Using deception as a way to gain popularity is something that goes back to the beginning of man. Even today, school children lie about their pet turtle being able to fly, fisherman lie about the biggest fish they caught, presidents lie to go to war, and representatives lie to raise taxes.
Deception is seen as a way to gain visits and respect throughout the respective community. Many make money online bloggers lie about the latest, greatest product to have their visitors buy through their affiliate program so they, themselves, will earn money.
They tell about the fabulous new advertising program, only to have you to sign up through them to receive the $20 referral bonus, even if you never earn a penny. Others will lie about how much money they made during the past month, just to get praise throughout the community. They will edit their checks, just to make it look as if they somehow have more authority than someone who flips pancakes for a living.
Every so often a new blog pops us stating they know the latest, greatest technique, but will only share it if you pay $19.99 for their eBook. My first thought is always, “If you are making so much money, why do you want someone else to pay you, since you obviously don’t need the money and why aren’t you using your own methods to make money instead?”
Photo by circo de invierno ~
Ah the power of deception. The fact is, most of the time it works. How many of you visit sites like JohnChow.com and sign up to every new advertising company he mentions? Just visit his latest monthly income report and view the part about affiliate commissions. Every dollar made through affiliate commissions is because you bought into what he said, and signed up or bought the latest item mentioned.
John Chow doesn’t make money because he uses these programs. He makes money because he sells the program to you. He is a master salesman. Each post he makes, over one-hundred people comment. No matter how many ads he sticks on his site, or how much bad press he gets, people come back and buy into what he says. That is power of deception and the power John Chow has as a blogger.
I do not condone these activities. However, I also do not fault those who use them. People fall for half-truths and lies everyday. It works. If it didn’t we as humans wouldn’t lie. It is our nature, and because others fall for it humans will continue to do so in the future.
What Works
Faking checks. There have been many who faked checks during their early years, only to later gain the same amount put on the check. Do it well enough and act like you make that amount and others will believe you and do everything you say.
Faking experiences. If you read about something so much, you can just as easily fake experiences with it. Never sold a product in your life but read twenty books on doing so? Someone who never sold a product will listen and gladly follow every word.
Faking news. No, not The Onion type stories, but stories that could be true but aren’t. For example, Prison Planet. Sure, some of the stories may be true, but it is almost impossible for every single one to be. Prison Planet is constantly on the front page of social news sites across the web due to their conspiracy theories and ‘fake news’.
What Doesn’t
Faking RSS subscribers. Honestly, no one cares and it can do more harm than good. If someone views your website and you have supposedly 10,000 RSS subscribers but no comments, chances are the visitor will not care or give it a second thought to sign up.
Faking page hits. There is a reason why the 1998 page counter isn’t used any longer, and it isn’t just because it is ugly. If your site has horrible content, the visitor will leave even if your site ‘received 1,000,000 visitors’ yesterday. Visitors couldn’t care less about your stats, unless you are an internet marketer then your readers will even find it hard to believe if you fake it too much.
The fact is, if you aren’t listed in Google or have initial readers, no one will see your deception. Just because your feed counter states 1,000 no more people will see your site. Your site will not automatically receive #1 for your keywords.
