Moment of Epiphany

This new Marketing Douchebag award goes to Eric Graham. Apparently, Mr. Graham is a self appointed conversion doctor, that fails to convert.

From reading the comments over on the Salty Droid blog and on Ryan Healy’s blog, it appears that Mr. Graham has the tendency to take people’s money and then not deliver on his promises. Seems to me like he should rebrand himself as the Doctor of Take Your Money and Run, but then all these other marketers would want to sue and lay claim to that title, but I digress.

Credit: Salty Droid

There is also what seems to be a growing list of complaints against Mr. Graham, here’s s small sampling of them:

• http://emarketworks.com/273/zero-to-500-a-month-guaranteed/
• http://emarketworks.com/344/zeroto500-final-update-not-recommended/
• Internet business ethics 101
• http://www.elanelan.com/EricGraham.htm
• http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/graham-advantage-c200917.html

But then again, go read the post on Ryan Healy’s blog and do an onpage search for “Eric Graham” I won’t repost the comment here since you really have to see it in it’s natural context.

On a side note, if someone offers to show you how to make $500 a month, “guaranteed” and it doesn’t involve punching in on a time clock or some other kind of device, run in the opposite direction. It’s probably a scam.

So, for failing to deliver, for the comments made on Ryan Healy’s blog and for what appears to be a general disregard for clients, I award Eric Graham a Marketing Douchebag award.

Last week, saw the “much anticipated” (by Benwell) launch of his “new” (meaning copy and replaced all instances of 2006, 2008, 2009 with 2010) edition of Blogging to the Bank.

In the interest of full disclosure, I have purchased items from Mr. Benwell in the past. Way back when, when I was starting to get serious about making money online I bought his “niche annihilation” product.

I’m almost embarrassed to say that.

I was actually satisfied with the first product I bought from him. The second item I bought from him, was a rehash of the first. I picked up on his pattern, so I didn’t buy anything else from him after that.

Fast forward to last year, Benwell launched Blogging to the Bank 3, aka 2009 which was a rehash of version 2. Which was a rehashed version of the first one. I’m not the only person that has this opinion. See this review of blogging to the bank here.

Anyway, the real kicker for the award, was in the JV emails that Benwell sent out to his list. Here’s a picture:

Notice how he tells you to send an email out on Friday, saying that there are “only 26 copies are left.” He also includes testimonials etc. that you can send to the people on your list. Thanks Rob!

For creating what in my opinion are douchebaggy and misleading emails, I award Rob Benwell a Marketing Douchebag award.

I don’t think this one needs much explanation other than the dude’s own website:

http://www.scottstappofficial.com/splash

Seriously, what kind of look is he going for? Is it supposed to be a “hard” look? If so, why does he look like he’s scared of something?

I really like that they seem to have photoshopped him in front of those “grungy” scenes. Why should he go to “scary” places when they can just photoshop him into them, right?

But, if you want to know more about why Scott deserves this award, let me point you to this article over on Rocks Off describing a 2005 incident between our winner and members of another band called 311.

Congratulations Scott, for having a douchebaggy website, you’re the first Douchebag Musician award winner.