No Blank Check for Marketers
August 15th, 2010 | 
Author: Real quick let me tell you what’s going on and then I’ll get to the issue of no blank checks for marketers. I am finally settling back into a routine with my marketing (as opposed to those ghostwriting projects) so I wanted to gather my thoughts on a variety of things and touch base with you.
First what I’m working on – right now as far as IPK (Info Product Killer) I’m working on my toy site and my Halloween costume site because those will be garnering sales in the upcoming months. I’m outsourcing the content – my son’s writing the toy stuff and another person’s writing the costume stuff, so all I do is build the links and pages.
I’m also working on my PLR ATM product, which I think will help so many people in getting some money coming in (like it does for me). This time, I’m going to try something new – a video sales letter at the top of the page with normal sales copy below it.
I’ll let you know how that goes, but one thing I worry about – I’m not the type to make a video sitting behind a cherry wood desk or rolling up to a mansion in my Lamborghini. I want it to be ME – not “high roller Tiff” packing wads of cash. I wonder if that will hurt me or not.
Review-wise, I’m still on Bring the Fresh. This week the kids get back in school so I will finally have time to continue telling you about that. Which brings me to an issue I’ve been ranting about on my blog lately… but I have to find a delicate way of talking about it because the last thing I want to do is insult everyone for doing things differently than me.
This past week, as I emailed you about, I got angry because I’d been promoting a product and the owner moved that product to another site, and stuck something new up on the original ClickBank account site, so I was promoting something I wasn’t aware of – which you know I don’t do. So I banned this marketer from my promotion list forever.
Now everyone seemingly agreed with me, but I got extra words of caution that I should also not promote anyone who is knowingly promoting THAT marketer. Well, that’s a little tricky for me, so I want to address that issue…and offer some insight on how I promote…
When I make a decision to promote someone, I first want to know if they’re a scummy scammer. If so, I won’t promote, period. Secondly, I look at the product. If it’s good, and suits my lists’ needs (so many people don’t care about this), then I’ll promote it.
Now here’s where the tricky part comes in…
When you buy the product I promote form another marketer, you get on his list. What happens from that point on is up to that marketer. I want you to be aware that I am NOT writing a blank check for that person’s ethics, integrity, or promotion quality.
Now I DO like knowing when MY customers are getting bad deals, because then I know this isn’t a person I want to promote anymore.
I guess my thoughts are these – there’s a definite trickle down effect! I can feel it in the heat of the emails being sent. If I promote so-and-so and HE promotes someone people don’t like, it can have a direct effect on MY reputation. That’s something we all need to start considering.
And for me at least, whenever I send you an email and tell you someone and something they have is worth buying, that doesn’t mean I ALSO believe that everything they promote or email you about it worthy.
Does that make sense?
I’m not endorsing all of their products or their recommendations for purchases as an affiliates. I’m only telling you what MY experience with that marketer was and what I think of that ONE product in particular.
Everything else is up to you to make a decision about. What I want you to know is I don’t give anyone a blank check for ethics and quality. That means NO one. Everything is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
And you should adopt the same skepticism if you want to protect your wallet.
You can always count on me to not promote anything that’s a scam. I won’t join a good old boys’ club, period. I won’t agree to JVs that force me to promote anything in return for someone else promoting me.
I think if we all start doing this as a community, then Internet marketing might be able to shrug off some of its bad reputation. That means you, as an affiliate marketer, need to think first and foremost about your customers’ well-being and secondly about your profits.
Put people first.
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Posted in Career
I agree completely Tiff! It’s ethics first for sure… It’s hard to not promote people that promoted them though because you don’t know who all of them are… also they may have accidentally promoted them just like you too! so it’s hard to tell!
Glad to see your are continuing to help and add value to everyone’s life around you!
Let me know If I can help in any way: )
David
Excellent. Marketers have lost serious credibility with me — and I’ve unsub’d from their lists as a result — for promoting scum and junk. Sad in a couple of cases where I’d held the guru in high respect. They work hard to develop a reputation, but can lose it quickly because of the company they keep.
I think in marketing, as with life, I’m can only be responsible for the decisions (and consequences) I make. People pleasing is a tough row to hoe. Just my two-cents.
Take care,
Marcy
This is one of the things I admire most about you, Tiff ~ a lot of gurus just promote any and everything that comes down the pike. Recently, one in particular, whose product I like and use (you reviewed it)has been disappointing me on a regular basis on this issue. What bothers me is that the person sends out emails almost daily with his program logo on it and saying it’s one of his “students” getting these results, but then when you open it, you find that this “student” is getting these “results” from some other IM product or program that he’s now promoting.
What I dislike about it is, like the affiliate bait and switch you vlogged about (and btw: I agree with you), he’s pitching you this other product under the flag, so to speak, of his own product ~ which, because it (the product) is good, lends the product he’s promoting that credibility ~ at least if you haven’t already been burned by something he promoted like I was last year.
Unfortunately, because I want to get updates from this person about the product I use, I don’t unsub ~ but I do just delete any email that isn’t about his own product ~ which means, at least as far as I’m concerned, that he’s ultimately cutting his own throat, because even if he did promote a product that I could use and would like in the future, I won’t know about it.
Can’t wait for your PLR ATR product – I need it NOW – lol!
re: your sales page video… your face (and presentation style) is everywhere on YouTube ‘au natural’ – so I think if anyone of us saw you doing the ‘guru’ GRQ twaddle in a video, we would just fall off our chairs laughing – no offence!
I would figure that whoever bought your product/s from a ‘realistic’ video is more likely to be a lifelong customer, rather than the GRQ pain-in-the-butt customers, so you would get quality for sure, even if it ever so
slightly compromises the short-term quantity of customers.
After all, your current style has gotten you the wonderful bunch of customers you have right now – and you couldn’t complain about any of us, can you!?!? *smile*
I can tell you that it is VERY refreshing to know someone who feels okay expressing and then standing behind solid principles. Please, be you. When I see a sales letter come through with pictures of flashy cars and over-sized McMansions, I have no problem hitting the DELETE button. So, they don’t even get a chance to pitch their wares to me.
Even more irritating are the emails I receive from people who were presenting their own products previously. All of a sudden, you are on someone else’s emailing list because of a product presented by the original author. You know what I do with these? OPT-OUT! I always opt-out of both lists, because it is obvious that the original person has nothing more to say from his/her own brain. When that happens, I wonder why the emails keep coming …
There are certain emails that I watch for eagerly – because they are not excessively frequent and do not contain 20-page sales letters. The origin of those emails? TIFFANY DOW.
Keep on keepin’ on!
Julie
Hi Tiff,
Completely agree that swapping out destination pages is a BIG no-no and a pretty dirty trick for “that marketer” (I have had issues with that geezer B4 and am still trying to resolve a few “support tickets” however the LACK of support I am getting is rather frustrating.
I’m the same as you as in I just refuse to promote something that I haven’t tied and had success with myself.
With regards the “I’m no cash waving Guru” approach to your review site, it’s gonna be cool just as Helene says above, we expect that of you, thats what makes you so special in my eyes, your just down to earth
Rebecca, I totally agree with you about that marketer – I was just having a grizzle to Tiff about the very same thing.
Disappointing marketing methodology, but still love the original product.
It definitely puts you in a bind about the pros and cons of promoting any products by this marketer, as the confusion caused by his “branding” all these other people’s products under his own banner is really annoying, and causes confusion for his/our customers.
It’s a pity… will wait and see.
I have been hearing warnings about marketers who create a product and get affiliates to promote the product, and then, when sales die down, they swap the product for another using their own affiliate code. Now they are stealing the income from all the affiliates who promote the product for them.
I guess this is the first example that I have actually seen with it. The funny thing is, before now, I have often heard good things about the author. After this, all I am seeing about him is mud.
No one can be responsible for someone else’s actions. Tiffany has now been hit from two sides with this issue.
First, it was BringTheFresh where the Jerk (pun not intended) turned to good and now, where someone with a good reputation turned jerk.
There is really no reason to get upset and raise your blood pressure. It is you, not the jerk, who will suffer the health effects. Instead, pay attention. Learn from what you are seeing. If it is something worth being concerned over, rather than worrying about it, plan for it in your business. Take a very brief time and see how you can either prevent it, protect yourself from it, or how you can use it to your benefit.
I recently heard of a business who found out every new product he released was being dumped into one of those bit-torrent sites, almost as fast as he could release them. In stead of getting upset, he built a campaign where he created multiple short versions of each of his products and litterally dumped these things all over the system. Now, when people ‘steal’ his books, they get a version that is promoting the real book and he claims to be making a significant profit from a source he had not considered.
In this case with Tiffany, that may not be so easy to convert, but now she knows it happens and can be aware of it. And, so can we.
Make the best of everything you can. It will work out in the end.
Buck
Ah Buck let me clarify – he swapped out the product on ClickBank so he was still going to pay me commission but I don’t want commission on something I didn’t approve of.
Sometimes wallets have better ears than heads…..
Has anyone reported this trick to ClickBank? I believe it is a serious violation of their TOS.
Buck
Might be! I’m not sure…
“You can always count on me to not promote anything that’s a scam.”
I know that’s true about you Tiffany, which is why I always pay attention to anything you recommend. I bought IPK knowing nothing about it, just because of your recommendation – and you were right! Thanks for all you do.
thanks Bliss
What I enjoy about your position you take for your business, is just that…. it is a business.
Any business gets hurt by bad reputation and with any seemed to be association,is not a good position to be in.
I like your roll up the sleeves approach to material and information you share always reminds me to take action, not just keep reading about it and getting more information. Thanks Tiffany get more raw fruit and veggie foods into you and you will have your weight and health issues licked in no time.
Hi Tiffany:
That is what I have always liked about you. You are always so upfront with everyone and you tell it like it is. It is good to know that you take pride in your work and really watch what you sell via an affiliate. Would you mind sharing the name or product name of the one you are talking about? It would be a big help for us all. And finally, I am glad to hear you are going to get back to your regular marketing. Take Care.
Not sure what you’re wanting Sam
The original email was about Rob Benwell’s blogging to the bank – and there are lots of people promoting him so if I promote them, that doesn’t mean I’m promoting Rob.
Interesting dilemma. It didn’t occur to me that if I promote someone’s product/service I’m on the hook for everything that person does/promotes moving forward. I wouldn’t expect that from anyone. There have been marketers I admired and promoted that “went bad” in my book or that promoted stuff that made my stomach turn but that doesn’t change the fact that the original promotion I did on a specific product was true no matter what happens. You just can’t please everyone.
Hi there Tiffany
I agree with you in that I think you need to go on a case by case, or product by product situation. Some marketers appear to bring out one really good product for example, that is unique and helpful, and then as you say they then promote affiliate products to their list that are not necessarily of the same quality or usefulness.
I know I place a lot of faith in your posts because it is clear that you do work hard to highlight problems in other peoples products. But I also know that your current ventures with the IPK for example is something I have already tried and it didn’t work for me. Maybe I will learn what I am doing wrong by reading your posts.
Kepp it up Tiffany your posts are a joy to read
Lisa
Rebecca
“emails almost daily with his program logo on it and saying it’s one of his “students” getting these results, but then when you open it, you find that this “student” is getting these “results” from some other IM product or program that he’s now promoting”
His style of selling is very annoying. I start to ask myself if his main product is really that good. If his product is really so powerful and brings him a lot of money why does he do that?
Is it not allowed to say who are we talking about?
Helena
I don’t mind. Just wasn’t gonna say it myself. lol
Hi Tiffany
you are the best, if there is one true honest person left on the internet i know its you and I can always count on you to do and say the right thing,
thank you so much
ural
“That means you, as an affiliate marketer, need to think first and foremost about your customers’ well-being and secondly about your profits.
Put people first.”
Tiff, I totally, wholeheartedly agree 100%!
There are certain ‘things’ that I wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole, no matter how many videos with ‘proof’ I am shown on how much this particular marketer is making with this ‘thing’…
A very good friend of mine once wrote to me something that literally changed my online life: “There are many ways to achieve success. But if you want to be successful AND happy, then find something you can feel GOOD about and take pride in.”
Nat
Good post!
I must admit there are just a few people I really trust in online marketing. One of them is Chris Farrell, who recommended your services to me.
You are doing fantastic work, you are honest and I enjoy reading your posts.
Keep writing, keep smiling and keep us informed.
Cheers,
Maria
Tiffany,
I would say you are one of the few people I trust, but honestly, I think you’re the only person I trust. This blog has become my daily routine. I have learned more from you than I have from any product or membership.
As far has not having an intro video with Lamborghini, this is why I love you and this is why people will buy your product. I think the vast majority of people are sick of inflated claims and general deception. Be you and success will follow.
Helena-
I totally agree with what you said about the marketer who emails about his “student”. I was such a fan of his and now he has lost me. I have emailed three times asking questions and get responses from his “support” people. They tell me they will get back to me and weeks later, no answers. I feel like he has become just another scummy guru salesman. I have lost a LOT of faith I had in his program. I am thinking why promote how wonderful someone else’s product is and never give us any real testimonials about your OWN??
Just wanted to say that I think it’s really big of you to even address this issue in your newsletter (and your blog as well) because most wouldn’t take the time to do that.
I only found out about your blog through Kelly’s BTF, but I’m really impressed at both your honesty and transparency as far as your sites go.
Keep on keeping on girl because you’re doing a tremendous job with the honest reviews. (I bought ipk through your aff link and based on your review)
I do have 1 and only 1 negative thing to say about BTF by the way. Email me if you’d like to know and see my example. It’s not really about their training, but about 1 of their services.
I rarely ever respond to any emails I get from marketers, but I really felt I should for this last message. Really makes you stand out from the crowd with what you’re doing. I see a lot of bandwagon jumping on in the WF that I think is silly, but as far as the information that you give out and the transparency you have with your business you put all of those WF jokers to shame.
In short…thanks
Rebecca, Helene & Charity
You can add me to the list. I am really disappointed in the volume of emails regarding *students* as well. Had to smile. As soon as you wrote that I knew exactly who you were referring too. I am still trying to work with the original product though because I think it has merit but I just delete emails that come in unless it specifically references the original product name.
I agree also and I am having a hard time trying not to unsubscribe with one that I liked who is now promoting someone who does some things I don’t think are right. I have 6 people that I like and follow, including you, and 1 more I just read about (Farrell). I wish I could join them all. If the one keeps endorsing these types of products I’ll just have to let them go.
Hey Tiff,
I bought from Marketer X because of your recommendation of a particular product. Now he emails me every day (twice yesterday) for various affiliate “offers”.
Do I blame you? Quite the contrary. The product you recommended is one of the best I’ve ever invested in. Thank you!
Even some of his “offers” are pretty good, although I make sure I get them somewhere else, rather than through his link.