Testimonial Threat... How Would You Handle This?

12 years ago

Well done for not giving him a review copy, although I would blank his name out in your post.

If he's going to make $1,000 in sales - I'm sure he can afford the cost price... My view is not to give review copies to anyone who asks, but offer to some people you think would be great affiliates or offer a good testimonial

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Gaz Cooper

12 years ago

Well his approach was all wrong, nothing wrong with giving out a few review copies to potentially great partners but this chap needs to learn how to approach potential partners.

Kickin it on Amazon

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Adrian Int

12 years ago

Originally Posted by Andy B

My view is not to give review copies to anyone who asks, but offer to some people you think would be great affiliates or offer a good testimonial

I think Andy's on the mark here - You need to pick and choose who gets a review copy and who does not based on the value they can bring to your offer.

Originally Posted by GazCooperOnline

Well his approach was all wrong, nothing wrong with giving out a few review copies to potentially great partners but this chap needs to learn how to approach potential partners.

I think "Bull in the china shop" is a relatively accurate phrase to describe this scenario.. haha

Perhaps this can be a lesson for others marketers. I hope it goes without saying, but threatening people won't make them be your friend (or your business partner as the case may be).

If you want to work with someone there is an easy way to do it.. and it's very simple.

Answer the "What's in it for me?" question from their point of view!

Also, affirming that you can add value helps too. For example, stating that you have resources related to the niche the product belongs to (perhaps a list, or a fan/review site) or adding helpful tips that the recipient can take action on.

I think the gentleman who sent the original request for a review copy would've been more successful if he'd approached it more like this:

Greetings,

My name is [Adrian] and I wanted to send you this PM real quick for 2 reasons:

Number one, I understand that you'll be launching a WSO soon in the [niche] niche, and I wanted make you aware of the role I play in that market. I have built a list of [# of] subscribers who like to receive information about [niche] and who would be interested in hearing about your product.

I'm confident that I can bring some great traffic to your offer, and provided that your sales copy is well done, we can probably both walk away from this launch with some decent cash in our bank accounts.

However, this brings me to point #2...

Point number two is that, to maintain the responsiveness of my list, I have to know that the products that I promote are packed full of real value. Before I promote any product, I personally review it to make sure it doesn't just seem like a great fit for my subscribers, but that it in fact IS a great fit for them.

Traditionally, I like to send my e-mails just prior to the launch while excitement about the product is still high. However, this means that I'll need advanced access to the product itself before it goes live.

I hope that you can see where I'm coming from, here.

One other benefit that I can provide to you is my personal testimonial in your WSO thread - or even directly in the sales copy, if you wish. I think you'll agree that having a seasoned warrior vouching for your WSO can't hurt.

As I said, I'm interested in working with you to achieve maximum results for this WSO so please let me know your thoughts on this proposition.

Cheers,
-[Adrian]

... Or something like that... :p

Cheers,
-Adrian

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JasonWestwick

12 years ago

It amazes me the nerve of some people, most likely he would have taken your review copy and you would never have heard further.

Talk about burning bridges, this guy has killed any possible relationship with you or anyone you know. Not the best way to reach out to potential partners.

Awesome response, a little more polite and eloquent than I would have put it

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jkatzenback

12 years ago

Originally Posted by JasonWestwick

It amazes me the nerve of some people, most likely he would have taken your review copy and you would never have heard further.

Talk about burning bridges, this guy has killed any possible relationship with you or anyone you know. Not the best way to reach out to potential partners.

Awesome response, a little more polite and eloquent than I would have put it

My thoughts exactly

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Paul Myers

12 years ago

Originally Posted by jkatzenback

Anyway, what is your thoughts on this?

My thought is that if he'd sent that as a PM here, he'd have been banned if you reported it.

"If you don't give me a freebie, I'll accuse you of being a scammer?" Seriously?

Paul

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Jill Carpenter 12 years ago

I wouldn't have even wasted my time with a response.

You are way too nice.

I promote many launches by getting ranked my videos in Google.

I would toss around the idea in my head of having a ton of review videos made - giving hints to those who make them how to best optimize them.

Then I would toss around the idea of making my own youtube video which would talk about this email and show screenshots of it in my mailbox and talk about this marketers tactics.
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- Adrian Int 12 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Jill Carpenter
  
  You are way too nice.
  
  He's just helping to affirm the reason why I'm proud to call him my countryman.. haha.
  
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- MikeTucker 12 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Jill Carpenter
  
  I wouldn't have even wasted my time with a response.
  
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jkatzenback

12 years ago

Originally Posted by Paul Myers

My thought is that if he'd sent that as a PM here, he'd have been banned if you reported it.

"If you don't give me a freebie, I'll accuse you of being a scammer?" Seriously?

Paul

All responses have confirmed my reaction but this one solidified it

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Fernando Veloso

12 years ago

That's a new one! Instead of showing HIS benefits he just harasses you? WTH? Some people are going crazzyyyy.... it's the end of the world as we know it.

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Slaughter

12 years ago

You should have given him a review copy.. not of your product, but a PDF that says in massive font - "F*CK YOU".

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jkatzenback 12 years ago

Originally Posted by Slaughter

You should have given him a review copy.. not of your product, but a PDF that says in massive font - "F*CK YOU".

Love it! Will keep that in mind if he replies with something else.
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Adrian Int 12 years ago

Originally Posted by Slaughter

You should have given him a PDF that says "F*CK YOU".

This is the kind of story I would like to tell my grandchildren, one day.

Hahaha!
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enterpriseunlimited 12 years ago

Originally Posted by Slaughter

You should have given him a review copy.. not of your product, but a PDF that says in massive font - "F*CK YOU".

LMAOROTFL (Hilarious!)

@jkatzenbeck:

You did the right thing.
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John Warsop

12 years ago

My words would have been alot harsher than yours haha!

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eibhlin

12 years ago

As someone who writes reviews, I'm absolutely stunned by that demand for a review copy.

For me, the telling phrase is, "If I get a review copy of a product, I create a honest review and recommend it."

Umm... no. One can either write an honest review or one can promise to recommend the product, sight unseen.

No honest, responsible reviewer would say that before even seeing the product. I've written some scathingly critical reviews of products I've received, free. And, about half of my rave reviews are for products I've purchased.

For me, the honesty factor is key. That's not about getting free products, but maintaining a credible profile as a reviewer.

No one needs favorable reviews from someone whose credibility is dubious. That's probably why he was so demanding; he's worn out his welcome as a reviewer... if he was ever welcomed at all.

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Exel

12 years ago

Sounds like a truly unpleasant guy. You shouldn't have anything to do with guys like taht, just ignore.

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thetrafficguy

12 years ago

I forsee him having a long and successful life in this market

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John Romaine

12 years ago

Sorry, I should've worded my request a bit nicer.

.....seriously though, about that review copy

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Kay King 12 years ago

1. I would make sure I have his name, etc - if I had to be polite to do that, I'd fake it

2. I'd report the "threat" (and send a copy of his statements) to paypal or clickbank or amazon or whatever platform he might be using while he runs his shady business.
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LarryC

12 years ago

I wouldn't take such a threat seriously at all. He might have a list of 20 people. And who would base their decision on that kind of statement, "because I didn't get a review copy it's probably rubbish?" And you just have to take his word for how successful his launches are. Even if it's true, the internet is a big place and an "anti recommendation" of one person isn't going to kill you.

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Rod Cortez

12 years ago

Jason,

You handled it correctly. I do have a cut and paste response for e-mails like that. My own personal style when dealing with people like this now is to remain professional at all times and not stoop to their level, but I also like to let them know that I take all threats seriously:

Dear ******,

Thank you for the contact. As a business person I am sure you will understand my response to your inquiry. I am very selective on whom receives review copies from me. Some of the criteria is that I need to know whom I'm dealing with. I need to make sure I'm dealing with a marketer who knows their conversions numbers, runs an ethical business, and will be willing to talk to me over the phone or Skype and answer a few basic questions.

Unfortunately, by threatening to do damage to my business by not receiving a review copy you have already demonstrated that you already are willing to do my business harm and we haven't even formed a relationship yet. No ethical business owner would ever take that approach. I take all threats to my business very seriously, so I hope you were merely trying to bluff your way to getting a free review copy.

I would like to give you the benefit of the doubt that you're doing this, not because you're a bad person, but because you're inexperienced or maybe someone else gave you some bad advice. My advice to you is if you would like to form long-lasting and profitable relationships with people like me is to approach people professionally and treat them how you would like to be treated.

Put yourself in my shoes for a moment, how would you react to your own e-mail? I hope you take this as a learning experience and use it to grow your business without having to resort to threats because it will be much better for your business in the long run.

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

And I leave it at that most of the time, depending on the nature of the threat. Every now and then I get a response where the person apologizes. I used to get into flame wars with people like this, but then I grew up as a person and as a business owner and realized that is just a big waste of time. I see no reason to ever stoop down to their level. I have a business to grow and tend to.

RoD

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JBanis

12 years ago

Hi JK. I think you handled it well

This is not the way to do business with anyone. Hilarious.

However, it he'd said he would make me $2000...I would reconsider....

(and yes...just kidding :-) )

Jan

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DueDiligenceDiva

12 years ago

Wow, the gall of some people is amazing!

I have a personal life and business philosophy of being "un-blackmailable". On the very rare occasions that anyone ever tried to gain an upper hand by threatening me, I have always let them know, in no uncertain terms, that I deal with life, and business, with full transparency. So, if they were to ever move forward with their "threat", I will simply fill in the "rest of the story" publicly, by quoting their threat verbatim, which will completely backfire on them.

Completely takes the wind out of their sails...

Sounds like you will have a great story to use in training your list/affiliates/JV partners on how NOT to conduct their business!

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WillR

12 years ago

1. The person who sent you that message is an IDIOT.

2. Make sure you let Paul or one of the mods know who it was so he can be removed from this forum.

3. If he was making the money he claims (which he definitely is NOT) then he would not need to ask for free review copies.

4. I never give out free review copies. Serious affiliates never ask for them. They purchase the product themselves because they know they can easily make their money back from their promotions. If someone asks for a free review copy from me I tell them to go and promote some other suckers product.

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Christopher Fox

12 years ago

Originally Posted by WillR

2. Make sure you let Paul or one of the mods know who it was so he can be removed from this forum.

This. If he is a forum member. Put me in the corner that would have used more colorful language. I understand the TOS, but people like this do not deserve anonymity. They should be outed, and, of course publicly flogged.

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WillR

12 years ago

Originally Posted by Christopher Fox

This. If he is a forum member. Put me in the corner that would have used more colorful language. I understand the TOS, but people like this do not deserve anonymity. They should be outed, and, of course publicly flogged.

You can take some comfort in knowing these type of people will literally never make a dime online.

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JeremiahSay

12 years ago

There's 2 possible solution for me (depending on my mood):

1st: I would NOT reply M***

2nd: If I'm happy, I would send him a download link (Of course NOT to my product) to a "How to stop Internet Scam" PDF ebook.. If I'm even happier I might even send him a link to a "porn" website.. probably that will chill him down a little, I hope!

haha just kidding about the *porn* stuff.. I'm not so mean (like most of you

)

Jeremiah

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JEasy 12 years ago

Wow pretty amazing and I think I've seen it all now. I can't believe that guy approached you like that! You must have a quality product if he felt compelled to try and intimidate you into giving him a review copy. I think you handled it pretty well to be honest. I wouldn't have been as cordial in responding.
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JaceBarnett

12 years ago

This makes me want to 1-up him and send you my own virtual blackmail. You know, since that's legal in some locales and encouraged in all.

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jkatzenback

12 years ago

No further responses from him. Was actually looking forward to seeing if he had anymore inspiring comments

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petelta

12 years ago

Yea, you will get messages like this a lot. The guy is obvious lying about his affiliate potential just to get your product for free.

If he could send 1k-8k to your offer, the guy would just buy the product to give a review. I spend over $100 every time I'm looking for something to promote because it takes a couple products to find a good one usually.

If you're going to be a product creator, get used to crap like this lol. Have fun with the hilarious refund requests... they will at least make you laugh when you read them.

Travis

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Jeff Lenney

12 years ago

Want to find an easy way to stop him? Report a few of his 'dishonest' videos as scams - 3 videos get reported and taken off gets his acct deleted.

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gallus

12 years ago

Give me something for nothing or I will tell the whole class not to be your friend?

I wonder where he started that kind of behavior.

Bully's hate to be ignored

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JohnMcCabe

12 years ago

Originally Posted by Kay King

1. I would make sure I have his name, etc - if I had to be polite to do that, I'd fake it

2. I'd report the "threat" (and send a copy of his statements) to paypal or clickbank or amazon or whatever platform he might be using while he runs his shady business.

As well as Google, since he claims his ranking ability as the source of his power.

And every video host I can find one of his videos on.

Put the little **** on ice...

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Will Edwards

12 years ago

Your reply was spot on imho.

Will

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Tadresources

12 years ago

Good for you for not giving in, I hate it when people do that crap. I'm all for giving out review copies, but not to bullies like that.

By the way, if he has to resort to tactics like that then he probably can't do the damage he claims.

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Marsala

12 years ago

You handled it well. I also liked the way some people say they would handle it. There was some very creative stuff there.

I also think that guy was all talk and no walk. He probably never even made a dime online yet.

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nicelife

12 years ago

What a jerk!

I can't believe that some people think they can treat people like that and get away with it.

This person is a shame for this industry.

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garyv

12 years ago

It should be obvious by this email that his copy-writing does not convert.

Maybe suggest to him that he switch over to affiliating Feminine Hygiene products - because his salescopy has a high douchebaggery level.

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