I know many things that do the continuity thing, just around the IM circle it gets such a bad rep. I think it’s all about how it’s presented. Anytime I promote something that will have upsells or continuity, I tell my readers.

“Now, you can get _______ for free, but, there will also be upsell offers and/or you will be enrolled in a membership that you can cancel, but the free gifts you can keep”

That way, they can make that decision going in, and they won’t be looking at me crosseyed because I promoted it to them.

Like I said, at least he put it out front, and I fully expected one, but when I saw the box, I thought I would be able to uncheck it

Oh well, I’ll just cancel it a little later, unless, of course, the magazine is top notch….but that’s my choice, and something I was wiling to deal with to get the other two products, which I didn’t have already.

Good points, now go to bed!

Rant?

Never!

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ROTFLMFAO!

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Nice points, JK.

I bought Butterfly Marketing about 2 years ago: good stuff. Nothing new these days, perhaps.

Bought the 7-figure thingy last year. Good. Not great. Lots of waffle. First 2 (maybe 3) DVDs are a waste of your time (plus one or two more mid-way–just affiliate pitch from the stage). Some interesting points sprinkled throughout, but mostly teaser and rah-rah.

Nice that you ARE actually getting it for free (that’s actually a completely separate rant that I have. Save that puppy for another time, eh?).

Didn’t know about the INABILITY to opt-out of the continuity program (didn’t even look at the offer coz I’ve already got both of ‘em, like I said). But that’s just another mark against his name in my opinion.

Yes, he’s in business. I KNOW that, He’s not Mike Filsaime: Charity Extraordinaire. I know that.

But all this tosh about FREE! FREE! FREE! from him and his affiliates. And TECHNICALLY it CAN BE, but only if you’re quick to cancel, right?

Now, I’m not saying you should sign-up for low-cost offers and then just cancel. That’s not cool. The marketing principle is fine. Take the old “CD of the Month Club” for example. They send you 3 for a buck then after that they send you one every month for the regular price.

What they DON’T do is send you 3 CDs for a buck and then automatically enroll you into a $150-a-ticket “Concert of the Month” Club.

No, they enroll you in a CD per month program. Which is what you were interested in in the first place.

Splitting hairs?

Maybe.

As always, you folks’ll let me know if I’m talking bollocks.

Anyway…

…guys, I gotta pick this conversaion up tomorrow; It’s just gone 3am here! Time for bed!

Take it easy and enjoy your Sunday!

Leslie

Did I try to opt out and just get the free reports? Yep, could I uncheck the box? NOPE! Lol, I refuse to work like that, but, I also think he probably has some other tips and tricks I could learn from, just not the forced continuity stuff.

I know I won’t be staying in that program, but, the free reports are probably pretty killer, and the affiliate I went through is paying for the shipping so, it’s really FREE! lol, but I agree, there’s been many that I stayed on because of their name, but after months of nothing but pitch after pitch after sell after $10, 000 coaching offers, I just let them go.

I did a post on my blog about it a while back

http://imwithjoe.com/organization-and-productivity/unsubscribe-me-please

But seriously, I think the more we are around, the more we learn and the more we find what we do and don’t want to implement in our own marketing. It really comes down to the individual. If I ever have a membership program, you will know it, it will not be hidden, you will know what you are getting into.

Uh Oh….Leslie, I think you got me ranting too! Shall I end here for now?
Seems like a good “interrupt” spot!

**Back to your regularly scheduled blogging…….

I, like you, use Aweber. In fact, the way I found your blog was via your opt-in bait on the Aweber blog (nice script, btw. Haven’t used it yet… will probably do so soon. What effect have you noticed?)

So, yeah, they’ll block an email address, but do they block IP-addresses? I doubt it because just about anyone on a shared-IP is on dynamic-IP, right? (Or am I completely wrong about that? If so, what am I missing?)

Point being, if I want to re-subscribe, I just do so with another email address.

Your most recent comment (#6) makes a GREAT point about basic human psychology: that we do stupid shit and then justify in ways that make us look less like prats than we really are.

So I don’t at all disagree with what you’re saying there.

But I also think JK has a good point. I just (as in less than as hour ago) unsubscribed from Mike Filsaime’s list(s), for example, because I’m tired of his endless pitches. And his last one trying to get me onto his FORCED continuity (yes, I know I can hit the check-box and say “No” but I think the principle of checked-box-yes (otherwise known as “forced-continuity”) is repulsive and, well, kinda car-salesman-like. ** shrug **

I was only on his list to OBSERVE what he was doing and maybe learn something. But I no longer want to learn this style of marketing; it turns my stomach.

So, anyway, both your point and JK’s point both stand here, I think:

I’m rationalising it (how irrationally, though, I’m not sure–and not in the best position to say, obviously), but it’s also true that Filsaime has offered me sweet F.A. in terms of value over the last however length of time I’ve been on his list. I’ve opened probably most of his emails (regardless of subject line) because of his “name” in the biz. But he clearly thinks he can trade ONLY on that now (and maybe he can! If so, good luck to guy) and doesn’t need to actually offer his readers anything of interest or value other than pitch after pitch after pitch.

So, you’re right, Aaron, in that people do rationalise things “after the fact” so that they’re more consistent with their own worldview of THEMSELVES primarily(!)… but it’s also true that if the newsletter is crap, then there ain’t no stopping an unsubscribe.

Filsaime has a pattern-interrupt message. THEN he has a whole pattern-interrupt PAGE! Along with a message that says something like “Are you sure you meant to do that? If it was a mistake and you want to re-subscribe, there’s a special bonus waiting for you.”

My response: “Sorry, buddy! Nothing of interest or value in your emails–coz I’ve opened a bunch of ‘em now and… lots left to be desired–so doesn’t matter how many times you try to get me to stay… you can bite me!”

Am I ranting now? ;-P

Leslie