Lots of buzz about the whole Joel Comm forced continuity thing in the past week. you can read Michel Fortin’s take on the topic of continuity here, and see Joel’s apology here if you need to catch up.
Lots and lots of marketers promoted this re-launch of Adsense Secrets to their lists. And lots of those marketers have now sent out an apology email of their own to their lists, saying they didn’t know Joel was doing the forced continutity thing, they’re sorry for not warning their list ahead of time. “I still believe in the product, but if I’d known the monthly subscription for the additional newsletter was pre-checked I would have let you know so you could opt-out if you wanted to.”
A lot of marketers grabbed their affiliate links and ran to Aweber, rather then giving the salespage – and sales process – a review. And now they’ve got upset subscribers (and some admit to having lots many subscribers over the fiasco); all of which could have been avoided by a little due diligence before hitting the “Send” button.
I didn’t promote Adsense Secrets. I haven’t had the time to look it and it’s salepage over. I’m certain it’s a great product, the original was excellent and I can only imagine it’s gotten better with time. But still, I didn’t see this newest version, and thus didn’t promote it. I want to keep my integrity intact as far as what products I recommend, and to do so I need to do a full review before I allow myself to mail or write about something.
And here’s my own opportunity to upset my readers. 
Joel’s continuity, while it had the “Yes!” box pre-checked, was NOT fine print, was NOT hidden, was NOT covert or underhanded. If you didn’t read what you were agreeing to before you purchased, well, that’s your bad.
If you don’t take responsibility for your own actions in life and instead hand that responsibility (in the form of blame) to someone else, you have no power (you’ve effectively given that power to someone else, since it’s “not your fault”). If you have no power, you’ll never have success – you’ll just spend your days blaming others for your lack thereof.
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Michelle,
You make two great points here.
First, if you a just schlepping things to your list, that’s just wrong. It’s worse than wrong. People on your list because they trust you, if you don’t have the decency to check out a product before you pass it on to your list, then you deserve to have people leave your list if the product is less than standard. Don’t you think you would make more money in the long run if you took a little time and investigated. I’m on several list, but only a few of them take the time, I think, to actually review the product before sending it out. Those people never get any of my business. Then there are the few that have even advised against buying a product and give their reasons. Now those people who take the time to review and give the pros and cons, they get my attention and keep it.
The second great point you made is that people are responsible for their actions. It is easier to blame it on someone else. But come on people grow up. You are responsible for what you do, not someone else. That attitude may have worked when you were little, but it’s time to grow up.
Thanks for the great reminder.
Take responsibility for your own actions!
Are you insane Michelle?
If we all did that what would become of Dr Phil and the like?
The forced continuity has now been used by two different marketers in a week or two, maybe thats the new trend.
Paul
Right on, Michelle. That’s why I have made it my life mission to create my own unconditional freedom from cause and effect (the root of the blame game), and to facilitate the unconditional freedom process for anyone willing to stop being a victim in life and ready to empower themselves rather than give their power away to something or someone else. And I agree with you that Joel was actually not deceiving anyone; I ordered his product, and know that I will charged $29.95 monthly unless I cancel before the 30 days are over (I just haven’t seen anywhere the number to call in case I do wish to cancel).
If top gurus tend to such marketing techniques, we need to keep our eyes open wider than ever.
Caveat Emptor.
I think you have to take your own actions and be responasble for your own luck. The only thing given to us is oppotunity, ogygen the rest is up to us. The more effort and passion you put in the better the rewards feel onced achieved.
great post michelle, thank you.
About all that I can say about his post is AMEN and AMEN. I feel the same way and could not have said it better.
“If you didn’t read what you were agreeing to before you purchased, well, that’s your bad.”
Try taking this position with the Federal Trade Commission.
You’ll get a much-needed education.