So our friend Lynn Terry of Clicknewz had a post yesterday titled Doing It The Hard Way. In the post, she’s busting out against folks who create all these things that tell us how easy it is to make money on the internet, charge us an arm and a leg, and yet we continue buying from the next person, then the next person, on and on, and getting deeper and deeper into trouble and confusion, yet still don’t make any money.
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A part of me wonders about all of this. I mean, is it a lack of truth in marketing? Is it just that we don’t get it right? Is it that these folks are continually raising the bar and hammering us with the next great thing, and they keep doing it because many of us continue to buy from these people over and over?
If you remember, about two weeks ago I wrote a post asking do we hate marketing, and I was relating how John Chow said he wanted people’s email addresses so he could continue to send them things because he was an internet marketer. I didn’t mention it in that post, but I’m fairly reluctant to capture people’s email addresses unless I’m going to be providing them something of substance on a continual basis, such as what I do with my business newsletters, and the only marketing I do there is to highlight books I think are related to the topic I’m writing about that week. I’d even mentioned it to Lynn in the past that it was something I was reluctant to do.
I’d never really thought about why until yesterday evening, when I was talking to someone I participated in another internet interview with Beverly Mahone on blogging (download by right clicking on “blogging”) afterwards. We got to that point and she asked me why I wouldn’t do it. I thought about it and then I realized it’s because most of these people continually send me products concerning the same exact thing over and over, and frankly, one gets tired of it after awhile. Sometimes it’s twice a day, every day, until you finally unsubscribe to keep your sanity. See, one reason I like someone like Paul Myers and Talk Biz News is that he may market something with each newsletter, but he gives something also, advice, something to think about, etc. And it’s not an every day thing either; maybe once a week, if he’s in the mood.
So, it begs the question again; is it truth in marketing if, each time you hear from some of these guys, they’re either escalating the product, saying in effect “yeah, that last thing was good, but this is even better?” Is it our fault for falling for the same tricks and gimmicks as in the picture each time?
As a sidebar, last week my wife had some people come to the house to price out a rooffor us. I’ve been through this kind of thing before, and knew what was coming, so I didn’t participate, instead staying back in my office and working through the whole thing. This time, two people came, a husband and wife team. They were here 3 hours, talking and showing my wife all kinds of stuff. After they finally left after 9PM (ugh!), I asked her what they said the damage was; $29,000! I said that I was betting they were going to call again in a couple of days to offer a reduced price on it. After all, the same thing happened when we moved into this house, when this guy was here 4 hours (save me), quoted us a price for windows for our house of $36,000, and after I laughed him out the door had his company call twice, first offering to do it for $16,000, then offering one last time to do it for $9.000; weasels.
In this case, I was off one day, but only because my wife hadn’t been home earlier to take their calls, which began the day after they left, and they are offering a major discount. Only they wouldn’t tell her over the phone. Instead, the “owner” is coming over on Thursday to offer her their bottom deal. Please! No, I won’t be home, because I don’t think I could hold myself again.
I want to be an internet marketer; that part is true. But I don’t want to beat people up on buying stuff that keeps on escalating. Show me something different, and don’t hit me over the head with it each and every day, maybe. But over the past year, my reluctance to sign up for almost anything has increased because I know what’s coming. Luckily, I have 11 email addresses, so I pick out the one that I won’t need to check all that often, and when I do, if I see a bunch of junk, I just unsubscribe and move on.
There is another way; I just know there is. And I’m going to keep trying to find it. Heck, maybe one day someone will actually click on, and buy, something from one of these ads like what’s below.
hey Mitch!
Like you, I am totally fed up with mailing lists and the same old same old, receiving all these offers of people trying to push something on you.
I certainly believe there is another way though and I first got to see a little light last year (yeah, I am slow LOL) when I wrote a post “The Golden Triangle”. (not wanting to post a link here, but if you search for that, you´ll find it) It is about my top 3 favorite bloggers and they are making big bucks, without the crap selling techniques you are referring to and all three have put a lot of time and dedication into teaching others how to really do it, mostly for free.
Like you, I also got very weary to buy any product but once in a while something shows up that is really really worth it.
One thing though I have been thinking these last posts of you, is that maybe you should focus more on another aspect of making money online if affiliate marketing isn´t working out the way you would like to see it, at least, if making money online is what you want to do.
.-= Mirjam´s last blog ..The MMO Results Are Starting to Show =-.
No, I think the way I’ll end up making most of my money long term is through affiliate marketing. That doesn’t mean I don’t have other ideas. I’m thinking about adding a membership site, of sorts, to my business blog; we’ll see if that comes to pass. Other than that, and creating some products, I’m not quite sure what else I’d do.
Interesting you should mention roof. I had one quote to respray and fix portions of the roof for a little over $8000. A few weeks later I got in touch with a guy who actually works as a contractor for that company and he did on the side of $3000 and told me he still made a tidy profit, and that he actually made more money on that job than if he had done it working as a contractor to the mob that was going to charge me $8000.
.-= Sire´s last blog ..Update On Snap Dollars =-.
It’s scary, Sire, because most of us have no clue as to how much things like this cost, and these people always try to take advantage of us. I guess that proves the adage “buyer beware.”
It’s the same here, that’s why you have to shop around and never ever take a quote as gospel.
.-= Sire´s last blog ..Best Defence Against Swine Flu Is Flu Defence? =-.
True, but isn’t it a shame life works like that?
It’s a shame that people try to rip others off, but I don’t blame someone for trying to increase their profit margin. The only reason so many people get away with charging exorbitant prices is because not enough people take the time to do the proper research.
.-= Sire´s last blog ..Noel Biderman Vs Top Sexual Aids =-.
For me, it’s not even the high prices, though I’m not going to be the one paying them. It’s the escalating of email and new products once they get your email address that drives me batty.
Yeah I’m with you there. My spam filter gets most of them but I still have to sort through a hundred or so a day.
.-= Sire´s last blog ..Update On Snap Dollars =-.
I don’t, Sire. That’s because I unsubscribe quickly, and that ends that. Or are you talking about your blog? I still don’t get that kind of spam, I must say.
Good evening, Mitch.
I read this poat yesterday, but wanted to take some time to think about it before adding my two cents’ worth.
Even after taking time to think about it, my thoughts are still unclear on this subject.
I enjoy marketing and promoting things online, but I’m really fed up with some of the things you talk about.
I’m tired of subscribing to a list that looks good, only to be sent offer after offer that I just see no benefit in purchasing.
Last year, I started to feel like I was on a treadmill, and started dropping a lot of things that weren’t helping me progress in building my business.
I do think that building a mailing list is probably the single most important thing you can do in business, yet I agree with you. What’s the point if you’re not going to offer something substantial with each mailing?
Daily mailings are ridiculous. Weekly mailings in many cases are not worthwhile. For myself, I’m trying to find something I can send out once or twice a month that will be helpful.
I don’t like it when someone treats me like an email address with a credit card, so I certainly don’t want to treat my readers that way, either.
I’m still thinking about this.
Act on your dream!
JD
Hi John,
Though you say you’re conflicted, it certainly looks to me as though you actually have taken your position already. Nothing has to be absolute, but you seem to be strongly in agreement with much of what I’ve said here.
Maybe we’re just two honest guys looking to make a buck, eh?
Good morning, Mitch.
I’m still conflicted. I ask myself similar questions every day and I still have not arrived at a firm overall conclusion.
I agree — two honest (and ethical) guys trying to make a buck (and help others in the process).
Act on your dream!
JD