Instant Lesson: It’s About Honesty
As most of you know, I am an enthusiastic Twitter fan. Well, I recently engaged in conversation with another marketer, John Reese (you may have heard of him) on Twitter, when he posted the following:
“Instant Lesson: Negative-Attitude Marketing (i.e. bashing others) builds more of a following of other miserable people not good customers.”
I read the post twice, then was compelled to post a reply.
“Instant Lesson: Brutally Honest Marketing (i.e. exposing liars & thieves) builds a following of extraordinarily grateful people/customers.”
I figured that I had made my point, but then John replied.
“Anytime spent “exposing liars” or worry about what others are doing is time taken away from PROVIDING VALUE to customers.”
Needless to say, I was stunned. Here is the rest of our short conversation:
Lisa: “When others are ripping off my customers, I AM providing value. What’s a waste is having to undo their damage… and so damn often, its sick.”
(cont.)… “Solidify in their mind that you are looking out for them, showing the potholes to avoid and they become extremely loyal = massive returns.”
John: “but greater returns come from spending ALL your energy in providing the proper value instead of critiquing competitors”
Lisa: “Well, John, I’ve been doing this for a lot of years. Give incredible value AND direction/advice. Probably why I have ZERO unsubscribe rate.”
John: “well then that’s great. Keep up the good work. My primary point is that negativity is ultimately a zero sum gain.”
Lisa: “I spend no time seeking out degenerates, but when I learn about them or experience them, I am morally obligated to my clients…”
(cont.)… “to steer them in the RIGHT direction. And that is not necessarily MY direction. That is what my clients appreciate.”
(cont.)… “Negativity does NOT equal Brutal Honesty. I was simply making the distinction with my original post.”
So what do YOU think?
My personal view is this…
When I was a “newbie”, I earned the money I made by selling products and services, period. I was a consumer in this industry, still learning all the ins and outs of internet marketing, much like most of my clients. I looked out for my bottom line - no more, no less.
When I took on the responsibility of being a mentor/coach/teacher to others, I took on the responsibility of looking out for their bottom line as well. This includes recommendations for products, services and sites that I’ve personally created, tested and/or used, and giving them the benefit of my experiences and expertise.
So when someone comes along who blatantly lies about his products, services and/or income claims, steals, cheats, lies… whatever - I feel that I have an ethical and moral obligation to let my clients know.
These people, especially those who are new to internet marketing, need a guide who isn’t focused on their wallet. They need to be able to trust me, and because I provide information that truly helps them through the minefield of internet marketing, they do.
Agree or disagree?
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Comments
I completely agree, Dr. Mani.
In a later tweet referencing this conversation, John posted: “99% of the time the bashing is driven by envy and jealousy. Notice how the bashing is rarely to those with lower status?”
Frankly, I found that completely offensive. First, because it seemed to imply I was one of those people - driven by envy or jealousy. Second, because along the same vein, he implies that those I may criticize are of a “higher status” in some way…
I can honestly say that I am sickened by those people, not envious. There is NOTHING redeeming about liars to be jealous of.
And as for “status”…
I AM successful. I have all that I need. I provide for others, family members and charity. I am trusted by my clients. I am fulfilled in my daily life, doing what I love. I am respected by others in my field who know me.
I didn’t have a splashy million-dollar-launch a few years ago to catapult my name into the spotlight; instead, I run somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 different niche websites and have only recently become known in the internet marketing arena by name. Reluctantly, I might add.
I consider very few men or women to be of a “higher status” than I.
We are obligated, as ethical marketers, to provide value to our customer base. As Dr Mani, says, we become our customers trusted advisors and advocates.
However, I don’t agree with directly naming people who blatantly lie about their products or services. What I prefer to do is to highlight the positives of my product / service (or even someone elses if I don’t have an offering) and, by association this points out the shortcomings of the poorer quality product. I have blogged about marketers who insist on packaging “old” products together and advertising the package as “new”, and provided guidance to my customers to look out for themselves.
This is the philosophy I have employed throughout my Sales & Marketing career in selling to Federal Government, and I was actively sought out by many potential customers because my reputation was one of honesty and integrity when many of my competitors deliberately identified the “lies” told by others.
Just my opinion, that we are responsible for guiding our customers and we should highlight problems with sales campaigns, but we can do it without naming the culprits (they’ll be identified soon enough).
Charly Leethams last blog post..Video: Interview With Young Internet Entrepreneurs
Lisa, I am disappointed that more marketers do not stand up and tell their readers what they really think about other marketer’s tactics and products.
I believe that my clients come to me because they respect what I’ve built for myself and they know that I have low tolerance for black hat, gray hat and downright despicable web marketing practices.
I don’t go looking for bad guys but when I spot one, I do take note and if I think that my listeners and subscribers are at risk of being influenced - I will speak up.
Anything less is irresponsible.
Hi Charly -
Thanks for your comment. I’m a little confused by your answer, however…
Are you speaking as someone who produces and/or sells products, or do you also counsel, teach, coach or mentor?
In the former, you are completely expected to look out for your own bottom line… capitalize on the shortcomings of your competition by pointing out the benefits to yours. I get that.
But as someone who takes on the additional responsibility of mentoring at any level, how can you justify allowing those people to continue to prey upon those who depend on you for guidance?
Now, in your comment, you are speaking about sales letter shortcomings, or product inadequacies. I am talking about things far more sinister - literally stealing money, for instance, from jv partners… claiming hundreds of thousands - even millions - in income claims, when the reality is that the person is living on welfare… or hidden forced continuity programs that steal money from customers, sometimes for months before noticed.
Sometimes it is less sinister, but just as costly to your clients. There are self-appointed “experts” who can speak with conviction about every topic you bring up, make up answers as they go along, rarely correct. These are very convincing people, and cost newbies an arm and a leg.
Your last statement is the reason I wrote this post to begin with… “…we can do without naming the culprits (they’ll be identified soon enough).”
WHO, if not those of us who know, is going to “identify them soon enough”? Soon enough for who? How ethical do you think your customers will think you are if they found out that you were aware of a liar or thief that they fell victim to, only because you didn’t let them know?
Hi Lisa,
yes I saw John Reese’s comments and it inspired me to write a blog response myself.
His words echo that of LOA and SimpleOlogy so I started to have big doubts about myself.
I’ve recently been accused of being a bashing troll and needing to “Get a Life” when 20 of us decided to get a refund on a IM course that has more holes than a string vest.
But John is correct that if you focus n others you aren’t focusing on your self.
I’ve wrestled with this on my blog.
BUT today John Reese came back with an answer to a direct challenge. I found a security breach in said IM guru course and was in a quandary what to do. On one hand I think the at risk members have a right to know, on the other hand, I got a refund and I have other things to do. Anyway you can see JRs response on my Twitter
@ReikiMusic.
Peace and Light
Peter
Peter Buicks last blog post..The positive side of negativity
Hi Peter -
Thanks for your comment.
It’s most definitely worth an email or phonecall to let the owner with the security issue know about it. I would hope someone would let me know if I had a similar issue with a product!
I read the twitter; I would say not to worry about a reaction… letting someone know about a security issue isn’t something to mess around with. I’d just shoot off an email with the details, leave it at that.
There IS a difference between learning of an outright liar or thief and exposing them, and just randomly being insulting to those who are recognized in the industry. I’ve seen both. The random insults are what cause people to be called “bashers” or “trolls”. I’ve known of a few people who make snide remarks about people without ever having talked to them, or even bought their products! I think that’s where John’s “envy” comment came from about the conversation we had.
Good luck!
Lisa
Lisa I thought you handled the matter with class and took the right road. Bravo to your courage and not backing down.
Now can you get back to work on your customers projects! 
I stumbled upon the conversation while browsing your tweet-stream, Lisa.
Personally, as a Jay Abraham mentoree, I live by the philosophy he teaches… that I am my audience’s “trusted advisor and ethical advocate”.
If educating my clients and directing them away from scams and stuff that’s bad for them is considered ‘negative’, then I will indulge in ‘negativity’ - though of course, the semantics are more a factor of perspective than being defined dogmatically one way or another!
All success
Dr.Mani