SHOTS FIRED!  MARKETERS' DOWN!

Forget The Dog!  Beware of 'net Marketing

"Rambos"

By Ben Pedersen

HTTP://ProfitQuick.net

They're hiding and they're everywhere. Internet marketing
"Rambos" are running amuck.

The battle field: Online discussion forums.

>Internet Marketing "Rambos: Those that use psychological
>warfare to beat, crush and hurt other internet
>marketers. They're everywhere and we can't see them until
>it's too late!

They're lurking, shooting and hitting other marketers.
The wounded marketers may return unscathed or retreat
to lick their wounds. It all depends on the "victim."

Okay, before you think I've gone totally nuts, I
WAS a Rabmo fan when I was a boy but that's not
why I'm writing this article.

Read on "soldier."


WHAT THE HECK AM I TALKING ABOUT? INTERNET MARKETING
RAMBOS EXPLAINED.

No doubt, you've seen 'em. Heck, you may have even
fallen victim to an "Internet Marketing Rambo."

You know the "Rambo" type, those who post unusually
harsh memos about others on boards abroad. Their
posts are designed with the obvious intention to hurt
other marketers.

Here is an example of what I'm talking about. I
spotted this message posted by a "meanie" today
on a very well known discussion board.

As you can see, it's ridiculous.

>I hate sites like this. You go there and you can't
>hit BACK to get out, you just get brought to the same
>page again. It does nothing but make people mad since
>they have to QUIT their browser. I hope your site fails.
http://www.mysterysite.com  SUCKS

(To protect the owner of the above site, I've changed
the URL.)

What kind of thing is THAT? It's outlandish warfare
and it's unnecessary.

I know of the aforementioned site, I'm a customer of
theirs.

I also know that the owner would never trap his visitors
like that.

And, I know I've never had that problem with his site.

Most likely, it's an error on the poster's part.

I'm seeing a trend that I don't like, not one bit. It
seams that some of our "gurus" out there are being a
bit harsh. Or, should I say abusive?


SO, A LITTLE ABOUT THIS "TREND"

You'd be surprised at how many people don't
realize that anytime they do ANYTHING online, their
reputation and business is at stake.

They simply ACT. They display their anger and publicly
direct it at other marketers. These people are "Internet
Marketing Rambos" because they act as such, firing off
their unjustified and damaging memos at others.

The authors of such posts don't realize that they're
making themselves look WORSE than the person they're
attacking.


HOW ABOUT A CEASE FIRE SHALL WE?

It's important to follow some simple "netiquette" rules
when posting to forums and responding to questions.

Nothing "T's me off" more then unfounded slander. I've
fallen victim to it as have some other friends of mine.


WHAT DID I DO AND WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

Well, you have a choice to "act out" or "Bite
your tongue" when you see a colleague taking a
beating

I take this view:

Post some polite messages in the same thread not bashing
the "basher" but rather, supporting the "bashee."

You see, you're not "playing their game" because you're not
actually bashing the rude marketer back. You're simply
supporting the potentially bruised victim.

This is important.

If the marketer being attacked is a "newbie" he or she may
feel bad enough to quit. They may be so new that they are
unsure of their abilities and have low confidence. A public
ridicule may turn into an execution.

I know, I've been there. I received a rude post on my site
when I was only a month into the game. The jolt was ALMOST
enough to make me quit because I was SO new and didn't have
the confidence yet.

To come to the aid of a bleeding marketer, may turn you into
a folk hero. The marketer will love you for it and you know
what that means...... a potential customer? Not to mention
the gratification of bringing someone's spirits up.

Remember that mean post above? Here's how one gentleman
replied to it.

>Click on your back button once and hold it down. You should
>see the pages you have previously visited. Click on the
>second from the top and you should be able to skip over and
>stop the site in question from being reloaded.

With this post, he actually HELPED the offender and made it
somewhat apparent that the problem was the user and NOT the
site. Thus, he helped the person who owns the site that got
the sour post.

Just be clever and don't post messages attacking the "Rambo"
either. If you do that, you may wind up in the crossfire.
Believe me, you don't want that.

If you post to help other people out remember.......


IT'S NOT WHAT YOU SAY BUT HOW YOU SAY IT.

Criticism and CONSTRUCTIVE criticism are two very different
things. Don't do the *wrong* thing and look like a "Rambo"
yourself.

Stressing the same point can either hurt someone or help
them grow. Again, it depends on HOW you say it.

Be nice, not mean. Be constructive, not destructive. Be a
teacher, not a dictator.

For example, if someone posts a message asking your opinion
on a site's color scheme that you think is too "busy",
Tell them.......

>"You're very creative. I like the layout of your web site.
>It's very easy and straight forward.

>However, when it comes to your color scheme I think it may
>be too distractive. You may consider......"

That's nice. The person who reads it will most likely feel
good about it. They'll value you because you really
helped them.

That post would work better then something mean and hurtful
like.........

>"Your site stinks! You should redo those colors. They're
>bad. Back to the drawing board buddy!"

After reading that, they would be hurt and feel like
quitting.

Is THAT our business?

No.

We're here to help remember?

Any "guru" who posts a rude message slamming someone is not
a "guru" at all. They're not doing their job.

All in all, you'll benefit by being courteous because your
posts will be professional and you'll gain a great
reputation.

Just think, if you've helped someone and gave them a
positive experience who will they remember when they
need help again?

Who's products will they buy? Who will they trust?

Do you see where I'm going?


"BUT, WHAT IF 'RAMBO' FIRES ONE OFF AT ME?"

Glad you asked.

Here's my advice: Be careful!

When you see a bad post about you or a friend, your first
instinct is to return the favor. Don't! It'll only tarnish
YOUR reputation.

It's not worth a virtual fire fight to "bash" the abusive
poster back. This will only create an ongoing war
that may end up making you BOTH look bad. Simply ignore
the foul post aimed at you, as hard is it may be.

It simply isn't worth risking YOUR reputation by stooping
to the level of the offender.

In short, don't react right away.

Take a break and THINK before you decide what to do. If
you do that, you'll win the war.



Happy Posting Everyone!