Smiley’s Rants
It seems periodically Vern from Smiley Traffic will start ranting about something and hit on the nerves of others. And it seems lately the target has been Jon Olson and Robert Puddy. Well I wanted to get your thoughts on all this.
I’ve been working and interacting with both Robert and Jon for years, and both have been very helpful. I’ve never felt there was a “clic” or exclusive thing about them. In fact, I’ve been in the SWAT conferences for weeks now where I’ve received great advice from both of them which has actually helped my business!
So what do I do with all this? Do I ban his exchange and services until he stops the personal attacks? Or do I give you the freedom to advertise whatever you want? Or do you even care if I ban his site? Do you even use it?
I’m interested in what YOU have to say about this! If you have a blog, write your thoughts and link to this post for a trackback! If you don’t, just post your comments below!
In case you don’t get the emails, here are the last 3 sent out. july2 – july5 – july13
The last email is the biggest one.. Banning all associated programs with Dan Smith.. Defending pyramid schemes.. And of course the personal attacks on Jon and Robert..
Edit: july17 – Additional email with false claims about this very blog!
Although I have been known to rant about things, myself; I always try to offer solutions to the perceived problems that I choose to take on. Making personal attacks, whether up front or in retaliation, in a public forum, blog or newsletter is not the way to resolve your problems. This only divides people and causes hard feelings.
Some are going to be loyal to one side or the other and, in the end, everyone ends up losing. I’ve been around this marketing game long enough to know that the things you say can come back to haunt you later…Not all people on the internet have A.D.D.
Karma is a bitch and she’ll come back to bite you in the ass sooner or later…just my 2 cents worth…
Just to add another comment to my previous about Cindy, Paul and Tim (sounds like a soft rock group), I made it sound like I was just criticizing those 3 and not Smiley. He is just as guilty as anyone in all of this and maybe more, I don’t really care. I was just trying to make the point that sometimes people (the threesome) that you really respect end up disappointing you. Smiley couldn’t do that since I have only passing knowledge of him from his newsletters.
I have come to realize that owners are business people and they are out to profit. Jon Olson wrote the best ebook I have ever read and it covers loyalty, so I guess anyone that read it have witnessed it first hand. The good and the bad.
Steve
Good point, we all make mistakes and we have to live with them. Never know what the outcome will be, you just need to do what you think is best and weight your options.
I applaud anyone who does what they think is best for their business, whether or not they agree with my actions.
Jon Olsons lastest blog post..On The Road Again
What Vern says is true… it is just intense on how he says it.
Gees, Vern let them ban you – trust me it will not make any difference on traffic or revenue to not be on a dozen traffic exchanges since it brings in such little response.
Tim, are you going to post the most recent Smiley email?
Lets see different day, and the same people still pointing fingers at each other. For the record about 90% of the time I been a member of startxchange I have promoted smileytraffic…. dunno if it helped me any…. but I am sure I gained some referrals here. Might not be many people promoting it here, but your site here is not different than his as far as what people are trying to do. Get views to our websites. As long as it dont break frames, or have porn, why not allow it?
Its great to see that all the exchange owners are banning Vern, and he have never done anything to them at all, just banning him because some others do.
This show that you are great exchange owners and take care about your members. keep up your good work.
Kjell
This is bad business all round – the people that are surffering here are those that use our advertising services.
There are no winners here. I do not condone either party, 2 wrongs does not make it right. It is apparent both have grievances that cannot be settled.
In the interest of all concerned lets not now try and apportion the blame – lets just have a clean break and get on with our respective businesses in the interest of those that use our services.
I hope that we stop seeing public statements in the various media formats from all concerned – stop winding each other up!
Whilst those involved may not be able to forgive but lets forget it and move on.
I am in both TE’s and this is Pathetic.
The point being both parties run reputable Traffic Exchanges both are b….ing about each other, all this bad mouthing each other is bad for business on both sides.
I even didnt want to post on this blog because it is like child’s play.
It’s a case of grown men acting like kids. You ban me, I ban you, You bad mouth me, I bad mouth you.
Come on Both sides are you Grown Up enough to cut the crap?
This is hurting both traffic exchanges. I may leave both very soon and join 2 more that actually run a business not a tick tack toe show. As we say in Australia. Shame, Shame, Shame.
P.S. Are TE’s there for the owners to have quarrels and competitions with each other? Or are they there for the people who join and pay and promote the TE’s and build you TE owners a huge list? So why then can WE (the members) not promote another traffic exchange in your sites? (be it smiley or startxchange) It’s not about your problems with each other. It should be about the members who join and pay you for your services and get you more members and income and actually like your programs.
Sad enough people don’t all get on with each other (we the members don’t care if you all don’t get on with each other or don’t like each other) but to go on like school kids on sites that are supposed to be run by Adults for Adults. Unbelievable!
Think About That Guy’s!
What is most important, to me, I feel, is the results the traffic exchange gives out to one’s business. My sites are being seen, I do get credits, and try to participate in whatever contest they have going at the time.
This over grown “School Yard Bullies” I take with a grain of salt and a smile or two and a chuckle. IT IS the Traffic Exchange itself for the people and by the people (members) That makes a Traffic Exchange Successful! The productivity. NOT personality clashes and bashes.
silveroses
k – so the man threatens my business and basically says he’s going to report me as a fraud.
plus he tells his members to use hyip and scam auto surfs in my exchanges and around the net.
What would you do, I would like to hear from the people that think what I’m doing is wrong?
Please note – this has nothing to do with his newsletters or how much he bad mouths me as a person. he has been slandering me and everything i do for years now.
Jon Olsons lastest blog post..On The Road Again
Hi All,
interesting reading.
I agree with Jon, threatening to go to paypal is beyond a joke.
However I will not ban any properly run traffic exchange.
Now before you go off on one Jon, I hope you recall that we were both in agreement over 1 thing years ago…
If you don’t like the owner, close your account !
Lead by example.
Smiley, I never read your newsletter and I don’t really care too ok.
Therefore I will be closing my account until you make a public appolgy for the paypal thing (whatever you said) and for threatening Tim Linden, who runs a great exchange fairly and honestly.
Jon, I do recall you added Smiley to your ranking a while back and you actually helped and encouraged him, giving him a lot of positive publicity that will ahve increased his site income by big amounts, as people followed your lead.
No doubt people are cancelling subscriptions over this.
Sad for Smiley, but its his choice to go to war with you.
I can’t believe he would attack TIM, what on earth is he thinking.
Tim – I applaud you for this blog, and recommend you close your account and give it no further though, Smiley will either come round, or not, but it won’t affect your business.
I do agree HYIPs are just a crappy script and a con, all sites with those scripts should be hounded out of existence.
Hi All,
interesting reading.
I agree with Jon, threatening to go to paypal is beyond a joke.
However I will not ban any properly run traffic exchange.
Now before you go off on one Jon, I hope you recall that we were both in agreement over 1 thing years ago…
If you don’t like the owner, close your account !
Lead by example.
Smiley, I never read your newsletter and I don’t really care too ok.
Therefore I will be closing my account until you make a public appolgy for the paypal thing (whatever you said) and for threatening Tim Linden, who runs a great exchange fairly and honestly.
Jon, I do recall you added Smiley to your ranking a while back and you actually helped and encouraged him, giving him a lot of positive publicity that will ahve increased his site income by big amounts, as people followed your lead.
No doubt people are cancelling subscriptions over this.
Sad for Smiley, but its his choice to go to war with you.
I can’t believe he would attack TIM, what on earth is he thinking.
Tim – I applaud you for this blog, and recommend you close your account and give it no further though, Smiley will either come round, or not, but it won’t affect your business.
I do agree HYIPs are just a crappy script and a con, all sites with those scripts should be hounded out of existence.
Stephen Sartains lastest blog post..My Topsites List – All Sites
Hey – I thought these shenanigans only happened in the PTR/PTC industry!
As a member one has to agree to TOS before joining – so if it says HYIPs and other unsustainable sites are allowed, so be it! – you agreed
I expect from ANY site I join that the PO
1. Has a business head
2. Treats members with respect
3. Gives a timely reply to contact/forum queries
4. Does not post inflammatory comments about any site in the same industry (except genuine scam ones, with evidence)
As a member I have the right to
1. Ask the PO why they posted (if it was not clear )
2. Resign if not happy
3. Post in forums slagging the site – but thats not my cup of tea!
Now come on all, stop this silly banning of TE sites on other TE’s!
Ok an outspoken PO who’s got a bad hairdo and upset lots – just ban him/her from your TE, not the loyal affiliates to that site (not a member )