Beware Of Magic Beans - A Warning To Newbie Internet Marketers

Lies? Yes, that is a strong word. Would you prefer me to suggest that you exhibited "extreme ignorance"?

I know that you likely have some very clever software that you are using to construct and mail your sales offers to folks.

Your only salvation here is that I know you likely made only one mistake. You trusted your handy-dandy software package to take good care of your business interests.

But your software has failed you.

The first problem in your mailing appears in the first and second paragraphs.

"I was recently reviewing automobiles ezine sites in some of the major search engines and I came across your web site: www.thephantomwriters.com."

"After reviewing your site I found that we are both targeting the exact same market, though we are not in competition with each other."

It is obvious that you really did not review my website, or you would not have written your sales message as you did. But then again, I also know that your nifty little software package wrote the actual sales script for you.

Later in your message, you also said,

"I offer this partnership very selectively, so please do act fast if you wish to go ahead with this."

Here is another lie that your software's nifty little sales script tagged to "your reputation". If you were selective about who you offered this too, you would never have contacted me. After all, I only have about 20 pages related to the automotive industry - in more than 6000 pages on The Phantom Writers website.

The truth is that ThePhantomWriters.com is not an automotive website!!! It does not even have its own ezine!!!

But, you know what? I decided to check out your offer anyway, because I actually do own an automotive website at a different URL. I am always on the search for monetization offers for my various websites, so I gave you a shot.

At the beginning and end of your message, you referred to my "automotive website", and you offered an affiliate program to enable my "automotive ezine" to earn money.

The biggest disappointment I found in your message is that your affiliate program has absolutely nothing to do with automobiles or the automotive industry. Nope. You are soliciting me to sign up for an affiliate program, to sell web hosting services to my visitors!!! Yes, it is true that most website owners own cars, but not all car owners own websites!

John H. (last name withheld for obvious reasons), I have news for you. My company specializes in the creation of informational and tutorial-style articles and in the distribution of those articles to publishers on the World Wide Web, for the purpose of promoting my clients' websites.

You know what else John? In responding to your email, I just wrote my newest article. The good news is that you are going to be famous!!! The bad news is that you are going to be famous for all of the wrong reasons...

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Bill Platt has owned and operated thePhantomWriters.com/ since 2001. If you would like to learn more about his article distribution service, visit his website. To read 100's of Bill's Tweet-sized tips for article marketing, SEO, and more, visit: thephantomwriters.com/tips/index.php Bill is also active on Twitter @ twitter.com/contentmanager