Ok so I have been seriously doing Aff Marketing for about 5 months now and have been doing pretty well for myself already. So I thought why not spread some good karma and help out some friends.

Long story short I got 2 "friends" started out, got them approved for a network or two. Help picked out their domains names and helped them rank for some decent keywords. Not only that I gave them my exact method for how I was making money and even told them my keywords I was ranking for. Now seriously who does that? I did not go into helping them to gain a thing if anything I lost money. By spending time teaching them how to edit name servers, how to even install wordpress and run it.

This all came down because I told 1 "friend" to stop wasting time trying to stay ranked for a saturated keyword. He got there via black/grey hat techniques and as those of you who know about seo and black/grey hat techniques it isn't likely to stay ranked for those keywords. A few days later I launched a new site with the same niche and ended up on page 2 for this keyword. Now he feels I stabbed him in the back..? How? Seriously was I obligated to teach them seo, or to tell them my methods or keywords which most people as you know wouldn't even tell their own mothers lol. I helped one make over 400$ in the span of a week and the other made 300$ in the same time. But, I'm the bad guy here.

So this is why you should never help friends make money. Sorry I needed to rant/vent about this lol.

U are 90-95% right. There's still that 5-10% are definitely worth helping.

Originally Posted by davejug1

Did you tell him that blackhat SEO is temporary? Personally I do blackhat SEO and as soon as I rank well I go total whitehat (used to work for Google rating websites on their relevence so I know as soon as they are subjected to human inspection they are soon demoted)

Blackhat to get there - Whitehat to stay there

Did you explain that mate?

Numerous times. I said you will not stay ranked. Told him to check back in a few days my site will drop to. But he thinks I told him not to try so I could profit from it.

His exact words...
"I feel like the moment I started this up You only talked to me so, that Rob would get more into it. I feel like I got stabbed in the back. I feel like You told me not to rank for that keyword cause i'd never get it. Fine I listened to you Lost My only keyword that was ranking well. Than you went and did the exact thing I was doing or trying to do and made a huge profit from it. So, I'm not quite sure where your saying that I don't listen to you. If you think i'm being an ass that's fine. I'm not the only one who thinks this. Quite a few people actually. I really do apperciate all the help you did give me I really do. So, Either way I'm done with all of this. I apologize that you helped me over the 20 other people that you could've helped and sorry that I was "a Waste of your time"

He fails to realize I know what I am doing and I have been doing this longer. Seriously I could have wrote an ebook or started an online coaching and charged for the help I gave. lol

Lol wow I know what you mean sometimes. I love helping people out, because I will usually get some good karma back from them... and most of the times I do! It's amazing how having friends can explode your business with more opportunities and ventures in making money.

In the long run, a business is a business and most of the time you really need to keep things hush hush to avoid saturation.

i had a similar thing happen to me although my "friend" started hitting up my market hard after me teaching them pretty much everything... basically went behind my back and thought i wouldnt find out! stupid!!!!!

however they really didnt know what they where doing, and you could tell... they where using social media and it didnt last very long, my main domains still ranking high... theres no where to be seen....

close call - but lesson learnt!

Originally Posted by ukescuba

i had a similar thing happen to me although my "friend" started hitting up my market hard after me teaching them pretty much everything... basically went behind my back and thought i wouldnt find out! stupid!!!!!

however they really didnt know what they where doing, and you could tell... they where using social media and it didnt last very long, my main domains still ranking high... theres no where to be seen....

close call - but lesson learnt!

Damn that's just cold. Yea I even helped pick a domain that was only one word different than mine. They have no idea how much I helped them. What fresh newbies get their sites indexed in about 7hrs and ranking in like 15hrs? I helped that happen and helped them make some decent coin. Most people on here would kill to make 400$ in a week starting out. Maybe it comes down to Greed..Who knows. But thanks for the input here maybe they will see this and realize that just because you were ranked doesn't mean you will stay ranked!

Originally Posted by Mp3Mage

In the long run, a business is a business and most of the time you really need to keep things hush hush to avoid saturation.

Yea I know and I hurt my business by doing what I did yet I stabbed him in the back eh? lol

Yea you help someone out and they end up wanting more and more... & when u finally stop giving that friend turns into an enemy. So unless u plan on helping this person for a very long time. I would recommend not even offering help. Or make it very clear that you're only giving them a head start the rest is up to them.

I like helping out people and they do deserve to learn something even from one of us! I'm saying this because there were people online that actually helped us to get where we are now without no charge. But if they're just using you to make money I wouldn't call that friends.

Originally Posted by kidblogger

I like helping out people and they do deserve to learn something even from one of us! I'm saying this because there were people online that actually helped us to get where we are now without no charge. But if they're just using you to make money I wouldn't call that friends.

No doubt people should be helped, but they didn't even know what this game was all about. I presented them with it to see if it was something they wanted to do.

But what people do you know on here that give out their biggest money making method like I did to them.

Why help those people? Help me! Yea, I'm a newbie in need of a coach.

I never help close friends to do anything. If they wanted to do something, they would have done it already. They don`t need me. (Unless they ask of course)

Maybe sometime down the road they will realize what you did for them, hopefully. If they do come to you with their hat their hand and an apology, it could be a good thing. And not a waste of your time after all.

Originally Posted by blackzeus

Why help those people? Help me! Yea, I'm a newbie in need of a coach.

The funny thing about life is that you hear stories of people being helpful but you never actually experience it yourself. Good luck finding free help

i wouldnt know about this forum if it wasnt for a friend at college. Hes a good guy and gives me advice on somethings that i should do to get better at everything. Seeing as how im a programmer i hope to be able to help him at some point when i learn some more things about all this works. Hopefully figure out a way to automate some things. So its not always a bad idea to teach people. I for one only want to get good and hopefully have better ideas me and him can bounce off of eachother so that we both make more money

I've had both personal and family experiences to teach me this lesson, so even when I think "hm, I'd like to hire or help a friend out" I don't. I'm fairly paranoid about what I do anyway, so it'll take a wihle for me to hire someone who I can trust enough to turn over some of what I do to them. I need to, so that I can work on bigger, more important things, but I don't want to trust a friend with it, since bad things can happen with partnerships with friends. It sucks but it's true.

I have already learned not to "introduce" anyone to IM long time ago. There are general two types of people:

those who are lazy and want you to do everything for them while they profit and
those who want to suck all all the secrets from you, including your exact niche, keywords etc.

I have stopped trying to "help" long time ago. When people say they find my work (internet biz) interesting and want to learn more, I just smile and nod.

I also think that there are a few % worth helping and I prefere to help them even though one now and then (or most often actually) run into those who one shouldn't help.

But then... It's also once responsibility to not give away the big plan. One should never give out once keywords and once hot niches. Better in that case (and probably help once friends more) to show them how they should find their own hot niches and monetize form them. In that way they stay out of once own business and vice versa.

Quid pro Quo, ftw!.

Unbelievable.

This "friend" of yours is not much of a friend. Talk about ungrateful! You taught him a skill which will pay greatly over time.

How many people get a leg up like that?

I guess it all comes down to a persons character.

How many noobs (including myself) on this forum would KILL to be making
$400 to start??

Well, anyway you earned some good karma for yourself.

Sorry that has happened to you justAIMe. Sometimes you just can't help someone. You are damned if you do and damned if you don't. Just know you did what is right and learn and move on from this lesson.

Best of luck in 2009.

I can see all of you like helping people and teaching the business, Would any of you agree to take me as his student? mentor me? help me make some money? P-L-E-A-S-E?

I gave up on mentoring people a long time ago, I found that they only want to suck you dry and try to take over you and your money.

Now when ever anyone asks me what I do, I just tell them I sit in front of a computer for 15 hours a day, when in fact I only do "work" on the computer for 3 hours and the rest is just researching and developing new ideas.

The only way I will mentor someone is when I write an e-book, they buy it for what ever price I set it at and then have a question that I did not answer in the e-book.

My time mentoring could be time spent making money for myself.

Originally Posted by darklegion

My time mentoring could be time spent making money for myself.

Exactly I lost money by spending so much time helping them. But the one still thinks I told him not to rank for a keyword so I could. I told him it was temporary and it was, because today after 8 days my site dropped. Even if I did tell him not to try to rank for it so I could what would be the big deal? I gave him the keyword to begin with. That isn't what I did though. I gave him the best advice I possibly could. This experience has definitely soured me from helping anyone again. I think I am more hurt than anything that he would think I would do such a thing after giving him all the help I did.

Originally Posted by justAIMe

Exactly I lost money by spending so much time helping them. But the one still thinks I told him not to rank for a keyword so I could. I told him it was temporary and it was, because today after 8 days my site dropped. Even if I did tell him not to try to rank for it so I could what would be the big deal? I gave him the keyword to begin with. That isn't what I did though. I gave him the best advice I possibly could. This experience has definitely soured me from helping anyone again. I think I am more hurt than anything that he would think I would do such a thing after giving him all the help I did.

Charge the guys next time someone wants you to be his/her teacher lol

Well im currently working with some one right now.I will never cross the line with him hes a very nice guy.Hes even fortunate for giving me this opportunity.But that's sad to hear helping someone else and they show no love for it.Im sticking with this guy hes a pro.

but yea just don't help them no more

JustAIMe, A good deed is a good deed. Regardless as to how the recipient turned out to be, you are a good person for A) wanting to help and B) Taking the time to actually step up DO IT.

You felt like giving for SOME reason, and you ran with it, so there must be a bigger "why" than you can see at this moment.

Plus, you are better now than you were then. Sure, feelings are hurt, but you learned [among many things] how to teach by doing that (a valuable skill to attain!) and now you are even stronger and more knowledgeable and - still ok.

Take a deep breath and let it go. Re-situate your mind and emotions and carry on (and kick some big time @$$ this year!)

Also, try to not close off your goodness because of a bad incident. Not everyone you could help will be like that. Someone who really needs you and will appreciate your help might be right around the corner. Would be sad if you missed them.

The people you helped just need to grow more and mature. Perhaps later they will see, what you - and we - already do.

Good for you and good luck!

Gwendoleea

It wasn't so much one friend as it was the other. The one actually took my side and had my back he just got caught in the middle. He has done not nothing but listen to me and appreciate my help. I'm just kinda on the fence right now whether I still want to help others or not lol.

justAIMe, I think if you were not meant to help anyone else, you would not have that inclination in the first place. Something in your heart makes you want to help others and that's a good thing.

Like I said before though, just re-settle and try to move onward and upwards without thinking on it too much more. Probably right now isn't a good time to offer your help to others, but later on, when things have passed you might be presented with the option again and THEN you can decide how you feel about it. Giving is always more conducent to happiness than with holding..As long as you don't give more than you have or can spare. (If that makes sense?)

I am glad the one friend stuck by you and appreciates you. See, you're already 50% in the positive for your efforts!

G.

"No good deed goes unpunished", which unfortunately seems to be too often true.

You intentions were good and you did what we all hope that any good friend would do, especially in time of need. With time your friend with see this from a different perspective and come to realize that your friendship is a loss much greater than a keyword or high page ranking.

When something doesn't go as expected, it is not uncommon for people, like your friend, to look for someone, anyone, to blame rather than assume any accountability themselves.

Fortunately this was just a friend and not also a family member. From personal experience I can tell you, that pain never goes away.

I'll second your sentiments, although my problem is about to come up smelling of roses.

A Story!

I kinda stumbled upon a niche with pretty much zero competition (which is still has) and started thinkning about the best way to exploit it.

I realised i needed in with someone who knew about that actual niche, so a product could be created.

I sat down with 2 people who work in the niche, whom i knew (one was a good friend) and explained that i have this niche, not completely researched yet, but looks good and wonder if they'd be up for bringing some product/s together.

I said, i'll do everything, apart from product creation, you gimme materials, i'll deal with everything else, then 50/50. They weren't happy about this (what non-marketers are?) so we agreed on 3 way split, because in all fairness there was a lot of work for them.

One day, they start trying to sound me out about just paying me for site building and seo (as opposed to a JV), seeing pound signs in their eyes, immediately my greedar goes off, so i decline and say, look, it was my idea, but if you feel you don't need me, go for it.

Anyway, about 1 year ago with almost no marketing experience, they dive in. They somehow learn ppc, well i say learn, i mean open an account and manage to get some useless ads up. About 1 week ago they explained they've made about £200 in sales and have spent more than that, can i help?

I say no, because i'm not giving them shit that's taken years to learn, but hand it all over to me, and i'll split 50/50. They agreed!

I now have coming to me somewhere in the region of 5GB of unique, seriously high quality video, many, many unique ebook, literature, a sales letter, although shit, and more unique articles than you can shake a stick at.

Business in a box, brand new, all completely bespoke and unique in a virgin niche, all wrapped into a cosy membership site... Where do i sign?

Originally Posted by Barry Scott

Business in a box, brand new, all completely bespoke and unique in a virgin niche, all wrapped into a cosy membership site... Where do i sign?

Hell yea grats Barry!

know how you feel aime. i had the same thing happen kind of. was helping a mate. told them nuff shit as thought they were friend. yet what did they do? packaged alot of it to sell on as their own. also stole some shit from me. now i am very caucious is to whom i work with..

Money and Business is where friendship ends.

Even when showing someone "how to fish" can end up in complaints that he's not catching something.

Its all about missing clear statements before some "teaching" starts; a well proven habit in biz-life - but often forgotten when friendship is in play.

To a friend: Never lend money, never "share" biz-secrets...EXCEPT giving it to them as a Present - to all others - sell it!

The tons of (free) good advice in this forum I estimate as "Presents", so I know I cant complain about results...a "friend" recieving some advice to old fashioned way mostly always will give me the fault if HIS Project fails...

...So I just help'em by showing them *Where to find knowledge "how to fish" for themself* ...the road they have to go dowm alone. (like everybody of us have to)

Originally Posted by farfetchedmoney

The funny thing about life is that you hear stories of people being helpful but you never actually experience it yourself. Good luck finding free help

Well when people keep screwing you over time and again you realize theres no point in helping so much. I know from personal experience, so now im not sharing how I make money with anyone.

been there, done that... won't go down that road again!
business partners are the kiss of death. it's better to do it alone,
than to deal with ingrates, sneaks, and back- stabbers.

I understand the your frustration but not everybody is like that. I'm new to this whole IM thing and I would love for some one to help me and show me the ropes so to speak.

Granted I've been here a short time but I've been to other forums and i understand that to a community such as this when a person has something to offer it seems like that person is more valuable and respected but for someone like me with no internet marketing experience I don't have anything to offer this forum.
To me the information in this forum is all over and not concentrated for a newbie like me that is very confusing, (as in which way is the best way and most worth the time put in).
Now some might argue with me that "why don't you try them all?" To them i say that although i haven't seen all of the methods out there alot of these method require a lot of time to make it work, and let's say i put in all that time to find out later that it just wasn't worth the effort. I'm trying to bypass all that. It's like carrying a leaking water bucket up a hill and discovering at the very end that you've lost all that water. It's just not worth it.

And i've been scammed before. I've bought lots ebooks promising the world and when it comes down to it they never deliver. I belong to a paid forum that's yet to show their weight in gold.

And like most people they're whole purpose for doing this is just to get by not some throw away cash income stream. I'm the type of person who is willing to learn and will soak up every useful info thrown at me. I will continue regardless to try and find that working method.

Sorry if this seems a bit long winded but i just wanted to express my feelings on this issue.

ALK