I can't take it any longer.
I've seen a few trends taking place in Internet marketing lately, and I don't think they are right.
It's time to take off the gloves because I've got something to say.
I'm throwing caution to the wind because I think someone has got to stand up and speak the truth. If I take heat for it, so be it.
Here goes...
1) I have noticed an increasing number of marketing campaigns that attempt to demean, humiliate and otherwise talk down to the very people they are attempting to sell to.
You know exactly what I am talking about... and I'll bet you are sick of it too.
It's the "I'm better than you" marketing approach I am talking about.
It's total Barbra Streisand. (B.S., in case you missed it...)
No one is better than you. And certainly not because someone else may have more money than you do.
Some of the most miserable people in the world are those who have so much money they don't know what to do with it.
Money does NOT equal happiness.
Money does NOT equal contentment.
And money does not necessarily equal success.
It's what you DO with your money that really counts.
If you squander it on your own pleasures and think that it somehow makes you more important, you may need to have your head examined.
I was taught at a young age that it is common for bullies to make themselves look bigger by pushing other people down. It's what you do when you don't really have anything positive to say.
I hope that you are as turned off by marketing campaigns that talk down to you as I am. I am insulted by their brashness and disrespectful attitudes. And I find them to be as immature as a four-year old bully on a playground.
If you want to learn Internet marketing, learn it from someone who respects you and actually cares about your success.
Moving along to my next complaint...
2) Copycat marketers who do nothing more than watch for someone to succeed with a product and then produce a cheap knockoff, all the while passing themselves off as "an expert".
I've seen it happen again and again.
Most often, the copycats are no more an expert than you. They just know how to write copy to make themselves look good.
So how do you know who to trust?
Ask others.
Google their names and see if they have a past history.
Visit the forums and see what people are saying.
But don't fall for the copycat trap. You'll almost always end up with an inferior product from a marketer who couldn't care less about you are your success. They just want your money. Period.
Next, please...
3) Too many bonuses that end up hurting you rather than helping.
I'm not talking about offering bonuses for your own products. I'm talking about the affiliate bonuses that you are pounded with every time a launch takes place.
You've seen the emails...
"Don't buy Billy Schmeckles Ultimate Cash Sucker until you read this!"
I understand why people offer bonuses for product launches. Everyone wants you to buy through their affiliate link so they earn the commission.
If you'll notice, I do this very rarely. And when I DO offer a bonus, it is usually something simple like an ebook or report that is somehow relevant to the offer.
But more often than not, there are marketers who will pile on the bonuses with so much "stuff", you can't even see the offer that attracted you in the first place!
Remember how I've talked about being focused and that too much product can distract you from reaching your goals?
Bingo.
If the product isn't worth the purchase price without the bonuses, you probably have no business buying it in the first place.
Enough said.
Shall we go to the next one?
4) Damaging bonuses that sound good... but are cr@p
Have you ever seen a marketer offer "fresh mailing lists" as a bonus?
It ought to set off red warning lights on your computer!
Unless you want to become a spammer, I'd be extremely cautious about accepting mailing lists of any kind from other people.
In order to comply with Can-SPAM regulations, your email list must be double opt-in and gathered by you for purposes that are stated at the time the email was aquired.
If you take someone else's list, whether it is fresh or not (and I am HIGHLY suspect that it is...), and you send email to that list, congratulate yourself on entering the realm of SPAMMER.
Could someone please explain to me how this is helpful?
Yeah. That's what I thought.
Unscrupulous marketers who provide this kind of bonus are the snake oil salesmen of our day.
They are the ones that give Internet marketers a bad name. If you stop supporting them, their selfish and careless efforts will no longer have an impact.
Ok, I am done blowing off steam.
Is there a product launch today?
Yes, there is.
Jeremy Gislason and Simon Hodgkinson have launched the Marketing Main Event 3, a packed membership site that is definitely worth the investment.
To put my money where my mouth is today, I am giving you a direct link to the site without any affiliate code.
I won't earn a penny from this promotion, but I believe your investment in this member site will earn you money.
Take a look at what Jeremy and Simon have put together. It's impressive and a fine example of a worthwhile product that provides real value to the customer.
I'd love to hear your comments today, so please leave them for me below.
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
June 5, 2007 05:06 AM
I look forward to receive your report thanks joel
June 5, 2007 07:29 AM
Thanks for the rant - the gap between sparkling copy and dull products delivered can be very dissappointing. You should do a rant on how to "read between the lines" of sales letters.
June 5, 2007 01:13 PM
Joel,
You always seem to have things in perspective and I appreciate that. In this internet game I've learned a guy a grow old and broke sitting in front of one of these. I'm so sick of the next system and launch I've quit paying attention to them. I just can't keep up! I do value your comments!
Thanks!
Don
June 5, 2007 03:12 PM
Quite pleased to see you letting off a bit of steam in todays e-mail Joel,now how about this one.I get e-mails daily off a lot of your freinds,Yanik Silver,Mike filsaime,Jeff,Tim,Marlon to name but a few,and to be honest the only ones i always read are yours.I like your outlook on life and i have bought quite a few products off yourself and others,adsense templates,butterfly marketing,design dashboard to name but a few.I have a good job and am neither skint or particularly hungry for success,but have learnt a lot from all the above especially yourself.I read a lot and have purchased about twenty domain names so when i feel the time is right i will make a push towards marketing and adsense sites.My moan at you is where as a lot of your e-mails where generally thought provoking-little snippets about everyday life etc.now you always seem to be heading towards pushing someone elses product good or bad.Come on Joel selling plasma??? Your info and wisdom are far more valuable,lets get back to the old Joel,cheers Derek
June 6, 2007 03:37 AM
Joel, I know MME looks and sounds fantastic but, there are many hard-working people out there who don't have that sort of money and I am one of them. You might say - Shame on Me but at the moment it is beyond me - I've spent quite a bit on other things recently. But I'm always open to suggestions for other DECENT products.
Regards,
Susan March
June 16, 2007 11:08 AM
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