Day 19 30DC - Tumbled!!

I suppose it had to happen. When you have thousands of people doing the same thing at the same time, it is going to get someone's attention, even on the Internet. Tumblr has shut down any page created on August 18. This is a knee-jerk reaction to the mass creation of pages on their site. Frankly, it could also be a server problem, and I think all the action scared them.

They may have a legitimate reason from a content standpoint. As we know, the internet marketing field is glutted with scum-sucking bottom-feeding spammers who, instead of following ethical teachings such as in the Thirty Day Challenge, voraciously grasp onto any new technique and pervert it for their own selfish purposes. There were quite a few Tumblr pages that were blatant hard sells instead of providing good quality content. The Tumblr folks didn't want their platform abased and their credibility ruined by hosting illegitimate content. It would very quickly turn off their audience, and drive away their visitors. They have every right to run their shop the way they see fit, since they are footing the bill.

Unfortunately, a fair number of good pages with high quality content, including mine, were axed in the mass suspensions.

The bottom-feeders have always given internet marketing a bad name, and it looks like they are continuing to do so. This is why you must be SO CAREFUL when trying to do business on the Internet.

What is good, however, is that in a Web 2.0 world, social pressure has huge clout. It is the only defence against these kinds of people. If you come across a site that is a blatant sales-only selfish attempt to grab money, Stumble it with a thumbs down, give it a bad review, and if necessary, report it to the hosting provider. Speak loudly and clearly that we don't want this crap on the internet. Google, Squidoo, and other major entities already slap down any offenders, and most platforms have Terms of Service agreements that contain clauses allowing them to do the same.

If you provide quality content, your gentle and organic sales message will be accepted and even welcomed. Bottom line: Give before you get.