Ya’ know … I don’t begrudge anyone making money. That’s what being in business is all about.

But during these down times when people are losing their jobs right and left, I am absolutely amazed that many of the so-called internet marketing gurus continue to promote and sell their products for hundreds of dollars! I mean, c’mon, for the price that some of these guys charge, an unemployed person could buy a week’s worth of groceries.

And the problem is … nearly all of it is rehashed information. Oh sure, they put their own personal twist on it, but essentially, you can often find the same or similar information in a more reasonably-priced ebook. In fact, there are even some FREE ebooks that a person can download that contain excellent ideas and tips for starting and/or building a profitable online business. (You can find some here.)

If you are one of the newly unemployed, you’re probably looking at every avenue available to start bringing in some money to pay the bills and feed your family. Although setting up an online business can be a viable option, I urge you to do your research. Don’t get suckered into buying a package or offer in which the price is out of your comfort zone. Search the web. You may very well find something else that will cost far less and still give you the tools you need to get started.

Spend your money wisely.

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Ya’ know, I’m an online business owner so I’m all for internet marketing. And I understand the value of sending out a notice to one’s list to let them know about special deals, to announce new products, to promote an affiliate product, etc., etc.

But what I can’t stand is when an internet marketer sends me umpteen emails (all within a matter of days) promoting a particular product or service.

This recently happened with Joe Vitale’s new “Hypnotic Marketing” coaching program. Not only did I receive numerous emails (from him as well as others) that talked about the program, but I also received several more telling me that I needed to “act fast” because the deadline was approaching.

And then, once the deadline had passed, I received MORE emails telling me how “lucky” I was because the deadline had been extended and X number of openings remained. And (oh boy!) if I acted quickly, I could sign up!

And it didn’t stop there. This morning I received yet another email telling me that I had only 2 hours left to sign up.

Good grief!

Maybe this is part of Joe’s ‘hypnotic’ teaching, but I’ll say this much. These type of tactics certainly don’t hypnotize me into action.

How do you feel about this type of internet marketing? Leave a comment and share your experiences.

According to the ‘gurus,’ if you want to be ‘with it’ on the internet, you must use audio and/or video to sell on your website.

Now there may be visitors that enjoy looking and listening. Me? I’m not one of them. I have my own internet business to run and I just don’t have the time to sit and look/listen to these marvels of cyberspace.

Besides, I have music streaming on my computer all day while I work, which means I have jazz music in one ear and some guy/gal’s spiel in my other ear. ~sigh~

Call me old-fashioned, but I like to read. I can do it at my convenience and at my own pace. And music in the background isn’t going to distract me one bit.

Surely there are others like me.

Yes, I know. Most audio files can be downloaded for later listening. But I’m not sure this is any better. If you really want to absorb the message, you need to put your full attention on what’s being said — and that can be difficult when you have kids clamoring for your attention, dogs barking, or other outside distractions.

Anyway, the point of this post is to implore internet marketers to please include a written message as well as showing me your smiling face on video or your lilting voice on audio.

OK, so I know ‘The List” is supposed to be the end-all solution for making money on the Internet, but I’m getting really tired of being added to “The List” just because I happen to sign up for an e-course, a free report, a teleclass, etc. — and then being put on the receiving end of a steady flow (sometimes DAILY!) of emails trying to sell me this, that, and the other thing — all of which the email author claims will make me beaucoup bucks (not to mention the fact they’ll also line her/his pockets).

INTERNET MARKETERS PLEASE PAY HEED. I requested the original item because I thought it might benefit me in my business. I did NOT ask for your unending barrage of other offers — oftentimes for products that are not even remotely similar to the original one.

Just in case you’re wondering — I’m not stupid. I realize by requesting the ‘freebie,’ I’m setting myself up. But please … could you maybe not bombard me?

Technically, although these emails are not considered SPAM because I ‘opted in,’ the incessant sales pitches sure leave the same taste in my mouth.

Yes, I know I can ‘unsubscribe’ at any time, but I guess I keep hoping you’ll send me something that I might actually find useful. If only your offers didn’t come at such a fast and furious pace …

I’ve been online for several years (since 1998), so I’m on several mailing lists. As such, I regularly get notices of “hot selling” and “can’t live without” and “you’re definitely going to make money with this one!” products.

The thing I question — and I can’t help but wonder if others do the same — is when the writer says something like, “Wow! My new product (ebook/course/software) is flying out the door! I’ve already sold X (large number — usually in the hundreds) copies.”

It’s hard for me to believe they’ve really sold that many copies. I can’t help but think it’s more of a marketing ploy so readers will feel like they’re ‘missing out’ if they don’t buy this “hot selling” item.

If I’m right about this, I can’t help but ask … where’s the integrity?

Yeck! I just opened yet another website that started talking to me as soon as the page loaded!

Does anyone else hate this as much as me? I don’t mind audio, but I want the option to listen or not. And I certainly don’t want to listen to the same message every time I happen to visit the website. Sheesh! Does the author think I’ll forget what s/he had to say between visits?

And of course, the majority of the website audio messages are used for promotion. Don’t I hear enough commercials on TV? Do I have to listen to website owners plug their ebook, ezine, teleclass, etc. as well?

This isn’t to say that website audio doesn’t have a place on the Internet. For people who have difficulty reading, using audio to explain or inform (not advertise) is a great thing.

IMO, there should always be an option available to turn off the audio message. Are you listening website owners?