I don’t know what it is about our field that seems to draw in so many people with no integrity. Maybe it’s the anonymity that the Internet allows that brings out the worst in people.
Take for instance Meso_ (purposely not spelling it out, because I don’t want Google to rank me for this keyword). Yes, it’s a high priced keyword, but beyond that, do people really understand what it is? If you don’t know: it’s cancer. A really bad form of cancer actually, that leads to a slow agonizing death. Is this something you people really want to be involved in making money from? Apparently so. It’s really pathetic if you ask me. If you have ever watched a family member or friend die of cancer, you might think twice about building a MFA page to get a few cents a click from people who may be searching for real information about the disease. I realize most of the people advertising those keywords are lawyers also trying to make a buck off of the suffering, but that doesn’t make it any better for internet marketers to be involved.
I used to run across this niche a lot in our directories and recently someone wanted me to do some marketing of their Meso site. I politely told them to get lost, no matter how much they paid me - the answer is no. Sure I could have made some money from it, but for me sleeping better at night is more important. Just because you can make money off something stupid, doesn’t mean you should. </soapbox>
[...] Court wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptI used to run across this niche a lot in our directories and recently someone wanted me to do some marketing of their Meso site. I politely told them to get lost, no matter how much they paid me - the answer is no. … [...]
I fail to see what exactly is wrong with this. The doctors also profit from patients that have cancer, aids, and all other diseases, do they not have integrity? I’ve never seen a Mezo site that gave anyone cancer. Is simply placing an adsense link to other sites wrong? You’re totally off base here.
Applaud your stand Chad, kudos.
Seriously, your example for lack of integrity is promoting a Meso site? Give me a break!
That is one of the least shady niches I know in terms of consumer fraud. No ones asking them to sign up from “free ringtones” and actually signing them up for a paid service without their knowledge. No one is asking them to put in a CC for a “free trial” only to find out it’s next to impossible to unsubscribe or get a refund. And no one is asking for their email address in an email submit just so they can be spammed to death.
So if you have promoted ringtones, email/zip submits, free trials, or one of the other many shady things affiliates promote, then you have way less integrity than a lawyer trying to promote is ethical business or an arbitrage player taking advantage of an open market at no cost to the consumer.
James,
I think a Dr. profiting off trying to cure someone with cancer is a little different….
Jeremey,
I wasn’t talking about consumer fraud. That’s a whole other issue, and your right it is a huge problem.
I just don’t agree with your claim of an meso lawyer or arbitrager having more integrity than someone pushing ringtones. So is anything at all fair game as long as it’s a n “open market”? Probably to some people, but I have to draw a line somewhere. People dying of cancer is where the line is for me.
[...] But it’s always good to have concrete reasons, and I think taking advantage of cancer patients is definitely a reason that internet marketing ranks low on the integrity scale. [...]
I can see your reasoning behind it, but as long as no one is defrauding anyone I have no problem with it. The medical industry is a business like any other and that’s the way I treat it. In fact I will go beyond that and say it’s the best business there is.
The Internet Marketing Industry is pretty diverse and so are the type and focus of its events. I decided for a single calendar rather than multiple calendars for each niche, because there are overlapping between them and I also believe that it is of value to see what other events are going on beyond the one you know and the ones specific to your particular niche.
Finally an internet marketer with standards. I’m so sick of the black hat internet marketing tactics that give this industry a bad name. If an internet marketer actually has ehtics and values then he would make a lot more money than the porno internet marketers looking for a quick buck.
Chad you just gained a lot of credibilitiy on my list.