Comments on: Creating Skepticism Through Relationship Building

By: Color Printing

Color Printing — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 23:37:41 +0000

This is so true! it is really hard to trust especially with the internet. Lots of people are using the wonders of it to scam others and gain profits. It is still better if you know who are you dealing with and trust no one but yourself!

By: Tim

Tim — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 06:36:56 +0000

This post and the comments touch on something I have been experiencing lately.

A lot of offer I am seeing is as mentioned, follow my success step by step. But as has been said we all seem alike and there is no “person” to build a relationship with because all look alike, write similar and do that same things.

I have been thinking that being yourself and trying it on your own in your way may be the only way to be true to yourself and let the other person see a real person that he builds a relationship with.

The question is it work and if so how long will it take? But as James said we are all skeptical, me included, there may be no other way.

By: Solomon

Solomon — Sun, 31 May 2009 15:36:57 +0000

I can't agree more that the society is already skeptical. That feeling shouldn't deter us in building and believing in relationships. By that, we lose precious company. After all, what is money for to have a good laugh and be happy. A true relationship gives you more happiness - tells you ways to get over it - and be there for you, for a long long time. I think businesses have forgotten this fact. They want quick fixes and want money right away. That smacks of greed, which is a costly mistake to do. I'm a keen observer of businesses where there is genuine interest in the customer and someone who is ogling at your wallet. I found a shop owner gave my son's shoes replacement ever after using them once, and when the flap has come out. I feel the internet is full of those gimmickry, and that is finely reflected in the article by James. Solomon´s last blog post...Ride the crest of the writerâ€™s learning curve!

By: James

James — Sat, 30 May 2009 13:07:36 +0000

@ Patrick – Part of my gripe with relationship building is exactly that: the Relationship Template.

When you get a newsletter update from three different people, and they almost look identical in style, tone, formatting and setup – hell, they could be the same person – my first thought is, “Huh. Y’all took that Frank Kern course, eh?”

DELETE.

It’s fine to learn how to build relationships and communicate with people to improve your business and sell your products. It’s also fine to take courses to learn how to do that. But if you become a robot spewing off the “checklist” because you can’t appear to be a unique, genuine person… I have problems with that.

Whew. Small rant, there!

By: Patrick Vuleta - Lawfully Green

Patrick Vuleta - Lawfully Green — Sat, 30 May 2009 10:19:59 +0000

I think part of the problem is that not many have a unique voice anymore. As you mentioned, there are so many copywriting courses out there that teach people a certain way to get a message across that it is diluting the message by turning it into something we have heard a million times before.

People are looking for the step-by-step template to make money instead of doing the harder work of finding their own unique voice. They expect that if they do the same things as those who have gone before, they will have success. And they try to replicate it. In the end it comes off sounding fake, just like if you put on a different speaking voice you sound fake unless you a brilliant voice actor.

The latest offer from a very well known blogging personality illustrated this for me. Without naming names, he was promoting a book by another well known blogging personality calling him the “godfather” of blogging and promising a step by step template to replicate his success. That turned me off – I don’t care if you’re the Godfather or Mother Teresa. You’re you, no one else. And no will ever gain anything by trying to be you.

Patrick Vuleta – Lawfully Green´s last blog post…Brand New Environmental Law Site

By: Elaine Shannon

Elaine Shannon — Sat, 30 May 2009 10:13:22 +0000

Hey Akemi,
Thanks for sharing your experience about affiliate products.
My biz partner and I were discussing the whole thing about sharing a copy of our product with our affiliates when they sign up last evening. I can’t even imagine having something attached to my site that I did not like, use and trust. I am also discouraged that someone would have your affiliate link and not know a thing about the product they are promoting. Yes I know that money makes the world go round, but what happened to the relationships…so we are right back to the point of this discussion “relationship Building”.

By: Janice Cartier

Janice Cartier — Sat, 30 May 2009 03:49:25 +0000

@James- Not fitting is a good way to move on to the ones that do fit well,yes? I think some wise Pen Man told me that. There's something in the air this week.. some very thought provoking articles here and from Kelly , Naomi and Sonia. Good reality checks. Janice Cartier´s last blog post...Snail Mail Art Stamps and Margaritas

By: James

James — Sat, 30 May 2009 02:29:36 +0000

@ Akemi – That’s what I’m talking about. “You have a course? Affiliate? Awesome, I’m in.” Blech.

The post I ran on Monday saying how I believed in Marketing for Nice People? I wouldn’t write a word on anything I haven’t seen with my own eyes, and even then, it had better be good.

@ Bea – I don’t mind the schmooze. But I want a believable relationship. If someone’s gonna schmooze me, he or she had best to it right

@ Janice – You have cool marketing tactics, you coy thing, you. I’m all for that, ha! But damned if it don’t fit, eh?

@ Kelly – Only when I say it doesn’t revolve around me.

@ Naomi – That was an excellent comment. I agree with all your points and live them plenty every day (minus the scared one. I fear nothing!… Except flying. )

I’m interested in your thoughts on the question the post raised. What about bloggers like you and I who work hard to build real relationships, genuine ones, and then have it all fucked over because the people who build false relationships to sell their stuff have ruined it and increased skepticism?

@ Amy – One sentence you wrote struck me: “I have really hit the saturation point, where I just canâ€™t shell out for one more ebook or teleseminar or training course without seeing some real, concrete change from the ones Iâ€™ve already paid for.”

There are a lot of people who think that, and they’re highly skeptical of new releases and launches. But…

They’ve never actively put the information they bought into good use for a reasonable period. How on earth can they expect returns just by downloading, having a skim and then… doing something else?

That’s a problem. Skepticism can be created through false misrepresentation, and I see that all the time. “I downloaded soandso’s book and nothing happened!”

“Did you DO everything the book said to do?”

“Um…. Okay but soandso’s course really sucked! Don’t buy it, it’s a scam!”

“Have you logged in, read every PDF and listened to every mP3 and then put that education to work in your own business?”

“Well….”

People can buy all they want. But they don’t put in the legwork, ain’t nothin’ gonna happen, you know?

By: Akemi - Yes to Me

Akemi - Yes to Me — Sat, 30 May 2009 01:56:11 +0000

James, Oh, sure, that is bad marketing. I was surprised when I first found out about it. Someone offered to write a fake testimonial for my service in exchange to getting me promote his stuff. I spit at him. I was also surprised when I published my little eBook. I offered a complimentary copy to my affiliates, because I want my affiliates to know what they are promoting, and some never wanted to see it! Akemi - Yes to Me´s last blog post...Creating The New World, Part 5 Power

By: judyofthewoods

judyofthewoods — Sat, 30 May 2009 01:28:15 +0000

There is another side to the coin. There is so much talk about guilt trips regarding selling, but what about the expectation that everything should be free? Is that right? Would people go into shops expecting to walk out with free goods all the time? In a society where we are so far removed from self reliance, people buy most of what they want and need , and that requires sellers. The important thing is to find a balance. I think for every hard-sell merchant, there is a person who just takes and whines over even the smallest of add discretely placed in a side bar. judyofthewoods´s last blog post...Changes to Subscriptions to Judy of the Woods