TDC Toolbar - What's in it for them?

Previously on this blog we've discussed that some people on the net feel that the Thirty Day Challenge is a scam. This concerned both Natalie and I so we've taken the view that if anything looks even slightly scamish, it needs to be investigated.

One of the videos from pre-season lesson three is all about installing extensions for the browser of choice, Flock. Nothing wrong with any of these to be honest although it's possible that some of the extensions provide information back to the extension's author. That doesn't really help the TDC team any, so that's not scamish at all.

The last toolbar installed is the TDC Toolbar. This contains a search widget plus links to tools, information on the TDC site and some other features which aren't apparent just yet - although I'm sure it will all be explained throughout the actual challenge.

Ed goes to mention in the video that the TDC team receive "about $1.65 a day". WARNING WARNING WARNING. DANGER WILL ROBINSON! SCAM ALERT.

Oh wait! Ed goes on... "So if that offends you, feel free not to install it." Ah. That's better.

My personal view on this is that the toolbar's value is worth more to me than the idealism that they shouldn't get the $1.65 per day. In any case, if they make $1.65 a day off me and it costs me nothing and it allows them to bring me this information for free, then I have no complaints.

So far, I'm not concerned about the Thirty Day Challenge being a massive scam, and still suggest you come and join the fun.

Disclaimer: I've done my best to quote Ed from the video above. If there should be a correction please let me know.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

But is the Thirty Day Challenge a scam?

I have been promoting the Thirty Day Challenge on facebook, Red Bubble, Plurk and Twitter and in a few conversations with people they've expressed that they think the 30DC is a scam. I don't really like to be seen as the kind of person who falls for scams on the internet or otherwise, and this is partially the reason behind setting up this blog, so I can blog all the issues that come up - good and bad.

From my research (read: googling) about the Challenge and the guys behind it, I haven't been able to turn up much. All the people I've spoken to who've done it in previous years have said they got a lot out of it, and they're returning this year because they feel they will learn even more. That's a pretty good endorsement if you ask me.

The link between the Thirty Day Challenge and the Immediate Edge is pretty blatant and it isn't hidden, which I appreciate. However, people I've spoken to who are dubious about the Challenge, say that it is a funnel for the Immediate Edge programme. The programme, also run by Dan Raine and Ed Dale, costs $97 a month and promises to teach the most bleeding edge internet marketing strategies. Ed and Dan are pretty forthright (with great humour) about having no guarantees, and encourage people who dislike the Immediate Edge to get the hell out whenever they want.

Another point was that the sites Ed Dale is behind aren't fantastically designed. Examples like Dominiche and the Immediate Edge lead me to take the same point of view.

As a graphic designer, I can't say that I distrust poorly designed websites - I merely think that they might be the kind of business who doesn't think they need great design to sell, which is a huge shame. One of my biggest indicators for distrusting a website is copy that screams at me: "PAY NOW FOR CONTENT THAT YOU CAN FIND FOR FREE OR YOU WILL DIEEE!!" I don't often buy things on the internet, so I'm pretty sure that I'm never going to feather Ed and Dan's pockets for the Immediate Edge, but you can be damn sure I'm going to investigate the 30DC as long as it is completely free.

I should also mention that in internet marketing circles, there's a move towards "anti-design" because apparently people get suspicious of really schmick looking websites. I've seen some pearlers in my time! As to whether or not they work? Well, none of them have ever convinced me to convert a sale.

Anyway, I'm going to keep track of the negative and positive feedback for the Thirty Day Challenge and elaborate on it here in this blog. The moment I am asked to pull out my credit card, or submit information that I'm not comfortable submitting, I will blog about it. I think transparency is very important, and up to this moment in the pre-season training Ed has been incredibly transparent.

If you've got any questions or feedback for the Challenge, please write us a comment and we'll investigate it for you!