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“Communicating With God” and Viral Marketing
Filed Under (General, Online Marketing, Viral Blogging, Viral Marketing Stategies) by The Davinator on 21-05-2008
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Communicating with God, and viral marketing?
Hmmm, that’s a bit of a “way out title” isn’t it?
Perhaps, a better question might be this, “Should people bring God’s view of themselves into marketing?” Furthermore, in the case of viral marketing, “Who is responsible if the product or service doesn’t live up to it’s deceitful claims?”
“Would it solely be on the creators shoulders of the product or service, or would it also lie on the shoulders of the person spreading the message of the “said” product or service virally?” Things, that make you go, hmmmmmmm!
Earlier today, as I was wondering what to write about on my blog today, this question popped into my mind for some reason or another. I’m not really sure where this particular thought came from, but, it certainly had me thinking.
If a person who is promoting a product for sheer monetary gain without knowing if it would really be of much value to a customer, then what happens if it completely turns out to be a scam or a crappy product?
What type of a message would this be communicating with God about yourself?
Would this be telling God that you are selfish, and you don’t care about your fellow human being?
Now, I can assure you that I haven’t went off on some religious kick here or anything like that, but, it certainly does make you wonder about how perhaps some companies or marketers out there sleep at night knowing first hand that they are in the “scamming” business.
How does it affect these “scamming” people or companies knowing that they have affiliates out there, “spreading their scam?”
The part that took me a while to wrap my head around was if the product or service was spread through viral marketing strategies, then who is responsible? The product owner, or the affiliate promoting?
Let me explain a bit.
We are obviously in a world of compelling words and strategies in online marketing. For this reason, many marketers hire the greatest copywriters they can afford to help improve the conversion of their sales page. It is sales after all, and it is a bit of a science in knowing human beings and their triggers to make them want to purchase something. I’m also not even entirely sure if God should be involved in this topic, but, with all of the people out there that are “intentionally” scammed by people and companies, then I certainly think God does, and should. It must have some effect on how our “higher power” would perceive those scammers.
Affiliate marketing is obviously a very powerful form of viral marketing. It allows product owners the capabilities of having hundreds or thousands of other people selling their products for them. In Holly’s forum lately, there has been so much “spam” from people it has been quite insane. I’ve also noticed that it has started to aggravate some of the long time members. But, what is very interesting to me, is how so many people are out there promoting products in which they have no clue about.
It’s very easy to spot a “beginning marketer” who is attempting to promote a product which is claiming to make the recipients thousands upon thousands of dollars when they themselves really have no idea if the product is “sound” or not. I’m not saying this is necessarily a bad thing. We were all beginning marketers at one point in our journey in learning this whole industry. It’s also the reason, that over time I’ve learned to obtain my own copies of products, and evaluate those products before I will promote them whenever possible.
Every product you see on this blog, is only there because I completely stand behind the quality in what the products or memberships deliver to recipients. But sometimes, as a beginning marketer, people are not fully aware of what their options are in obtaining products for review. If they can’t afford the products themselves, they aren’t aware that you could get a hold of a product owner and ask for a review copy before going ahead and promoting it. This is usually learned a little further down the road that you can, in fact, be doing this.
Many marketers when starting out are in financial turmoil, and will sometimes go to any lengths to obtain their first sales. Whether they know it or not, they might be promoting a product that is “illegitimate”. Would the fact that they are “unknowingly” scamming people promoting such a product, but are in dire financial need, be communicating with God, that they don’t care?
Personally, I feel that God would be forgiving of them, since they don’t know any better, and may not realize the people they are hurting.
I’d like to know your views on this. I’d also like to know if you think God belongs in this topic of discussion on marketing?
It will certainly be interesting to get the different views from different people on this subject.
The greatest in all you do,
Make Success Yours!
Davin
“The Davinator”
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Tags: affiliate marketing, beginning marketer, communicating with God, God, higher power, Online Marketing, scammers, scams, viral marketing, viral marketing strategies
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I believe that it’s not up to us how God sees anyone. I do believe if someone is purposely harming another, especially for their own gain, that God and the Universe take care of the discipline.
I agree with the other person who posted.
Maybe what you judge to be scamming isn’t what the other person sees as scamming & also that person might be into whatever, unintentionally.
This is a tricky question, or is it? I won’t promote something which I think is a waste of time. I’ve been scammed too(1on40). I thought for a while that OBA is not totally legit, but now I think it was just my marketing methods which weren’t getting me the rewards I was after, so I’m giving them another chance. It’s all part of the learning curve and the experience.
I guess it’s like anything else. Some peoople care about their fellow human beings and some don’t. You can call that morality, God, integrity. They are all just different words for love.
Life on the internet is no different to life in the city!
Carol Walczaks last blog post..Reality Networkers, growing quietly in the background
Good one Davin!
For me, I do not think it is too far out of a topic. Personally, God..specifically, Jesus Christ, has a major impact on how I operate.
It is the reason why I do not blindly promote stuff, simply for monetary gain, even though I know they would bring a quick buck.
I had a similar rant on my blog a few days ago, about well known marketers promoting the newest “paid survey” product.
We all know about them, but the amount of “gurus” that were promoting just got me all messed up!
For some God is not a factor, so, they will not see the relevance. For me, my beliefs shape me as a person, and thus, as a business-man.
I too wonder how people can knowingly scam others, I also think, even for those just starting, that you owe it to your customers to thoroughly research something before you promote it. If you are not able to purchase it, just do some reading up and let your customers know you have not dealt with the product personally.
Anyway, I think you will get many views on this one, but I will say for me, God has everything to do with how I operate my online business.
JK Swopess last blog post..Marketing Madness - Secret Marketing Strategy 6
Yes, thanx for the comments everyone. All views on something like this would certainly differ. I guess we can not forget that their are also atheists out there. My own view is that all of us definitely should always be putting ourselves in the customers shoes. While perhaps, as mentioned, it may not be our place to be attempting to understand how God sees us, whenever possible we must be exercising our instincts on what we know is “right or wrong”. Thanx again for the comments, and keep them coming. The views are interesting.
Cheers
Davin
This is a very good topic. With God being removed from so much of our lives by the governmental entities, it’s really no wonder that ethics and the morality in business have gone by the wayside. We have only to read the headlines…corporate misdeeds, fraud, congressional misbehavior, and the list goes on and on.
I think that for us, it is incumbent on us to to our due dilligence as best we can. Most of us (thank goodness) are not selfish, or greedy, or unethical. We believe that what you put out to the universe, comes back to you ten-fold…good or bad. But you’re right, for a newbie (I am a newbie) it can be daunting trying not to get sucked into the hype.
I’m new to this business and it is difficult to navigate the learning curve with so many “experts” telling you to do a variety of things, all the while trying to get you to participate in their program or buy their product. I have been toying with the idea of starting a blog for new IM entrepreneurs trying to stay afloat in the current environment. I tend to agree that God will forgive newbies for promoting a scam as they don’t know any better.
This topic for me was quite timely. Thanks for exploring it!
I am not sure if god has anything to do with my successes, but just in case I will say he does. “insert lite humour here”
net-income.com.aus last blog post..The Money Making Opportunity of The Australian Google Adsense Network.
Good guys and bad guys on the internet….and viral scammers….are humans just more of the same wherever they go? Does the potential for viral good balance the potential for viral bad? Has God got it covered already? Or is It just busy designing the next universe while we play human….hmmm..indeed.
Diannes last blog post..Men In Ballet - How To Get The Most Out Of Your Foot’s Demi Pointe - And Then Your Pointe Shoes
hmmmm…I guess you can see why I was a little perplexed by the question hey Dianne:)? Great to hear from you again!
Take care,
Davin
Great blog,I am a new guy on the block,and I check out products before I promote them.
David Mosleys last blog post..Auto Responder Marketing Techniques
If one does not believe in God, what are their guiding principles? If one does not believe in God, personal morality and integrity are of their own making and, as we all know, any behavior can be justified.
If you must remove God from the equation, the best book on business and personal ethics ever written is still the Bible. It is the seed of every positive thinking and business book ever written because its principles are timeless and true. They never fail.
The Bible is called a “two edged sword” because it cuts both ways, for good or for evil. It is all in how one weilds the sword.
With every choice and action there are consequences for the doer. The Bible clearly lays out the consequences.
Each one of use must decide what we believe and run our businesses accordingly. But, we must be ready to take responsibility for the results.
Thanx guys. I totally agree Jim. For every action there is a result. If there is anything that should be clear in life that statement definitely holds true for everyone, God fearing or not. Thanx for the comment! It’s great your getting into practicing positive practices early on in your business David. It will definitely help you to be starting off on the right foot.
Take care guys and thanx again.
Davin
Great post Davin!
I am a new marketer and have promoted other people’s products and have felt very uneasy with it as I did not know everything about them, except for Holly’s book. I did not know you could get a review of the product from the owner…this puts me at ease a little more.
As far as the God issue, I believe that God always looks at the heart, and sometimes the heart is saying something completely different than the actions. How many times have we done something unknowingly but our hearts were in the right place.
Anyways, as far as how God views it, I don’t think He is one that punishes or judges. Our decisions affect our outcomes in life, and if we decide to scam someone, then it just might return to us. It’s just a universal law, like the law of gravity.
So, I don’t think God is up there holding things to our account, even the knowing or unknowing scamming affiliates, but we have the power to make or break our course in life, and most of the time it is our own decisions or our greed which get us in trouble.
Everyone’s ethics or convictions will be different, and how God views them is His business and the person who has those views, because every person is built differently and has had their own share of circumstances in life. We just have to make sure that we are not hurting others in the process, which is again up for interpretation.
Well, thats how I look at it. A lot of good posts here, and a great subject. I could go on and on here, as its a great topic which brings about many different viewpoints.
Thanks for the post Davin!
Thank you sincerely, I have been speaking on this topic as well. Many of my friends and business partners are questioning what has been taken as “the norm” for the past 4 or 5 months, selling for the sake of selling. God is a choice for everyone to either let lead their business or not. Just like the choice to start your day positive or not, productive or not, and helpful or not, choosing God to navigate your decisions is a “no-brainer”
Our behavior in business cannot be separate from who we are. If we are selfish in business, we are selfish. Values and principles do not change. We create ourselves with each action. But even more importantly, is our true intention and motivation behind the action.
If we promote a bogus product unintentionally, that is very different from knowingly promoting a bogus product. However, we cannot continue to claim ignorance after we realize that it is necessary to research the product before we decide to promote it.
God’s message is the same in all religious texts, once one eliminates the cultural dogma, Love others as yourself.
The Golden Rule.
It doesn’t say except in business.
When our primary motivation for our actions is to impress God or fear of God’s punishment,we have missed the point.
If we learn to hear that small still voice within, and have the courage to follow it, our motives and behaviors will come to emulate the Golden Rule. And we will feel the connection to our Source which satisfies the longing and emptiness in a way that material gratification alone cannot.
If we do the right thing only to receive a reward, then it was just a transaction. We performed a service for payment.
True character is when we take action because that is what needs to be done. Whether or not we get “paid” is not the primary motivation.
We do not need to impress God. Spiritual evolution is expressing the qualities of God in the way we live our lives.
Well, talk about some excellent comments. This statement Lauren in my mind is so very true, “When our primary motivation for our actions is to impress God or fear of God’s punishment,we have missed the point.” It truly does get to the heart at hand. All of these comments are fascinating and contain something which I know will be of value to many people reading. Thanx, everybody once again!
Davin
I think G’d belongs in everything i
Sure does make you stop and think,and I was also not aware of getting a product review good info.
Hi Davinator, thanks for visiting my blog.
My opinion is that “god” has nothing to do with marketing. You have to help people and be a good person in what you do as a natural way that you live your life.
If you are praying for success then you may need to re-evaluate what you are worried about not achieving.
Andy
Mr MultiVars last blog post..Balancing Adsense Split Testing
thank you dav for this post-some of the comments were beautiful. I agree with ‘jk’ and do believe in god being a big part of how i do business.
Yes there were some nice comments in there, Holly. Thank you for stopping by and commenting. I hope you are having a great weekend!
The Davorskian
Hi Davorski,
Thank you again for your awesome post. It made a lot of people think. I posted that comment last night from my cell phone, but I wanted to write more. When I first started working online, I was really desperate to make money (as are many people). I did some things that were dishonest - and I promoted a couple of products that I couldn’t afford to buy.I’m a totally different person now. I will not promote anything that I do not stand behind and vouch for completely. Thanks again for your post Davorski. I am so grateful to know you!