture of the author 1960Texan
    Originally Posted by Sumit Menon View Post


    Now, the problem is the no.1 site for that keyword is an e-book of the same name. It has been around for 5 years.

    I was going to name my 'spiced up' e-book something similar and give it away for free.

    But, should I do it or just let the domain expire? Is this illegal or something? Is it a bad thing? :rolleyes:

    Thanks,
    Sumit.
    I would just let the domain expire and move on. Ask yourself this: Would it be alright to give away a product called "Spiced up Pepsi?"

    Will
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    • Profile picture of the author Sumit Menon
      Originally Posted by 1960Texan View Post

      I would just let the domain expire and move on. Ask yourself this: Would it be alright to give away a product called "Spiced up Pepsi?"

      Will
      No.. I mean, I'm gonna edit the PLR product a little. It's good as it is.. It's over 125 pages of content and I'm giving it away for free. Talk about over-delivering.
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    • Profile picture of the author markgilbert
      Originally Posted by 1960Texan View Post

      Ask yourself this: Would it be alright to give away a product called "Spiced up Pepsi?"

      No, but I think she's saying "FREE Cola", which indeed, would get a lot of attention.

      My vote is, GO FOR IT, especially if you think you can get in #2 position on the search engine, and this is your only other competition (if all other elements of the business, product, and plan our sound)
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  • Profile picture of the author BIG Mike
    Banned
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author JayPeete
      Originally Posted by BIG Mike View Post

      As long as you are confident you're not violating Copyright/Trademarks, then yeah, go for it - nothing like a little competition to spice things up
      I'm with BIG Mike on this one. I hope it is a good money maker for you.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sumit Menon
    Okay.. I'm gonna give it a go!

    Thanks guys,
    Sumit.
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  • Profile picture of the author David Brown
    You are only competeing with him. Why should there be anything illegal about it.
    It does not matter if you are giving away something for free that he is selling, as long as you have the right to do that (not all PLR products can be given away for free).

    Go for it big time.

    Good luck

    Dave
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    • Profile picture of the author Sumit Menon
      Originally Posted by David Brown View Post

      You are only competeing with him. Why should there be anything illegal about it.
      It does not matter if you are giving away something for free that he is selling, as long as you have the right to do that (not all PLR products can be given away for free).

      Go for it big time.

      Good luck

      Dave
      No, he has a different product, I have a different one. It's just the matching domains.
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  • Profile picture of the author WD Mino
    Hi,

    as long as the domain name is not the same or is using the name of the product in it that part is fine it is not a infringement. however with only 200 backlinks and the product being around for 5 yrs do you have any other stats that would indicate if it sold well or was an in demand product at one time? I guess I am saying it is better to know what exactly your getting into before actually doing it because once your there your there.

    -WD
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    "As a man thinks in his heart so is he-Proverbs 23:7"

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  • Profile picture of the author richdirtygirl
    Originally Posted by Sumit Menon View Post

    Few months ago I purchased a domain. I was going to develop a niche site around it. It's a .info domain (I didn't have enough money for a .com domain )

    Actually, I had looked up a keyword on Wordtracker and checked for the competition on Google Keywords External.Well, there was decent amount of searches. I didn't check further on Google and quickly purchased the domain.

    Well, there's some competition (225,000 results with quotes) but I can beat them cuz most of them are p2p sites.

    I was going to develop a site around it, with a plr package I have, (an e-book, articles etc.) and go for affiliate commissions.

    Now, the problem is the no.1 site for that keyword is an e-book of the same name. It has been around for 5 years.

    I was going to name my 'spiced up' e-book something similar and give it away for free.

    Now, I think all the traffic for this keyword is mainly due to the product. It has only 200 backlinks and there is not a lot of competition after that. So, I think I can get to the top with some article marketing (the no.1 guy has not done a lot of it).

    So, if I get to the 2nd spot and advertise my e-book as FREE in the title, I'd sure get some click-thrus (probably more than him. I'm assuming).

    But, should I do it or just let the domain expire? Is this illegal or something? Is it a bad thing? :rolleyes:

    Thanks,
    Sumit.
    if the domain is just keywords and there are no brand problems, I would do it, wait to see if there is really the money you think there is, and contact the owner of the other ebook.

    Ask him to make you an offer good for both parts.

    if you let it expire someone else will take it and do probably the same you are trying to do. So you are not making this guy any good just letting the domain go.

    Laura
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  • Profile picture of the author mjzivko
    Go for it!
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  • Profile picture of the author Troy_Phillips
    If I was on top with only 200 back links I would expect someone to take my spot .

    Once the number one spot sees you are serious ... offer to make some kind of deal with them. If they do not seem to want to play, take the spot from them.

    You could find that they only have 200 back links because that is all it took to get to number one . if they were smart enough to get there and not trying to update ... you may realize why they no longer mess with it .

    Number one for some keywords is not as profitable as a lot of people think in the end .
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