Tell Your Readers The Whole Truth

Rant Warning

I just finished reading a post by a blogger I’m going to be following much less in 2011 and it’s got me so pissed I have to post about it.  My main issue is that they report their success but not all of the methods involved in it.  Let me explain.

The Whole Truth?

It seems innocent enough to report to your readers how you did in 2010, right? Yes and no. Yes, if you disclose EVERY method you use to accomplish your goals.  No, if you don’t. For instance, this blogger’s business model involves buying and building over 100 sites/year.  Nothing wrong with that if that’s what you want to do.

My problem comes when the people following them make the mistake I have in thinking that building 100 plus sites/year is the BEST way to make money online.  Again, no problem if you have all the info. Let me illustrate my point.

The multiple site building model can work for people who enjoy doing that.  This person has had success way beyond my own I have no doubt.  What I feel bad about is the number of people who follow them who don’t realize that it’s not the ONLY way to make money online and that particular model requires either a fairly large outlay of cash for outsourcing content, link building etc or 12-16 hour days writing and commenting and linking.  The average person starting out or trying to make money online absolutely needs to have this person’s other business income to fuel this model. This doesn’t even take into account anecdotal mentions of link building networks they’ve participated in that cost hundreds per month and link farms they have built.

All I’m saying here is if you’re going to give an “accounting” of how you did or how your model works you need to disclose EVERYTHING.

But Disclosure Equals Death, Right?

I know, we internet marketers look at disclosure with disdain because we think we’re giving away the farm if you say too much.  Somebody will swoop in and take our internet businesses away from us if we divulge too much.

To that I say a resounding Bullshit!  I’m not talking about listing all your domains and their incomes from the last month so anybody who’s bored and has technical skills can hack your sites and kill your business.  NO. I’m talking about admitting how much of your stuff you REALLY do, how much you pay somebody else to do and how much you pay for those tasks.  Again, no specifics or brand names unlesss you want some affiliate commission.

My Beef In A Nutshell

This person has probably hundreds of followers on their blog and most of them know this blogger makes decent money doing what they do so they want to emulate them. The bad part is they don’t really know what’s involved in emulating them and have probably found themselves smack dab in the middle of a business model they have no interest or funds to sustain.  Worse, they still haven’t figured out why that model isn’t working for them.  If the blogger had laid it out for them truthfully they would never have committed to that model.

I’m not talking about the people who think they can get rich overnight on the internet without working. I’m talking about the people who are dedicated to putting in the work to make their businesses thrive.  They just don’t have the whole story to make the decision.  It’s kind of like convicting somebody of murder based solely on the fact that they were seen near the victim last.  It’s not the whole picture.

Conclusion

I’m aware there are literally hundreds of ways to make money online and a few of these are exceptionally good.  I don’t have any problem with the business model that requires you to build hundreds of sites.  All that I’m saying is you need to find a method that works for you and then tell your readers the truth about how you did it.

Has This Happened To You?

Have you followed a money maker only to suspect and then find out there is a whole lot more you’re not being told about how they make money online?  I know 2011 will have me returning to my roots of building quality sites I’m passionate about from the ground up.  I don’t believe that internet marketing is JUST a numbers game.  You know, through a hundred things at the wall and something will stick.  Not for me.

Afterword

I’m not divulging this blogger’s name or site because I still do believe they provide quality content for their readers and I do believe they are a good person.  Some of you reading this may think you know who I’m talking about and that just tells me you’re following somebody that you suspect isn’t giving you the whole story. I also admit to the best of my knowledge I make nowhere near what they do per year-YET!  I also don’t have a side business that funds my voracious appetite for site building nor do I have the incredible technical skills they do.  I just want them to come clean and give their readers the whole story so they can decide for themselves with all the information if that business model could work for them.

Am I just dreaming here? Talk to me.