Raise your hand if you've been watching Joel Comm's The Next Internet Millionaire. Now raise your hand if, after watching the 12th 50-minute long episode today, you feel as though you've been swept into a swirling vortex of dirty Internet Marketing creativity.
Huh? Let me explain. I love reality tv. I was eager to see a reality show based around Internet Marketing. Each week, I've faithfully watched 50 minutes of this net-based reality show. Today, 12 episodes later, and the second-to-last one, I feel a little dirty. It's as though I've been cascading down a swirling vortex that inevitably led me to THE PITCH. Sure, this whole thing has been creative, I'll give Joel that. But in the end, it all comes down to THE PITCH. Want to vote for the winner of this reality show? Open your wallet. The only way to vote is to purchase a product from either of the two final contestants. The contestant who sells the most product - wins.
What a dirty, rotten marketing ploy this has been. Yes, yes, it was very creative, but in the end it just left me with a yucky taste in my mouth. Talk about your long sales pitch. Oy.
To top it off, after having watched these people, I wouldn't WANT their products. No offense, but you and I know more about this stuff than these guys. We live and breathe it every day. Sure, the video guy knows his stuff...he's a Youtube expert. Fine, his video on how to do video might be worthwhile. But after all the times he's said he wouldn't do what "the old Internet Marketing gurus do", he is doing exactly that. Why? Because that's the way Joel wants it done. And the gal who wants me to read her book on how to make money online - when she's never done it before? Would I buy that book? I don't think so. Maybe that's why there are a bazillion "bonuses" to go along with her book - to make up for her lack of credibility.
Anyway, I just felt it necessary to rant a little about the fact that I fell for a marketing ploy disguised as entertainment, and wasted 12 hours of my life over it. Ah well...live and learn. I wish both contestants the best, but I hate feeling like I've been on a dirty journey.