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Your Thoughts on this Type of Promoting?

by E. Brian Rose
15 replies
Five minutes ago, I received a Google Alert for my name. It was a YouTube video with the same title as one of my workshops.

The video was a single screenshot of a slide that said, "Looking for a coupon code for this product? Click the link in the description." The link went straight to the sales page. There is no coupon code. It was just an affiliate link.

I looked at his other videos... 469 just like it with links to other affiliate products.

Just curious to how the majority of folks feel about this type of promotion.

UPDATE BELOW...
#promoting #thoughts #type
  • Profile picture of the author Lance K
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author E. Brian Rose
      Originally Posted by Lance K View Post

      Out of the box thinking.

      Seems a little shady to me. But if it isn't against the TOS of the affiliate programs, I guess they're good to go.

      Edited to add...I imagine most vendors would feels the same as Brian.
      I agree with Kindsvater. If you promote the that you have a coupon and will get it by clicking a link, when in fact you don't, isn't that fraudulent?
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  • Profile picture of the author Mark Alan
    But, does he make any sales?

    Originally Posted by E. Brian Rose View Post

    Five minutes ago, I received a Google Alert for my name. It was a YouTube video with the same title as one of my workshops.

    The video was a single screenshot of a slide that said, "Looking for a coupon code for this product? Click the link in the description." The link went straight to the sales page. There is no coupon code. It was just an affiliate link.

    I looked at his other videos... 469 just like it with links to other affiliate products.

    Just curious to how the majority of folks feel about this type of promotion.
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    • Profile picture of the author kindsvater
      It is fraud and I terminate those types of affiliates.

      .
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      • Profile picture of the author Mark Alan
        Technically it isn’t if he is just asking anyone of they have a coupon. If he says get your coupon here it is. Anyway there is definitely a pro and con to it because it does take away a legitimate sale from the actual affiliate that earned the sale.

        Originally Posted by kindsvater View Post

        It is fraud and I terminate those types of affiliates.

        .
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  • Profile picture of the author kindsvater
    What could be happening is the shopping cart checkout script has a place for "coupon" even if there is no coupon available.

    Some buyers, upon seeing that, will stop the checkout and go searching for a coupon.

    The affiliate, by fraudulently representing there is a coupon, then picks-off those buyers when they redirect them back to the merchant's website. Thus, either stealing a commission from the affiliate who made the real referral, or ripping off the merchant.

    I have also seen this when there is no "coupon" code on the shopping cart, where the affiliate is assuming some portion of buyers will search for a deal to try and get a lower price. These are easy commissions because the prospect has almost always decided to buy - they are just looking for a few bucks off.

    In that scenario, again, all the affiliate is doing is committing fraud and stealing a commission right before the purchase is made.

    .
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  • Profile picture of the author adamvanwildest
    creative, but seems spammy in terms of YouTube guidelines.
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  • Profile picture of the author BloggingPro
    I have used that method in the past, however, I have always included a proper discount code within my affiliate links. Additionally, it should be noted that I mainly promote physical products that have a slew of discounts codes popping up all the time.

    If your advertising a coupon code, in my opinion you should be delivering one.

    BP
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  • Profile picture of the author E. Brian Rose
    Apparently, somebody pulled the plug on this guy...

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    Founder of JVZoo. All around good guy :)

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  • Profile picture of the author mosthost
    Obviously he's lazy and unethical. Pretty bad combo for an affiliate.
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  • Profile picture of the author DylanC
    I have clicked on many such links in the past. Have to say that it is somewhat unethical in my opinion.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kezz
    Yeah that bothers the **** out of me for three major reasons.

    First, you're misleading someone via complete fabrication, which is just plain low.

    Secondly, that person is someone who is considering becoming a customer of mine, and when I go to as much trouble as I do to take care of everyone that deals with me the last thing I want is you kicking off by doing the wrong thing by them.

    Thirdly, it's a flat out lazy way to promote. It's not hard to write an article or review, or build a list, so building what is basically a spam site full of fake promotions is just about flatlining on the effort meter.

    The value and actual payoff from putting in a little effort is drastically under appreciated by a lot of people out there unfortunately.
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  • Profile picture of the author YoungAndOpulent
    Banned
    LOL, dude is lying. I swear, these guys get more creative with their promotion tactics everyday.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jill Carpenter
      If the video is just a slide (as the others) then the guy is gaming Google with keywords and his video offers nothing for the viewer.

      Not surprised youtube pulled the account.

      It's along the lines of trying to submit a one sentence article to ezine articles, lol.
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  • Profile picture of the author Randall Magwood
    I hate that kind of marketing.
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  • Profile picture of the author GlobalTrader
    Sounds like just another new form of spam.
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    GlobalTrader

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