OK, I don't usually respond to these things, but I thought this was funny – in a bizarre kind of way.
I am apparently ‘cruel and unfair' according to the following response to my “More on the Adwords Update… Don’t Believe Everything You Read” blog entry.
If you haven't read the entry, I talk about an affiliate marketer who posted a bunch of fluff (about Google's latest whack on affiliates) that could have lead new or uninformed affiliate marketers up the garden path.
Not once did I mention his name.
Yet, he learned about the post, then posted a response in his blog that linked back to mine. (OK, that was the bizarre part… and THANKS for the plug!!! :-))
Hi Rosalind,
I was reading (name removed)'s latest blog entry which showed your criticism of him.
I think it is very cruel and unfair what you have done and written about him as I know first hand he is a very successful affiliate and is a very down to earth guy (I meet him at the World Internet Summit this year). I can only say good things about him as he has helped me out with my affiliate programs and always has time for me.
I think, if you are going to criticize him you should do it on his blog and give him a fair right of reply.
Anyway, I don’t want to harp on but I think you should consider what you have written as he is a very nice young man.
Jamie
This was Joel's reply:
Hello Jamie,
On behalf of Rosalind, thank you for your feedback about Rosalind's “Don't Believe Everything You Read' blog entry.
I'll definitely pass along your concern.
I suspect the article sounds a little harsh, but the main point was that if you are posting information about how Google is handling their ranking, and billing yourself as ‘the essential guide', then you better be as correct as possible with your information.
Rosalind's point was that it is content and relevance that wins results, both from Google and more importantly, for your qualified customers.
She never named (name removed), nor did she include a link to his blog… so essentially it was an anonymous ‘pot shot'.
You may be right that it would have been good for Rosalind to check in on (name removed)'s blog and present her point of view there within his own forum.
Rosalind was responding to her readers (who've had many concerns about Google's recent adjustment) with her consistent message that content and relevance to the topic at hand win the search engine ranking hands down, especially over the long run.
Apparently (name removed) isn't shy about returning a shot.
I see he links to Rosalind's article, and puts her success down due to a lower ranking then his in the Clickbank Marketplace.
In fact I'd wager Rosalind's status, in terms of profitability and professionalism, with both her peers and a majority of her ‘students' remains quite ‘Super'.
One thing I believe both (name removed) and Rosalind would agree on is his comment: “Personally I believe being a super affiliate is about getting results and being able to help other people achieve success too.”
I know Rosalind ‘lives' that, and I suspect (name removed) is truly committed to that goal too.
Again thank you for your comments. I will pass them along to Rosalind. I'm sure it's more mole hill than mountain in the grand scheme of things. 🙂
Kind regards,
Joel Bolton
Executive Asst. to Rosalind Gardner
Joel obviously ‘got it' – the point that is.
My comment was never about the other marketer. I didn't use his name or point to his blog because I didn't want to waste YOUR time.
I used the erroneous information posted on his site as a way of driving home two points:
- Don't follow blindly. Do your homework, and;
- The homework lesson isn't all that hard if you just go with Google's requirement to produce relevant and useful content for your visitors. I suspect many affiliate managers would prefer to see their products promoted likewise.
Here's another point.
The fact that someone is a “very nice young man” (or woman) doesn't make them smart or knowledgeable… and I'm sick and tired of all the charming, nice, personable and what-have-you-people who try to schmooze you out of your hard-earned bucks on crap information.
Yes, I'm just SO cruel and SO unfair. 😀
Ros
P.S. Thanks Joel!!! I certainly wouldn't have responded as nicely as you always do! 🙂