On blog posts and mass emails like this the person selling the product usually writes the copy and sends it out to their affiliates.
I can understand being frustrated about plagiarism, but this isn't what is happening here. Many of the pros we like and respect in here have used and/or written sales copy that gets posted in blogs or sent out in emails. Leigh Peele, Bill Hartman, me and many others.
That is the basis of the affiliate system... It is not traditional advertising. You scratch others' backs and they scratch yours. In the past I have posted banner links in here that link to an affiliate page which garners me a small commission.
I'm not a huge fan of the affiliate sales model, but it does work for those willing to put in the time and work it.
When you don't take the time to do your own write up on a product it makes it look like you have no idea what you're selling, don't care that you don't know what you're selling, don't care that the write up in the first person comes off as something "you" said, and are only interested in making a buck off of affiliates from suckers that should know better than to trust you.
It's all same ol\old news. The sloppiness of the scam is more annoying to me than the scam itself.
On blog posts and mass emails like this the person selling the product usually writes the copy and sends it out to their affiliates.
I can understand being frustrated about plagiarism, but this isn't what is happening here. Many of the pros we like and respect in here have used and/or written sales copy that gets posted in blogs or sent out in emails. Leigh Peele, Bill Hartman, me and many others.
That is the basis of the affiliate system... It is not traditional advertising. You scratch others' backs and they scratch yours. In the past I have posted banner links in here that link to an affiliate page which garners me a small commission.
I'm not a huge fan of the affiliate sales model, but it does work for those willing to put in the time and work it.
For the record I don't do pre-written emails on a bulk level. I have helped people write emails to their audience that is specific for them, but I don't do pre-written emails. I have articles/videos/interviews that people can use to pass out to get the word out, but that is nothing new or tacky.
The model isn't the problem. Lots of people do these things. The problem is the history behind the model and the bad taste the model has left in the mouth of others. Affiliate marketing is everywhere from the ads on JP to your local retailers. Press releases, JV's, and list/blog marketing is common and nothing is wrong with it.
The question isn't the method, it's the trust you give (or don't) to those who are saying what they are saying.
On blog posts and mass emails like this the person selling the product usually writes the copy and sends it out to their affiliates.
I can understand being frustrated about plagiarism, [snip]
I'm not sure that the issue is plagiarism. Rather, I am guessing that people are concerned about the difference between editorial and ads. When you post a banner ad, it is clearly, indubitably, an ad. A blog post is less clear cut.
I don't think the blogs of Messrs. Cosgrove & Ferruggia are "people's blogs" in the sense of a blog being a personal, reflective, journal with ongoing original content. Rather, they are "corporate blogs", the PR arm of a corporate entity. These days, even your PR arm needs to be a profit center, so most of the posts will have a link to some product or other, either the author's own or an affiliate, with rare tidbits of theory and reflection thrown in. Blogging for personal satisfaction (or fun, or honing your writing skills or keeping your grandma up to date on what you're up to...) and blogging for revenue are two different things, and the aforementioned are examples of the latter.
It's like the blog equivalent of a newspaper printing a press release, or the evening news showing a "health segment" that promotes a local hospital or "consumer expert" who's just there to push products. Sadly we'll see more and more of this as media outlets slash their staffs and get lazy.
I'm not sure that the issue is plagiarism. Rather, I am guessing that people are concerned about the difference between editorial and ads. When you post a banner ad, it is clearly, indubitably, an ad. A blog post is less clear cut.
I don't think the blogs of Messrs. Cosgrove & Ferruggia are "people's blogs" in the sense of a blog being a personal, reflective, journal with ongoing original content. Rather, they are "corporate blogs", the PR arm of a corporate entity. These days, even your PR arm needs to be a profit center, so most of the posts will have a link to some product or other, either the author's own or an affiliate, with rare tidbits of theory and reflection thrown in. Blogging for personal satisfaction (or fun, or honing your writing skills or keeping your grandma up to date on what you're up to...) and blogging for revenue are two different things, and the aforementioned are examples of the latter.
Thanks for your distinction. I think you nailed it. Nothing at all against the guys who write those blogs, but I tend to shy away from advertorial blogs as well. I only read a couple anyway. I had to hack them down due to time constraints. Lou's never fails to educate me/make me laugh/make me "wish I had written that."
I like when I get emails from "gurus" trying to sell me their product when I already own it.
*sarcasm on* I mean I really like it. Makes me glad I'm on their mailing list. *sarcasm off*
I am not a fan of this either. That being said, I know it happens with my mailing list sometimes.
I have a system set up where people who bought the book and signed up on the buyers list are unsubscribed from the messages that would have to do with promotions of my book. I don't want to harass people. However, not everyone signs up on the buyers list, and sometimes it seems to not always unsubscribe the people from the other list and on to that one.
A lot of complaints I get from people are sometimes showing of not understanding the technology. When you use an OPT-IN system it means that you have to make sure the person agrees with being on your list and getting your emails. When you click that "are you sure you signed up and want this info" link, we know that it is okay now to send you an email through the system. If you don't click that, we never send you an email because that would be spam. The system is very touchy. For example, I can't just go in and move you to lists that you didn't sign up for, even if you asked me to. What I can do is remove you from a list all together and then send you a link to verify that you in fact want to be on a new list. It is for you protection, but it doesn't always make it easy to communicate.
When you get to the level of having thousands of people on your list, it gets tough. There are always going to be mistakes. However, I don't treat my list like meat, I don't over email, and I have corresponded with thousands of them one on one. I still send just personal messages to people when they sign up, but they don't believe me most of the time.
I am not a fan of this either. That being said, I know it happens with my mailing list sometimes.
I have a system set up where people who bought the book and signed up on the buyers list are unsubscribed from the messages that would have to do with promotions of my book. I don't want to harass people. However, not everyone signs up on the buyers list, and sometimes it seems to not always unsubscribe the people from the other list and on to that one.
A lot of complaints I get from people are sometimes showing of not understanding the technology. When you use an OPT-IN system it means that you have to make sure the person agrees with being on your list and getting your emails. When you click that "are you sure you signed up and want this info" link, we know that it is okay now to send you an email through the system. If you don't click that, we never send you an email because that would be spam. The system is very touchy. For example, I can't just go in and move you to lists that you didn't sign up for, even if you asked me to. What I can do is remove you from a list all together and then send you a link to verify that you in fact want to be on a new list. It is for you protection, but it doesn't always make it easy to communicate.
When you get to the level of having thousands of people on your list, it gets tough. There are always going to be mistakes. However, I don't treat my list like meat, I don't over email, and I have corresponded with thousands of them one on one. I still send just personal messages to people when they sign up, but they don't believe me most of the time.
...and I've never ONCE gotten an email from you that begins with "Dear [firstname],"
I got several of those, last week. One was "signed" by the wrong dude, too.
Actually, I prefer the mass mail to NOT mailmerge and call me by name. Is creepy.
I think if you send me something personally, I should be addressed "Aoife, Queeen of the Monkeeeeys." Obviously, noone has ever written me a personal message about anything.
*pout*
Actually, I prefer the mass mail to NOT mailmerge and call me by name. Is creepy.
I think if you send me something personally, I should be addressed "Aoife, Queeen of the Monkeeeeys." Obviously, noone has ever written me a personal message about anything.
*pout*
I don't mind if it's "Dear Roland," but when it tries to look personal, it always fails to seem sincere.
I often use fake names when I sign up, so "Dear Budro," makes me feel like I have another buddy who's more bro than me.
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