We Don't Need No Web Pollution!
Recently, Lynn Terry blogged about junking up the web. She was talking about all the sites and projects we have out on the net and may leave behind some day...who would pick up the pieces after we're gone?
But I've had another kind of web pollution on my mind and it's the pollution created by people wanting to make a quick buck...and the marketing product peddlars who sell them the means to create it.
When spamming the searches came into vogue a couple years back, I was pretty naive to it. I even looked at some of the products and tried them. Realizing that creating garbage for the net wasn't for me, I let the programs sit idle on my hard drive.
Then, came my apathetic stage. I knew other people were doing this and accepted that was just their "business model". It wasn't the kind of model I wanted - building garbage, getting traffic, having the search engines catch on and ban me, then rebuild again. But I figured it was up to each individual to decide what they wanted to do.
Fast-forward to April 2006 and it's getting ridiculously out of hand. Each week, it seems there's a new ebook or software program that will solve all your business problems - and they're totally unethical and against search engine guidelines, but NOBODY tells you that.
THAT'S what makes me mad. No, I don't like it when I do a search on Google and I'm presented with some of the garbage created by those wanting a quick buck (and remember, it might be quick to come...but it's also quick to disappear)...but I can deal with that. What I can't tolerate is when my readers and members are drawn into this pollution because they are not told that what is being sold is largely unethical and against search engine guidelines.
(You can read more about this web pollution on my Affiliate Marketing Sweetie information page)
In the past 4 years of working online, I've tried a lot of different things. The only thing that works for the long-term is SMART marketing and creating LASTING VALUE. Anyone up for that?
But I've had another kind of web pollution on my mind and it's the pollution created by people wanting to make a quick buck...and the marketing product peddlars who sell them the means to create it.
When spamming the searches came into vogue a couple years back, I was pretty naive to it. I even looked at some of the products and tried them. Realizing that creating garbage for the net wasn't for me, I let the programs sit idle on my hard drive.
Then, came my apathetic stage. I knew other people were doing this and accepted that was just their "business model". It wasn't the kind of model I wanted - building garbage, getting traffic, having the search engines catch on and ban me, then rebuild again. But I figured it was up to each individual to decide what they wanted to do.
Fast-forward to April 2006 and it's getting ridiculously out of hand. Each week, it seems there's a new ebook or software program that will solve all your business problems - and they're totally unethical and against search engine guidelines, but NOBODY tells you that.
THAT'S what makes me mad. No, I don't like it when I do a search on Google and I'm presented with some of the garbage created by those wanting a quick buck (and remember, it might be quick to come...but it's also quick to disappear)...but I can deal with that. What I can't tolerate is when my readers and members are drawn into this pollution because they are not told that what is being sold is largely unethical and against search engine guidelines.
(You can read more about this web pollution on my Affiliate Marketing Sweetie information page)
In the past 4 years of working online, I've tried a lot of different things. The only thing that works for the long-term is SMART marketing and creating LASTING VALUE. Anyone up for that?
15 Comments:
I'm in for that!
Jeff
If you want to keep a professional image, I suggest that you check your grammar. There are big errors in the subject of your blog post.
Oh no...I'm getting picked on again.
Sorry anonymous, I guess I didn't really make the point of the subject very clear. It was a play on words of the old Pink Floyd Song, "Another Brick in the Wall"
Help me come up with the lyrics...
We don't need no web pollution
We don't need no XXXXXX
No XXXXXXX in the XXXXXX
Guru..leave those kids alone
Hey Guru...leave those kids alone"
Help me with the X's. What would fit there? I'm no Al Yankovic, even though I like to pretend I am.
I guess you couldn't hear me singing it as I posted. :-(
I got it Alice ;) Wish I could help with the xxx's, but I'm afraid I'm no Al either.
Here's my try ...
We don't need no web pollution
We don't need no SEO
No Traffic Secrets?
No free traffic!
Hey Guru ...
I think the biggest problem is selling marketing information is the easiest way to make quick (may not be big) money because a lot of people are dreaming making money on the net.
Also by nature, marketing information is the best topic to write a lot of articles. I don't see how easy to spam the net with ebooks on selling wooden chairs and tables.
Hi Alice,
Your Affiliate Marketing Course is definitely tops.
Why does this person keep harassing you? Really anonymous it looks bad... almost like you have nothing better to do with your time.
Bwah!!!
Alice, the grammar police are after you. What a hoot.
The goofball was either too young, or too old (and most certainly not cool enough) to catch on.
I knew what you meant before I even read the post.
Rock on with your bad self.
;-) Robert
Mila, I think our Alice has her very own stalker.
In defence of the anonymous guy from last week, I don't think it's him. The way this anonymous wrote is just different and he didn't seem to be much of a stickler for grammar...but he could let us know for sure.
There's lots anons here because I have to set it that way, unless I want to require registration for the blog. I don't think people should register to comment on a blog.
As Robert says, Rock on! Hee hee...I heard "Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen on the radio this morning. That was a great flashback. :-)
Nope. Wasn't me. I'm the opposite of a grammarian -- I don't have the personality or hairstyle for it (and I'm somewhat more clever to boot.)
I'm thinking of giving the internet marketing thing a shake. Of course, I don't want to pay for the knowledge to get started so I'm considering ways to snuggle up to Alice and glean it for free.
"We don't need no web pollution
We don't need no junky sites
No fake posters in the forums
Guru..leave those kids alone
Hey Guru...leave those kids alone"
Hi Alice, the only thing I take issue with is the oversuse (not just by you) of the term 'unethical'. Unadvisable perhaps. Undesireable possibly. Unwise unquestionably.
But I can't see how doing unto Google that which Google does unto everyone else - and then tells them not to - is unethical.
Dropping litter, which is the real world equivalent of most spam sites is anti social for sure, but not, in most places, unethical.
I'm going by the dictionary definition of the word: "contrary to morality, conscience or law" or the broader "not conforming to approved standards of social or professional behavior".
One day we may have approved measures of morality and concience online, but until we do, I think that ethics are best left to the philosophers!
Of course, I'm sure that may people will disagree with me! (And ignore the fact that I too dislike spam websites!)
Martin Avis
Well, I disagree with you. Not based in any in-depth research into the subject, mind you. My objections are wholly based upon a (none too careful) dissection of your own words.
If this is true:
"Dropping litter, which is the real world equivalent of most spam sites is anti social for sure, but not, in most places, unethical."
And this is true:
I'm going by the dictionary definition of the word (unethical): "contrary to morality, conscience or law" or the broader "not conforming to approved standards of social or professional behavior".
And this is true:
In most municipalities dropping litter is contrary to law.
Then dropping litter, and its equivalent, must be unethical.
So then the question becomes, does law, or the absence thereof, determine ethical merit?
Of course, some may consider anonymous posting unethical. But I much prefer to think of it as dropping litter.
I only used the word ethical in this blog entry once and on Affiliate Marketing Sweetie once as well. So, maybe it's not overuse that bothers you, Martin - but the use of the word at all.
Yes, we all have our own ethics and I don't think I'd trust a philosopher to determine mine. ;-) I'm simply stating my opinion.
Anonymous - you said this is part of the definition of ethical - "not conforming to approved standards of social or professional behavior". While we don't have to agree, I think my determination of unethical fits this description.
Personally, I think creating garbage for the sole purpose of monetary gain is unethical. People who litter on the street are lazy, but as far as I know, don't profit from it. I also think creating the products that create garbage and not really explaining what the product is unethical. And selling the product 2 years later when the product no longer works like it used to is even worse.
NICE LYRICS, Martin!
I definitely won't try to change your mind, but you can't convince me that my choice to use the word "unethical" is wrong.
Those music flashbacks are insight into your age - and I remember the same songs.
Fully in agreement with you on to much garbage out there. Makes it harder and harder to do any kind of real research on any topic, whether it is for my kids school projects (and yes I supervise them closely on the net) or for something for my business.
Not sure what the answer is.
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