A Little Friday Hodgepodge
May 2nd, 2008 | by ScottIt appears that you're new here, if you like what you read, please subscribe to the news feed or sign up for the Leap eTips news and updates email list. Thank you for visiting :)
I have a few things to discuss briefly today, so hodgepodge seemed a fitting title–not to mention it’s just a fun word.
Neat Packages
I’m seeing a recent rise in what I call “Neat Package” online business promises out there. These are those “everything you’ll need in a box” type deals (often called cookie-cutter site/businesses because they turn out tons of the same exact thing over and over) that some Guru swears will allow even a monkey to make money online with ease.
I call BS!
Even if the people selling these products did have success with the templates and systems included, there’s a fade effect that’s going to occur once they start selling their “neat packages” to others. The templates are going to have footprints that search engines will pick up on and begin filtering sites using them, and with each person who buys and uses the system the effectiveness of what’s being done is going to drop.
That’s what happens online, period. That’s why so many “systems” become outdated so fast, and then you see so many version 2’s of popular systems come around.
I feel sorry for the people who get duped with that flip. You buy the exciting new system that everyone has been talking about (usually for paid compensation) just as it becomes obsolete and miss out on the “wealth and glory” that the buyers ahead of you supposedly got, but don’t despair because the Guru has been “working hard in the lab” and was able to come up with all new information and techniques that are sure to work for you now, just pull that credit card back out and purchase version 2 of his Instant BS!
To be fair and clear, I’m not harping on anyone who sells honest and valuable information in eBooks. I’ve done it myself and know there has to be some value placed on the time and efforts that go in to putting a real resource together.
I’m just saddened by seeing so many “Snake Oil Salesman 2.0″ taking advantage of enthusiastic–and often desperate–people who are just trying to get ahead online.
Pedomarketing
With the latest celebrity scandal that I’m aware of, though I don’t stay on top of celebrity scandals so this could be old news by now, concerning some risky business photos taken of Miley Cyrus this might be a timely point to make.
Every so often I get a free product from someone asking me to review it for them, and once in a while some service will send a goody-bag of stuff (usually hats or t-shirts or other similar things with their logos on them) and they may or may not ask me to mention them. I appreciate free stuff (who doesn’t?), so I have no problems with this kind of thing as long as there are no stipulations on what I might have to say about the product or service.
Now, I don’t get free stuff like this all the time, and certainly not as often as some bloggers out there do. That’s fine by me though, because when someone sends me something I feel obligated to try it out and talk about it, whether my impressions are good or bad (hey, I didn’t ask for it so don’t expect me to be gentle if your product sucks!).
The problem though, is if I was getting lots of stuff like some bloggers out there are I wouldn’t have time to write about anything else, so I’m cool with just getting the occasional mailing here and there as I do.
But here’s what I’m not cool with: don’t send me child-size ANYTHING and expect pictures of kids wearing your brand with smiles on their faces!
You’re essentially asking bloggers to pimp out their children by doing this, STOP THAT!
There may be special circumstances if your entire product line is for children, or you work in the marketing department of Parenting magazine… but if you represent an online advertising network or media group there’s no sane reason in the world for you to send bloggers child-size anything.
It’s pedomarketing and it’s disgusting.
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