Over the past few months I've seen an overwhelming increase in comments on this blog that look something like this:
Name: [guruname] Club
URL: [guruname].com(tv)Comment: Hi! Great post! I was looking around for some thing like that on the net for _____. I’m also a part of [guruname] program. So I’m still kinda new in internet marketing
The comment is usually completely irrelevant to the post on which they are commenting.
Each of these comments always includes the trainer's name and the fact that the commenter is new to internet marketing.
“Kinda new” is right.
It's obvious that they've been hoodwinked into buying a blogging or online business course that increases their trainer's profile (and profits) more than their own.
Most of these blogs are a journal of the newbie's personal blogging / internet marketing journey – and as they're so new to the game, there is no valuable content that might convince a visitor to either bookmark the site or sign up for the newsletter.
Too, there's invariably a blogroll that lists links to [guruname]'s students' sites – under a heading that reads [guruname] Club or [guruname] Students.
This is obviously taught as a link and traffic-building technique – which of course ‘works' because each of the students would visit each of the other students' sites.
But how very convenient to get your students to put your name on each of their sites. Of all the sites listed, [guruname] is what visitors are most likely to remember.
I don't know how other bloggers are handling these comments, but I now delete them immediately. The comments are completely inane, don't add one iota of value to my readers and are ultimately a ploy to get people (who pay the trainer for instruction) to post free advertising for their course.
So, I'll say this about that.
If you find yourself signed up for a program that teaches a blog commenting strategy that requires you to post the same comment over and over and that always includes your trainer's name — get a refund!
Comments, questions or suggestions? Please leave a comment below!
Cheers,
Oops, I’m sorry – I forgot 2 words at the beginning of this paragraph:
“Today, I…focus on lead generation, especially in real estate and credit repair in the US. Once you grasp traffic and conversion (of which traffic is the key component for aff. marketing success) you will put yourself in the driver’s seat.”
Mike 🙂
I had to bloCK two IPs because of comment flooding on a page. Irritating.
It’s good to know there are honest people like you, watching our backs. Too bad newbies have to cut their teeth on this kind of unscruples!
How could trainers do this to their students just to increase their own profile. We should not tolerate this kind of tactics I would probably erase that way of commenting immediately.
A very good post and i truly wonder what kind of answer they would get if the student went back and asked the guru teacher why this was done like that. Way to tell it like it is. I would probable delete the comments as well.
I’ve pretty much had it with people who make most of their money from selling money making products.
I know of 1 or 2 “gurus” who do this. I’m absolutely sick of people who make more money by telling people how to make money than by their own advice.
I been reviewing abunch of newbie affiliate programs online since january now.I purchased one program (won’t mention names)that had video teaching which was a good concept for me for learning,but wasn’t specific for a newbie like me.The biggest problem im reading in most forums are trying to advertise on google being beginners.I want to know if outsourcing be good for starting out and is blogging a good form of advertise for making a profit?
Can you profit from affiliate programs without a website these days?
Karl,
You’re right. Paying for pay-per-click (PPC) can get expensive and dangerous for a beginner.
Heck, it can be costly for a veteran as well. If affiliate marketing is your focus (and that can be a wise choice), you should continue paying attention to Rosalind.
Years ago, when I started I made the wise decision to purchase Ros’s Affiliate Handbook. As you already know, she is NOT about get-rich-quick schemes.
She lays out a realistic, proven system (written in a clear, easy-to-understand fashion) for moving forward with affiliate marketing.
I have every update of her handbook, as do my friends. One of my friends who focuses exclusively on affiliate marketing began with Ros’s handbook. Just a few years later, he has left his job & doubled his 9-5 income.
I will admit that at first I was disappointed in the (lack of) happy-talk in Ros’s handbook and posts – I guess I wanted to believe (years ago) in the get-rich-quick possibility…because that’s exactly what others were spewing…and still do.
Wisely, I realized Rosalind moved us forward with solid training and strategy, minus the BS.
I don’t personally know Rosalind or benefit one iota from mentioning this. I am a happy customer who (though I don’t comment much on her site) checks out every email she sends…after 4 or 5 years now.
For 16 years I was a high school teacher and coach. I KNOW teaching and coaching very well. Most “gurus” have no clue how to teach/coach. They sell HYPE and hope you blame yourself for not getting rich as they promised.
focus on lead generation, especially in real estate and credit repair in the US. Once you grasp traffic and conversion (of which traffic is the key component for aff. marketing success) you will put yourself in the driver’s seat.
Clearly, Rosalind continues to be the breath of fresh air among proven doers. She is NOT hype. She (appears to) care about you and me…without seeing us a wallet. As this IM space gets more and more crowded, I am so happy that Ros continues helping people like you and me.
She makes her money DOING exactly what she’s teaching: Affiliate Marketing. She doesn’t have to share this blog with us. She doesn’t have to cut through all the BS out there. She simply could let us waste our time & money figuring this out on out own, especially this “guru” link-building & name-building “scam.”
Good luck to all,
Mike
P.S. If I’ve learned anything in the last 5 years about succeeding on the Internet, it’s this: 1) find and stick with GOOD, HONEST teachers; 2) Stick with it – do “it” every day. Don’t flash around from this shiny object to that shiny object. Most people quit too soon, actually believing in the get-rich-quick babble.
Hi Mike,
Thank you SO much for sharing your perspective and you are SO right about why folks fail to achieve… lack of focus, work and persistence.
As to “Happy-talk” you’ll have to visit my personal blog. 🙂
Best to you!
Ros
Hi rosalind,
You have came up with a great point here, Spammers are increasing day after day, although I do not prefer to call them spammers but people who want to rank fast and dont know how to do this respectfully.
They want to post on several sites and they dont want to read the full article or else they will waste their time.
I believe that for you to get some link juice, you should offer respect to the person who posted the article.
Cheers,
Leo
What bothers me more than the spam aspect is the fact that somewhere out there people actually think they’re paying for a good idea. It’s like paying someone to tell you to call everyone in the phone book and offer them a random product they don’t want…
Why would anyone put themselves though that?
Good article. Thanks for letting people know.
I pity the students seeing that they are just being ‘used’ by their trainers. However, I am wondering if they can really get a refund especially if the ‘guru’ is reluctant.
Anyway, this has been a helpful article for newbies in the business. Nice Job!
Haha that’s funny, it’s called spam. I get a lot of those and I delete it if it is not a relevant comment.
Hi Ros,
In Europe this technique is called trolling.Irrelevant comments and also unnecessarily provocative inane comments that are not appropriate.
Regards,
Frank
I doubt they’ll ever get a refund.
Ros, I have always enjoyed reading your comments and such. With so much junk out here these days how do we separate the wheat from the chaff? I’m sure you wouldn’t want to stick you neck out and name a few of the bad ones, would you?
Gawd, I love people with killer instinct. Keep it up, Rosalind. The only real way to make money is to return value. Without that one elusive factor, all the link-building, “insider secrets,” and Google tricks are nothing at all.
It’s refreshing to see someone tell the truth for a change.
That’s awful. I am a newbie myself but how can you put the same comment over and over without asking your trainer why is it so? Thanks for that, will lookout for that in my blogs.
thanks
Yes I have seen some comments like that, but not as many as you I guess. But I will keep a look out for those; i dont know if i will delete them like you, but like you said they are newbies they dont know any better 🙂
With so much financial ruin out in the world, it is way too bad that there are still people scamming the newbies. You tell um Rosalind!
May Mickelow