I am in a car or a bus for an hour to sometimes 3 hours a day. It gives me a while to think, manage future blog posts, and speculate on the finer aspects of blogging. I suddenly had this thought: “Most of the good bloggers started out with nothing. What if they started out with something? The money they had gave them a good push. Well, they’d make it to the top fast, but we don’t all have those kinds of resources. What if we faked it though? What if you make it seem like you are more successful then you really are?“
This first came to me in the idea of thinking of starting a new blog. I could make a blog where I tell people I am already successful. Posts could be full of crap that I made up. Using information from others, I could create data. Using others affiliate programs and tips they provide, I could write how-to get rich schemes. I could even write an ebook about how I got rich. If I find some pictures of some Google Adsense checks, modify them a bit, mesh it together, I have some fake income reports.
Why would this work? People want to know how to make money. They want to see what money you are making, and how you are making it. They want to sign up for John Chow’s, Shoemoney’s and Problogger’s affiliate programs because they are “tried, true and proven.” They could be making up those reports, but people would still listen because they are what people want to see. The Money. Blogger Noob has constantly stated that his most popular posts are his income reports. All those big name bloggers get the most comments on their income reports, as well.
I will never get around to making this kind of blog. Some people already do this, in every area of business. You see all those make thousands in hours e-books, television commercials and that kind of crap. Those people got rich because you bought their book, not because they sold a house or designed a website. Rich people don’t write books (unless they are passionate about writing). These people are unethical, scheming bastards. For those of you contemplating this kind of idea, here are some barriers:
Ethical Practices – If you don’t mind taking money from the poor, you might want to try this. You will be lying if you create any fake content, but if you can deal with it, go for it.
Looking Authentic – You will need to look professional, both you and your blog. Take a picture with you next to your expensive car (or edit one behind you), and put together a custom template. If you don’t have web development skills, hire someone that does.
Making it look valid – Your faked images will have to look valid. Your copied Ebooks will have to look original, and your blog posts need to be filled with facts dragged from more than one source. If you are caught plagiarizing, you can get hit with fines, or even jail time. If you, your images or any of your posts are declared to be fake, you better be able to defend yourself and keep your back straight.
I have decided against attempting anything like this. It isn’t worth the time, as I’d much rather learn this stuff at my own pace. I don’t want to lie to subscribers and people relying on me for great original articles.
Do you think you would ever attempt anything like this? Why? Let me know and I will discuss it with you.
January 15th, 2008 at 7:43 am
Very much so, Justin.
I actually toyed with this idea for a while. I’ve never spent a single cent on any of these How To programs from the Uber Earners - in fact, I’ve never spent anything on advertising or marketing whatsoever - because I came to the same realisation that you just did.
Unethical people have always been around - people that will lie to the masses just to milk them for their money. And what better way to do it - than to prey on the mass disillusionment that is the world of Affiliate Marketing, by meshing together old ideas and thumbsucked crap, lie to an audience and sell your eBook?
Eventually, those faked Clickbank and Adsense checks become real, because the money making program really does work. But it’s not the program you’re buying - it’s the fact that you’re buying it at all.
To be frank, the chances are that someday, I’ll sell an eBook of some sort. But it will be a collection of creative prose, not Top Ten Tips To Killing Google AdSense And Making Millions In Only Twenty Four Hours.
I have no interest in feeding the disillusionment.
~ Wogan
January 15th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Justin, the number one reason i’m reading your content is because it’s your thought, your own.. ..
and the bloggers around, most of em, whose mind is corrupted with viciously monetizing motives, i don’t even look at it.. i can quickly figure out if the blog is full of crap or what when they brag about how to make money bloggin..
and yeah, these days, bloggers don’t have ethic at all, they are just following unethical things.. i mean, i never believed blogging for money, i believed blogging for myself, but slowly, things changed, i started blogging for my readers query, to help understand their problems/tell my own problems( oh sorry,btw, i do lil bit blogging on tech stuff and mostly it’s my own gossips around), make them issue and discuss them, i started blogging for my own satisfaction too, i mean it’s a great way to express myself and it feels even great when people read my thoughts and ask things here and there. i feel really relieved then. To burst the pain out, one needs to cry and i feel same, CRYING OUT while blogging. I feel relaxed.
Besides, so many of my readers suggested to put couple of money generating scripts. I thought why not if i earn while i Blog. So, for now, i’ve put little money generating scripts and it’s working okay.
And Justin, nice to meet you ..
I’m subscribing you
PS:- please don’t put HOW TO MAKE MONEY ONLINE stuff and i’ll unsubscribe ..
January 15th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Ah Jacky…
I know what you mean. A blog is an excellent form of expression. Art? Perhaps. That could be my next blog topic. Thanks Haha.
And this blog is everything about a blog, so I may include how to make money writing/blogging and tips, but nothing ridiculous like every other post. I want to help people blog and get a sense of satisfaction from it. If that is money that is one aspect I must cover, but it there are certainly many, many, many more other things I will cover.
Justin
January 15th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Justin, will follow you then
keep posting.