A couple of weeks ago Karol Gajda and Adam Baker put together a phenomenal package of business resources at a you’d-be-a-fool-if-you-don’t-buy-it price and made it available for 72 hours only.
I chose to be a fool.
There were several reasons why I chose not to ‘invest’ in the package, despite it’s attractive price tag, proving to myself that a deal isn’t a deal, if that’s not what you want.
When I was in college, I received some great advice from another student, who attributed it to his dad, who was a multi-millionaire in India. He said, “If you don’t need something, it’s too expensive for a penny. But, if you need it, it’s a bargain at a hundred bucks.” The package was too expensive by that definition.
Now, don’t get me wrong, the value presented in the package was incredible, but I just didn’t need it at this time. I read the list of resources and I realized that I had an abundance of similar material from the same authors that I have not either had time or inclination to read, or I haven’t put it to use yet.
A voice in my head said, “Yeah, Rasheed, but look at the price and all you’re getting for it. You can use it when you’re ready.” Ah, the fear of loss, rooted in lack mentality. Sorry, no can do.
Another reason was the fact that the offer was exploiting the same based-in-lack mentality of the target market. I wasn’t interested. I knew it would be a bargain at full price when I was ready to use the information.
Also, there were many things in that package that I would never use, because, either they didn’t relate to what I want in life, or adding more knowledge in that area would not add sufficiently to be worth anything.
But the main reason that I didn’t buy it was that by the time the sale started, I had received several e-mails and blog posts in my RSS reader ‘alerting’ me to be on the look out for it. These emails and blog posts came from the authors whose products were amongst the ones in the package. I know that the authors probably didn’t directly get paid for including their item in the package, but they were affiliates for the package.
I don’t have anything against affiliate marketing. I think, no, I know that it is a great way to market something in a win/win/win situation. The producer, the marketer and the end user all win by the transaction. It is the same concept as the Network Marketing, except for the compensation plan. It is a single level plan instead of a multi-level plan.
In a span of one week, I must have received - I kid you not- at least 50 emails between pre-launch alerts, launch notifications, and last minute i-don’t-want-you-to-miss-out-on-this warnings from various affiliate marketers. One of the authors sent out only one notification with only 12 hours left, with a message that said something to the effect that I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you about this before it was over. Thanks.
Permission Marketing is bound to lose its effectiveness if it goes the same route as the Interruption Marketing.
Am I the only one or are there others who feel this way? What do you think, when does permission marketing becomes interruption marketing?