Hi John,

I just thought I’d leave a quick message to substantiate what you wrote there my friend. I stand by my comments – and I fully agree with yours.

There have been a lot of very ‘lucky’ people in this industry. They got in a few years ago when product launches were easy and crap content was accepted – they deserve to suffer now.

How’s John

The state of the industry right now, hmmm… it’s far from good…I’ll be straight up, anything that comes into my mail box now; I have filtered.

There’s only a few marketers left out there…including yourself, that I’ll even bother with.

Hope the Internet Marketing industry gets a big shake up…for it’s hurting other marketers along the way.

Eamon.

Hi John,

I actually wrote a post about this a few months ago and I agree some of the markters in our industry completely sicken me and I feel sorry for Rob that he has felf forced to pack it in altogether.

It’s funny you mention an ex stripper lauching a product because I saw a sales video from a guy promoting some puch-button crap with an actor who claimed to be an ex stripper. It was one of the worst and most deceitful sales videos I have even seen in all my time in this industry.

I will have to book a visit up to your office sometime soon as part of the killer bonus you offered. I am about 5 hours drive from you but I am meeting former MC students Steve King and Rob Corrigan in Swindon in a few weeks to work on something new together so hopefully after that trip I can arrnage to see you – would be great to sit down with an ethical marketer and talk business.

Kind regards,
Steve Wilkins.

Hi John,

Although I’m not doing true IM any longer, I find that the same practice of treating my customers well reaps great reward, for me and them. I have built my business entirely on referrals from happy customers who have bought my websites. Not a penny spent on advertising yet, just some great word-of-mouth.

I am becoming well know as a great person to do business with, and someone who goes the extra mile to make my customers happy after the sale. I don’t disappear. Even months later I am happy to help if a website is broken, or someone has a question or needs help.

Even before the sale, I am up front about everything, and don’t make promises or create false expectations. Everyone is happy in the end. Customers don’t feel mislead, and I sleep well at night!

Best Regards and keep up the great work!

Ken Soszka
http://www.EasyAutomatedWebsites.com

Hi John
I am 100% in agreement with your analysis of the current market conditions in IM. Funnily enough I don’t see it as something to really worry about.
Much of what we are seeing is typical of new markets where there is always an early glut of “get rich quick” rip off merchants – in another age referred to as “snake oil salsemen”. Markets have a way of self regulating which will see many of these disappear off to the next gold rush whatever it turns out to be. The main difference that IM has its ability to scale up rip off schemes very quickly.
There will always be a place for good products and perhaps more importantly good people in IM. Yes, it will probably get a bit of a bad name for a while but as long as there remains the prospect of being able to make an honest ethical living, there will always be new entrants wanting to be taught how it all works.
As long as there are teachers like yourself, Randy Smith and Lee McIntyre about the industry will have its high ground.
As for buying products I generally try to get a feel for the people I’m buying from by reading their blogs or making direct contact where possible. My acid test is would I like to spend a couple of hours over a few beers with this person? If the answer is no – then move on. I know it’s a cliche but life is too short to waste time on blackguards and ne’erdowells.
John, keep up the good work – and I do love it when you have a good rant! Brightens up my day.
Best regards
Doug Prentice

Hi:John
Thanks for sharing with us thispost.
Just want to reiterrate that your, teachings ans strategies really work. as one of the student on your 1 month mentor program, I can attest to the fact that providing quality original content really work.Even though I am not making some hugeeasy money yet>/a>,I started my new blog after following your teachings, and it is not even 6 months old but already , I have got very happy subscribers
and my website is already have a PR1 on google.
Thank you for been such a great teacher and someone who is not afraid to tell it as it is.

Thanks for the great piece. I couldn’t agree more. I too have my favorite trusted marketers. In fact, I have a special place on my hard drive where I save all their communications. Amazing what you can learn by studying them.

If I get on someone’s mailing list I automatically unsubscribe if the first thing I see is hype, sexy girls, big cars, etc. etc. Who cares! Most of them are probably skirting the truth. The norm is usually if you have it you don’t have to brag about it.

Another major way to get on my “unsubscribe” list is to send me dozens of emails a week with “free” links. Don’t they know that nothing is free – they are wanting my email address.

After recording your One Month Mentor program, I decided that I really did need to do it. So I have gone back to being a beginner and am listening to every word of the videos. Off to a great start. Yes, you can teach an old dog new tricks.

Carol Smith

Totally agree with your analysis of the IM market.
My inbox is full of junk. I’m totally sick of all the “you’ve made a sale” subject headlines I’m getting. I know its not true when i match the headline with the marketer who sends it.I would never promote their product. They lie to persuade you to open the email- don’t they realise they lose trust instantly.

My tip -Always search the WF reviews before you buy the latest over hyped launch.

All the best John,
Paul

Wow thanks for a great post John.

It hit the spot nicely.

I to left this game before I even got started few years ago as all I ever received was scam offers which left me with 2 choices premote the same rubbish or leave, I left.

So I had enough and unsubscribed from every list I had all but one that was and what a relief it was No more junk in my inbox.

You where the only one of about 50 lists I had subscribed to that I kept on.

I did not take you off my mailing list like I did with lots of the other marketers because I had been following you for a hell of a long time way back in your eBay days and could tell that you was honest.

This also shows as you do not promote hype that I have also learnt.

I received your offer for your coaching program I did not even read all the sales page at the time I saw your name John Thornhill .. I saw the price $19.00 and clicked buy it now.

I am not at the stage where I can fro money away just yet and $19.00 or $1.00 it would have made no difference had it of been sent from any one from my old list as I would of seen it as hype.

I know that if you say I can make money on line then I can make money on line. I know that you will not sell hype which means I will not have to quite due to only being able to sell junk.

When you said all them years ago watch me reach Power Seller in 90 days you did it I know because I added you to my eBay favourites to see if you could pull it off.

When you tried to sell x amount of ebooks in a single listing I can’t remember the amount again you did it.

I even got to chat to Randy Smith on the phone when he phoned me regarding your advanced course, I trusted him as I knew you would not of had him contact me otherwise.

Although I could not afford the up sell well not yet anyway as I have only just started you course, Randy stayed on the phone a good hour after that chatting in general about all things including internet marketing.

It was not a case of your not interested so I’m off to the next customer.

Yes I was disapointed at first that you did not phone yourself as you have become some one I have grown to respect but am more than glad of the out come as randy truly is by all accounts a great guy who I would not of hurd of had he not phoned.

I would rather never make one dollar online than a make million dollars dishonestly.

so I shall be following the like’s of yourself and randy to see how it should be done.

Ken

Hi John

I think that the payment processors allowing such “snake oil” to be sold getting visits from IRS / fraud squad will result in the clear out that this market needs. Something like a google slap where it gets rid of all the rubbish effecting core business.

I now have a great BS radar and haven’t promoted a clickbank product in a long time because of this. The best place to find products now is digiresults and WSO Pro as like you and others are now starting to sell in the warrior forum and get real marketers on your list rather than the newbies who want instant income.

Great to see that you’ve started the bonus events, but I’m afraid that you’re going to have to a word with Socrates about your standards as I’ve stayed subscribed to his list and he’s really blasting it hard with some pretty poor cut & paste emails.

Andrew

Just an addition to my previous post – I also bought Killer Content simply for you bonuses John and would love to arrange a visit to your office soon – Expect a call from Manchester

Hi John,

Its to bad that it came to this but I beleave with every body starting to talk more about it and opting out of there emails and not buying from them the internet marketing world will self clean itself.
In the end Rob is right if it’s not your cup of tea and your not happy in what your doing go on to what makes you happy and your life will be a lot better.

To your success

Zora

Hi John,

I’ve been working at getting it right for about 1.5 years. Yes, I’ve been among those other newbies that have been taken to the cleaners and have spent well over $15K on the latest BS. I must tell you that I have purchased several of your products and have not been disappointed nor have I felt you were misleading in any way. Thanks!

You have always been honest about your products and that is extremely important to me. There was a time when I must have been on just about everyone’s list receiving one BS get rich quick scam email after another on a daily basis.

I must say that I’m current on about 3 marketer’s lists and I’m sure I’ll remain on yours. Keep up the great work.

Best Regards,
Mike

I agree that there is a lot of junk out there and a lot of
marketers out for quick bucks with no ethics The problem is that
these people use the same methods as everyone else ie squeeze page
lists etc. I think that the market has been so inundated with garbage that people no longer pay attention to squeeze pages
or lists.This presents a problem to people who are genuine and really do stand by their products and are starting out.

How many marketers do you trust. My count is less than 10 including John Thornhill, How many marketers are out there. That’s my point.
Every one of the marketers I trust follows a certain code of ethics
These marketers worked hard to build a level of trust and respect to gain a following They are not going to jeopardize their efforts promoting junk
The real problem is people want instant money. Who doesn’t It doesn’t work that way. John Thornhill suggests buying a domain with your own name. This is smart advice,after that comment on blogs, comment on forums tweet useful tweets make yourself known by providing useful information and tips
The more you do the more people see your name and associate it with useful content. This takes time but guys like John Thornhill, Jim Cockrum, etc did not become a success overnight.

Hi John
I totally agree with everything you have said and think it is a shame people have to give up what they are doing online.
I have been burned many tines in the past but have hopefully learnt my lesson.
Ethics and honesty just don’t exist for some people.
Regards
Dee

I agree entirely John and don’t consider this as a rant. I have been observing closely over the last few months to guage where this industry is at, (to dertermine where I will fit) and yes, there are definitely two distinct ‘camps’.

I also observe a grey area in the middle where marketers who I had assumed fell into the ‘ethical’ camp, are actually promoting the questionable products that would fall into the ‘high refund category’. Obviously everyone can choose what they promote – but I am no longer on the list of this particular marketer.

So I guess my point is that the ‘grey area’ is just as much an issue in the grand scheme of things and that reputable marketers who wish to remain so, should choose carefully who they work with.

Cheers
Carol

http://www.CarolClifford.com

Hello John,

my name is Simon and I’ve been doing internet marketing for about 7 month now, when I started I was taken into a couple bad training programs which I lost money with and had no return or offered any real value.

Your post has good infomation for the state of IM. As there are so many scamy products and scamy people out there within the internet.

I think it makes it harder for people to want to get involved in this business, because they do not know who or what to trust.

Puting your name and emails into websites out there has got to have trust to it as they are trusting the owner of such website with these details, and hoping it’s not just another FAKE where you may be taken for a ride. There should be some where these scamer’s could be reported and locked up for stealing.

This is making it so real people working online have found very little success and give up fast.

As no vulue is offered then people will not want to know and stay well away from the FAKE one’s out there trying to cashing in ON YOUR MONEY.

All should be careful and research what you are doing first and looking to get into, there is always more information before we purchase something just make sure you look first…

thanks for your article..

Regards,

simon newcombe…

Hi John

I’m sad that a promising marketer has decided to leave the industry-I hope he changes his mind and returns soon- he’s just the sort of guy who should stay IN the industry!

As always you lead by word and by example. Let’s hope that the IM industry wakes up to the fact that people wo are treated well will trust people with their hard earned cash.

Mike

The sad fact is, that in the current economy, there are always new people desperately looking to earn from the internet. I won’t call them gullible, but they are simply easy targets for the Get Rich Quick vilains. Many of them become overwhelmed form buying too many ‘products’, and don’t even have the opportunity to try them before the 60 guarantee runs out.
I think that, bewildered by all the jargon, they quickly jump to another ‘opportunity’ before they’ve learned to master the one they already have.
Because they are being pumped up with ‘quick easy promises’, they can’t understand that the very thing that should be helping them simply doesn’t work.
How on Earth can we direct them to the honest people in the business, if they don’t even know if they can trust us?
Once you’ve been around for a few months you start to wise up to the BS, but many give up before the penny drops, leaving their money in the crooks’ bank accounts.

Alan