A rant, an apology and a good-bye

[Vita_Vee]

Hi,

This post is going to be pretty special. I didn't think I would do this one day but what happened these last 2 days motivated me to DELETE all my IM related lists except the ones related to my paid services (to some degree).

I want to be clear on something: I have not lost my mind and this is not an irresponsible act. I have well thought about it, and as you will see if you read more, it does make sense.

Over the years my different subscribers lists have reached pretty good numbers - I have spent a lot of good time chatting with some of you, either by email, skype or in the forum and I also had some fights with some others (even customers in the private forums).

When I started to build those lists my goal was to give OUTSTANDING value to my subscribers. I wanted to have the best newsletter of the IM community. But I clearly never reached that goal and I apologize for this. I was spending too much time building my affiliate sites, developing my services, recording videos and posting tips and methods here, in the forum.

On the positive side, one good thing I did (or rather something I didn't do) was that I didn't promote offers after offers to my subscribers.

So I came to this conclusion: why maintain these lists if they don't add outstanding value to what I do AND if in these lists there are more and more negative-minded people who don't hesitate to treat you like a scammer or a failure when they miss a deal? (You would be amazed to read some of the comments I receive sometimes, I wonder how I can keep calm...)

People tell you to build lists to make more money - yeah good - in my case I don't feel I was making good money from my lists - as I said I'm not promoting Joe's offers each and every day (nothing personal against you Joe).

Ok great... but what about ALL the other positive minded-people? Well, there is this forum. This is for them I created it in the 1st place!

So let's just DELETE all those lists!

The only ones I'll keep are the ones that are not in the IM field and the ones I need to run the Ultra Spinnable Article service.
So I'll have to make some adjustments in the way I deliver my bonuses (when people buy products via my affiliate link) but that's a good thing.

And next time I'll build a list I'll make sure to add a LOT of filters! My goal is not to have the biggest list or to squeeze the most money I can from everyone - I want to interact with nice people, and nice people only.

Oh BTW, the special price for the Ultimate Package is ending, at most, this coming Sunday, the 16th of October 2011 (or sooner if I reach full capacity).

No further notice will be given.

Thanks for reading!


UPDATE

So... this is done - I have deleted many lists and emptied some others.

I have sent an email a few minutes ago to all the members who were still in the lists I kept. If you didn't get any email it means you're not in my lists anymore.

If you're a positive-minded person and still want to receive my emails you can subscribe to one of the lists below:

http://vitavee.com/
http://www.theleadingarticles.com/free-u...le-article
http://www.theleadingarticles.com/usa-ma...ree-access

These are the only free lists I kept (but they are all empty now - so if you were already subscribed to one of them, you're not anymore).

[bharte]

Reconsider, weather the storm. It was only 30 people who could get the great offer and much more would be disappointed, if they went negative learn from it, change how you do things but I for one like receiving your offers via the list.

[Ken Thompson]

Well Vita... this does not surprise me, and I think it is probably the best thing for you to do. Everything in life is a two way street, and sometimes you have to make decisions like this when you feel it is not worth it.

I have not read all the posts in 'that' thread; the one I posted in earlier. But I can imagine what was said. Oh well, too bad for them.

Actually, I think think this is funny, in a way. For all those who accused Vita of being dishonest, you can thank your self for this. If you are convinced he is dishonest, then you will fail in business and most likely in life. I would explain it, but you are not worth that much of my valuable time.

Ken

[alexgener]

Vita,
Reconsider, instead of deleting the list just ask the ones that find you dishonest UNsubsribe.

[otepas]

Hi Vita,

I have been your customer just for a few days, but what I have seen so far is:

1. You provide real value both with USA and with the content in the forum
2. You have handled the problem in a proffessional manner. Quick, honest and transparent.
3. You have never lost respect for others even when you were accused of scam. To me, that tells a lot about a person.
   

I don't usually interact much in forums, but I felt that you also had to see positive messages. I am convinced that there are way more people in your list that think highly of you than negatively.

Best regards,
Carlos

[zachkong]

"but what about ALL the other positive minded-people? Well, there is this forum."

Can't agree more!

[alminc]

Vita, give all your subscribers who are not so nice to me please. I could live with all sorts of accusations as long as I make money from those who buy

[mcprobert]

Hi Vita,

There are a very small number of people in the IM world who command respect and trust. You are one of the elite and I always listen when you have something to say. The value that you provide through training and feedback on these forums is exceptional.

Sometimes you need to step away from people and ideas that are holding you back and become more focused on the positive elements things that generate wealth, value or interest. A 'spring clean' and fresh start is always a good idea for all of us to reset back to what we know is important.

Whatever you decide - you will have the support of the people here that do appreciate what you are trying to do.

Clwyd

[smartbiz]

Hi Vita,

I've been on your list for relatively short - that is for as long as I've been a member of the spinnable minis, which is for about 3 months now, yet long enough to say that among other lists I am on YOU CERTAINLY ARE NOT THE ONE writing to your list to often or with rubbish or with any kind of other annoying brain insulting offers like many other - even big name - marketers.

In other words: As a customer I am very happy, and I NEVER received anything else in your emails but pure INFORMATION & QUALITY!

Therefore I suggest - like someone mentioned above - just give the people on your list a choice to STAY or LEAVE

I certainly want to STAY!
Luckily as paid customer you might keep me on your list :

Thanks for your work and efforts to keep us happy..

[jesucarr]

Hi Vita,

I'm member of this forum for a very short time, and I also am one of the people that contacted you about the issue with the Ultimate deal (but no, not one of those that treated you as a scammer . All I have to say, is that you handled the situation in a totally transparent, sensible, respectful, and satisfactory way, and I could see that you treat your community the best you can. I'm proud of being part of this forum a bit more every day.

You are OUTSTANDING!

[berniew]

Hi Vita,

I've only been a member of your list for about 1 day and what I've seen so far I've liked.

But, if some members of your list accused you as being a scammer, I'm not surprised you would remove the list (or at a minimum remove the people who accused you).

I've been on the internet running a couple of service related businesses since 2005, and I came to the same conclusion a couple of months ago where I looked at all the work I was doing for people for free and decided that I was spending too much time working my butt of for people who deither did not appreciate it or were not willing to pay for my paid services.

Since then I have wound back on the free services and concentrated on building the business to service me as well as service my paying customers.

Take care mate and keep up the great work.

[Andrew Wilson]

Vita, I'd look at this in another way.

I'd ask myself some questions.
Firstly I'd ask myself what the purpose of the promotion was.
-was it to earn goodwill
-was it to fill slots
-was it to make extra money
-was it to piss people off

What response did you expect? I do not know how large your mailing lists are but it seems to me that 30 coupons was waaaay too small to be able to have any hope of satisfying demand. So, if you were expecting to make money from the coupon members why do something that was going to reduce your overall profits by offering so few coupons?

Surely you understood that not satisfying demand is the absolute fastest way to generate unhappy customers?

Now, I reckon that you are an honest bloke. I think that you were genuinely taken by surprise by the reaction to people's disappointment.
You made some mistakes here.

I have no dog in this fight, I was not interested in your offer, but you have alienated folks and that is unnecessary.
Assuming that you make a profit on the coupon offer clients on a marginal cost basis (and if you do not then why on earth make the offer!) then get out there, 'fess up, and open the offer up again. Limit the offer by time and make sure that you have the infrastructure to support it - IE no excuses about servers melting under the huge demand: as professionals we owe it to our clients to offer adequate infrastructure.

Now, I dunno if you REALLY deleted those lists, I hope not because if you did you lost a valuable asset and you NEED those lists to contact your prospects - all your list members were either people who were already clients or people trying to find an excuse to be your client. If you can, resurrect those lists, apologise and use the lists to build your business.

Lastly, you need, I think, to be less emotionally invested in these issues. This is about numbers, about dollars and cents. If the original offer was made on an emotional basis and not on a numbers basis you made an error. You also made an error by reacting emotionally to the response which, frankly, was easily predictable given the terms you set!

So, a couple of takeaways:
1) If the offer was costed out and profitable on a marginal cost basis then find any way you can to get back and satisfy the demand you built up.

2) Don't get emotionally over invested in your business - it will cost you money to do so!

3) Be HAPPY that folks were vexed at not getting the offer you made - it is a huge compliment to your business. You know why? Anger shows passion, it shows they WANT to be your clients.


Get out there and take the money that people want to give you. Don't stamp your feet and refuse to do business with them!

[glasgowduo]

This is sad.

But we all (the good guys) respect your decision.

Just one thing. Your list is YOUR asset, not theirs. YOU have the power over this asset, not them. And the luxury of running your own business is you can choose who you work with and for. Why not just use you list manager tools to remove the undesirable ones, and carry on with us nice folks?

Whatever you ultimately decide, I wish you well and thank you for all the care and attention since I first became a customer.

Slanj!

Paul

[youproblog]

I'm not gonna go into details of what happened here. All I want to say is that I've known Vita for 2 years now and never have I ever been feeling scammed by him, let alone disappointed. I'm not saying this because I'm a mod and it is my duty to defend him, far from it, it's just the truth and my point of view.

Most of the free forum posts that he has posted here such as the case studies and tutorials could have been sold for a lot of money, yet he provided us all this information for free.

So what about the mini usa subscription (5 articles a week!) that was available for $5 instead of $17 for awhile? Was that really a move of a scammer?

Even without the discount coupon, you get each day a high quality article for as low as $2.94 per article! Well now you even get the CHOOSE your article! Any idea how much you pay for a high quality article from other websites/companies?? Oh man that Vita Vee guy, what a scammer...

If you're really only after huge discounts, perhaps you might want to reconsider the type of business you're in...?

Trust me, if you're new here, browse the great topics and tutorials. Learn and implement the strategies in your business and profit. Interact with us all and more of great strategies will be posted. And finally at some point you will see Vita's true value if you haven't so far.

[wilbert305]

Quite frankly I believe your choice is one that only you can make final. I personally appreciate the email updates and the such as it lets me know when you've added a new post. That is why I subscribed in the first place.
I too am very busy, and too often I don't have any extra time to browse through any given site or forum... I am certain that I am not alone in this opinion, and I sincerely ask that you reconsider deleting your list as I look forward to it!

[ly.bit]

Vita from zero to profits - you will be deleting that list as well?

I regularly buy through your affiliate links

Look at the end of the day - people have always
used the Internet for leisure - and as a Internet
Marketer I've come to the conclusion that most
are not entrepreneurs and without being spoon
fed they couldn't promote a CPA offer or a affiliate
offer intentionally in a way they generate high commissions

If people have labelled you a scammer - why take it
to heart?

You and I know what you show is real SEO skills

I've searched high and low to make sure my SEO skills
is that of the best - and have learnt a lot of SEO skills
from you and have never used your review process
to make my money

The people that label you scammers are not entrepreneurs

I wouldn't give 2 shits about them

[Extreme marketing]

We have a couple of expressions here in the USA that I doubt will get past the filters on your forum. Always do the best you can with what youve got, and, If they don't like it F??K'em.

Personally I like getting your emails, always informative and never any hype and bs like all the rest of them. So if you have already deleted your lists, where can I sign up for one of the other ones?

[webmagic]

Hi Vita!

When I opened the email this morning and read through it I felt quite saddened: this was actually the only IM-list, I would always open the e-mails and read through them. Just because I knew, it was either a very good deal, which really was very limited and would disappear, or I could learn something new.

So, I am actually sad to hear that these exceptional emails won't come anymore. -- I know that this forum is invaluable, but I won't have the time to read through threads every day.
An e-mail/newsletter then and now that tells me what's worth to read thorugh is what really helps to maintain your focus on your daily tasks in order to build and run your own business.

Maybe you could create a list/newsletter that is only for something like an "inner circle"?

Cheers,

[weedogroup]

Hi Vita,

I do not blame you for taking that action if people are getting on your case...
But I would wonder if you sent them all coupons, How many would really sign up ?

You can not please everybody my friend

Concentrate on those that have purchased and are giving something back and stick to your guns.

When ever I have needed support or help on a problem with my subscription I have always been dealt with professionally and with respect and its a honor to read your emails!

Well that is when I get one....lol

This is after all a new chapter for Leading Article and this I feel is a good move for you
Out With The Old And In With The New

All The best To You
Albert F A Matthews

[Malthus]

Hi Vita!

Thank you for your sincere words!!

You know what? The most money you can make online is by TRADING(futures).
The deeper the world runs into the so called 'finance crisis' the truer this statement becomes, but of course only then, if you know exactly what to do ...

Best wishes to you and your family,

Yours Malthus.