Wizzer

I’m not new to internet marketing nor am I “green” when it comes to all of the bonuses and incentives offered everywhere to entice us to sign-up to opt-in lists of buy from a particular affiliate link.

On the basis I believe you can never know it all and as the internet and marketing methods are in a constant state of change I do regularly look at and buy various new programs that catch my eye.

But today, despite my experience I wasted a whole morning before I gave myself a good talking to and put a stop to what I was doing…

You see I signed up for a “free” program a few weeks ago (which one is not important) and finally got round to looking at the membership area this morning.

Coincidentally, I also received an email from the affiliate whose link I used telling me about the bonus package I was entitled to.

As background, this particular sign up page had about 4 One Time Offers all of which I quickly bypassed and went straight to the “free” members area. In fact, if I remember correctly there was a monthly payment deferred for a month.

Anyway, as I didn’t have time to view all of the goodies the day I joined I took a look this morning. And looked at the affiliates bonus package…

It was like Aladin’s Cave or Pandora’s Box depending on your viewpoint!

There was so much information, and so many “bonuses” I was immediately confused as to what was free and what was part of the ongoing membership (if I chose to continue it).

The email from the affiliate contained more links and discount vouchers and after about 1/2 hour of looking at all the goodies I’d lost the will to live!

Good, bad or indifferent I have no idea. There was simply too much information, far too many “bonuses” all supposed to help my business. I was seeing continuity programs and download pages – I got about 5 more autoresponder messages telling me about even more bonuses and free sites etc.

All pushed to help me and my business. Or was it a way to put more offers in front of me – some I simply had to have or the price would go up. Great marketing techniques perhaps but for me they achieved just one thing and one thing only…

“OVERLOAD”

Is it by design – too much information and nobody takes action. Result – buy more in the future?

That’s the cynic in me. But the reality is, I as a seasoned on-liner and still found all of the information too much. And I know what I am looking for. Confusion reigned and for someone just starting out this really would be far too much.

I decided there and then to close the programs, cancel any ongoing memberships and unsubscribe from the lists.

Outcome

I learned nothing new.

I wasted a morning.

The affiliate got nothing.

The program owner got nothing

I unsubscribed from all of their lists

I won’t be interested in anything they have to say in the future

Lessons Learned

Too many conflicting (even complimentary bonuses) actually detract from the real offer

As a marketer be wary of what you offer

As a consumer be careful what you take up. Make sure it’s what you need and not just a glitzy shiny package you’ll do nothing with

It’s very easy to lose a customer before he / she becomes one

Don’t jump on the bandwagon of thinking that the top online marketers get it right all of the time

Conclusions

I’m sure they’d argue that a few people like me falling by the wayside is unimportant as long as they get the sales to the big numbers BUT I’d contend that one unhappy customer is one too many.

So whether you are a marketer or consumer or both, those big bonus packages, one time offers and upgrades may well be killing your business – or they will if you have other customers like me!

I honestly believe simple and straightforward is best. It may not generate as many sales but it will certainly help customers better to have information served up when needed in a simple to follow format.

You know where most of the bonuses I’ve accumulated over the past few years are right now? Either in the Recycle Bin or lost somewhere on the hard drive – long forgotten and probably long past their “sell by” date.

What do you think? Let me know by leaving a comment below.

Watch out for my forthcoming article – following today’s events I decided it is long overdue:

The 6 Biggest Mistakes Made By New Online Marketers

I’ll post here when it’s ready – sign up to my RSS or email feed in the Header above or the link immediately below this post & I’ll let you know when it’s done.