Quick rant mostly interesting to those of you with any connection to the marketing world, particularly internet marketing. It used to be (even just a couple of years ago) that marketing was a little hidden. Or, at least, it tried to be. "Free" content would be released that was little more than an advertisement for some product (with a high price point) to be released at some point in the near future. People would crow about the free content, saying how it was the best thing since sliced bread, hoping to reel you in for a few affiliate sales (for those not in the know, it's like commission). You would sign up for the free content which would land you on a list. Said marketer would pepper you with offers for the rest of your natural life (and beyond) because of your sign-up. The free content usually wasn't all that great anyway, and you would learn to regret your decision to sign up rather rapidly.
Really, nothing has changed. Just a little wrinkle. NOW people who are promoting their own or someone else's "free" content will come right out and say what's going on. It will be something like, "Hey, I've got integrity, so I'm going to tell you - these awesome totally rad free things will be followed by a push for you to buy my not free thing in the future. But, no, really, check out this free content! Sign up on my list! Kthanks!"
Ok, ok. Maybe it's better? To be open about it? Maybe. But SAYING it in that overt way seems just as bad to me. It's like, HEY HERE'S ANOTHER SELLING POINT I'M AN UPRIGHT HONEST GUY!
Everyone knows what's going on. Nothing's free. Any content that someone gives away is going to have some kind of advertising embedded in it, assuming they're in business and for-profit. I'm not saying there AREN'T free things, of course. There are. I'm just saying that when someone who clearly is involved in marketing gives you some free content, they're doing so hoping that you'll like what they do well enough to pony up some cash. Most people GET this - there's really no need to try to inflate your sense of being a person of integrity by telling people what you're doing in that way. Be a person of integrity by creating great products, by pricing them appropriately, by being upright in your interactions with other people (not sneaking around, not tricking them into signing up for something) and let them decide whether they want to buy from you, or not.
Thanks.
This blog has turned into chiefly a personal development blog. It's mostly a journal for myself and myself only, but sometimes has bits of information of interest to others - thus I've made it public. I do share random weirdness I find on the web, reflect on features of our shared existence, and so on.