Regards, Michael.

Jerry

In that particular situation – it wasn’t just one person “pulled in” but more of a group of people who were bulked into a generalization.

Whether or not it was a direct jab isn’t the idea but rather you felt the need to defend yourself as one of the people who were described in the generalization.

That’s an example of how my “bickering circle” widens.

And who would blame you? If someone made a comment generalizing wahms who blog … I’d feel compelled to defend myself as well.

I look forward to the solutions you come up with in your crusade to “fix” the way internet marketing seems to be going.

Thanks again – everyone’s unique perspective is incredibly helpful in looking at possible solutions.

Do I expect to get everything for free? Of course not – my way of thinking is if I expect everything to be given to me for free – how can I possibly expect others to buy from me. However …

What happened to the content?

At one time the right way to do things was to publish a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly newsletter including quality articles that actually taught you something. Then it moved down to quick tips (which is fine by me – loose the fluff I don’t have time for it anyway). But now, now there’s no content at all. No quick tips, no articles – nothing but promotions, advertisements and sales letters. And now it’s gotten even worse – if it’s not some sort of promotional material – it’s the newest jab at a fellow internet marketer?

In the past couple of months I’ve gotten so angry with myself for all the time I’ve personally wasted by reading about the latest drama going on. I have no one but myself to blame but myself of course for reading it but dang it guys … stop the bickering and bring back the content. Please, as a subscriber who’s eager to learn and apply and a potential buyer – I beg you.

I’m beginning to think that all the drama, bitterness and anger is nothing more than a bunch of link bait or a new marketing technique. Like these guys are all real friends behind the scenes but all this drama catches and pulls so much attention that I’m beginning to think it’s nothing more than a new marketing technique. I mean really … look at how many times innocent parties get pulled into it all? Just because in the latest jab post, they mentioned someone else’s name – even in a good sense. Then the innocent party is forced to make their own post because they didn’t want involved in it in the first place? I’ve seen that happen quite a few times. All that does then is widen the bickering circle and bring on the links.

The reason offering quality content was the right way to do it was because these quick tips and articles showed me, the subscriber and potential buyer, whether or not the publisher knew what he or she was talking about. It gave me a feel for the way this marketer thinks. For Example: Does this marketer believe in making everything automated or does this marketer believe in building by hand? I for one prefer building by hand so therefore, for the most part, I’m not going to buy from someone who prefers to build “automatically”.

It’s kind of like a guessing game. You buy it and hope it’s what you’re looking for. Then if you find out it’s not what you wanted, you end up keeping it anyway because you don’t want to ask for a refund. I know I personally do not like to ask for a refund on a digital product. There’s too many people out there that use the system that way – I don’t want to look like one of them. Heck, I’ve only ever once asked for a refund (repeatedly – and never got my money back anyway!)

There are still a few marketers out there that publish quality content on a regular basis – these are the same marketers I continue to stay a subscriber, jump to read the next issue and if I prefer the type of marketer they are, buy their products. Why? Because I feel as though I know this person, I know how he thinks and I know whether or not this guy (or gal) knows what he or she is talking about. For example: And wIth the risk of sounding like a butt-kisser (lol), Lynn you are one of the “good guys” and others that come to the top of my mind right now is Jimmy D. Brown and Alice Seba. Don’t get me wrong – I’m sure there’s many more out there – it’s just that this list is getting smaller and smaller. It’s to the point where I don’t care to hear from the so-called “gurus” anymore but I’d much rather sign up to a newsletter from a “smaller guy” – because I get so much more quality content from them.

Do I go by recommendations? Sure I do. But, it’s the same thing … I go by the recommendations made by the marketer that I trust, the marketer who has provided me with quality content, the marketer who has allowed me to get to know him/her on a more personal level – but more importantly – on a level that I know what kind of marketer this person is. Again, does he/she know what their talking about? Do they believe in the same kind of marketing techniques as myself? More than likely this marketer is going to recommend someone else that is the same kind of marketer as his or herself.

Okay, it’s time to step off my soap box … but I leave you with this plead one more time.

Drop the drama and bring back the content …

I am tempted to comment on the term “guru basher” but before I start I am seeing how rapidly people draw their own conclusions and invent story lines that take on a life of their own.

I don’t hang out on the warrior forum (although I’m fascinated with the WSO success some people have had there) but I was not aware of a guru-bashing movement.

My background is in personal development from working with Brian Tracy and Jim Rohn – and I personally have really struggled with the email overload thing.

So my remarks in the articles and posts about the “state of the market” are based on my own personal reaction to the PARADIGM – not at anyone personally.

I’ve now been accused of hatin’ on people who are actually my friends – while they get the traffic!

LOL

It’s a silly funny world.

Rick Butts