Maybe I should just start a blog following the perils of big Internet Marketing gurus. Seems like I’ve been posting quite a bit about them lately. I was reading a recent post on Shoemoney.com where Jeremy was calling out some dude named Patrick Curl (Patrick Curl – The Social Media Idiot) because Patrick made what appears to be one comment bashing Shoe and his new Shoemoney System on behalf of someone else who felt wronged by Shoemoney support. Now I know most of the big guys like Shoe and Chow have egos that match their monthly earnings. Hey, it’s part of what makes them great in Internet/Affiliate Marketing. This post was a bit of an odd one though in my opinion.
Shoe flew off at Patrick for what seems to be a single comment. Sure Patrick was talking out of his butt making judgment calls against Shoe even though he didn’t even have any experience with the Shoemoney System. But Shoe went off and created almost a David vs. Goliath firefight (the only problem is I’m pretty sure God wasn’t backing Patrick on this one). It left me scratching my head a bit…unless that was Shoe’s intention. By the way, I completely get his side of it and getting sick and tired of people coming out of the woodwork to give you a hard time when you’re trying to make a living by TRULY helping people. In fact, shouldn’t a guy be rewarded handsomely for doing a kick butt job at that? I think he should.
Regardless of who is right or wrong, who said what or what the intentions were, or whether or not Shoe should have created such a brewhaha in the first place, it got me to thinking about how Patrick could end up being the big winner here. Think about it. The dude is now on the radar of a lot of blogs, sites and other gurus in the industry. He’s also got people looking at his sites, linking to his sites and writing about him. Sure die hard Shoemoney followers will forever hate the guy for slandering their guru, but this guy could leverage the publicity to his gain if he put half a brain to it.
This reminded me of a JohnChow.com post I read a couple of years ago titled There Really Is No Such Thing As Bad Press. If you haven’t read it, it’s worth the 5 minutes it’ll take you to go through it. Chow ends his post with an interesting statement: “Remember, if you’re not pissing somebody off, you’re not doing it right.” I don’t completely agree, but it does make you think a bit about negative stuff and how to put it into perspective. He also gives a couple of great examples in his post of companies that took bad press to the BANK…literally.
I also thought of Kayne West, who we all will likely agree was a complete moron for what he did to Taylor Swift during her Video Music Awards acceptance speech. He made a fool of himself and disrespected what I believe is a truly great artist deserving of the award she received. However, don’t you think what he did showed some signs of brilliance? To be honest, before that incident, I wouldn’t have come up with Kayne West’s name for anything. Now he’s firmly planted in my mind. I know what he looks like. I have an opinion formed about him. He put himself ON THE MAP with 14 seconds of stage time. I don’t believe for a second he did that solely because he really really wanted Beyonce to win.
I guess all of this comes down to making some lemonade out of lemons. It’s just a matter of time before someone takes us to task for one of our projects. Whether it be because of an actual screw up or simply because jealously tends to bring out the worst in people. No matter the reason, being thrust into the limelight can pretty much always be a good thing. Figure out how to make it work to your favor.
April 3rd, 2010 at 12:12 pm
Maybe at time if you have got some good point then you ought to go out and pissed off someone to grab some publicity. I guess in John's article, thats the link he is giving out, so it doesn't matter much, a link is a link. –
- work from home guy
April 3rd, 2010 at 8:07 pm
Thanks for the informations
April 4th, 2010 at 2:43 am
Never thought about this way of getting publicity. Dangerour but might be worth the while. Now I am not a fan of all the guru thingy going on this industry. I would recommend anyone to think for himself and stop reading all the guru speak. Be your own guru.
April 3rd, 2010 at 8:22 pm
Actually, I’ve been thinking about this myself…being the one slandered here. I’m ranking very well for the keywords: Social Media Idiot. Which may be the title of an ebook very soon.
Though, I was feeling empathetic for a dude, who didn’t get a refund as promised, so I went off on shoemoney for his stupid lack of customer support. Of course after this fiasco he’d be a fooll to not give the guy the money back, makes him look like a saint, even though he had no intention of ever giving him back any more money.
Whether it’s informational, or even biographical – it could be the crappiest book ever, people stil might buy it simply out of curiosity.
After the fact I was apologetic and sorry for my comment, yet I’m still being slandered on his blog, and his sycophantic readers are almost like a cult, a few have said some nice things on my behalf, or at least called him out for being a dick. I’m thankful for those few people, at least. I on the other hand removed my negative posts in retaliation, hoping maybe he’d do the same.
Let bygones be bygones or what not.. I might still unleash a fury of my own, after all I can use the traffic, and with the right product, I could very well monetize this.
It’s still up in the air what I’m going to do, though the faster I act on this the better. Maybe his ego is so big that he thinks he’s actually helping me (some poor sap in his eyes), by unleashing his minions, and giving me instant fame.
April 4th, 2010 at 12:27 pm
Thanks you for your article.
Nice informations
April 4th, 2010 at 10:32 pm
Patrick, thanks for the response. I appreciate you taking the time to post a comment even though it's obvious I don't completely agree with what you said (or Shoemoney for that matter).
On that note, would LOVE to hear what you end up doing with the traffic. I'd even have you send in a guest post about it if you're up for it. If you turn these lemons into lemonade, I'm guessing even Shoe and his band of followers will have to admit at least a little admiration for your tenacity.
April 4th, 2010 at 11:52 pm
Thanks Ryan, understood, personally I wanted to just forget it happened, even deleted my initial fire-back posts.
It's kind of embarrassing that one tiny comment has gotten me into this whole mess. Yet, over the weekend I've had time to sort out some stuff, and am working on an ebook, or rather adding the shoemoney fiasco into the section I'd already earmarked for managing bad publicity – the book is on social media and aimed at small businesses, and anyone trying to build their own brand or web presence.
I'm not about showing people how to make money online – there are enough Guru's like Shoemoney, and John Chow, I'm more about just sharing marketing ideas, I absolutely love marketing, and the science of it all. I also love all the new technologies coming out that make marketing easier.
I've got a lot in the pipes so to speaks, and only time can say whether this will fan out, or flop. One thing I'd be interested in is how many people actually buy my new product because they're interested in the Gossip, vs the actual information. Either way it's a sale and I'll be happy, and thankful.
April 5th, 2010 at 7:27 am
Well, no matter how bad the situation may seem, there is always some good that will come out of it. This does not only apply in blogging life but also in real life.
April 5th, 2010 at 8:37 pm
Kanye West isn't the first musician to use bad press to his advantage. Think of how many times Eminem or Marilyn Manson got their name in the press in a negative. They wouldn't even have to do anything wrong. They could just go on tour and someone would happen to be protesting them. It makes you wonder how much other bad press was actually done on purpose to generate more publicity.
April 5th, 2010 at 11:32 pm
This is a valid form of getting attention. You will get it big time. I would not do it like this because it can backfire badly. On the other hand I am as well not big into this "Guru thing". People are not smart and they follow every kid.
April 6th, 2010 at 8:34 am
Well they say bad press is good press. Not sure if I would always agree with that, but if there is a big fight out there your name can get out there for better or for worse. So-called "gurus" are easy to slag off, in my opinion, and are easy targets, but they are probably loving the publicity but I don't think you have to be pissing people off to be doing it right. Just saying.
On another note, you couldn't have placed Kanye? Man, he's been around forever and I have known about him for years, way before the Taylor Swift incident. Anyway, peace out.
April 6th, 2010 at 3:03 am
Press is a great tool for sharing information it also a great destruction if it happens to be infamous. I experience this before and it gives me nothing but a no-sleep day on both nights and day. Breaking the reputation I build up for a years
April 6th, 2010 at 9:17 pm
I remember reading that same post, and I agree with what you said about the "big guys" and their egos. Just hope I don't develop an ego, when I hit the big time.
April 7th, 2010 at 1:46 am
Just clicked through your link – wow old reference from back in 2007. I had almost forgotten AGLOCO lol…
April 6th, 2010 at 11:43 pm
Stay cool Patrick,
People will know if a system really don’t work. Sonner or later people will know. Just keep on building your own brand.
April 7th, 2010 at 7:11 am
What a fantastic exchange between Patrick and you and just as you predicted, things have actually worked out to the advantage of the David here!
April 7th, 2010 at 8:05 am
A person who is pushing it self to a something will going to break all of the good things that been done, and it will going to start all over again. I guess that if we are a beginner for this don't post your self so that it wont going to mess all of the good staff for us. And that is what in mine for the developing a reputation with my own. It is slowly but surely.
April 9th, 2010 at 7:54 am
I think the comment "If you aren't pissing people off you aren't doing it right" is some of the worst advice I have ever heard. I am building a brand, and in any business you do not want this brand tarnished, irregardless of the press it brings.
Bad press is cheap press, but truly good press will do wonders for your business both online and offline.
April 9th, 2010 at 11:27 pm
So many have gotten their name in the limelight through "bad" press – 15 minutes of fame or more, it seems to work. I hope I can be one of those big guys some day.
April 9th, 2010 at 6:06 pm
I’m going to bookmark this post…
April 10th, 2010 at 7:09 am
No doubt, I'm not sweating it. I'm working on some things, and maybe the moment in the spotlight will give me a larger soap box to stand on. For now though it looks like people have forgotten all about it, and have moved on. Though if only google could forget and move the reference at least a few pages from number 1 lol. Dude has an ego problem, what a-lister doesn't actually think they're everything. Shoe's just the worst of them all, as far as ego's go, might stem back to when he beat john chow in a contest, dude's head has been inflated ever since.
April 10th, 2010 at 11:12 am
Thanks for sharing you doing great job and definitely very soon get success. With the help of press you
can exchange information its great tool for sharing information with anyone out there..
April 10th, 2010 at 1:36 pm
Your reaction and the course of action that you have decided on for yourself is the way to go and I wish you all the very best. Davids do win!
April 10th, 2010 at 1:52 pm
hi dear
very useful post
ok
April 11th, 2010 at 2:12 am
In most cases of celebrity, there is no such thing as bad press, however, I disagree that this rolls over to business. I do think one mistake, one individual, one data breach, one wrong comment, can cause a devastating loss, which for a small company, may be difficult or impossible to recover from. However, in some instances, it can bring a lot of traffic to a small business's site (much more than they had before). So, it is a thin line to walk, but hopefully if you get some bad press, you have a good PR department!
April 11th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
thnx..
April 11th, 2010 at 6:55 pm
Hi Ryan,
Internet marketing gurus are human and because of that they have egos pretty much like everybody else and perhaps even a bit larger in proportion to their fame. I think that's natural and only saints would not be affected by fame.
Support and other things don't always work as the gurus would like.
They don't get involved in them personally. Thus even with the best intentions things can go wrong.
When they do people get mad at the gurus who in turn get very defensive because they do generally mean well and don't like to be attacked personally for some kink in heir system.
Let's try to see things from their point of view before lashing out at them.
On the other hand, lashing out can be very tempting when we perceive that we or someone we are close to have been wronged. So perhaps Patrick shouldn't have been lashed back at.
But these things happen on both sides and they should be forgotten and done with.
I don't agree that any press is a good press and wanting to turn on bad press may get one the attention but not the kind most of us want. I personally don't crave the traffic that gossip hungry visitors bring.
They are always on a look out for the new gossip and thus are very fickle.
Vance
April 11th, 2010 at 11:36 pm
i read that post too – I bet no one had hardly ever heard of that guy until that post – it probably helped his social media marketing
April 12th, 2010 at 3:52 am
Awesome article, I'm reading through both posts as we speak. A lot of good posts here, and I'm stunned that Shoe would call out a lesser blogger… seems like an elementary mistake!
April 12th, 2010 at 7:05 am
I might still unleash a fury of my own, after all I can use the traffic, and with the right product, I could very well monetize this.
April 12th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
……
???? ?????? ??????…
April 13th, 2010 at 11:09 am
You can easily share information through press. It is the easiest way to share any information. And it can also harm our reputation. Once if you fail to maintain your reputation then it will take many years to get it back and there is no any guarantee that you can get back it 100%.
April 13th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
Its really a very informative article indeed. I have learn a lot from this article. Thanks for sharing such a cool article buddy.
April 13th, 2010 at 3:28 pm
Interesting what you said about Kanye West. I wonder what kind of reactions he expected for his actions. Not the ones that he got I assume though. Because even if he planted himself in our minds by doing what he did most people think of him as an ignorant fool now. I don't see how this could have helped him at all. I think he was high when he did it.
April 13th, 2010 at 4:34 pm
Great article, I will keep follow your posts
April 13th, 2010 at 8:23 pm
Kanye has been around for a long time, but few people actually cared about anything he did until the whole awards show fiasco. That move is what made him a household name even among people who don't like his music. His lousy music sure hasn't done that. If I hear another synthesized r&b type song I'm gonna flip.
April 14th, 2010 at 11:48 am
I guess this can be summed up by saying "there is no such thing as bad publicity"?
April 14th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
was feeling empathetic for a dude, who didn't get a refund as promised, so I went off on shoemoney for his stupid lack of customer support.
April 14th, 2010 at 8:18 pm
Good job on the article. Continue to keep up the good work! Usually things turn out good in the end though, dont worry.
April 17th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
Taylor is a totally talented singer. I love all of her albums.
April 19th, 2010 at 3:55 am
Taylor Swift is the best! She should have won some Country Music Awards. I have no idea how they could overlook her.
April 19th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Press is the most powerfull source of information and should be used for the same. Using it for promotions is fine but we should be carefull with the way we use it.
April 23rd, 2010 at 10:33 am
I extremely appreciate the approach to a business reflected in the article – I also prefer to make lemonade out of lemons rather than to complain about the failure.
May 12th, 2010 at 8:37 am
I think that the issue which presents an uncommon and thoroughgoing point of view is not bad – it is just extraordinary brave!
May 15th, 2010 at 2:35 am
very interesting article, thanks for the information
July 20th, 2010 at 7:11 pm
You have a good article here.. In sharing of ideas and experiences was a really great of a person. Hope that you just continue all the good stuffs.
December 28th, 2010 at 7:20 pm
An interesting article about turning a potentially negative situation into one that could have a variety of positive outcomes. I suppose part of the moral is to be aggressive, and as you say make lemonade. I suppose it is a reminder to look at every situation and figure out how to benefit from it.
April 27th, 2011 at 7:39 pm
I agree with you about the "big guys" and their egos. Actually blogging is the same as our real life. Anyway thanks for sharing a thoughtful post.
May 6th, 2011 at 9:12 pm
Very interesting article, thanks for sharing