I’ve made my business online since 1999. My first efforts brought immediate success with affiliate programs. I published keyword-rich web pages with links to merchants who paid a commission for either a sale or a lead. After nearly two years of success doing this I started teaching what I knew.
Nowadays I earn my income from a mix of affiliate revenue and the marketing of affiliate marketing trainings.
In those early days we were in the infancy stage of an industry that has exploded. Today growth is everywhere. And even though the economy tumbled in 2008 the online world of ecommerce survived and has never been stronger.
Regrettably, now that the viability of the Internet has been established as a way to move products from the merchants to the consumers, we are starting to see flagrant violations of normal advertising standards, standards and a code of conduct set long ago for traditional media, such as print, radio and TV in order to protect the public from false and misleading advertising.
If It’s Misleading It’s A Lie
It bothers me that shady, unethical operators have entered the “info product” arena. Yes, that’s how they refer to what they do. We sell “info” products. Or we sell info products on how to sell info products.
And, oh by the way, our info product is so powerful that it will be taken off the market once we’ve sold 300. In fact, if you don’t buy now, you’ll miss out. Only 5 left.
Bull ****!
Now there’s nothing wrong with publishing trainings, ebooks and courses that promise to teach people how to succeed online. It’s what I’ve been doing since 2001.
However, I have never referred to my products as “info products” or what I do as anything mysterious.
I have simply gained critical knowledge in an emerging new field and publish trainings in a variety of formats including a long standing, first of its kind, affiliate marketing podcast.
I do not repackage old stuff and sell it like it’s something.
I do not use fake deadlines to entice people to buy now.
I do not pretend there is a limited stock of a product when the truth is I have an unlimited supply. (and so do they)
No need To Be Tricky And Deceptive To Sell
The crazy thing about the above deceptive practices is that not only are they illegal, but they only work if the vendor has gobs of email lists to pitch to. I guess if you’ve got a million emails you can make money finding 1/1000th of a percent who fall for it.
Common sense tell you that if you catch someone telling a little lie then the first conclusion a normal person reaches is: you guessed it, what else are you not telling the truth about?
Right?
I’ve been successfully selling my ebooks, affiliate marketing trainings and podcasts for many years. And I’ve never felt the need to pressure or hard sell people.
On my sales letters you won’t even see income claims yet I have personal knowledge of tremendous financial success for many students and associates in this exciting new industry.
Once a client buys, they receive an immediate thank you from my wife Arlene and I with important contact info or logistics. My clients are never bombarded with insulting up-sells after purchase.
I recently heard of one clown pitching eight additional products before being letting his client exit the shopping cart after purchasing a $37 ebook. Talk about a “sales funnel”, — sounds more like a sucking sound to me. The sort of sucking sound one might hear if a vacuum cleaner were applied to someones pockets!
If ever a client of mine requests a refund or membership cancellation Arlene and I comply right away, not because it would be illegal not to do so – but simply because it’s the right thing to do.
I’m glad the regulators are working on legislation. It’s good for consumers. And it’s good for online marketing.
About the Author
James Martell lives in White Rock, BC with his wife Arlene and their three children. James is a pioneer in the affiliate marketing industry and was successfully profiting with affiliate websites since 1999 and has been successfully teaching others to do the same since 2001. Visit his website for the very latest in news and tips on how to make money with affiliate programs.
Twitter: LoveThatBug
says:
Good take on it all, James. I use to find those very long sales funnels annoying – to the extent that I actually did not complete a sale. Now,I sort of laugh at them because I know what the person is doing.
Sometimes you just want to buy what you want to buy. I don’t want free offers of related goods. If I want it – I’ll buy it!
Dawn´s recent blog post ..Feb 16- Treatment For Chronic Yeast Infections
Twitter: JamesMartell
says:
I agree. Stop trying to “sell” me but rather let me know what I am really buying and what I can expect if I use your product. Your point “I don’t want free offers of related goods. If I want it – I’ll buy it! is also well said. I don’t want crappy bonuses.
netshop01´s recent blog post ..Google SEO Tip 101 – Where Is Google Heading In The Future
Twitter: JamesMartell
says:
Yes, the long copy sales letters to now repel a lot of people. Myself included. It’s not to say they don’t work because for many they do. I guess the real point is that because they do all have a tendency to look the same or very similar, when someone buys something from someone and has a bad experience it hurts those who do have a credible offer. Personally I have dropped long copy sales letters and replaced them with videos. I find they do much better as well anyways.
netshop01´s recent blog post ..Google SEO Tip 99 – Does Indexing A Mobile Website Create Duplicate Content
Twitter: JeedoAquino
says:
Hi James,
I couldn’t agree more with you more. Unfortunately, where money is made many stick to it. Take ClickBank for example, I can’t count how many scam products they allow on their system that’s being advertised as push button solutions for making money online.
Still, these unethical marketers make money and make ClickBank money. So until those who are in authority do something about it, this practice will continue to thrive.
Fortunately, there are more and more marketers who are against this unethical practice. Saluting you for being one of them
Jeedo Aquino´s recent blog post ..Recipe for Disaster- Failing with Organic Traffic
Twitter: JamesMartell
says:
Agreed. The consumer is also a big part of the problem. Case in point. An associate of mine forwarded me an email with the subject line “$308,504.09 a month AT THE CLICK OF A BUTTON”. Can you smell a scam? Of course you can, but people are still buying this crap.
I do also agree with your post “Recipe for Disaster: Failing with Organic Traffic”. It was a good read and great reminder of all the traffic that’s available for a little hard work.
netshop01´s recent blog post ..Google SEO Tip 101 – Where Is Google Heading In The Future
I think every person on this planet has purchased something on impulse. However, over the years I’ve learned to give myself at least 24 hours to think about something before I seriously consider buying it. When one “sleeps on” a decision, emotions usually subside so that the raw matter of the situation can be seen and analyzed. In the end, the consumer just has to do their own homework and can’t truly fault anyone else if they didn’t take time to read between the lines and investigate the details.
adultawkwardness´s recent blog post ..Veggin out to motocross
Twitter: JamesMartell
says:
Agreed. The consumer as mentioned in my comments directly above yours is also part of the problem. They can also be a big part of the solution by using a little more common sense.
Twitter: PureFX
says:
Great article and I agree completely. One thing though: if these misleading marketing methods don’t work then how come people keep using them?
Pete´s recent blog post ..BoE Minutes- Good News For People Planning To Transfer Money
Twitter: JamesMartell
says:
But they DO work. They prey upon people who may be desperate to earn some additional money. They are looking for a lifeline. Others are just looking to make some money to improve their lives. Plus it is very difficult to know who to believe.
There are a lot of very slick sales letters out their. Very convincing. It is also not at all uncommon for an unscrupulous marketer to spend many times more money on the “marketing” than on the creation of the actual product.
Very good article. You and your wife sound like very ethical people. I have gotten caught in those “sales funnels” where I just had to keep saying no, no, no to all the things the company was hyping that day before they finally took my order! Keep up your good work.
jen´s recent blog post ..Weston A Price Foundation 2011 Shopping Guide Now Available
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
Hi James
I agree that putting the sense of emergency into the sales letter is pathetic! I absolutely hate it and will not promote products that have this or any similar.
I like to promote products that are great value and are just simply needed. I find that if it is a great product then it can almost sell itself.
Here’s a great example, I wanted to promote a product but had no time so I stuck a banner in the sidebar of my website. This was two days ago. I usually buy a product and do a proper review but had no time… Just from placing the banner in my sidebar I have made 3 sales. Now I can’t wait to promote this product properly. I knew it was a good product but it is obviously selling itself!
Mitz Pantic´s recent blog post ..How many Internet marketing products do you need before you become successful
Twitter: jackie861
says:
This is a great post!
I have a question? What happens when you buy a product from a well known name in this business, you’ve downloaded the ebook, (by the way info in the ebook is very useful and I’m using as we speak), but you missed the bonuses which were offered . (48 hour expiration which I missed).
Then you’ve written several emails(5 to be exact) to the promoter of the product, the customer support all to no avail. But, you continually receive daily email from the promoter.
Of course I realize it’s awebber generated emails. How would you handle this situation?
Twitter: JamesMartell
says:
Great question!
I guess first off I would be thoroughly annoyed. I would ask for a refund of the ebook. It isn’t unreasonable to expect a certain level of customer service (even if you missed the 48 hour expiration period).
It is very unfortunate that a “well known name” doesn’t value you as a customer. It’s obvious they don’t by the lack of attention after the sale. It’s easy for everything to be all well and good while they are selling you on their product.
Sorry, but I feel it i’s pathetic that they don’t have enough business sense to value you as a customer. I wonder how many of their customers feel the same.
I would also never buy from them again. It’s a tough stance, but I make it a point of not doing business with any company large or small if they don’t offer telephone-based support.
We do live in the communication age.
My wife Arlene has been handling our support desk for years. She routinely receive calls with a few seconds of silence from a stunned caller who can’t believe she actually answered the telephone.
http://jamesmartell.com/help-desk/
Your experience is unfortunately an epidemic.
James Martell´s recent blog post ..Google SEO Tip 107 – What Are Some Examples Of SEO Misinformation
Twitter: craftybegonia
says:
Thank you so much for your aticle and for encouraging honesty! Some people hype things up and then the customber sufferes a bitter disappointment. That happened to my sister and so I know about that.
craftybegonia´s recent blog post ..Cute Buff Fleck Beanie
Twitter: JamesMartell
says:
I am sorry to hear about your sister. The customer does suffer. It also hurts everybody on both sides of the equation — the buyer and the seller. The buyer doesn’t know who to trust. The seller is fighting an uphill battle.
I can’t get my head around those long copy sites. Who’s going to read that much hard sell hype. The template stands out a mile away, and the fake certificate and little rosette are the funniest.
Ryan´s recent blog post ..Introducing the Biggest Advert Online
Twitter: aberrantvenus
says:
Ah the sales funnels! You know, when I come across an ebook I’m interested in buying, if I have to scroll through an agonisingly long sales pitch before being able to find the checkout button OR I am bombarded with upsells, I won’t buy the book.
The world is becoming more knowledgeable and more tech-savvy. Don’t insult your customer’s intelligence!
Great post James, thanks!
Jules´s recent blog post ..The Blog – She is Updated!
Twitter: rdgubaten
says:
TThanks for this useful article on making money online. It will help new bloggers attempting to make sales in online business.
rdgubaten´s recent blog post ..Have a time to check this out