Affiliate Marketing Sham: A Lesson in Marketing
On January 6th, I asked you to take a critical look at the “Affiliate Marketing Sham” report and tell me what you thought about it from a marketing perspective.
Your comments included a wide variety of opinions about the report, from it being worth “doodly squat” to “a breath of fresh air”.
Now, here’s what I thought…
- Using the word ‘Sham’ is an effective ATTENTION-GRABBER. The ‘Death of Adsense’ report and the Rick Jerk used similar attention-grabbing techniques. Yet, X may alienate some internet marketing students who are unimpressed that he hitches a ride on that bandwagon.
- The mysterious ‘X’ persona enhances DESIRE to know more about the author and what he knows. However, X loses CREDIBILITY and fails to build TRUST with this technique.
- X uses strong, offensive language and name-calling in the report. Although this may appeal to a younger demographic, it’s a huge turn-off to a more mature crowd that generally views swearing as a lack of skill, knowledge and/or intelligence.
- X’s assertion that 25% or more of all affiliate sales are not properly credited instills FEAR. Fear creates DESIRE for the upcoming product which teaches how to overcome ‘the peril’. Really makes you wonder how despite all the commission theft and lousy tracking so many Super Affiliates are making more than a million bucks a year. Yup, we’re ‘Big-Time Losers’ alright. LOL. Note: What I found particularly interesting is that unlike most merchants in the IM category, X set up his affiliate program so that those who recommended the report, would not benefit from subsequent sales of the product. That requires a different affiliate link.
- The 56-page report contains a hint of what will be taught in the upcoming product but the promise of ‘how a few of the REALLY smart ones (affiliates) are turning the tables and becoming the industry giants themselves USING affiliate marketing’ falls short of even a ‘sneak peak’ (should have been ‘peek’) and offers no solid ‘how-to’ information. This FRUSTRATES many otherwise potential customers.
Regardless of the pros and cons above, ‘X’ will probably sell a good number of his new product to curious, fearful, younger and less critical consumers of internet marketing products. Maybe it’ll even be a great product from which they’ll learn a ton and earn millions by result. Who knows? We can only hope.
The point is that you should always take a critical look at all the copy you read – both from a customer’s and a marketer’s point of view – and learn from it.
As a discerning customer, you’ll save a lot of money; and as a savvy marketer, you’ll end up making a lot more money.
Concentrate on doing more the latter. 
Related Posts
- Affiliate Marketing Simplifed
- Internet Marketing Lesson in a Hat
- The ‘Affiliate Sham’ Saga Continued…
- So…What Did You Think of the Affiliate Marketing Sham?
- Affiliate Marketing Sham
Posted / Revised on January 13, 2007 under Content is King  |
Need more info?
Rosalind Gardner is a Super Affiliate blogger, author, speaker, and Internet marketing consultant. For more info, subscribe to her No-Hype, No-BS, No Spam NPT newsletter and join Affiliate Blogger PRO to get answers to all your affiliate marketing questions. Thanks for visiting!
Right On, Rosalind!
I’ve been writing about this for a long time. We are so quick to trust the “next big thing”. Why do we avoid strangers on the street, but embrace them on the Internet?
Mitch
Hi Rosalind great information! Why does it say [NPT] in front of your emails? Everything else about you is so professional – that puzzles me. Thanks – Paul
Seems to be very effective copy for newbies, the uninformed and those caught up in the hype. Might I say preditorial? Sure, let’s make money on the suckers – are you a sucker? Step right up and get the latest and greatest -credit card number please – you loser! Where is the real business? Hopefully, there is more to affiliate marketing. How can one trust those who will not even give their name?
Jan. 17,2007: I agree with Mitchell about trusting the internet so much more than we trust people on the street. I’ve thought alot about this subject and I think, that at least for me, it’s the element of suprise or like hitting the jackpot. That maybe if we try enough internet businesses then one of them surely will be our big payoff and this is what keeps us going even when we truly don’t have the money! I’ve been alot better the last six months then I used to be but my dream has always been to be successful in a homebased business.
Since my whole family think that I have wasted alot of money and I haven’t been successful at a homebased business then it really makes me want to succeed all the more. Almost like an “I told you so”, I knew that one of these would really work out!
Maureen
Hi Rosalind, your summation is right on the money.I think it is really great you go to the trouble to critique such a publiccation especially for us newbies and possibly naive affiliates so we can save ourselves a potential expensive lesson. Many thanks and very much appreciated. Smart thinking on your part as it increases your credibility and reflects well on your character.Max Percy
I couldn’t agree more, Rosalind. It is so important to read ALL of the copy. I learned the hard way as a result of this! Great article! Thank you.
For a humorous look at how many sites of that nature operate, visit http://www.buymystupidebook.com
It’s a pretty good how-to, even if it is a joke site. At least, I think it’s a joke site! I wonder what kind of Adsense income that thing is generating…
Okay, well Rosalind, let me ask you this. Have you ever even read .X.’s ebook or seen his DVD course? I take that as a no. So let me ask another question. How do you know whether or not he is the real deal? You don’t. This review was solely on the purpose of his marketing methods and the way he uses language to express points.
It doesn’t matter how old you are, everyone uses language every day. I bet you probably said sh*t or a*s today. You may have even dropped an F bomb. My point is that everyone swears and this guy has the boldness to use the language we secretly use.
You could also say he is weeding out the weak by the way he uses language. Are some people offended? Probably. Does he care? Nope because the people who are worried by the language wouldn’t buy the program either and if they did it would probably go to waste.
.X. is a great marketer and I wish him the best. I also wish you the best, but before judging someone you should see if their products are the real deal.
Matt
Matt,
WHO was judging anyone? I was discussing the perception created by the report, nothing else.
Then it appeared that “X” took it personally and decided to attack me in his newsletter. THAT was judgement.
The funny part of it all was that I was fully prepared to consider promoting the product IF it was good enough for the NPT readers.
Now however, the package sits unopened on my desk.
It would appear that both you and ‘X’ should a) read what is being said and b) develop thicker skin.
Cheers,
Rosalind
Rosalind, why not open the package and make a full review?
I learned about this little different on MrX blog
It would be a good idea.
Rosalind,
I admire your flare for making the mundane dramatic.
Let’s privilege your readers with my “scorching” attack on you.
Folks, here it is – the infamous newsletter attack, unedited.
Warning: This may not be suitable for children.
=======================================
Hi ,
When I say I ruffle the ‘guru’s’ feather’s that’s not flatulent hype.
I was surprised when Rosalind Gardner promoted my Affiliate Marketing Sham report – I like and respect Rosalind (at least I did), but I suspect my style is a little rough for this “mature” lady.
So, I was not surprised when she used her psuedo-objective journalistic style to pick apart my marketing campaign (and subtly discredit me in process).
BTW, the former is great and OK by me – the latter is not.
I posted a diplomatic response to her blog – and of course it’s not there to be seen – only the responses that agree with her opinion seem to be approved.
No problem – you can read it on my blog – and I invite Rosalind to respond there as she likes. I’d love to see that she has the chutzpah to show up – wouldn’t you?
Rosalind – WHATEVER you say, I’ll approve and post it.
.X.
PS – Next up, watch me ‘bitch slap’ * for stepping on my turf.
===================================
Sorry Rosalind – I guess I really did rough you up bad.
Folks, “X” stated in his newsletter that I deleted a comment that he posted to the NPT blog – which was untrue.
“X” also challenged me via his newsletter and blog to see whether I have the ‘chutzpah’ to respond, but first removed me from his subscriber list, so that I would not see the challenge and it would therefore appear that I did not have said ‘chutzpah’ — he obviously doesn’t know me very well.
Fortunately, a friend of mine forwarded a copy of that newsletter to me.
“X”, first of all, it’s nice to see that you figured out how to post a comment to the the NPT blog.
I’ve taken a lot of hits during my time in this industry, and I simply ignore them. In this case I’ll respond because:
a) You have misunderstood (and publicly misrepresented) my intentions;
b) I hope the misunderstanding can be resolved, and;
c) Perhaps you will appreciate in future that a positive approach and open communication yields better results than jumping to negative conclusions, public debate and wilful misrepresentation.
As to your assertion about my “flare for making the mundane dramatic”, you seem to have the real flare for drama. You used the term ‘scorching attack’ whereas I said ‘personal attack’ which is how I interpret comments such as “I like and respect Rosalind (at least I did)”, “psuedo-objective journalistic style”, your dishonesty about my actions (see above) and misrepresentation of my intentions.
It is a shame that you didn’t view the marketing lesson as it was intended – a marketing lesson – or appreciate that it was publicity for both your report and FREE publicity for your product.
Your comment “subtly discredit me in process”, indicates that you took things too personally and that YOU are the one who is feeling “roughed up bad”. Perhaps you should read my write up again. I talked about the pros and cons of your copywriting style and the perception your style might create for readers.
And although your report is written in a style that neither I nor most of my readers prefer, I acknowledged its viability as a product pitch and expressed the hope that the product would prove to be a good tutorial for Internet marketing entrepeneurs.
Furthermore, I fully intended to promote your product if I considered it a worthwhile addition to my readers’ marketing libraries. (Gee whiz, what a revelation! A marketer doesn’t have to actually like a pitch to appreciate a product.)
Had you chosen to respond to my email (or call me) and express your concern, this could have been dealt with most amicably.
However, based on your intensely negative and public reaction to my write-up, I am disinclined to even open your DVD package, let alone do a review.
May I will, maybe I won’t. I’ll leave that up to you and see whether you’ve learned anything from this particular ‘marketing lesson’.