Okay, I’m not going to pass judgement – good or bad, on what I’m about to reveal.
Some would say this is 100% ethical, and I won’t argue. Others will say something that involves cuss words, and I won’t argue with that, either.
I would just like to point something out, and whether you use this information for your own protection or to increase your own sales is up to you.
Fair enough?
I was sent an email claiming that this person wanted to make my sales for me. In fact, the exact words were, “You will make sales for doing nothing, guaranteed!”
Yeah. Uh-huh.
So, I read the email (mostly for laughs, but… you know) and clicked the link.
Mind you, the person who sent this is no slouch. He’s been around. He’s probably made a boatload of money. And I’m sure this promotion alone is making him another boatload of money. But I digress.
I was sent to a page with a recording from a webinar (which I did not watch.) Beneath the webinar replay, after the usual, “We’ve already sold 15 and there are only 5 left” comments, it said:
“We’ll promote Bob’s top selling product for 7 days to our 200,000 subscribers using your affiliate link.”
“We will send at least 3 broadcast emails per day for 7 days using YOUR affiliate link promoting Bob’s best selling product. You will receive 100% of all sales made through your link.”
Ugghhh. Whenever I read something like this, I always think that if there’s sales to be made, then they sure as heck won’t be using someone else’s affiliate link to make the sales.
This emailing they want to do is a bonus for buying the product in the webinar. And I’m sure it’s an expensive product.
Let’s see… if they send out my affiliate link 3 times a day for 7 days to 200,000 subscribers, that’s a possible 4,200,000 exposures of my affiliate link to their readers. Right?
Nope.
Here’s where you need to read the fine print. Or in this case, the print that’s found way… Way… WAY… down at the bottom of the page.
Oh-oh, what’s this??
“Your affiliate link will be put in a rotation system with a maximum of 20 links for the entire 21 email campaign over the full week to our 200,000 subscribers, promoting your link.”
Forget the 4,200,000 exposures of your affiliate link. We’re now back to 210,000 exposures.
Big difference, wouldn’t you say?
I’ve no doubt they will make sales (of whatever is being promoted on the webinar) to people who think they’re going to have their link promoted 3 times a day for 7 days to 200,000 subscribers.
And yes, they did come clean later on the page. Is it deceptive? Like I said, I’m not judging, just providing information.
One last thing… do you think they’ll be sending out 3 emails per DAY promoting the same product for SEVEN days to their best, most active subscribers?
Or let me put it this way… would you?
Or would you send the emails out to the ‘dead wood’ on your list – those subscribers who haven’t opened an email in six months or a year?
I don’t know who they’re sending the emails to – yes, it could very well be their hottest, best subscribers.
And yes, they could have inadvertently ‘forgotten’ to let customers know up front that they would only be receiving 210,000 mailouts, not the 4,200,000 it’s made to look like. But it sure does make you wonder.
In my view, it’s best to be honest and up front. Tell your visitors what you’re going to give them, and what they can expect, and then deliver. In fact, over-deliver. Do this, and you’ll do just fine building a business online and anywhere else you setup shop.
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