11 replies
I see one of my competitors being sponsored by a company that produces goods in the niche he's in, and he acknowledges this in his free PDF that he gives away when you subscribe for his emails (he has something like "this guide is brought to you by XYZ Company).

I have no problem with that, but don't you think he loses credibility when he does it?

Or maybe I'm just not used to this... (I rarely see free PDFs being sponsored by someone).
  • Profile picture of the author Randall Magwood
    Why do you think he would lose credibility for marketing with PDF's?
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  • Profile picture of the author Rebeccha Haase
    I do not wonder about it. It is increasing his credibility indirectly. Because he is promoting those brands and whenever people will search for those brands, they will look after his site. This is a good technique for promotion.
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    • Profile picture of the author MilkerFocus
      Originally Posted by Rebeccha Haase View Post

      I do not wonder about it. It is increasing his credibility indirectly. Because he is promoting those brands and whenever people will search for those brands, they will look after his site. This is a good technique for promotion.
      I agree with Rebeccha. It's great for him & the company. It's Win Win situation.

      Marcus
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      • Profile picture of the author fin
        I think it makes him more credible if it's a reputable brand.

        If you look at some huge 6-7 figure shows (mixergy/risetothetop) you'll see they're all sponsored by different companies.
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  • Profile picture of the author davidhuby
    Would it stop you from reading the free PDF? I wouldn't of thought so and it's only like having ads on your blog
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by davidhuby View Post

    it's only like having ads on your blog
    I think it's radically different from that, David. (Though I don't do that either, because many people also feels that loses a lot of credibility).

    Originally Posted by Lucian Lada View Post

    I have no problem with that, but don't you think he loses credibility when he does it?
    Yes, of course ... he more or less loses all and any claim to objectivity, doesn't he?

    He can no longer build relationships with his subscribers on the strength of his impartiality. For me, that would perhaps even be a disaster. My subscribers/visitors/traffic would certainly hate it. And I wouldn't be willing to send them something like that, anyway.

    I have no problem at all with people doing that, if they want to (as long as they disclose it openly, of course) but I wouldn't want to do it, myself.

    Many people don't and won't regard you as an "authority" when you're in the pay of one company, rather than being equally in the pay of many different ones whose products you can compare. It's hugely different.

    Besides which, the free PDF you give away to subscribers is your opportunity to brand yourself and build your business and make sure you get the maximum possible open-rate for your subsequent email series, and all the basics of list-building discussed here: http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...ml#post6123982

    It's certainly not for me, anyway! :p
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  • Profile picture of the author obannonsleap
    My thoughts are: it depends.

    I think of it like this, is your "apples guy" the guy who usually has the best apples for sale, or is he the guy who always knows which other vendor has the best apples available on any given day?

    I guess my thoughts on "being an authority" are that it doesn't mean you personally have all the best information or answers, but you always know where to find them and make them available for consumption to your community in a way they can easily grasp and use.

    So, if the sponsored content is a true value-add for your community or list, and not just some cheesy or thin sales/leads generator for the sponsoring company, then wouldn't it actually add authority and credibility to be able to offer this to those who look to you for the best stuff in your market?

    I would have no problem giving away "brought to you by..." PDF's, videos, software or whatever if it met my criteria as a value-add; and of-course I would make it absolutely clear where the content came from and why I'm offering it. And if the sponsor created it just for me to give away, I'd make that a pillar of support to my authority in the market, a "vendors/product makers come to me..." sort of thing.
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  • Profile picture of the author pdrs
    Are you sure he is actually "sponsered" by them and not just using that as a way to put an affiliate link in? One of the WSO's I read a month or two ago talks about using a line like that at the end of your free giveaways/emails in order to put your affiliate link in without being like "CLICK ON MY AFFILIATE LINK" and that the sponsorship angle actually increased credibility because it made you look "larger" than you really are sort of thing...
    Signature
    RemoteControlHelicopterReviews.(com/net) - Up for sale! No reasonable offer refused. Great branding for a super hot niche!
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  • Profile picture of the author Lucian Lada
    @fin: The company that sponsors him is a new and small company, and most likely trying to get some customers in their way - not a bad strategy for them, but I think it hurts the reputation of the person being sponsored, because:

    @BIG Mike: What is strange is that he initially put out the PDF two years ago or so, and now he rolled out the 2nd edition, which is basically the same (with probably small alterations) but it is now "proudly brought to you by <sponsoring company>", which, if you were on his list and got the first PDF, looks cheesy. Further more, the header of the document says (on every page, of course) "What company makes <type of products> that <author> likes best? Click here to see!" And "Click here to see" is actually the anchor text for the link back to the company website.

    If it was a significant upgrade, it would make more sense, but not in this manner.

    And what else I've just noticed, is that he just sent me an email announcing that a company like <sponsoring company> doesn't do discounts. He further advises people to do a Google search and "see for yourself". (Most likely, again, the company is too new to have figured out or have time for a good promotion plan.)

    He says that someone making such great products like his sponsoring company doesn't need gimmicks to sell their stuff.

    But (and here's the good part), he said he talked to the owner of the company, asking for a temporary discount and got an affirmative answer, so now he gives us a discount code that we can use at checkout.

    To be honest, I really like these products, and I welcome the discount code, but from a marketing point of view, isn't his presentation flawed? He said these products don't need a discount code, saying that they are "gimmicks", but then he is the one asking for one!

    Am I the only one to notice the discrepancy between his affirmations?

    I'm not accusing the guy, in fact, I'm happy for him (I know, I know, this is bad... but hey, I have to keep the lights on, too, you know!)
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    • Profile picture of the author connorbringas
      I dont get how you lose credibility doing that, unless the company that sponsors him has a bad rap. You gain credibility typically when you do this.
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    • Profile picture of the author fin
      As Mike said, it's hard to really know without all the details.

      Take the supplement industry as an example. I know supplement companies sponsor personal trainers and they're seen as more powerful. It actually makes them seem more knowledgeable even though they promote one kind of supplement.

      And also about Mike's Paypal comment, if people are getting sponsored by Nike, Mercedes, etc, the authority instantly rubs off on them.

      But because it's a new company and we have no idea what the niche is, who knows? Going by how strongly you feel about it there might be other people who feel the same way.

      But think about it from a customers point of view. Don't have your competitor hat on.
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