Questions for Tom Venuto

Steve

Steve

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Staff member
Tom Venuto for my blog... author of Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle

I have a number of questions I want to ask. I know a number of people around here have read his popular book. If anyone has any specific questions you'd like me to consider, by all means, let me know.

Not promising they'd make it in, but suggestions are appreciated.

The typical questions about who he is, etc will obviously be asked.
 
I suppose it'd be politically incorrect to ask -but the marketing tactics he uses and why he uses them I'd be interested in.. if if couldbe asked in such aw ay that it's not mal saying he's a big doodoo head spammer :D ...

Like having people sell his book for him...

why he didn't go with a print copy and only an electronic copy of the book..
 
I've been considering throwing in a question like this... not sure if I will man up and do it or not.

On the affiliate program front, I'm not sure how I feel about it. Like Lyle has an affiliate program. But you don't see retards running around making spam links for it everywhere.

With Tom's book, it's ridiculous. I suppose it has to do with the mass appeal his book has and a few other things.

My question to you is, "Are affiliate programs bad in your mind, or just particular ones like Tom's?"
 
My question to you is, "Are affiliate programs bad in your mind, or just particular ones like Tom's?"
Click to expand...
I think it's really a case by case thing...

If the person doing the affiliating has the right audience and isnt just casting a huge net and hope that someone bites then it's not bad...

Like... Drug companies do marketing to doctors.. I go to the doctor and get legitimately diagnosed with condition X... Doctor gives me a coupon for a prescription to help with condition X... that's OK... But if the drug company does a mass marketing campaign to all households in hopes of snaring one person who might or might not have condition X.. then thats not ok...

Affliliates are fine if I'm looking for the information and ask the affiliator... Or if I pose a question that the affiliator KNOWS is answered in the affiliatees program... (and HOW do I lose weight isn't a question - it's got to be specific...)

But with Tom's affiliators they just seem to go into random weightloss forums and throw out the links -and I'd be willing to wager that more than half haven't read the book and can't apply the info that's in the book.
 
Excellent perspective and I wholeheartedly agree.

I only ask b/c I wrestle with how I feel about affiliate programs time and time again. I signed up for Tom's affiliate program a long, long time ago. I never made a dollar off of it.

You and I both know I could've. People respect the things I say and I could simply pitch his book to most anyone and make 50% or whatever the proceeds are now.

As soon as I signed up, I saw how many people were slinging this product and they were doing so disrespectfully with the sole intent of putting dollars in their pockets. People who had no idea what they were talking about too. I wasn't interested in playing part in a pyramid scheme. It simply went against all that I am, mostly due to the things you've said above.

That said... Gordy wanted to work affiliate networks for those products that we truly recommend into our website. I love a select few products. Believe it or not, Tom's book I really like and I still do recommend it... just without the affiliate link. I told Gord I simply don't know if I'd like to go that route.

People take a suggestion a whole heck of a lot more seriously if they know you aren't benefiting from said suggestion.

I like to keep things unbiased.

Gord's response is I need to start thinking more like a businessman. And maybe he's right... I don't know. We were at dinner talking about this with a few other guys who are all businessman. They made the argument that you've invested the time and research to read particular books and have the expertise to filter the good stuff from the bad. If people trust you, why not be compensated for that?

That doesn't sell me.

I did sign up for an amazon affiliate program and I even linked in the interview with Lyle the book he recommended, Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers, with my affiliate ID.

And I hated that, lol.

I am still thinking about changing the link.

I hate business. We need to go back to bartering!
 
bartering won't keep you in that beautiful old/new house :)

Money is important... and does make the world go round... you've got a solid reputation and a strong set of ethics... Take care of yourself and do what's best for you so you can sleep at night -and let other people do what tehy are going to do...
 
I suppose so.

I'm always at internal battle with this 'coming out' bit. I mean, I hesitated interviewing Lyle and especially Tom b/c I didn't want to get sucked into the mix.

But I realized that's silly. I need to follow my heart and be true to myself... which I've always been, and everything will continue to work out.

Thanks Mal.
 
the marketing aspect really does interest me - I've said it before that I think his website really sucks (last time I looked anyhow) it's doesn't have a professional face (not slick,b ut professional) and screams scam/spam.. to me anyhow... I'm sure it appeals to some...

With my bitchiess aside.

Who does he think his audience is -and who does he intentionally market to -I'm pretty sure that I'm not his target demographic... but who does he feel his audience is... and does he plan on changing that to give a broader appeal? that's not to say that the info in his book couldn't be applied to anyone - but you've got to get peopl ein the door in order to sell to them...
 
On his website, he has two certifications currently CSCS, NSCA-CPT - least i think that's two... Does he do any type of continuing education either thru additional certifications, coursework, or does he do research by using friends/clients as guinea pigs?

and he also mentions the 5% of people who can follow his program - How does he define those 5 percent? what seperates those from the 95% that want the quick fix...
(I think i'm going along the same lines as your why diets fail discussion with lyle) maybe why people fail from his perspective?
 
He actually told me already that he wants to touch base on a lot of psychology. He read my interview with Lyle and he wants to certainly add to it. I'll tie this stuff in.
 
I wanted to bump this thread for anyone who didn't see it originally. This interview fell through the cracks a while back for various reasons. Tom are finally in the midst of it now so if anyone has any questions, I'd certainly consider them.

Thanks
 
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