Archive for the 'Marketing' Category
Opt-In Gets Scummy (Updated)
As I’ve been working on launching my new newsletter for my clients and close associates, I’ve been thinking about opt-in mailing lists. As my cherished acquaintance Christopher Penn says, “You live or die by your list.”
In reviewing material for my newsletter marketing push I came across a website run by marketing “guru” Justin Michie. He belongs to a certain segment of the marketing industry that I think of as the “Internet Warriors Forum Disciples”. Now, I don’t know if Justin is an actual member of that forum, but the style of marketing they practice is usually typified by things like free (but recycled) giveaway “reports” and ebooks, a heavy concentration on affiliates, the patented Really Long Sales Page™. You may recognize some of the more prominent practitioners such as Mike Filsaime , Cody Moya, Willie Crawford, etc.
These guys are all about their opt-in lists, but make no mistake, it’s not because they’ve gotten the Seth Godin religion, it’s because they fear the U.S. CAN-Spam Act.
Anyway, at Justin’s blog I found the post “What’s The Best Way To Build Your List?” where he’s plugging a product for which he is an affiliate (and invites you to become one as well). In describing how he uses the product, “the $7 Script,” he states this:
After completing payment through Paypal, they’re sent to an opt-in page where they need to opt-in before they can download the product (you get a new subscriber).
In other words, he sells you a download of a product, then AFTER you pay via paypal, he requires you to join his Opt-In list to actually receive the product you’ve paid for. This kind of hubris disgusts me at a very primal level.
UPDATE:
I haven’t actually been to the Warriors Forum in over a year, so I was heartened when, in the flood of visits to this post from there I found this: Wso Sellers: Stop forcing buyers to opt-in.
I guess there are responsible types there nowadays. My respect for some of those folks (the ones who “get it”) has just gone up a notch.
This post is also getting some traction from The Internet Marketing Inner Circle forum (members include Mike Filsaime and Willie Crawford), but it’s closed to non-members, so I have no idea what their take on the topic is.
Also, in the comments section, Justin Michie has responded that he is considering editing the offending blog post. Unfortunately he also is asserting that mandatory opt-in is “usual”. If that is true, it is sad. CAN-Span, anyone?
Oh, one more thing. I don’t actually want to diss Willie Crawford because he once gave me an awesome BBQ recipe (for opting in)!
What do you think- does this cross the line? Speak your peace in the comments section below!
Creative Commons photo by gynti_46
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