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Confusion about my newsletter launch – setting the record straight!

by Ed on 6th February 2009

I’m getting some flack for the way I launched my new Web Profits Monthly newsletter

Although I’ve had tonnes of people claim their free issue over the last 24 hours, it seems I didn’t explain the offer in enough detail (shame on me!) — some people are questioning “why am I taking credit cards details when this is a free offer?”

And one or two emails have actually been quite nasty about it, so…

Let me put the record straight!

First of all if you order a book from www.Amazon.co.uk, you have to pay for it there and then.

They do have a returns policy, but the payment’s taken up front. As per most commercial transactions, it’s customers who shoulder the initial risk and have to pay before they know whether they like the product.

However with my newsletter, you don’t pay a penny up front!

Although with my offer you have to put your credit card details in on the subscription page — NO payment is taken at that point. You receive the first issue totally free of charge.

Then when you get it — if you don’t like the newsletter you simply unsubscribe (quick and easy to do — explained below).

Or if you DO like it — and obviously I’m confident you will — then after 30 days your credit card is charged for the first time, and you automatically get sent the March 2009 Second Issue.

In other words the first payment you make is only after 30 days and that is for the second issue.

The first issue is, and remains to be, completely free. I absorb ALL the costs of sending you the first issue – even the cost of postage.

Hopefully this better explains the genuine no-risk offer I’m making — and appeases everyone who has emailed me to express their disatisfaction at having to enter their credit card details!

Hopefully you agree my offer IS a good one… personally I thought it would be nicer to give people the first issue free of charge and let them decide whether to continue or not.

One more thing that may hold you back from registering for your trial copy…

Worried you won’t be able to cancel your subscription? Don’t be!

I’ve made it easy.

My sister got once tied up with a mail-order music company in the late 80′s and went through a nightmare trying to stop their recurring charges.

For this and other reasons I assure you my team cancel subscriptions the same day if requested weekdays, (or Monday morning if the request comes in over a weekend.)

All it takes is a very quick phone call (to a UK FreePhone Number 0800 612 0616 or International +44 1377 267365. Simply give your name and email address and your subscription is stopped immediately. No hassle!

So, if you were confused by my offer, I really hope this has clarified that is it a genuine chance to get the first issue free of try out my web marketing newsletter.

Click here to claim your totally 100% free issue of Web Profits Monthly today!

Have a great weekend,
Ed.

P.S. My fulfilment team have dispatched the first batch of newsletter to the flood of subscribers I had in the first 48 hours. If you register for your free issue today it should land on your desk either Monday or Tuesday next week – and that includes access to the private subscribers only website with tonnes of extra resources.

P.P.S. Click here to go and register now — remember the first issue is 100% and you can unsubscribe any time you want.

Article by Ed Rivis

I'm the Amazon 5-star rated author of three books about web marketing, and since 2008 have spoken to more than 4,000 business owners at conferences and seminars around the UK. I've also developed software that automatically generates lead pages and home-study programmes that help small business owners like you generate more sales-leads and win new customers and clients, online.

Ed has written 326 awesome articles.

laz

I think this offer is just like so many *Free* rather nonsensical.
I had thought for a time that you were genuine
http://www.in2grate.com Dave Wilkins

Sorry Ed I was very interested but not now. A FREE offer measns what it says, convince me of the value of the publication and I shall subscribe. I recently did receive a FREE offer from a colleague of yours, Jonathan Jay, an excellent offer with NO strings attached. He will attract further business from me sadly your FREE offer leaves me ‘concerned’.

From my colleagues to whom I gave your contact details some months ago, following a ‘phone seminar with Jonathan and you were a member of the panel,they express similar views but not, perhaps, in such an eloquent manner.

Dave
alan

Hi Ed,

I understood your offer perfectly, first time round! it was easy to understand, and you portrayed it clearly!

you’re a great internet expert! …guess you can’t please all the people all of the time (or people who want everything for free all the time!)

keep going for it!

kind regards,

Alan
http://raystewart.biz Ray Stewart

Ed.

I am pleased you clarified the unsubscription method. I was concerned when I signed up (BTW – I didn’t feel there was any confustion about the offer) that I didn’t receive anything after I gave my credit card details to tell me what to do at the end of the month if I wanted (hopefully not) to cancel it.

All I received was the usual email confirmation link.

I am a little sad though that you have now gone the way most businesses seem to and included a huge upsell after the newsletter link, and then another (smaller) upsell before finally realizing all I wanted was the newsletter. I understand why you have done it (I’ve done the marketing courses too) but when someone I have trusted does it for the first time, I always feel that the personal, giving, part of that person has been lost forever.

Ce la vie!
http://www.integrationventurists.com Steve

Hi Ed

I guess we live and learn and we never ever stop learning. The fact is you did something – Any action must be commended – You got a response/feedback – You responded to that feedback. Seems fine to me so far.

There are a lot of forced continuity programmes out there in the Internet Marketing (IM) world. I have personally ordered product and some I continue to pay for and some I don’t.

I don’t know if you tested the sales letter and the offer with a randomized small number of people from your list. If you did, it will likely show up problems and also the flipside of problems or opportunities early on.

I don’t know if your market (I guess I’m one of them) come from the IM market place or not.

People in different markets have very diverse experiences and expectations. Sometimes these past experiences become psychological trigger mechanisms. These triggers can be positive as well as negative.

Oddly enough, I have a feeling that Jonathan has a system set up where people get two months free before they start to pay. (I might be wrong though).

The other thing that Jonathan does is set up some quite clever joint venture deals which cover off much if not all his costs. So people get a free couple of months and he gets to sell other related stuff from his JV partners and splits the profits.

Gosh, why didn’t I think of that!

Cheers for now.

Steve
http://www.copywriting4b2b.com Carol Bentley

Hi Ed,

it is always difficult to know how best to make an offer like this.

On the one hand you want people to experience the great value of your publication without having to put money down. And to the same extent you don’t want people to be upset about missing the second and future editions because they forgot to confirm they wanted to subscribe – and of course you need payment details if the subscription is going to kick in in time.

The method you’ve used is a widely accepted business promotion standard – especially with information products. In the offline marketing world it is known as the puppy-dog appeal. The customer gets to enjoy the product for 30 days and then is charged if the order isn’t cancelled.

In fact Readers Digest have used this system for many years, the only difference is they don’t give anything away for FREE – they just allow the 30 days ‘on approval’.

I don’t think there are any ‘strings attached’ to your offer – as Dave says – because you ARE sending the newsletter FREE. If someone decides they don’t want to subscribe and they cancel, you are not asking them to return the FREE issue.

If someone is worried they will forget to cancel the subscription and get charged by default then my first thought is they probably didn’t intend to continue the subscription anyway, in which case perhaps they are not that serious about discovering the future insights you are planning to reveal.

That’s just my 2p’s worth – but of course, everyone is entitled to their opinion.
http://www.scotliftsystems.co.uk John Walmsley

Hi ED,
The ones who have compalined are the sort of clients that you dont need anyway as they will always look for something free and never follow up when cost is involved.
There appears to be far too many free offers these days which give the client the feeling that paying for things is pointless as someone will offer it free on another site.
I would suggest that we all go back to paying for all the effort that someone has gone to and if the customer does not want to pay then they are not serious about making their business work as not charging is the beginning of the end for any serious business.

Regards,

John
http://www.sharp-end-training.co.uk/blog Jonathan

Wasn’t the old AOL “free” trial along similar lines? You couldn’t take up their free trial without handing over credit card details.

I thought the offer was explained well enough.I don’t think there are any strings attached. If people forget to cancel, thats hardly Ed’s fault (?)
http://www.confidentialseo.com Gordon Drayson

I am going to sign up, as I am interested to see what a newsletter that is printed can give, over and above that of one that is delivered by email. For an self proclaimed Internet Marketeer to do an offline newsletter, it has to be something special…
http://small-life.co.uk Adam

I am disappointed and feel that you misled people initially. I understand what you’re offering now, but I think the original promotion was mis-sold. I see that you’re trying to retrieve the situation with further explanations now, but I think that a significant number of your subscribers will have lost some confidence in you.
http://www.operations-support.co.uk Nigel West

Hi Ed

You’re never going to please everyone. I feel for you with the nasty emails, I’ve been in a similar situation stuck in the middle of negotiations between my customer and the manufacturer. Horrid.

My view is that people really shouldn’t attack you over an offer, you either take it or leave it. If they don’t understand it ask, if they don’t like it don’t apply. The offer was clear, and the technique of providing payment details even though there’s a free period is common – even Which? do it.

We have to feed our families and to do that we sell stuff. Giving away information and samples for free are an introduction, there’s far too much expectation for free these days.

Interesting item from Perry Marshall, which is on a similar topic: http://www.perrymarshall.com/perrys-greed/

I’m looking forward to receiving my copy and hope you carry on with this.

Regards

Nigel
http://www.outsourceSuccess.com Gavin Allinson

Hi Ed,

Don’t worry about the moaners and complainers.

Can we pay by paypal.

Gavin
http://www.traveljunkies.com Cliff Chapman

Fair enough Ed. I was one of those questioning your free offer, (but I wasn’t nasty), so it’s good you dealt with it quickly. I subscribe to quite a lot of stuff and having read your book I wonder if it’s still worth getting your newsletter but I’ll give it a try.
http://www.lilyandlime.co.uk Kirsten Bridge

Hi Ed

The email was clear.

If anyone who is hoping to be sucessful in business can’t read the instructions, check a site is secure before giving their CC details and then work out how to cancel in the timescales stated if the product isn’t for them, perhaps they will be a casualty of the present economic gloom and doom.

Please keep pushing the boundaries, I don’t know if the content and format of the newsletter will work but let’s give it a try, you can’t please all of the people all of the time!!
http://kollectomania.co.uk Richard

Hi Ed. I thought you offer was quite clear and that taking card details to pay for the second issue in 30 days is the normal way for businesses to do this sort of promotion. If people cancel within 30 days no payment will be taken so issue 1 is absolutely free. I think many some people just don’t read all the details.
Best wishes.
http://www.thekissbusiness.co.uk Karin H.

“I think many some people just don’t read all the details.”

Aren’t that bothered more like I think. The word FREE has a way of blinding people

I had Jonathan’s free 2 months offer, and I sincerely hope Ed has done a better job in explaining WHEN and HOW to unsubscribe than he did – IMHO the ‘naughty’ thought of “perhaps they won’t remember in time and are debited for the next issue any way”.

“The more you tell, the more you sell” is rather valid in promotions like this. Always tell the what, how, why and when upfront.

Karin H. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business)
http://www.edrivis.com Ed

@Laz – I agree, I didn’t explain the offer very well. I’ll do better next time. (Although other people are commenting below yours that they understood the offer perfectly – the fact you found it nonsensical just goes to highlight the need to explain an offer/product/service in as much detail as possible.

@Dave – I’m sorry I’ve lost your business, and I agree Jonathan Jay is excellent.

@Alan – Thanks! After the first two comments were posted it was a relief the third comment was so positive! As for going for it… I intend to, thanks!

@Ray – Sorry, yes the moment people subscribed they should have received a confirmation email with details of how to unsubscribe. That’s been added so all new subscribers will get it now. Hopefully by the time (and if) you read this comment you should have received your free issue and had more explanation of how to unsubscribe.

As for the upsell – I wish I’d done those years ago! I’ll be sharing the results of those upsells with my newsletter subscribers next week. Very, very compelling… the only downside is it polarizes opinion – some people don’t like them, and I may even lose subscribers with campaigns like this… but that’s not necessarily a bad thing either because it means the quality of my email list will increase.

@Steve – Your comment actually hit on the number one thing I see that holds most people back. Even the marketers who know it all – have attended all the seminars, read all the book, etc. — the only reason they’re not succeeding is a lack of action or fear to implement.

I’d like to speak with you again some time soon about your services.

@Carol – I always appreciate your 2p’s! In your final paragraph you actually touched on one of the biggest reasons for me asking for credit card details — I only want to give my free newsletter to people who are at the very least genuinely interested in using the web to grow their business. Looking at people who have subscribed so far – they’re nearly all my most regular long-term customers and I’ll make absolutely certain they get massive value.

@John – I agree there are too many free offers. The dilemma is that they work so darn effectively to attract new business!

Like you say though – the downside is every time I or anyone other marketer rolls out a free offer we’re almost training people to take them for granted and demand it in future (or at least have unfair expectations on what (or as the fallout from my offer has shown – HOW) an offer should be made.

Maybe I’ll just stop giving stuff away in future! It’d certainly prevent all the crap I’ve experienced over the last few days. (Although the flip-side is it’s made me love my ‘real’ customers even more, and want to more then ever give massive value.)

@Jonathan – thanks. Wow! What a contrast your comment is to the comment from ‘Laz’ at the top of this page. (Just goes to show you can’t please all the peole all the time!

@Gordon – I’ll be happy to send you a free newsletter, although from your comment I susepct you’ll be one of my first unsubscribes

As for calling me a “self-proclaimed Internet Marketer” – I challenge you to find ANY comment, blog post, or page in my book where I have said “I am an Internet Marketer”.

I don’t operate in the IM sphere (in the traditional sense — if I did I’d be well into article marketing and all my products would be prefixed with a $ sign. )

Interesting comments.

@Adam – I agree, my original explanation was poor. I’ll do better next time.

@Nigel – Thanks, my sentiments exactly! However in this case the negative comments have been a fanastic education for me — my next offer will be much better explained.

@Gavin – Sorry but YOU can’t pay by PayPal because with your expertise I’d really like you to contribute the ‘outsourcing’ section of my newsletter! I *WILL* be in touch! (Only 2 months overdue calling you, sorry!)

@Cliff – Thanks, glad my extra explanation redeemed myself in the eyes of at least one person! I hope you like the newsletter and find it valuable – but if not I of course would want you to unsubscribe immediately. Obviously I ope you like it enough to continue but if you don’t then… hey… no hard feelings – you’ll have my thanks for giving it a try.

@Kirsten – You said “you can’t please all of the people all of the time!!” … I’m starting to realise that, big time!

@Richard – Thank you. Again, amazing contrast between your comment and the very first comment (from ‘Laz’) at the top of this page.

@Karin – You pinpointed my one (and really, only) mistake with this promotion… I didn’t explain thoroughly enough. I’ll K.I.S.S. next time!

———————————
To EVERYONE who commented (positively AND negatively), thank you all for your comments. It’s been extremely helpful, and like I said above – I’ll do better next time.

As for this promotion – I’ll blog about this in future, but I can tell you it was successful, and I will very likely repeat this type of ’30-day trial’ offer in future! (What I will do different though is simply explain it a lot better!)

Thanks again.

Ed.
http://www.thekissbusiness.co.uk Karin H.

“@Karin – You pinpointed my one (and really, only) mistake with this promotion”

And here is where we disagree (again ) You did a much better job in explaining in the accompanying letter with the newsletter than Jonathan how and where you can cancel your subscription (and even that is on your costs: a free phone number!)

As for not being clear about card details and what the free offer contained: knowing how to read is apparently still a skill

Karin H.
http://www.confidentialseo.com Gordon Drayson

Ed – I challenge you to find ANY comment, blog post, or page in my book where I have said “I am an Internet Marketer”.

The website is called Web Marketing with Ed Rivis….. doesn’t that say you are an Internet Marketer???

According to Wikipedia – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_marketing – Internet marketing, also referred to as web marketing, online marketing, or eMarketing, is the marketing of products or services over the Internet.

This is what you do isn’t it?

Are you saying you aren’t an internet marketer, if so, then I am now completely confused

Gordon
http://www.successtrackonline.com Jonathan Jay

I’ve just been reading the comments on this subject. I have got to know Ed very well over the last few months and I can absolutely assure those people who have posted negative comments that Ed is one of the ‘decent’ guys out there – I can say with 100% confidence that you can do business with Ed any day of the week.

I for one couldn’t see anything strange about Ed’s approach and I guess if you don’t want the newsletter you don’t have to do anything!! Just started reading my copy and it’s brilliant – no fluff or padding, top rate content and the recommendated suppliers are worth the subscription alone. It’s a bargain for 20 quid.

By the way, Ed doesn’t know I’m posting this; my endorsement is from the position of someone who knows quality when he sees it!

Jonathan Jay
http://www.operations-support.co.uk Nigel West

Hi Ed

My copy arrived Saturday and I’m impressed, thank you. Not sure I’ll get away with repainting walls in the house though!

Regards

Nigel
http://www.bambo.org.uk Julian

Surprised you’ve had so much flack Ed. It all seemed perfectly reasonable and understandable to me.

I’ve received my copy and as Jonathan has mentioned, the content is excellent. Good to have something that is UK targeted. I’m fed up with offers that allude to being really useful and then turn out to cost $999 or $1997. They MAY be great, but I’m not willing to stump up that kind of money to feel let down. I might be wrong but there seem to be half a dozen names that are rotated on the net that offer great formulas etc but it seems to me they are a small group of friends championing each other and profiting from people’s paranoia! I’d be interested to know if anyone else feels like this?

Whereas the costs you have set are budgetable. Good luck I think this should be a huge success for you.

Once I’ve implemented the great ideas and techniques you have imparted and have grown my business to the required level, maybe I’ll invest in one of these $rich formulas so that I can eat my words!!!!

Can I say I met Ed at a fantastic seminar Jonathan Jay set up (Drayton Bird – genius!). I spoke very briefly to Ed and he very kindly rang me a couple of weeks later and gave an hour of his time FOR FREE to discuss some issues with me. He didn’t have to, and I don’t expect he’ll want me divulging such generosity!!! But I feel the point needs to be made that, not only is Ed true to his word. He does offer great value and excellent insight. £20 a month is money well spent as far as I’m concerned.

..And I haven’t been primed to say this.

kind regards
Julian
http://newlifecleaning.com Phil Dixon

This whole debate really cheers me up as it demonstrates everything that’s good about Ed Rivis. Really. I wasn’t shocked at having to give credit card details in return for a freebie. It is normal for this method of getting people to try your product but I do understand it could be worrying to a ‘newbie’.I was slightly perturbed at the upsell after registering for the magazine but only in the financial size of the jump but then there was the next sales attempt which was the lower priced bare bones offer without all the frills. That actually suited me and I bought but I didn’t have to buy anything extra if I didn’t want to. Let’s not forget this guy is teaching us how to market and if he didn’t do it with us his readers we would think less of him!

I then got my magazine and thought.. Oh Oh Ed your pitching this a bit high at twenty quid a shot / £1.00 a page but it’s just like attending an exhibition or conference. You only need one juicy morsel of advice that SAVES YOUR TIME and your quids in. And there were plenty of time savers here from sourcing help to Roboform (which I use and it does save time)

Ed Rivis, (if you have followed him for a while) is obviously setting his stall out to be the GB version of the American gurus mentioned in one of the comments above. The big difference is I have always loved his comments when he exhorts you to do a particular thing and then honestly admits in a very British way that he has only learned that this is the right way to do a particular thing because of the expensive mistakes he has made on his own business, in his own time, spending his own money. It makes him far more real, genuine and believable than the so called gurus to me.

He is doing exactly the same with those potential customers who are so naive about giving their card details. He has put his hands up, said that he perhaps should have explained it a bit better for them. In time I imagine he will react like Perry Marshall ( see Nigel West’s comment above) and who can blame him. It is a business after all.
http://www.confidentialseo.com Gordon Drayson

Hi Ed,

Your newsletter arrived today, and I haven’t read all of it yet, but what I have done is quite interesting. This would be much more useful to me as a PDF file though. I could then keep an archive, and will be able to search for what I am looking for much easier than with a paper copy. Have you considered offering a downloadable PDF version?

Gordon.
http://samuraiwriter.com Mark ‘Samurai Writer’ McClure

I’ve no problems with forced continuity programs from people I’ve done business with and not been ripped off. Ed’s one of those honest folks IMO.

Perhaps if the newsletter (from month 2) had been pitched at $99, then the more expensive OTOs would have gone over better?

Nigel West’s link to the ‘perrys-greed’ post is well worth reading. By all means give lots of great stuff away for free (info marketing) but put a value on your time. Even as a writer I see the sense in that.
http://www.edrivis.com Ed

Thank you for all your interesting comments and great feedback.