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petertdavis
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New England
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Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 1:08 pm
Post subject: The big reason I decided not to use SBI
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I get a lot of spam on my Small Business Forum. A surprising amount of that spam is people promoting Site Build It. I get more spam from SBI affiliates than I get from the Viagra folks, which is pretty amazing since the Viagra spammers are very prolific. A couple months ago I got sick of it and started reporting spam to the company that sells SBI. The response I got from them was that their affiliates have every right to spam my forum at their pleasure. I was so disgusted with the reply I got from them that I decided then and there to not buy their product, and to delete every spam or mention of their product from my forum. Luckily, I've been able to find a product that works better and is much cheaper than SBI, so I no longer even need this spammy product. Shame on SBI for allowing their affiliates to be worse than the Viagra spammers.
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elbavaro
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Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 3:02 pm
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Peter,
| Quote: | | Luckily, I've been able to find a product that works better and is much cheaper than SBI, |
could you please let us know which alternative have you found?
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petertdavis
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Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 4:16 pm
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| elbavaro wrote: | Peter,
| Quote: | | Luckily, I've been able to find a product that works better and is much cheaper than SBI, |
could you please let us know which alternative have you found? |
I'm not trying to promote a competing product, and don't feel comfortable mentioning it on Allan's site. If you'd like to hear about it, I'd be happy to discuss it with you on my site, or via email.
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Debs
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Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 5:03 pm
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I have a real problem with your post Peter. Not because you have a problem with Sitesell, because I understand your frustration and the stance you have indicated Sitesell took. Anyone with a grain of common sense knows spamming, whether email or forums, is no way to promote anything and expect consistent, ongoing results.
However, you have issued a challenge vs. SBi in particular:
| Quote: | | Luckily, I've been able to find a product that works better and is much cheaper than SBI |
But you won't be upfront and public about it ... giving those who are interested in SBi what you consider to be better and cheaper, and why ... nor are you giving supporters of Sitesell and SBi (in particular Allan) the opportunity to rebutt what you offer, if they are so inclined.
My only suggestion, is be upfront about the challenge you issue, don't hide it behind "email me."
Debs
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petertdavis
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Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 5:11 pm
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Actually, the topic of my post was that SBI affiliates spam too much, and I'm getting sick and tired of it, and when I complain it doesn't seem to do any good. I'm not selling a competing product. I am testing something that does exactly the same thing that made me interested in SBI. The actual service that SBI provides may be excellent for a lot of people, but because of the spam it now leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
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Debs
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Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 5:15 pm
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Thank you for the clarification Peter, I had a feeling that was your point, and as I said, I understand it. Spam helps noone, and can leave a very bad taste in people's mouths for the merchant and their products.
Please keep in mind, however, not all, nor even most, SBi affiliates are doing what you have experienced. Like any spam, it only takes a few to create problems.
Once your testing is done, please do post on it and let us know what you found. Despite the heavily SBi flavor of the forum, we are affiliates who are interested in finding out about alternatives and options that would best suit our needs.
Best wishes,
Debs
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petertdavis
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Debs
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Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 5:55 pm
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I am an affiliate for Sitesell and I haven't seen anything that indicates that. They do recommend joining forums, offering solid advice and following the rules of forums and news groups, as well as using your signature to promote, either directly or indirectly, your site/products/affiliations.
Now, if some idiots take that too far, as I know they do, that isn't Sitesell's fault, IMO, however, I do agree that any merchant should come down on hard spammy affiliates, I don't care who the merchant or affiliate or product is.
Debs
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edburdo
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Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 6:34 pm
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Most affiliate guides you read recommend posting in forums. But posting in a helpful way... by answering questions, asking questions and becoming part of the that community.
Spamming is bad... we all know that. But to blame Sitesell for the spam is like blaming Microsoft when your CD-Rom won't open.
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petertdavis
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Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 6:44 pm
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I have yet to encounter a forum where it's okay to post affiliate links. There's an inherent problem there when you're recommending a service as an affiliate as compater to recommending it as a satisfied customer. When you post an affiliate link, it's a clear statement that you're doing it for profit. In other words, it's self-promotion. OTOH, if you're a satisfied customer, and just trying to be helpful, you don't really need to use your affiliate link. If you do use that affiliate link, you're not really just trying to be helpful. By suggesting people post to forums to promote SBI, Sitesell is encouraging spam. Maybe they do say you should follow the rules of the forum, but if they took that advice to heart they wouldn't even suggest posting on forums because most (at least the good ones) don't allow you to post affiliate links EVER anyway, and they should know that. They can't excuse themselves by saying that affiliates should post only helpful spam.
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Debs
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Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 6:52 pm
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I disagree about the posting affiliate links not being allowed. Most allow them in signatures, atleast the ones I frequent. And I don't see a problem with it. I know WMW doesn't permit affiliate links, but they do allow sites in profiles. Either way you can promote. With WMW you just have to do a lil more work to build a page/site to put in your profile.
By allowing it in the sig, its more upfront. I do agree that affiliate links shouldn't be within posts. Advice, solid and good, has to be the foundation for the posts, or forums are worthless.
Debs
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petertdavis
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petertdavis
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Phil CA
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Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 7:28 pm
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Hi Peter,
Just want to let you know I do like reading through your forum. Please don't take this in a negative way.
I find it very difficult to believe that Sitesell would respond to your spam report in that way. Especially, when Ken Evoy clearly writes on how spam forced them to change their support system and their strong company policy against spam.
As Debs mentioned in the previous post, their newsletters discuss quality ways to promote Sitesell.
Just to let you know, I usually visit your forum from your posts and I really haven't seen many Sitesell affiliate posts in general But I have seen spam that I know you do your best to get rid of a quick as you can.
I'm just wondering if all the general affiliate spam is frustrating you and you decided to take it out on SBI.
I tried to find your rules for posting and found some general information but not clear information about posting on your forum so you may want to make that message clear.
If you send Ken Evoy a copy of the posts with the affiliate links that you are referring to I am sure he will take it very seriously and deal with it as per their strong company policy against spam.
All the best
Phil |
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Larry Chamberlain
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Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 10:31 pm
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I must say that I have never seen spamy posts in forums promoting Site Sell, doesn't mean it hasn't happened though.
Like Phil," I find it very difficult to believe that Sitesell would respond to your spam report in that way."
Always found them to be both professional and ethical. We all have our own experiences though.
All the best,
Larry Chamberlain.
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