Running a blog is one of the most difficult tasks out there yet I love it. Most people always fail to understand the main things that make up a good blog, they thinks that it’s all about registering a domain name, hosting it and then installing wordpress on it. These are actually the basic steps but, it’s not the most important. This is the main reason why many people always give up blogging within few months of setting it up.
There is more to blogging other than what I just mentioned above. I won’t blame those that still believe in that anyway because, it’s not their fault. A lot of people have been lied to before by the so called experts.
I’ve received an email by someone I respects a lot as far as blogging is concerned. He was promoting one hosting company like that and guess what he told me. He asked me to purchase the hosting using his link and he will help me to install wordpress on it and after all, I will start making money from my blog immediately.
Recommended Reading: Proven Formula to make $24,999 Online in 30 Days Guaranteed
He didn’t care to ask if I have any experience in blogging already or if I’ve even heard anything blogging and wordpress before but, all he wanted is for me to pay for hosting via his affiliate link so I can make him some commission.
I was really disappointed after reading his email and, I was forced to unsubscribe from his list. This is the same way they go about deceiving people just to make commissions. I know that some people will go ahead and buy that hosting from him and he might actually fulfill his promise by installing wordpress for them but, he will leave them frustrated when the main thing starts.
The funny thing is that, this guy is not the only person that does this, I’ve seen many pro bloggers making this kind of promises either via their email list of via a blog post. My question is, why do people always do this kind of thing? Is it right? Some will also promise to install a premium theme and plugins for you but, is blogging all about installing wordpress, themes and plugins?
The truth is that I don’t really understand the reason why some people do this, it might be good in some ways but, I don’t know and I want to know. So, in your own point of view, is it a good marketing strategy? Have you ever sent this type of email to your list before or, have you written a post about it before just to make some affiliate commissions and please, give me some reason for your answer.
What that actually got me sad is that the guy actually claimed that he is helping me. What if I’ve never heard of blogging and wordpress before? What then will I do after he installs the blog for me? How will the money come?
Is Money Really All That Matters?
Yea, we all know that money is very important and in fact, everyone needs it in order to enjoy life fully but, is it really everything?
The fact that you need money is not a criteria for you to sell your pride and dignity cheap. Think of it this way, if someone in your list followed your advice and pay for the hosting via your affiliate like and you now installed wordpress, theme and plugins for him. If he didn’t start making more immediately as you assured him and he ends up abandoning the blog, will he ever trust you again? Hell no.
He will not only see you as a liar but, he will no longer believe in anything blogging again. So, is it not better you tell people the truth? Tell them that blogging is not a get rich quick scheme and tell them that it requires hard work and patience before they can make any money. This way, it will now be their choice to either start one or not.
If they actually starts one and failed, they won’t blame you at all because, you told them all that are expected before but, if you tricked them to make you some commission then, you will be blamed later.
There are many ways to make money via blogging uprightly other than lying and if you really want to create a lasting business via blogging then, you must learn to be upright and always say the truth at all cost because sooner or later, you will be happy you did.
Derek Helparn of social triggers wrote a very awesome post sometime ago and, I love how realistic he was on that post. I’m sure you will love to read it. Follow the link below.
Social Triggers: This guy is delusional about building a blog, but see how I’d bring him back to reality
Finally, remember to answer the question I asked you above and also give me reasons for your answer. I will also be happy if you will tweet and share this post with your friends so they the truth will be known.
Have a pleasant weekend in advance.
Photo Credit: freedigitalphotos.net
Adesanmi Adedotun says
Hi Theodore,
This is a big quest as a matter of fact, learning from an expert is the best but some of the so called expert are more or less a scammer, to be frank; I do receive this often but I don’t really care about their offer but the major concern is that, why is it that people have the preference of money over dignity and reputation? Notwithstanding, learning is a continuous function and that is a great lesson.
Theodore Nwangene says
That really baffles me man,
I don’t understand why people would value money more than their reputation. I’m happy you like thee post man, thanks a lot for stopping by and, have a wonderful weekend.
Emmanuel says
I should have a pleasant weekend? But today is Thursday? Hahaha! Thanks for wishing me that in advance. Do have a pleasant weekend in advance as well.
On a more serious note, it is indeed funny with respect how the so called pro-bloggers will to the extent of luring people all in the quest of making some cash.
I haven’t come across such situations in my email though but it is an unethical behaviour.
Theodore Nwangene says
It’s quite unethical Emmanuel,
And, I don’t really understand why they normally do that just to make commissions. Well at least, we know the truth now :).
Thanks a lot for coming and, happy weekend man 🙂
Lisa says
Hi Theodore, I can take it a step further. I got an email as I signed up for them from a well known blogger and that blogger advertisered design work, redoing your website, etc. I sent and email and a tweet – I never got a response! I was shocked. This blogger is well known and respected, I thought I would help out this blogger by using this particular person. Now when I see the emails and realize they are mostly pitches it makes me wonder.
If the one you got said the server / hosting would make their blog faster and that could make them money that would be more honesty then saying the server or host would make them money.
The truth is the only way to go Theodore, when telling the truth you will sleep better at night too.
I believe our blogs are a reflecton of our character.
Theodore Nwangene says
You’re very correct Lisa,
The truth should always be the way to go and as you mentioned, once you’re always telling the truth, you’ll always sleep at night peacefully.
Thanks a lot for stopping Lisa, so good to have you here again :).
Please, I mistakenly removed your comluv link and I’m truly sorry for that. It was never deliberate at all. Do you know how I can fetch it back?
Have a splendid weekend
Sunday says
Hey Theodore,
I can feel your frustration. Its one of those things that happen in the blogosphere. There are many “pro bloggers” who profess they have the “magic” button to make newbies or interested parties rich over night. Your case is very typical and it is good you have shared it for others to learn.
It still takes two to tangle. Many intending bloggers have been “brainwashed” to think that making money blogging is just by few clicks of the buttons, and it is not surprising when the so called “experts” capitalize on their ignorance and sell them misleading ideas or products.
Blogging is not about “making money” it is about creating value that would solve other people’s problems. When this is done, the blogger would be deservedly rewarded.
I left this comment in kingged.com, where this post was shared and aggregaged for Internet marketers.
Sunday – kingged.com contributor
http://kingged.com/shocking-how-i-was-nearly-decieved-by-one-of-the-so-called-pro-bloggers/
Theodore Nwangene says
You’ve spoken well Sunday,
And, I agree with all the points you made. Blogging is all about creating value and solving peoples problem and once this is done correctly, the money will follow as a reward to your efforts.
Thanks a lot for coming and, have a great weekend
cynthia kocialski says
You make some good points about using your email list. You also demonstrate a cautionary note about customers or an audience – you never know what might offend them. I don’t like receiving such emails, but I don’t like junk mail or telemarketers either. However, junk mail and telemarketing continues on because it works. If it didn’t work and it wasn’t profitable, companies wouldn’t engage in it. That said, there is a segment of anyone’s target customers that will respond to these techniques.
Few people start a blog without expecting to monetarily gain from it somehow. There are lots of people telling others to start a blog. The mechanics of starting a blog – getting hosting, installing WordPress, writing content, etc. – are straightforward and easy. Driving traffic, building an audience, and successfully monetizing it are not so easy. There is one popular site that outlines it’s monthly revenues and the blogger said that in one year, 33% to 50% of his revenue was coming from a single affiliate link for web hosting. Add this tidbit to the fact most bloggers make the most revenue from their email subscribers – and viola, you have this annoying email.
It would be interesting to know if this pro blogger’s method was profitable. And it would be interesting to know if he did it because he knew it would work or because he was just giving it a try. Since you unsubscribed to his list, his content wasn’t valuable enough to you that you would ignore this email. Just maybe, you aren’t in his target customer base.
Theodore Nwangene says
You’ve really spoken well Cynthia,
And, welcome to my blog :). You see, just like I told my friend Enstine above, I’m not saying that bloggers should not monetize their email list, all I’m saying is that we should always tell the truth.
How can someone tell me that I will start making $$$$$$$ from my blog once I purchase hosting from his link and he installs wordpress, theme and plugins? Is that true?
You just mentioned in your comment that…. Starting a blog, installing WordPress is easy but, getting traffic and monetizing it is not easy so, how will the money come if I don’t receive traffics and if I didn’t monetize the blog?
If the guy told me that after he installs the blog for me that, I will still have some great works to do before the money will start coming then, it will be good but, he made it to sound as if he will just press a button and I will start making money which I know is a lie.
Of cause, I’m sure that many people will follow his advice and buy that host because, they don’t know the ins and outs of this business yet but, they will be disappointed at the end.
Thanks a lot for sharing your valuable opinion with us Cynthia, I really appreciate your visit.
Enstine Muki says
Hey bro,
From what I gather, that guy did not send the mail to you directly. He mailed his list and you happened to be on it. I used to get such mails from Johnchow about his free WordPress services. That’s almost exactly what you describe here (except that he didn’t not add any monetary promises).
This is same as you are promoting a product to your list and some subscribers who already use the product start shooting stones at you. That, to my opinion is not correct. If you already are a pro blogger and knowing he did not singly send the mail to you, there is no need jumping out. Trust me, you too will do same tomorrow except you don’t build a list 😉
However, I have not been seeing you around recently. Hope all is well
Theodore Nwangene says
Hey my man,
Good to see you here again, it’s been a while indeed. Yea all is well, I’m just running around for somethings, my studies included but I will soon get back on track. Thanks a lot for asking :).
Coming to your comment, I knew for sure that he sent that email to all his subscribers but, what happens after they’ve purchased the host? What if those guys don’t know anything about WordPress or blogging before?
I’m not saying that it’s not good for we to market to our lists after all, we are here to make money while showcasing our talents but, it’s always good to be straight forward, first things first.
Of cause, I’m also building my own email list but if I’m to send such a mail to them, I will first of make sure they’ve understood what blogging is all about first and everything about it before I will now offer to help set up one for them.
Tell me, did you started making money from your blog immediatly it was created? I mean after you installed WordPress, theme and plugins…… Did the money started rolling in immediatly? I guess NO.
That’s the point I’m making here. The guy lied to his list by telling them that they will start making money once they buy the host from his link and he installs WordPress for them, is that true?
You see Enstine, I’m also in your list and I’ve never gotten such an email from you but, if you’re planning to make such claims one day then, I will just leave your list as soon as I got the email 🙂 so, it’s always better to be realistic man. There is no magic button here and, making money from a blog is never about installing WordPress, themes and plugins.
Thanks for your wonderful opinion.
Naveen says
Hi,
Like your experience, I get many too Emails every day that people start discussions like helping others without knowing their interests.
Its not only wasting the time of both people, but it annoy everyone and finally the Email will be trashed as a spam.
Seems people are only have aim to introducing their services, not finding the right source, selling in to targeted audience.
Its almost like a mad dog hitting in to the wall.
I never care about the people who blindly send anything to anyone, I simply put them aside to further not getting Emails or any crap to me.
Thanking you for making awareness by this post.
Have a wonderful weekend.
~Naveen.
Theodore Nwangene says
Welcome to my blog Naveen,
This is really not funny at all, I always get those emails and, I started wondering why the so called gurus in the industry that people are supposed to be looking up to are doing this. It’s a habit though but, it’s good we all know about it now so that we will always spot their tricks whenever they start.
Thanks for coming to my blog man and, I’m hoping to see you around again :).
Robert Singh says
Hello Theodore,
You are quite right about everything mentioned in the above post and I agree with you completely. It’s really disappointing to get such things from probloggers. I guess sometimes we must accept that they also do some mistakes which we should neglect.
Have a great weekend
Theodore Nwangene says
I’m glad to have you here Robert,
And also happy seeing that you agree with my points. From my own point of view, I wouldn’t call it a mistake but a bad habit because, when something srange happens the first time, you can call it a mistake but, if the same thing repeats itself again many times then, it becomes a deliberate act.
I think they should stop extorting money from people by trick and learn to be truthful, this will earn them more respects.
Thanks a bunch for coming man and, for sharing your wonderful opinion with us. I wish to see you around again soon :).
Adrienne says
Hey Theodore,
Not knowing who this is of course I can’t say for sure but he sounds like some other marketers I know that promise these kinds of things, people fall for it and they make a sale. Now once they do what they said as far as installing the blog then they come at you about having to purchase their course about how to make money. This happens all the time from these so called pro-bloggers and because of who they are once again, people fall for it.
I do agree with you that they should be up front with their promises and say they can “show them a way” or “help them learn”, etc. instead of promising them things that we know probably are not going to materialize.
I don’t mind people pitching to me, it’s part of how we make our money. What I do mind though are the ones that do nothing but and then their pitches are phony. Those are the ones I scurry away from as soon as possible.
I think you were smart to get off that list.
~Adrienne
Theodore Nwangene says
Welcome back to my blog Adrienne,
I’m happy to have you here again. It really baffles me the way those so called pro bloggers performs their own marketing. Must they lie just to make money? I don’t think it’s a good practice and, I’m also glad you agree with me on this.
I couldn’t have remained on his list of cause so, I had to opt out.
Thanks a lot for coming and, happy new week.
Chadrack says
Hi Theo,
Got to this a little late but just want to add my voice to the conversation.
Ok, you asked some questions and let me start with that.
1. Is money all that matters? No. You can be happy blogging everyday without making any money from it. However, I don’t think that that so called probloggers was really only focusing on the money. though, that was your perception after reading the email.
2. Is blogging all about installing the blog and some plugins? Again, no! Whether you are blogging for fun or blogging to make money there is so much involved. You do know that!
Now, having said that I think what happened here is that this so called problogger must have sent an email broadcast to his subscribers of which you are one. Where he failed is, he did not have an email service that is able to help him know his subscribers very well. Such an email was supposed to go to new subscribers who are thinking of starting a blog and not established bloggers like you!
Blog setup service is a way of helping those who do not know anything about blogging and just want to start off. Sending a broadcast to all subscribers and asking to take up his service without knowing that these are people who are established bloggers is a big goof.
But that does not remove the fact that there are people out there who need these services.
IMHO, what he would have done is to word that email broadcast in such a way that whether established or new bloggers are receiving it there would be no problem.
Finally, an advice. I’ve gone through some of the comments here and must say, again what I have always called the “bloggers’ mentality” is all over the place. We have forgotten that why we call these people “problogger” is that they are doing something right which we can learn from. When we carry out “bloggers’ mentality” to judge them, we’ll always be doing harm to ourselves.
You must understand that with your knowledge in blogging you can offer such services to newbies looking to start their blogs. If you put it into your mind that blogging is not just about setting up a blog and because of that “throw” it away, you will only be shortchanging yourself. It is true that not all of us need that service but that does not mean that others don’t need it. And as you do know a service or product is simply something that has value for another person!
Theodore Nwangene says
Hello Chadrack,
I seriously understand all you said and, i also agree with you. I know he was meant to send that email to newbie bloggers and I’m not against bloggers offering such services but, the point i was trying to make here is to be realistic. From my own point of view, if i should just install a blog to a newbie who does not even know anything about blogging and promised him that he will start making money immediately, its not good because i might end up tarnishing my image because certainly, the money will never come that way.
So, what i should do is to start by educating them on the subject of blogging first and all that is involved and after the tutorial, i will now offer to create one for them this way, i will know that they already know what blogging and wordpress is all about.
I hope you grab where I’m coming from now. You know i will always respect your opinion so, thanks a lot for stopping by.
Chadrack says
Hi Theo,
I got your point clearly. You are not comfortable with this problogger promising instant earnings just because you took up his offer of setting up a blog for you!
Indeed, that’s where most online marketers blow it up. Though, I’m not trying to stand in for this person (of course, I don’t even know who is involved here) but you do know that, and you may have at one time taught things like that, when it comes to selling online you have things which we all have to know as “trigger buttons”! When you are writing a salesletter these things are included to motivate the “buyer” to respond favourably. I want to believe that this blogger simply added such “triggers” as the usual thing.
But then, my concern is that many a time when we react to these things based on what these people do, we sometimes fall into a situation where will not be able to make our own move when we are supposed to do so. I’m glad that you stated how you would have done it if you are in this person’s shoes. However, I must say that except you want to run a monthly membership training program, setting up blogs clients and then going on to train them for a charge of just a hosting package will be very unfeasible.
The point of it all is, know your target audience and craft your offers based on what they need. I also offer blog setup and customization service on my content writing site (I’m looking forward to introduce it on blog) but I never promise anything about making money because I set up the blog for the client. Working on it and making money from it depends on their effort. Like I said in my earlier comment, this problogger goofed in some areas!
Btw, I read Enstine’s comment and your reply to him after I posted my comment. If you look carefully his comment and mine tend to move in the same direction and that is because their are some lessons you can really learn from these people. Personally, I’m subscribed to many of them but I use them study cases. In marketing one of the ways to excel is know what others are doing and then improve on them. So, when you receive such emails next time look at it holistically and then pick what you can learn from them and simply dump the others!
But never totally throw away the bath water with the baby!
Theodore Nwangene says
Thanks a lot Chadrack,
I guess I’ve now understood where you’re coming from and, thanks a lot for shading more lights on this. I’ve learnt something from it