What Kind of Marketing REALLY Pisses you Off?

105 replies
Hey everyone.....

I am curious. What form of Marketing really pisses you off? Obviously spamming is one...but what kind of spamming?

What other tactics that Marketers use really tick you off?

If you had to give someone a piece of your mind...who would it be?

I realize we can't change the world and people are people but
it would be interesting to see what kind of responses pop up.


Highest Regards,
Sean

oh yea.....Happy Holidays!
#kind #marketing #pisses
  • Profile picture of the author ryanman
    Having to enter the email and then getting spammed for months. I still get mails from people where I unsubscribed long time ago.
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  • Profile picture of the author zerofill
    Requiring an opt-in to get a product you already paid for...

    That is the biggest pile of trash I have ever seen...

    It no longer becomes an opt-in...
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    • Profile picture of the author ryanman
      Originally Posted by zerofill View Post

      Requiring an opt-in to get a product you already paid for...

      That is the biggest pile of trash I have ever seen...

      It no longer becomes an opt-in...
      Yes this one too! It further complicates the whole process.
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  • Profile picture of the author lakshaybehl
    Sean,

    Happy holidays to you too...

    For me, It has to be people sending me 20 emails a month out of which not even one has some content worth reading.

    But then I hate those people who buy a product, use it and then need a refund for lame reasons which you don't even understand.

    -Lakshay
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  • Profile picture of the author Will Edwards
    Just today I was researching products I might want to promote over at ClickBank. There was one I thought looked promising, but when I clicked away (having gathered my market research) it presented a pop-up offering a discount.

    Well, I am sure it works but I don't like it. But then, when I clicked on the close button a second time, I was offered a second discount. As I said, I am sure it works, but I do find it distasteful.

    Will
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    • Profile picture of the author marcanthony
      The third "one time offer" usually gets under my skin...

      At that point, if I didn't take advantage of either of the first two - I want
      to hurry up and complete my purchase.

      Just to be clear - I don't have an issue with OTO's...

      However, sometimes I just don't feel like I will ever be let off the hook.
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  • Profile picture of the author Bob Monie
    One sales tactic that shits me to tears is that stupid pop-up that appears when you close a sales page that asks you if your sure you really want to leave because im missing out on such a great offer. Then when I tell the pop-up i want to leave the site, it tries to get me to speak to some stupid automated support chat.

    I dont know how this thing could increase sales. I have seriously decided against buying a product i was previously going to purchase due to that pop-up crap.

    If i want to leave a site, just let me go. Dont resort to begging, coz thats what it is.
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    • Profile picture of the author Peggy Baron
      Originally Posted by Bob Monie View Post

      One sales tactic that shits me to tears is that stupid pop-up that appears when you close a sales page that asks you if your sure you really want to leave because im missing out on such a great offer. Then when I tell the pop-up i want to leave the site, it tries to get me to speak to some stupid automated support chat.

      If i want to leave a site, just let me go. Dont resort to begging, coz thats what it is.
      I agree with Bob that this one pisses me off the most.

      Peggy
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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
      Originally Posted by Bob Monie View Post

      One sales tactic that shits me to tears is that stupid pop-up that appears when you close a sales page that asks you if your sure you really want to leave because im missing out on such a great offer. Then when I tell the pop-up i want to leave the site, it tries to get me to speak to some stupid automated support chat.

      I dont know how this thing could increase sales. I have seriously decided against buying a product i was previously going to purchase due to that pop-up crap.

      If i want to leave a site, just let me go. Dont resort to begging, coz thats what it is.
      Yeah, I hate that too Bob.

      By the way, are you Charles White's brother because your avatar looks
      just like his.
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    • Profile picture of the author Julia Andersson
      Originally Posted by Bob Monie View Post

      One sales tactic that shits me to tears is that stupid pop-up that appears when you close a sales page that asks you if your sure you really want to leave because im missing out on such a great offer. Then when I tell the pop-up i want to leave the site, it tries to get me to speak to some stupid automated support chat.

      I dont know how this thing could increase sales. I have seriously decided against buying a product i was previously going to purchase due to that pop-up crap.

      If i want to leave a site, just let me go. Dont resort to begging, coz thats what it is.
      Oh yes!!! Just let me LEAVE the site without being hassled. And those stupid automated chat thingys... sheesh. Tell it that it's fake and it comes back and tells you that no, it's a real human LOL.

      I have no doubt that these kind of tactics work... but they piss me off no end
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  • Profile picture of the author James Schramko
    The new surge of December 2008 joined forum members who come here in droves promoting the maverick money program with affiliate re-direct links. I have seen no less than ten this week and it seems they are multiplying.

    This is because they are being taught affiliate methods that are against the forum rules here. They don't even stop to read the rules before they dutifully post crap on crap with the misguided belief they are about to make their first million this week.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kyle L Hannah
      Your read my mind James.

      Originally Posted by James Schramko View Post

      The new surge of December 2008 joined forum members who come here in droves promoting the maverick money program with affiliate re-direct links. I have seen no less than ten this week and it seems they are multiplying.

      This is because they are being taught affiliate methods that are against the forum rules here. They don't even stop to read the rules before they dutifully post crap on crap with the misguided belief they are about to make their first million this week.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tenzo
    For me it's bad forum marketing. The single post people who either post an entire article about a problem that there signature link would solve, or post one sentence of drivel just to get there sig seen. I have no problem with forum marketing in general; but,people need to understand and be part of the community that they are joining.

    Regards,
    Kevin
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  • Profile picture of the author John Taylor
    People who only visit this forum when they want to
    build buzz for their upcoming launch.

    There's a thread on the main page right now that fits
    that category.

    John
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  • Profile picture of the author puzon23
    Besides the obvious ones I really hate pop-unders! It's so annoying to close your browser only to find 5 more windows to close! Also, I hate when main stream media pages (I have one particular non English one in mind) put up those flash ads. They get so much money from regular banners as their page is top 100 in Alexa and yet they have to feed those ads that take up the entire page and you have to close it before you can read your news!
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  • Profile picture of the author indexphp
    The whole "anti-marketing" thing.

    Is Product xyz a scam?
    Read it here to uncover the
    sizzling truth!
    we-are-lame.info

    Requiring an opt-in to get a product you already paid for...

    That is the biggest pile of trash I have ever seen...

    It no longer becomes an opt-in...
    You want to put buyers on a list, right? You're savvy enough with the web, just unsubscribe.
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    • Profile picture of the author Eric Lorence
      Originally Posted by Garrett Aren View Post

      You want to put buyers on a list, right? You're savvy enough with the web, just unsubscribe.
      A free bonus works for that.

      When it's required to receive your purchase, it's no longer an "opt-in"- It's mandatory.
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      • Profile picture of the author zerofill
        Originally Posted by Eric Lorence View Post

        A free bonus works for that.

        When it's required to receive your purchase, it's no longer an "opt-in"- It's mandatory.
        Huh you beat me to it Eric...

        Also if they are using paypal...report their asses...
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    • Profile picture of the author zerofill
      Originally Posted by Garrett Aren View Post

      You want to put buyers on a list, right? You're savvy enough with the web, just unsubscribe.
      Savvy is offering a bonus that wasn't advertised that they can opt-in to receive... Requiring opt-in to receive your product after you have paid...just shows how un-savvy they are.
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  • Profile picture of the author Melody
    I would have to say the one that bugs me the most is getting the exact SAME product launch email from dozens of different people - and it starts with something like 'My close friend, Joe Blow, is letting me send out this SECRET link to my list - and no one else is getting this!' and then of course over the next day - all 99 gazillion of Joe Blow's 'close' friends also send me the EXACT same email and link....

    It's funny, really, but do they realize that the technique totally destroys any
    credibility they might be have or be trying to build? And would it take so much effort to at least send out something that was their own words - rather than sending out the exact same message as everyone else?

    The amazing part is that it's not just the newbies that do this - I've gotten these cloned emails from the 'big' guys that I would think know better....

    Then again, it does help me clean out my list of newsletters since I tend to hit the unsub button on these pretty quickly anymore.....
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  • Profile picture of the author candoit2
    Originally Posted by The IM Reporter View Post

    Hey everyone.....

    I am curious. What form of Marketing really pisses you off?
    Is Im Reporter a scam?

    Is this thread a scam?

    Those type of ads are the ones I don't like seeing.

    You cannot look anywhere or on any topic anymore and seeing that nonsense.
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    • Profile picture of the author Eric Lorence
      Originally Posted by AaronJones View Post

      Is Im Reporter a scam?

      Is this thread a scam?

      Those type of ads are the ones I don't like seeing.

      You cannot look anywhere or on any topic anymore and seeing that nonsense.
      LOL, and the funny thing is that the "scam hungry" search engines have probably already picked up this thread since you added that.
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  • Profile picture of the author R Hagel
    It pisses me off when spammers come and crap on my sites with their forum and comment spam promoting Viagra or similar.

    cheers,
    Becky
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  • Profile picture of the author Dana_W
    1.) Smack talking internet marketers who think they're better than Dana. No names (cough cough Sean). That's okay, I'll kick your butt on the radio tomorrow AGAIN.

    2.) On Twitter my pet peeve is the famous internet marketers who have many thousands of followers but follow like 10 people back. I know Jason Profit Moffat has a different take on this, but every time I see that, I perceive it as pure ego - as thinking that you're so important that everyone should listen to you, but you don't care less what your followers think.
    Not all famous internet marketers do this, mind you. Plenty of them come down from the mountain and actually interact with their followers.
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    • Profile picture of the author Lance K
      Originally Posted by Dana_W View Post

      On Twitter my pet peeve is the famous internet marketers who have many thousands of followers but follow like 10 people back. I know Jason Profit Moffat has a different take on this, but every time I see that, I perceive it as pure ego - as thinking that you're so important that everyone should listen to you, but you don't care less what your followers think.
      I guess I'd have to agree with J-Mo on this one.

      Why should Donald Trump be expected to read the books of anyone who has read one of his?

      I don't get the whole "ego" argument. People followed them by choice. And maybe those 1,000 that follow them only follow 5 people each. But since they all follow person X, then person X is expected to follow 1,000 people. Even when each of these 1,000 followers only follow 5 people each?

      It's called "follow" not "buddy". IMO, they're called "followers" for a reason. They're interested in what you're doing.

      When people's interests become conditional, aren't they disingenuous?

      Kinda like...I'll say you're pretty if you tell me that I'm pretty. What's so freakin wrong with just telling someone you think they're pretty?
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      • Profile picture of the author Emmanuel Betinis
        The type of marketing that Maverick Money Makers does. This is from http://www.warriorforum.com/ad-netwo...ey-makers.html



        Originally Posted by anapest View Post

        I told myself to stay out of this for the past several days, but I've GOT to at least get a few words in now...


        Originally Posted by adejokelvin View Post

        this guy believes in telling the truth.
        Oh, really? It's funny how the program has "Been around since 1997". Sure, his Alexa ranking is way high because he's got a ton of affiliates pumping traffic to his page...but check out this Page Rank...GREY BARRED. Hmmmmm...A 12 year old program's site doesn't even have a Page Rank of ZERO?! Yikes...sorry. Moreover, if the program has been around for 12 years, don't you think we would have heard about it before other than an all-at-once-affiliate link blast the past few months has seen all of a sudden?

        Also, does anyone else deem the "As seen on NBC, CNN, FOX News, CBS News, and Reader's Digest" as complete crap? Even though I knew it was outright LYING, I went to CBS News & NBC just for fun, did a search on all their article databases and didn't find a SINGLE WORD about this "truthful and honest" Internet Marketer called "Mack Michaels".

        "As seen on NBC"?!?!?!?! LOL...my God...

        Moreover, can't he get in trouble for using their logo like that? Not to mention Reader's Digest, FOX News, CNN, Small Business Opportunities Magazine, and CBS News...

        I could go on about a ton of other things I experienced while actually being a paid member inside the "secret" club, but I don't even really want to waste any more finger typing energy about this "program"...eh, okay...one more...why not...

        Originally Posted by adejokelvin View Post

        this guy believes in telling the truth.
        That's funny...listen to this clip of your buddy "Mack" right here quick:

        http://download268.mediafire.com/3wi...ases-audio.mp3

        Does that voice sound familiar? Gag me, k?

        So...once more, "adejokelvin"...

        Originally Posted by adejokelvin View Post

        this guy believes in telling the truth.
        I don't know about you, but I prefer to do business with HONEST people.

        P.S. Allow me to introduce myself, fellow Warriors...I'm Emmanuel...I'm also known as "anapest" on the Keyword Elite and SEO Elite forums...I've been a member of the online internet marketing community over there for a couple of years. This forum is absolutely amazing. I've been a fly on the wall doing much reading here for the past couple years and never posted...but something tells me I'll be participating much more over here now - there's good people here and it's threads like this that make forums like this an asset (I say this because there's hardly ANY other info online that actually speaks the TRUTH about this MMM program other than affiliates rushing to push his product they don't even 'really' know about).
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      • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
        I don't like the video figures that pop out from a corner and start talking to you about what a great product they have. Yeah, I know it probably increases conversions or something, but I just turn my speakers off, so it has no effect on me except to be an annoyance.

        Originally Posted by Lance K View Post

        I don't get the whole "ego" argument. People followed them by choice. And maybe those 1,000 that follow them only follow 5 people each. But since they all follow person X, then person X is expected to follow 1,000 people. Even when each of these 1,000 followers only follow 5 people each?
        And that's what mailing lists are for--one-way communication. Social networking is not eMail. If I want to just hear what they have to say, I'll subscribe to their eMail list. But, I'm not likely to follow someone on Twitter if they're not going to follow me back. Why would I want to interact with someone who doesn't want to interact with me?

        So, yes, it is all about ego in those cases. No, Donald Trump shouldn't be expected to read the book(s) of everyone who's read his, but that's a different scenario. Books are one-way communication. Social networking is not.

        If someone attended a networking event with ear muffs or ear plugs, and was thus deaf to anything you had to say, would you want to interact with them? If they were to hand out their business cards while not accepting yours, would you want to interact with them? That's the equivalent of what the "big names" are doing when they have thousands of Twitter followers but only follow a mere handful of people themselves.

        Twitter is not Aweber/GetResponse.
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        • Profile picture of the author Dana_W
          You rock, Dan.

          Yes, that is the thing, social networking is supposed to be SOCiAL. The only reason I'd even consider following someone who doesn't care to hear from me ever, is to study how they do internet marketing - but I can subscribe to their email promotions for that AND there are plenty of people like John Reese and Joel Comm and Willie Crawford who do interact and who do follow back.




          Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert View Post

          I don't like the video figures that pop out from a corner and start talking to you about what a great product they have. Yeah, I know it probably increases conversions or something, but I just turn my speakers off, so it has no effect on me except to be an annoyance.



          And that's what mailing lists are for--one-way communication. Social networking is not eMail. If I want to just hear what they have to say, I'll subscribe to their eMail list. But, I'm not likely to follow someone on Twitter if they're not going to follow me back. Why would I want to interact with someone who doesn't want to interact with me?

          So, yes, it is all about ego in those cases. No, Donald Trump shouldn't be expected to read the book(s) of everyone who's read his, but that's a different scenario. Books are one-way communication. Social networking is not.

          If someone attended a networking event with ear muffs or ear plugs, and was thus deaf to anything you had to say, would you want to interact with them? If they were to hand out their business cards while not accepting yours, would you want to interact with them? That's the equivalent of what the "big names" are doing when they have thousands of Twitter followers but only follow a mere handful of people themselves.

          Twitter is not Aweber/GetResponse.
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          • Profile picture of the author FrankRumbauskas
            My biggest pet peeves:

            1. Unsubscribing from a list and still getting their emails. That's dumb on the marketer's part because it sends spam complaints through the roof.

            2. Sites that only accept PayPal for payment. I stopped using them a LONG time ago due to fraud and some other issues. Seriously people, it's almost 2009 and the only thing that would prevent anyone from getting a real merchant account is a criminal record or REALLY horrible credit, in which case I don't want to deal with you anyway.

            3. Sales letters that look like a total Don LaPre scam or circus act and come across as totally unprofessional when I'm legitimately interested in buying the product. Half the time I just give up and leave without buying.
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          • Profile picture of the author rapidscc
            The 4 times OTO..Before it used to be funny, now that a lot is doing it, it's annoying...

            :-)
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        • Profile picture of the author Lance K
          Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert View Post

          And that's what mailing lists are for--one-way communication. Social networking is not eMail. If I want to just hear what they have to say, I'll subscribe to their eMail list. But, I'm not likely to follow someone on Twitter if they're not going to follow me back. Why would I want to interact with someone who doesn't want to interact with me?

          So, yes, it is all about ego in those cases. No, Donald Trump shouldn't be expected to read the book(s) of everyone who's read his, but that's a different scenario. Books are one-way communication. Social networking is not.

          If someone attended a networking event with ear muffs or ear plugs, and was thus deaf to anything you had to say, would you want to interact with them? If they were to hand out their business cards while not accepting yours, would you want to interact with them? That's the equivalent of what the "big names" are doing when they have thousands of Twitter followers but only follow a mere handful of people themselves.

          Twitter is not Aweber/GetResponse.
          Well, 99% of the time you hear people speak about Twitter on here, they're talking about how they can use it to market. Talk of it being a social site only seems to come up when it's convenient.

          And, as far as a networking event goes...if you find someone interesting and ask for their business card, are you going to trash it if they don't ask you for one? If so, your interest in them wasn't genuine.
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          • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
            Originally Posted by Dana_W View Post

            You rock, Dan.
            I feel like printing and framing that. ;-)

            Originally Posted by Lance K View Post

            Well, 99% of the time you hear people speak about Twitter on here, they're talking about how they can use it to market. Talk of it being a social site only seems to come up when it's convenient.
            But, it's social marketing, not just "ordinary" marketing.

            And, as far as a networking event goes...if you find someone interesting and ask for their business card, are you going to trash it if they don't ask you for one? If so, your interest in them wasn't genuine.
            Let's see... someone has a product or service I'm interested it. I ask for their business card, but they don't ask for mine? Doesn't sound like they're too interested in selling that product or service to me. Maybe one of their competitors is.

            Social networking or social marketing is about relationships. If a "relationship" is one-sided, that's not really a relationship.
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            • Profile picture of the author Lance K
              Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert View Post

              Let's see... someone has a product or service I'm interested it. I ask for their business card, but they don't ask for mine? Doesn't sound like they're too interested in selling that product or service to me. Maybe one of their competitors is.

              Social networking or social marketing is about relationships. If a "relationship" is one-sided, that's not really a relationship.
              Well, if they do ask for it, it could be so they can contact you in order to sell you the products/services you've expressed interest in. Not because they're interested in what you're offering. If you're a dog botique owner and I'm a CPA, I'm not going to fake interest in doggy grooming just because you need help with business succession planning. Like I said, if your interest in someone else is conditional, then it isn't genuine.

              Maybe my judgement has been clouded by those exploiting twitter solely for marketing. I understand it's merits as a social site. And I understand that relationships are two sided. But when it comes to following someone who's business you're interested in, I don't see why they should be expected to follow you back.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kate Carpenter
    I dislike the veiled threat--at least, that's what I call it. The emails that say "it goes up in price every 30 minutes" or "there are only xx number left before the price goes up". If you are really offering something to your subscribers, as a special offer, shouildn't it be the same price for everyone?
    I find these offers manipulative and intimadating and, no matter how appealing it is, I won't even look at it.
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    • Profile picture of the author Chris Lockwood
      Originally Posted by Kate Carpenter View Post

      I dislike the veiled threat--at least, that's what I call it. The emails that say "it goes up in price every 30 minutes" or "there are only xx number left before the price goes up". If you are really offering something to your subscribers, as a special offer, shouildn't it be the same price for everyone?
      I find these offers manipulative and intimadating and, no matter how appealing it is, I won't even look at it.
      Are you opposed to grocery coupons and stores with senior citizen or military discounts, too? Or is this "one price to rule them all" theory only for websites?
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  • Profile picture of the author Devan Koshal
    more than 3 upsells in a row.

    and those damn exit popups
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  • Profile picture of the author Dana_W
    Yeah, that "scam" thing annoys me too, and the review sites - I understand review sites are profitable, but it frustrates me that it's made it just about impossible to find an honest review of products anywhere.
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  • Profile picture of the author B3n
    Fake Clickbank or PayPal screenshots.

    If you fake a screenshot to put on your sales page it means you are a scumbag fraudster - NO EXCEPTIONS.

    One person from this forum was found to be doing this and exposed right here, yet he is still accepted in this community.
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    • Profile picture of the author Tom B
      Banned
      Originally Posted by .Ben. View Post

      Fake Clickbank or PayPal screenshots.

      If you fake a screenshot to put on your sales page it means you are a scumbag fraudster - NO EXCEPTIONS.

      One person from this forum was found to be doing this and exposed right here, yet he is still accepted in this community.

      Or people that have no life and continue to stalk people on forums. Especially when they don't add any value.
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  • Profile picture of the author B3n
    Thomas, your post has nothing to do with the topic of this thread.
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  • Profile picture of the author Pat Blank
    In addition to those already mentioned - I hate long lists of free bonus products. Especially when they're the exact same free bonus products I've seen a zillion times already.

    I also hate it when it's complicated to download what I just bought. I can deal with it but I keep thinking about the poor newbies who just give up, and who aren't savvy enough to get a refund.
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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Carl Kelly
      Originally Posted by Pat Blank View Post

      In addition to those already mentioned - I hate long lists of free bonus products. Especially when they're the exact same free bonus products I've seen a zillion times already.
      Too many bonuses can lower your conversions. One thing I learned a long time ago, and testing has confirmed -- at least for me -- believe in "The Power of 3".

      The human brain can wrap itself around "3" quite easily, but when you get to 4 or more things get a little more complicated...
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      • Profile picture of the author Sean A McAlister
        @anapest................Hmmmmmm........Perhaps I will look into that....did not see that
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  • Profile picture of the author Big Mike75
    The collective BJ's so called gurus give each other at launch time. It's exacerbated by the 30 different emails you get at launch, everyone trying to outdo each other with bonus offerings. I'm all for joint ventures, but what we see now in the IM niche, has become one big collective orgy.
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  • Profile picture of the author billromer
    Perhaps this should be a different thread altogether, but Twitter spam is "kind of" starting to bug me. All these people following me, just so I'll follow them and they can start sending me info about what they're selling.

    I started out in the "I don't have to follow my followers" camp, but am starting to change.

    I mean, if my Twitter network is the entire world (theoretically), surely someone will want to read about my latest venture, right?

    But if everyone is getting everyone else's tweets, isn't that just so much distracting noise?

    Anyway, my final answer is Twitter Spam - I get 10-15 new followers a day now, many blatantly promoting themselves.

    Bill
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    • Profile picture of the author Leron Ford
      All of the responses have been great.

      However, my least favorite has to be the forced enrollment into some program for X days as part of my product purchase that I now have to remember to go back and cancel before the trial is up or I'll be charged a gazillion dollars to stay a "member" of.

      Can you tell how much I like those types of deals?
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  • Profile picture of the author John Rowe
    The 'FRANKLY, I'M PUZZLED..." emails seem to rub me the wrong way. Maybe a little too condescending, I'm not sure. Do they work? Maybe. But not on me. I don't remember ever buying anything from the 'puzzled'.
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    • Profile picture of the author Sean A McAlister
      Ok.....so this is another example of the same research that i have been conducting for months now.........and there is a correlation.

      You see, I hear all of this crap about testing, conversions etc. But when it comes down to it real life surveys and poll questions give you a better snap shot of what the consumer is looking for, what they want and what they dont want.

      ================================================== =
      I hear that everyone says that a long Sales Letter is what is needed. You need to have xyz in your letter and yadadada....this is the way it needs to be because that is what the testing has proven.....PROVE IT.

      But yet....when I polled over 100 People on this forum and on Twitter and various times 90% said that they cannot stand a long sales letter....dont have the time for it and will more than likely click away.
      ================================================== ==


      I hear about upsell process and downsells they work....you need to have xyz and yadadada .....but yet.....8 out of 10 people say they cannot stand it....and that they do not go for it.


      ================================================== ===

      I hear about the optins.....but yet most of the replies in this thread debunk most of the theries promoted by people.

      Same thing applies with Sales Videos that go on for 20 mins. 7 out of 10 People hate them.

      This thread is another prime Example of people contradicting all of the Expert advice.

      .............The list goes on and on and on.


      Now...we hear about conversions and testing and everything else. And there are sales being made with these methods. BUT how many sales are being lost.

      All i know is one thing. All of the "Experts" who are promoting These Methods and selling are not listening to their customers.

      AND....I can tell you another thing that I am noticing with Product Launches. They are not as successful as they used to be....WHY? Becuase all of the "Traditional" tactics are not as potent as they once use to be.

      I welcome a debate....but the numbers are coming in from the end Users. Just look at this thread as one small case point.
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      • Profile picture of the author Steven Carl Kelly
        Originally Posted by The IM Reporter View Post

        But when it comes down to it real life surveys and poll questions give you a better snap shot of what the consumer is looking for, what they want and what they dont want.
        Personally, I don't value surveys very highly. First, there are almost always unintentional biases built into the survey. Second, survey answers aren't always given with the "real world" in mind. Third, most successful promoters of products or services that I know or have worked with prefer to gear their approach toward their customer's/potential customer's behaviors and not their words.
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        • Profile picture of the author Sean A McAlister
          Originally Posted by faxinator View Post

          Personally, I don't value surveys very highly. First, there are almost always unintentional biases built into the survey. Second, survey answers aren't always given with the "real world" in mind. Third, most successful promoters of products or services that I know or have worked with prefer to gear their approach toward their customer's/potential customer's behaviors and not their words.

          1.So do you think everyone who has commented in this thread is bias?
          2.Do you think that everyone in this thread commented without the real world in mind?
          3.I work with a lot of Marketers, Promote a lot of products and if you are not hitting the buyers hot buttons....or are hitting them but losing them with all the other BS...what are you accomplishing?
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          • Profile picture of the author Steven Carl Kelly
            Originally Posted by The IM Reporter View Post

            1.So do you think everyone who has commented in this thread is bias?
            2.Do you think that everyone in this thread commented without the real world in mind?
            3.I work with a lot of Marketers, Promote a lot of products and if you are not hitting the buyers hot buttons....or are hitting them but losing them with all the other BS...what are you accomplishing?
            1. Yes, everyone has a bias. It isn't intentional, it's just a part of every person.

            2. No, not everyone. But some may have -- and a survey can't tell you that. But behavior can.

            3. Surveys can be very unreliable regarding what a consumer will or will not do when the real choice is put in front of them.

            In the end, it is what a person actually DOES that matters, not what they SAY they'll do. That's why you have to examine behaviors and not statements.

            I'll give you an example: Years ago I had a marketer ask me for help. He ran a survey of his list and asked if they would be interested in a certain type of product. A vast majority of his list responded that they would be very interested (something like 65 or 70 percent). He went ahead and developed the product and marketed it to his list, and when it came time to buy, less than 10% actually purchased.

            In the end, the survey and results proved to be flawed, because the question was asked and answered without enough specific information for the respondents to answer in a real world way.
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      • Profile picture of the author Black Hat Cat
        Banned
        Originally Posted by The IM Reporter View Post


        All i know is one thing. All of the "Experts" who are promoting These Methods and selling are not listening to their customers.
        That's because actions speak louder than words. What people say they want isn't necessarily what they'll buy...kinda like a woman saying she wants a funny, nice guy, as she prepares for her date with yet another not so funny, not so nice guy.

        AND....I can tell you another thing that I am noticing with Product Launches. They are not as successful as they used to be....WHY? Becuase all of the "Traditional" tactics are not as potent as they once use to be.
        How do you know they aren't as successful? Arbitrage Conspiracy was pretty successful(despite their screw ups), and that guy came out of nowhere. Infomillionaire was successful, Stompernet was extremely successful, Mass Control was successful, Mass Control Monthly was successful, John Reese's new package will be successful, Traffic Secrets 2 was successful, etc etc etc.

        Even if they are less successful, not sure that can necessarily be tied to the "traditional" tactics becoming less effective anyway. It could be, but it could be any number of other things too, including the economy. Correlation doesn't equal causation.
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      • Profile picture of the author Chris Lockwood
        Originally Posted by The IM Reporter View Post

        Ok.....so this is another example of the same research that i have been conducting for months now.........and there is a correlation.

        You see, I hear all of this crap about testing, conversions etc. But when it comes down to it real life surveys and poll questions give you a better snap shot of what the consumer is looking for, what they want and what they dont want.

        I welcome a debate....but the numbers are coming in from the end Users. Just look at this thread as one small case point.
        I'm surprised to hear this coming from you, since it's long established that results from actual testing are far more reliable than surveys. I don't even know why there would be a reason to doubt that.

        Ask me if I would pay $12 to park my car, and I'd say no- I'd rather park farther away for free. But then add that you were asking about Disney World, and I'd have to say yes, since it would be a walk of several miles if I didn't park in their lot.

        Which makes more sense?
        1. Long sales letters don't work, because 60% of the people in my unscientific poll said they don't like them.
        2. Sales letter A converted better than B, according to the scientific split test I ran.

        Time and time again I see people whining about all sorts of ridiculous things. But if they really hated those things, they'd stop responding to them. Sometimes the same person will complain about something in one thread, then not seem to have a problem with it in another. Certain tactics seem to be OK if the big players do them, but not if the little guy does.
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  • Profile picture of the author mfleisch
    That's pretty easy. Formatted emails. I don't have a problem with email in general, but when I receive those emails that are formatted to be only like 60 characters in width and they fill like a third of my screen, I know they are from some affiliate trying to make a quick buck. The problem is that so many affiliates are using templated emails that they are so easy to recognize. You know, "..I just received an email from my friend who told me about...". The web user is a little more savvy than that!
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    • Profile picture of the author Dal.K
      For me it has to be the constant upsells. You've rejected the first offer, second and then you're hit with another.
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  • Profile picture of the author ecoverartist
    I don't have a problem with several upsells (it gets annoying after the second one though).

    What kills me is jumping through hoops to try and unsubscribe from a free trial (there was a big offer here a couple months ago - shipping out DVDs and such for free that had a weird unsubscribe method. Call this number then go to this website which forwards you to this other website... can't even remember what it was called which shows you how much of an impact it made on me!)
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  • Profile picture of the author ecoverartist
    LOL.. *waves to Big* - I fill in forms with funny names just to muck up those "personalized" emails.

    Just remembered another one of my IM pet peeves. Audio that starts when a page loads. I often work with several tabs open, so a voice that comes out of nowhere annoys the heck out of me!
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    • Profile picture of the author Collette
      I think what annoys you depends very much on where you are in the IM 'curve'.

      People new to the whole IM thing are more likely to be on fewer lists, and so the Guru-Launch-Circle-Jerk is less likely to catch their attention (and annoy them).

      Or, if you're just starting to look for ways to make money online, and you haven't been exposed to the barrage of upsell techniques, you will probably succumb a few times before you become numb.

      OTOH, many of us here have been around the block a few times, and we've pretty much been saturated with the most effective techniques. So stuff like that has moved past the point of "a little annoying" to "Quick - where's the 'unsubscribe' link".

      Personally, if I catch a marketer bullshitting me with an 'exclusive special offer' or some such - I'm gone. Sad to say, that's happened with several big IM names. Oh, well...

      Likewise for drop-down opt-in boxes that obscure the entire screen a nanosecond after the page loads. Like before you can even get through the 87-word Mega-Headline. For me, that's an IMMEDIATE click-away gone buh-bye seeya. (Dude, I don't even know yet whether you have anything I want - and you want my information?? NEXT!!)
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    • Profile picture of the author ss442
      "UNSCRUPULOUS VIRUS SCANNERS"!!!!!!!!!

      "You know, the ones that lock up your browser? You accidentally hover your mouse over an ad and it automatically begins to scan your computer".

      You click "STOP", another box pops up and says click to cancel, then it starts to scan again. "Click STOP" and the cycle continues! This kind of bull $@## makes me furious. If the authors of these scams were within reach the fight would be on.

      "CTRL-ALT-DELETE" is about all you can do to stop this garbage.

      SERIOUSLY!!

      I wouldn't download their crap at any price especially FREE ones that advertise like that.

      My name is "Ed Sunderland", and that kind of advertising "REALLY" pisses me off!
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    • Profile picture of the author KevinDasilva
      I would have to say...

      Upsells with Videos on every page...

      Not only do I have to deal with 1 more annoying upsell, but it takes 10 minutes for the page to load because of the long ass salesletter and video that is trying to load to offer another thing I don't want.

      Hover Ads Without a Close Button
      You ever go to a page and you get that pop-up ad that runs up and down your screen and you can figure out... HOW THE HELL TO CLOSE IT?

      *FYI* for those who dont know yet, hit your "esc" button to close these type of ads!

      Launch Emails from 10 Gurus Saying The Same Thing
      I understand how the "IM Game" works but they have to know that we are mostly likely on the the other people promoting this "XYZ Product"... And the fact that you can't take 10 minutes to write a "personlized email" (when they are Marketing Gurus) not only makes them look like a jackasses but its also condesending for them to care so little as to say "here go buy this and make me more rich"

      I could go on for days...
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    • Profile picture of the author Xingxing
      Email spamming to your real objects. Don't spam everyone. You real objects may not think you spam and they may thank you for your information. Others will definitely hate your spamming.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Carl Kelly
    I hate the fake chat sessions, too.
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  • Profile picture of the author tomw
    Sean,

    The quoted "findings" of your research are not really of any merit or validity.

    They are based on opinions rather than actions. They are based upon biases and non-real hypothetical situations as opposed to observed actions in real situations (the qualitative) and recorded metrics such as on page behaviours (the quantitative).

    You have applied numerical values and adopted a statistical approach in order to glean meaning from the meaningless. Yes, this may appear to be insightful quantitative data, but it is founded upon an unsound premise or, in this case, leading questionnaires, hearsay, forum "expertise" and "conventional wisdom!"



    Customer opinions and data based upon methods such as questionnaires like this are increasingly worthless and there are far too many reasons for it to go into here.

    However, one pretty important and valid reason for this is that over the last decade or so, in line with the explosion of increasingly sophisticated consumers, the advent of easily implemented tracking technology, particularly online, and with the emergence increasingly sophisticated methods of understanding, observing and predicting customer thought and decision processes, marketers have adopted much more accurate behavioural and psychological metrics as the true gauge.

    As such, insights are mostly gleaned through a combination of both qualitative and quantitative methods and marketers most certainly need both data sets.

    Not only do we need to know what customers prefer, based upon observing and recording what they do in sufficient numbers (the quantitative) we also need to understand why this is the case (the qualitative). We exploit both in order to create all of the things, such as future products and services and offers and experiences, that are appropriately targeted to customer wants and which are effectively delivered via engaging and constantly ameliorated experiences that reflect the constantly shifting research metrics.

    Knowing how to put up a squeeze page, a sales letter with a pop up, set up a script to protect a product, slap on a Paypal button, write a few articles and dream about the dollars does not make anyone a marketer! Being a marketer is mostly about knowing how to engage customers and distribute appropriately targeted products that address their wants through an equitable exchange of value.

    And so in answer to your OP, as a marketer, the "kind of 'marketing' that REALLY p*sses" me off is the constant barrage of lazy ineffective tactics adopted and employed every day which transparently serve the wants of the marketer/merchant as opposed to those of the customer. The list is endless. Some items have already been mentioned.

    Thomas
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    • Profile picture of the author Clark
      Originally Posted by tomw View Post

      Knowing how to put up a squeeze page, a sales letter with a pop up, set up a script to protect a product, slap on a Paypal button, write a few articles and dream about the dollars does not make anyone a marketer! Being a marketer is mostly about knowing how to engage customers and distribute appropriately targeted products that address their wants through an equitable exchange of value.
      T-Dub, your post is brilliant.

      Personalization is the key as those who adopt the principles of a Pre-Order economy will thrive regardless of the current state of global economic conditions.

      You mentioned: "Customer opinions and data based upon methods such as questionnaires like this are increasingly worthless and there are far too many reasons for it to go into here."

      I respectfully disagree with that statement as the survey mechanism is merely an indicator of what the market wants to make available - now - which gives rise to new product development via innovation to serve the needs, wants & desires of the future end user.

      With personalization, a "Marketer" could conduct a survey about what their market wants, then tailor the product to the individual prospect's specifications rather than churning out yet again a one-size-fits-all product which will lose the desire of the "buying" market due to the product not "speaking to the wants" of the market instead, creating a close-to-the-mark product which, invariably leaves the market disappointed.

      "Tailor made" products will bring about higher conversion rates which will give rise to increasing customer lifetime value for the marketer.

      An example of the pre-order economy that utilizes personalization is coaching programs. Coaching/mentoring programs are taking over the cookie-cutter generic systematic DIY money making programs at a higher profit margin and retention rate.

      Personalized surveys are used to qualify the prospect which will in turn create a "personalized system" for success which will work within their strengths in order to achieve sustained success when the first phase of coaching is completed enabling the "student" to move on to the next phase thus increasing the lifetime value for the marketer.

      As well, you could easily gather up the names of people on your list to survey them about a future product launch then funnel them into a Pre-Sale list then 'personally' sell your product based on their situation/specifications through the results that they have actively provided.

      The good thing to know about surveys is that you'll know who the action-takers are on your list who told you that they want to be spoken to in "their language" and are willing to buy if the product meets their desired specifications.

      The hidden power here is two-way communication with the market which then creates a fusion involving the seller and consumer at the design stage of product development so that supply would exactly match demand which will then increase conversions dramatically beyond the unacceptable 1%-2% industry norm conversion rates online.

      To answer the OP's question, I enjoy all forms of marketing so nothing pisses me off when I see a technique or tactic being used instead, I stop to think why this is being used and also seek to understand the effectiveness of the tactic in the market that I've experienced it in.
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  • Profile picture of the author Victoria Gates
    I just HATE these ones that go..

    I have this SECRET (Don't tell) to show you...

    There is no secret.. I am on your darn AWeber Mailing List from your main website so this letter was sent to 1000's. Do these guys think we are morons? It makes me want to unsubscribe and not buy a thing.
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  • Profile picture of the author trafficwave
    Originally Posted by The IM Reporter View Post

    Hey everyone.....
    I am curious. What form of Marketing really pisses you off?
    I get really annoyed at those messages that try to make us believe that there is some "group" or "they" out there that are actually trying to get the marketer's web site banned.

    I'm on a list for a guy that promotes his public speaking programs. Today, I got an email from him telling me how all these other public speakers are really steamed and I had better order now before they get his web site banned.

    Anyone with half a brain can see right through the blatant hype. I guess it works for him but I just felt insulted by the whole approach. I also unsubscribed.

    And I really AM looking for credible information related to public speaking so I would consider myself a pretty solid prospect. I just didn't want to be insulted.

    I feel that sort approach lacks integrity.
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  • Profile picture of the author pavondunbar
    I don't like popups...

    Or those stupid virtual agents that think you are stupid and are talking to a real person...

    That's my 2 cents...

    Pavon
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Sales pitches disguised as newsletters. If you are going to produce a newsletter, how bout adding some news to the latest sales email? Then "hijacking" subscribers (i.e. sign up for this and I'll ALLOW you to buy from me and other nasty little forced methods to get sign-ups) who are then forced to receive the latest no news sales crap newsletter are just like adding flies to the pile of poop.

    Some marketers need to just give up and go get a real job.
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    • Profile picture of the author goindeep
      Simply any person(mainly scam artists and newbies) Who try to teach others how to market online when they have no results. Its ludicrous yet many people do it and many of them are on these forums.

      One day asking for help cos they want to quit their day job and then you look at their sig and it says "Day Job Killer" Come on guys get real!

      Its just the same as Life Coaches who have no life experience at all and have only done a life coaching course, so they think they can try and help people.

      Its just the same. Maybe their intentions are correct but its very dangerous. Not to mention it could almost be described as a scam!

      I could oust plenty of people right here right now. But there is no point. We just have to be more careful of what we purchase and from who. Its the classic IM scam. "I make 30,000 per month and i can show you how" And when you look closely the only way they make that money is from promoting what you are buying. Pfffft.
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      • Profile picture of the author Sean A McAlister
        So this is turning into a healthy debate.

        While I agree with some of the afore mentioned ...the random questions that i have been asking support the Statistical data that i have seen through some of the most recent launches

        One particular launch which had a short sales video with optin was converting at better than 44%

        While another Launch with the same approach but with an average 20 minute informative video had an optin rate at less than 2%

        Consequently with the first launch a long sales letter with a OTO was introduced and conversions dropped significantly to just over 2% while in the second example a shorter sales page/ video sales page was introduced which increased conversions to at about 3%

        Now....these statistical facts correlate with consumer opinion.
        Additionally, the setting in which the question is asked makes a difference.

        My main point....while trying not to highjack my own thread is that
        the manner in which the questions were asked and the answers that were given are in direct correllation.


        Sean...
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  • Profile picture of the author James Schramko
    I also agree that survey results will not be in line with actual results.

    Humans are complicated beings.
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    • Profile picture of the author Tom B
      Banned
      Originally Posted by James Schramko View Post

      I also agree that survey results will not be in line with actual results.

      Humans are complicated beings.
      Just because people say they want something doesn't mean they will spend their money on it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Simon Ashari
    yeah i got a couple of annoyances that im not sure have been mentioned so far.

    like when you reject an upsell and you have to read: "yes i realise im giving away a once in a lifetime opportunity, i just want the basic package"

    then you have to click a button which pretty much says:

    "just send me to the download page of the inferior product"

    hate that.


    Another pet hate of mine is forced continuity.

    If there is a really good package sold for just shipping i would rather pay a fair price for just the product itself rather than getting it for shipping and feeling obliged to endure paying for a continuity product i may not want.
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  • Profile picture of the author Takuya Hikichi
    I don't like receiving emails from marketers who change their emails often. I know I only opt-in once to a list, but keep getting emails from different emails addresses all belong to the same person - I have to safelist the same person multiple times.
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    • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
      Originally Posted by Takuya Hikichi View Post

      I don't like receiving emails from marketers who change their emails often. I know I only opt-in once to a list, but keep getting emails from different emails addresses all belong to the same person - I have to safelist the same person multiple times.
      I regard those as spam. If I receive messages from someone using a different eMail address than the address of the list I originally signed up for, how do I know it's legit? It could be a spammer posing as a marketer in order to boost their own sales of something; they might even be selling products they stole from said marketer.

      You just can't be sure. So, I don't read those messages. I certainly don't click any links in those messages. I mark them as spam and toss them.

      Maybe some people might consider that harsh, but with all the spoofing and phishing that goes on these days, it's just not worth chancing.

      I don't think that playing musical chairs with your sender address is a good idea for marketers. I'm sure they'll say it boosts their conversion rates or something, but, from my perspective, it's probably just getting more of their messages stuck in junk and spam folders, or even manually marked as spam.

      And, if they insist on doing that, it's probably a good idea that they don't promote a product on a domain name registered through GoDaddy...
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  • Profile picture of the author OmarNegron
    One thing that gets under my skin is gurus charging 10,000 bucks to learn there stuff.

    I understand value but do they really want to target the people who want to learn? Or the people who already are making top dollar?

    When I see these sales pages.....I really don't know what to think.
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    • Profile picture of the author richdirtygirl
      Yes, there are some annoying practices going on, most have been said already. Here is a review of my all time unfavorites...

      -Any "interruption" tactic... If I made up my mind and want to go from here to there... and you get in the middle, it will not be welcome...

      that can be otos, pop ups, pop unders, or any of the other "lets catch them while we can" techniques.

      -Any deceiving tactic... play friend when you are not (fake reviews, etc), manipulation (personalized emails, etc)... there is probably more in this category...

      - Lazy behavior. It's ok to provide affiliates with info and model emails. It is not so ok to use them without any personalization. If you want your share, you need to add value. When i see them... the sender goes right to my spam folder for eternity.

      What I noticed is this: all this stuff gets serious by saturation...

      If I use the computer to play around and find 2 or 3 a day... it will not be a great deal. If I use it 8 hours a day and lose 2 hours because of this, it is costing me money... that is not ok...

      The other problem that appears is the all against all behavior...

      If I'm in the same business and you are teaching me the same tactics you are using over me... you are underestimating my intelligence. In most cases it is a dangerous thing to do...

      I strongly think IM is not just another niche. And it can't be treated as another niche. The guy that is buying from you today, can become your jv tomorrow... it's a small town, you can't mess up in a small town...

      A lil thing about statistics to be careful with:

      I have a friend that is one of those I know everything type of guy... one day the poor thing tried to explain me quantum mechanics...

      there is only one thing I understood... the big problem appears because when you get so small, you can't study the system without changing the result.

      Funny enough, that happens because the "subject" gets to know it is being "studied"...

      Well, the same happens here when you try to study the IM techniques applying them to the IM niche... the fact that the "subject" knows what it is about, changes the result...

      hum... to deep for me... better go do something fun and get back to my senses...

      RDG:p
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  • Profile picture of the author zzPGzz
    1. Gurus that spam you with pitches of products they haven't even tried.

    2. Annoying video figures on the salespage.

    3. Sales letters that hype up low quality products
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    • Profile picture of the author MaskedMarketer
      Originally Posted by Melody View Post

      I would have to say the one that bugs me the most is getting the exact SAME product launch email from dozens of different people
      Being on a list is optional. You should probably unsubscribe from these lists if it bugs you. These are the m2 marketers, they are every where, lol.

      Originally Posted by OmarNegron View Post

      One thing that gets under my skin is gurus charging 10,000 bucks to learn there stuff.
      some experts have charged way more than 10k for just one hour of there time. be thankful some gurus will offer seminars for such a bargin
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      • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
        How about junk article marketing? The kind where the article is such a piece of garbage that the only purpose it serves is to hope you click on an ad when leaving the page or site?

        Especially when those sites hit the top of the search engines for something you are trying to find, because the marketer spent more time on SEO and SEP than on creating something of value and usefulness to a reader?

        And, while we're at it, I'll reiterate the dislike of "Is so-and-so a scam?" marketing that others have mentioned. Maybe it's a good selling technique, but it interferes with legitimate searches to determine if someone is a scammer. And, that reduces the quality of information for the searcher.

        I mean, a long-term marketing plan should include selling products of real value to people. It's harder to retain customers if all you sell or promote is junk.

        So, say John Doe is a scammer. A potential customer smells something fishy about him, and decides to search online to see if he is a scammer. Well, because John Doe has several dozen affiliates promoting his junk and mastering SEO, the "Is John Doe a scam?" searches will result in the searcher finding dozens of sites talking about "Is John Doe a scam?" and then saying, "NO! He's for real! Click my affiliate link to buy his junk!"

        And, any real pages revealing the truth about John Doe being a scammer may end up in the very bottom of search results, because the people reporting his scam may not be as knowledgeable about SEO as John Doe's affiliates.

        Maybe that's an extreme example, but I see that as a definite possibility. Recently, I checked out a marketer to try to find more about him, and the first couple pages of results were "review" sites asking whether so-and-so was a scammer, with the answer of "no, he's legit!" I didn't look past page two of the results; how many others would even look at page two at all?

        Anyway, when people buy John Doe's product and discover it's junk, they are going to look unfavorably upon John Doe as well as the affiliate(s) that recommended the product, that assured them that John Doe was legit.

        So, people peddling junk is a kind of bad marketing. It just makes affiliates and legitimate vendors look bad, because sometimes people have a tendency to lump everything in one category. They get burned by one marketer, and they assume everything on the Internet is a scam. You probably have relatives like that. ;-) And, it just makes marketing legitimate products that much harder.
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        • Profile picture of the author Amber Jalink
          Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert View Post

          How about junk article marketing? The kind where the article is such a piece of garbage that the only purpose it serves is to hope you click on an ad when leaving the page or site?

          Good point:

          A variation to that: Article marketers who SUBMIT TOTAL JUNK to article sites - I'm not talking about the "hoping to click on an ad"...

          I'm talking just the total crap they have submitted. (You can tell I own an article site LOL). The crap we get is totally unbelievable.

          Hello - if you WANT to market through articles - LEARN the right way to do it!

          You wouldn't believe how many don't even put a link or "sig file" after a legitimate article....

          or how many submit just crap you know they didn't read - or didn't speak ENGLISH enough to understand what they just wrote!

          I'm back off my rant....
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      • Profile picture of the author Amber Jalink
        I have been doing this for almost 12 years and consistently there are at least two that drive me *bonkers*.

        1) marketers who claim to respect your privacy, but sell your email address. There are a few "big" guys, very well known that say they respect your privacy... but if you read their privacy statement, they say that they can and likely will sell your email address and possibly have "third parties" (aka: telemarketers for aff products they earn from) call to offer you things you "might be interested in".

        If I wanted my email address sold, I'd post it on my website for spammers to harvest.

        2) Marketers who get hold of my *private customer only* email address, who I have absolutely no knowledge of or relationship to, and they proceed to put my name in the subject and spam me as someone who has "opted in to their list" (NOT) or "requested information on their business opportunity" (NOT).

        3) Okay I know there is 'relationship' marketing, but there comes a point when it IS NOT okay. I have no problem if some asks me to do a joint venture, but don't buy something from me and then add my email to your list WITHOUT my permission. Yesterday I had an email from a person asking me to assist in co-ordinating an IM "Retreat"/seminar. No problem - I don't mind that kind of JV/Contact. But another one of my subscribers has decided he is a member of a few of my sites and has now added three of my emails to his lists... without my permission.

        Worse yet - like someone else mentioned above, he keeps changing the name and email address he's sending from. I know who it is, he signs it every time, but that's just not okay.

        Sorry - didn't mean to rant.

        Obviously email is a big pet peeve of mine when its abused.

        And - as a marketer we are all used to implementing OTO's, etc, but I totally agree that there's absolutely no need to hit people with 2-3 or more.

        One is plenty.

        And if you "downsell"?? It better be a lower level of access or smaller package - NOT the same product for a cheaper price, you just totally devalued it in my book.

        I'll shut up now :rolleyes:

        Amber
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        • Profile picture of the author jcbradley
          Now this could be an interesting thread to point out who is actually selling our names. Has anyone ever sat and read privacy statements on a website. And doesnt the... I wont sell or rent your names to others mean anything anymore. Almost every list I have ever opted in for usually has something like that above the opt in box.



          Originally Posted by dimeco View Post

          I have been doing this for almost 12 years and consistently there are at least two that drive me *bonkers*.

          1) marketers who claim to respect your privacy, but sell your email address. There are a few "big" guys, very well known that say they respect your privacy... but if you read their privacy statement, they say that they can and likely will sell your email address and possibly have "third parties" (aka: telemarketers for aff products they earn from) call to offer you things you "might be interested in".
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  • Profile picture of the author jasondinner
    This is a funny thread.

    Marketers ranting about being marketed to.

    Matt Bacak nailed it right on the head in his Dark Side of Internet Marketing CD.

    He talked about this exact type of thread.

    I love you all, but this is too funny.

    Thanks for the chuckle
    Jason

    P.S. - Does my sig file have too many links in it? Does that upset you too? LMFAO!!!!
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    • Profile picture of the author richdirtygirl
      Originally Posted by jasondinner View Post

      This is a funny thread.

      Marketers ranting about being marketed to.

      Matt Bacak nailed it right on the head in his Dark Side of Internet Marketing CD.

      He talked about this exact type of thread.

      I love you all, but this is too funny.

      Thanks for the chuckle
      Jason

      P.S. - Does my sig file have too many links in it? Does that upset you too? LMFAO!!!!
      lololololololololololololololol

      No, sweet thing... it is not false rant...

      let me tell you a tale...

      One day I was in Rio looking for talents for my movies...

      One girl was going to introduce me to another and we went to see her...

      She was living in a neighborhood that was not the best...

      Form nowhere appeared 3 guys and for a second things got dark...

      My friend started yelling at them in her colorful Portuguese and let them know who she was and that she lived in the neighborhood...

      they moved away and not only let us go, they went with us for protection...

      Moral of the story... you don't mess up with the people of the neighbohood... if you want to mess up, you go somewhere else.

      again, this is not just another niche.

      To use marketing tactics in marketers is stupid even if it gives you money in the short run. You lose in the long run because you are killing your LTV.

      RDG :p
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    • Profile picture of the author MaskedMarketer
      Originally Posted by jasondinner View Post

      This is a funny thread.

      Marketers ranting about being marketed to.

      Matt Bacak nailed it right on the head in his Dark Side of Internet Marketing CD.

      He talked about this exact type of thread.

      I love you all, but this is too funny.

      Thanks for the chuckle
      Jason

      P.S. - Does my sig file have too many links in it? Does that upset you too? LMFAO!!!!
      Whats funnier is you fell for that dudes BS, lol....

      (and you may be breaking the rules by allowing affiliate links in your sig)
      Signature

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      "I Pay Less Attention to What Men Say. I Just Watch What They Do."
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      • Profile picture of the author jasondinner
        Originally Posted by MaskedMarketer View Post

        (and you may be breaking the rules by allowing affiliate links in your sig)
        Those aren't affiliate links in my sig.

        Those are all my sites silly, except for the social sites
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        Super Affiliates Hang Out Here

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        • Profile picture of the author MaskedMarketer
          Originally Posted by jasondinner View Post

          Those aren't affiliate links in my sig.

          Those are all my sites silly, except for the social sites
          you're right. not you're sites

          its common, i know!
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  • Profile picture of the author susansmith
    In my point of view regarding spamming, the first thing which comes into my mind first is 'email spam'. People can report it as spam to receive same thing for 20 times in a week. Also Social site posting can be reported as spam for violation of any rules. So marketers always needs to be more careful about that.
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    • Profile picture of the author jcbradley
      At first I thought all the tactics have been mentioned but I have thought of 2 which I'll post at the end, First I want to comment on a few of my favorites.

      "For me, It has to be people sending me 20 emails a month out of which not even one has some content worth reading."

      I agree, I used to say I don't even talk to my mother as often as some of these guys send me emails and its never for good info, it's always..hey, I found this great thing you must have...ok..20 times a month give me a break. I just delete and then I go into my delete folder and see how often they actually send me crap and it's amazing. needless to say, I unsubscribe.


      Thank you Melody for this one..

      "I would have to say the one that bugs me the most is getting the exact SAME product launch email from dozens of different people - and it starts with something like 'My close friend, Joe Blow, is letting me send out this SECRET link to my list - and no one else is getting this!' and then of course over the next day - all 99 gazillion of Joe Blow's 'close' friends also send me the EXACT same email and link...."

      This does get annoying.


      "Just remembered another one of my IM pet peeves. Audio that starts when a page loads. I often work with several tabs open, so a voice that comes out of nowhere annoys the heck out of me!"

      I really hate this, especially if I am working late at night and its dead silent.

      Now onto a few of my favorites...

      is where the marketer has to make up some far fetched story, I know stories sell but some of the ones I have heard just made me laugh and click away...my feeling is if you aren't telling the truth and it shows, then why would I buy from you, some examples are ...

      secret underground people will come get me if i don't tell you this right away, my life is in danger or if I dont clear out my basement of all my products my wife will divorce me but you already know they use a drop shipper.

      2nd one...Pitch fests disguised as seminars...come here the secrets where they only tell you the what to do but if you want to know the how and whys, come to the back and buy my course for half off ..now only $999 for the next 30 minutes.

      Chris
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      • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
        Y'all have already covered most of my favorites, but here's a couple more...

        Marketers who go to the trouble of segmenting their customers/prospects by maintaining several lists, yet blast identical messages to each list without attempting to de-dupe them. I signed up, and I may want to hear about your offer - but once is plenty!

        And my big one for the dearly departed holiday season...

        Before you offer me 20% off your product as a "free gift", please look up the definitions of the word FREE and the word GIFT. You are not giving me anything, you're running a sale with a discount.

        If you want to thank me for being on your pitch list for another year by offering me a deeper discount than you'll offer any other time (including your 'smart agent'), just tell me that upfront. I can respect that.
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        • Profile picture of the author Collette
          Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

          ...
          And my big one for the dearly departed holiday season...

          Before you offer me 20% off your product as a "free gift", please look up the definitions of the word FREE and the word GIFT. You are not giving me anything, you're running a sale with a discount.
          LOL John - I forgot to include that one in my list!
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  • Profile picture of the author markacutt
    The "Live assistant" pop-up that pops when you try close the window.

    It's not even a live assistant!

    This is a pain in the ass. Although it's supposed to increase sales by about 30%. I've never used it as I think it just frustrates people even more that they "resent" your product.

    I do however use a futher opt-in after clickbank, but this is only so I can move my customers up in rank so I know how valuable they are to me. (If you get what I mean).
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  • Profile picture of the author jjpmarketing
    Anything to do with MLM, Network Marketing, or any variation of the word "matrix".

    Receiving any email from "admin". It isn't that difficult to configure an email account or auto-responder to say a persons name or a company name or a website name. Anything but "admin". That just looks ghetto.

    People that find an IM listed on a site and then use it to spam offers via IM.
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  • Profile picture of the author virtualmom
    I think the very worst is the pop ups. I would have to say those types where you can't get out of them and then when you do, you discover it was a virus! UGH! That happened to me last fall and I had to get a new computer.
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    • Profile picture of the author 4morereferrals
      Whiner marketing ...

      "My Chia Pet will die if I don't sell more of my ....."

      "I probably should have got out of bed and gone to work, but my ...

      [insert bogus excuse here] bunions, fibromyalgia, herpes, nipple piercings etc .... were acting up.... Im quitting."
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  • Profile picture of the author seobro
    You get a PM telling you about FREE software you need to download. After you download it, the SOTware immediately tells you that your 30 days are up and you need to pay. I mean constantly pop up windows with nagware telling you to register. You call up the programmer and tell him you never got the 30 days trial. He says that people are crooks and they would never register the software so he changed the trial period from thirty days to ZERO!
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  • Profile picture of the author ecoverartist
    Gee, that guy is probably twiddling his thumbs right now wondering why nobody has registered his software
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  • Profile picture of the author TheStar
    I also do not like popups, popunders, and those instant message boxes.

    I also do not like reading a sales pitch that's more than 2 pages long.
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  • Profile picture of the author Scott Ames
    Telemarketing. I hate, I hate, I hate to be called for marketing purposes. Its never a good time, I and skeptical, and I would rather read something if they are going to give a pitch.
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    • Profile picture of the author Steve Tuggle
      1. When I'm ready to exit a site I'm ready to exit not deal with popups and "live chat" or special offers.
      2. Tons of bonus products that are nothing more that worthless promotional products.
      3. Screen shots of Clickbank sales. I usually exit as soon as I see one of those.
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  • Profile picture of the author DougBarger
    "I'm the guru (of hot air trickery and cheap shannanigans) not you (by any means or stretch of the imagination) or if I'm not, then at least my buddy is and (so there!) so you need to come under our lordship and obey us by clicking on this link or you will somehow not be able to continue running a more profitable business than us and will kick yourself and miss out later. (Watch this egor, it really puts their brain in a vice grip cause I'm the magi) This is really a personal love letter, so ps, I love you so na-na-na-na|na-na-na-na, hey, hey, hey, buh buy now."

    LOL. Nah, actually I kinda have a soft spot (or is it pity?) for "them".
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  • This is easy.

    The thing I hate the most is information products that don't even come close to living up to their sales letters.....which is probably about 98% of IM information products.

    Coming in at a very close Number 2 for marketing that really pisses me off is IM guru's who sell overpriced BS and get treated like demigods because they happen to be very good at selling their useless BS.

    Hmmm....its possible that both of these things piss me off equally.
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