Ethics question

by BigMike56

Posted: 10 years ago 37 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

Hello all.

I have a question about a certain marketing strategy that could be considered black hat.

It has been proven that people love numbers, and will be apt to buy if the numbers prove that others have bought.

I am thinking of putting "Over 5000 copies sold" on my squeeze page, even though i haven't sold a single unit. It's not like they will check and see if i have sold that many units.

What do you guys think about this? Obviously I know it's sleazy, and I'm leaning toward not doing it. I guess I'm looking for any justification to do it and not feel bad about it, LOL.

Anyway, thanks for your responses in advance.

BigMike

#ethics #question

briankno 10 years ago

I wouldn't mind you stretching the truth but that seems a bit too much. If you are just worried about making money I would test it to see if it made any significant change to conversions otherwise I am sure you can find other statements to boost credibility. Good luck!
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datingworld 10 years ago

well unethical is unethical and lying is lying ...............
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CyberAlien 10 years ago

Well... it would be considered false advertising. It's one of those things that I'm sure a lot of people do, but it can really come back to bite you if someone calls you out on it.
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Onora Oz 10 years ago

Just... don't do it.
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RogueOne 10 years ago

Obviously I know it's sleazy

:confused:
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Fredbou 10 years ago

It's not black hat, there's no SEO advantage, but certainly not ethical, in fact it's an out and out lie!

It's up to you, of course, if you can live with the lie, as I'm sure many businesses live with false info in their advertising.
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cooler1 10 years ago

Haven't the FTC got a rule about people lying on sales pages?
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tkerth 10 years ago

I think there is more captivating text that could be used that 5000 copies sold that wouldn't require you lying but its really up to you.
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Woodward82 10 years ago

Im very, concerned that you had to even ask if this was 'ethical'. It's a lie, now weather you use it or not is on you. WIll it help who knows.
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BigMike56 10 years ago

Woodward82, I know it's not ethical, dude. I'm just curious if this tactic have improved conversions, and if this is a standard practice. Your point is well-taken, however.

The thing is, it is a really great product. It's in the skin care niche, and it kicks arse.

Back to the drawing board...
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- Dburn 10 years ago
  
  I would stay away from that in my opinion. Never lie about something like that. You can always bend whatever you have in your favor but never lie.
  
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- Joel Young 10 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by BigMike56
  
  ...could be considered black hat.
  
  ...Obviously I know it's sleazy...
  
  ... I know it's not ethical...
  
  So where's the dilemma?
  
  Thanks
  
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Willie Crawford 10 years ago

People have an innate ability to sense when someone is not being
truthful with them, so I'd not use that on my sales page. It could
also get you in trouble with the authorities if someone called you
on it.

I would look for other ways to boost credibility.

Willie
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- MissTerraK 10 years ago
  
  My concern is that other people reading this will now stay away from anything you have to offer. You have just publicly posted that you are considering doing something you "know" to be sleazy just to increase sales on one of, if not the biggest, marketing forum/s on the web.
  
  I'm sure they're shaking their heads and thinking, "Thanks for the heads up!"
  
  More times than not, it pays to just go with your gut instinct and things that you already know and keep your mental struggles regarding being upright and honest versus being unethical and "sleazy" to yourself.
  
  Terra
  
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travlinguy 10 years ago

You had to ask this in front of the whole forum? How To Win Friends And Influence People. NOT. :rolleyes:
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Randall Magwood 10 years ago

I think you already know the answer to your question. And the fellow Warriors on this post just confirmed it.
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- Paul Myers 10 years ago
  
  I really wonder what the deal is lately with people coming in asking questions like this. The tactic this poster "considered" goes beyond unethical and straight into fraud.
  
  Curiouser and curiouser...
  
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Igor Fridrihs 10 years ago

If you ask this question it means you understand the problem. Don't do it. There are plenty of other ways for call to action.
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- marciayudkin 10 years ago
  
  It's one of those things that I'm sure a lot of people do, but it can really come back to bite you if someone calls you out on it.
  
  It's lying. It's wrong. And I have seen such things come back and bite people in ways they never imagined.
  
  Years ago, a publisher put on the front of the copies of a new paperback edition of a book, TWO MILLION COPIES SOLD. Well guess what, the author had not been paid royalties for two million copies. A lawsuit ensued.
  
  In other instances, someone who was unrelated to a publishing venture used lying like this in a lawsuit against the author/publisher who falsely claimed huge sales as proof of the person's propensity to lie on other matters.
  
  And if you are ever the subject of media attention, you can bet that reporters will latch onto a made-up claim like this and make you look like a class-A weasel.
  
  So if you're not motivated to just do the right thing, maybe these consequences will motivate you.
  
  Marcia Yudkin
  
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Social App Zone 10 years ago

If you are going to do this ... do this properly...

"Over One Million copies sold"
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- TimothyTorrents 10 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Social App Zone
  
  If you are going to do this ... do this properly...
  
  "Over One Million copies sold"
  
  Why not billions?
  
  No but seriously. I think your copy-writing should hint that the product is hot and being sold but don't mention how many times. You really don't need to tell people how many times the product has been sold. Just write convincing copy.
  
  Good luck!
  
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- igorGriffiths 10 years ago
  
  I'll be sure to bake a cake with a file in it, by the way what cell should I send it to.
  
  You ask, can I lie and deceive my prospects to make a fast buck!
  
  As my good friend Martin Avis states regarding ethics, if you have to ask then you already know the answer.
  
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sbucciarel Banned 10 years ago

So, you're asking us if it's ok to lie about your product to sell it? If you'll do that, why not fake income shots and other lies?
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- Social App Zone 10 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by sbucciarel
  
  So, you're asking us if it's ok to lie about your product to sell it? If you'll do that, why not fake income shots and other lies?
  
  I agree .. what is next Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... people making money from IM!
  
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vishwa 10 years ago

The Truth is not be hidden by anyone, One time it will come on light. So Always be Specific, Precise and Ethical. Thats what I have to say.
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dmister 10 years ago

Not recommended. Most people will probably see through your lie anyway and it is false advertising. If you really wanted to you could probably say something like "popular demand" but I would not if I were you.

Try to stick to telling the truth and showing the best aspects off - to outright lie is morally wrong and I think illegal.
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Alexa Smith Banned 10 years ago

Originally Posted by BigMike56

I am thinking of putting "Over 5000 copies sold" on my squeeze page, even though i haven't sold a single unit.

That isn't just "unethical": it's fraudulent.
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J R Salem 10 years ago

The problem with many people here is they are short-sighted.

So what if you make a ton of money and can sit on the beach all day?

If you are lying to people, can't sleep at night and aren't providing any value to society, then the money doesn't matter.

You will realize that as you go along and start bringing in more income.
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Humbee360

10 years ago

There are examples of Ethics problems in many Offers or products being offered online today, just go to the WSO section to see tons of those right now, most of the time they are getting away with it, but not for long, it is really just like offline business if you rip people off or are dishonest in the way you deal with the public you will pay a price.

It is better to create a better product than to artificially influence your buying customers.

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MissTerraK

10 years ago

Originally Posted by Humbee360

That's also a very good way to keep your butt out of the slammer.

Terra

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Steve B 10 years ago

BigMike56,

Thank you for being honest about your seeming willingness to lie to your customers in order to make a sale. Usually I have to guess about truthfulness in advertising.

Steve
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- Kay King 10 years ago
  
  It's no less unethical than some of the signatures here that tout "Make $XXXX in 24 hrs" and appear below a post asking "how can I make money".
  
  Difference is - you KNOW it's wrong. It's a lie. It's a decision you make based on who YOU are - and only you can define the person you want to be.
  
  kay
  
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rodsav 10 years ago

One lie will lead to another, another, and then another. Honesty is always the best policy.
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curationsoft 10 years ago

you know you are lying, you don't need to ask if you already know. one of the secret in online marketing to build trust with your followers. you have to honest if you want to be trusted.
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Daniel Thomas 10 years ago

If your offer is bad, it's unethical.
If it's not, why not give some free samples for reviews from actual people?
Just 2-3 ACTUAL responses, from real people, are worth much more than alleged 5000 sales.
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stoltingmediagroup 10 years ago

I rarely believe tall claims made by marketers.

Well, except for this guy....
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- hsbinmarket 10 years ago
  
  You really put ur ethics into question.
  Dishonest way may bring some new customers for u temporarily, but soon it will take away a huge number of customers from u permanently.
  
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