Is this some kind of scam?

[waloshin]

Orignal Email:
Subject: Advertising Inquiry

From: Greg@drivenetwork.com

Message:

Hello,

My name is Greg and I work in online marketing for DriveNetwork. I’ve been researching websites to find good matches for our Qwest ad campaign, and I’ve got to say that I’m pretty impressed with your website, (My website ). Your KFC gravy post cracked me up!!

Because your site looks great, and has solid relevant content related to our brand and products, I’d like to inquire about purchasing a text link ad on your webpage in a nice prominent location. We typically negotiate a flat monthly fee for the text link placement and try our best to form long-term worthwhile relationships with the sites and people we advertise with.

Thanks for taking a few moments of your time to consider my proposal! I’m looking forward to hearing back from you soon!!

 

[dmr727]

OR you're simply trying to drum up search engine attention by posting your blog's URL on MacRumors, and you're actually scamming all of us with this thread.

 

[eawmp1]

OR you're simply trying to drum up search engine attention by posting your blog's URL on MacRumors, and you're actually scamming all of us with this thread.

Damn! I fell for it. But then I also slow down to look at car accidents by the side of the road.

 

[waloshin]

OR you're simply trying to drum up search engine attention by posting your blog's URL on MacRumors, and you're actually scamming all of us with this thread.

No, that would be pointless as my blog address is always in my signature.

 

[dmr727]

No, that would be pointless as my blog address is always in my signature.

It was a tongue in cheek post. Go for it and tell us how it goes.

 

[rdowns]

Does your fry to gravy size ratio hold for those of us who like to double dunk?

 

[waloshin]

Does your fry to gravy size ratio hold for those of us who like to double dunk?

Well, double dunking is just rude when sharing.

But I would have to say that i'm sure you would be fine.

What if you turn the fry around and dunk the non-chewed side?

Well the germs might crawl to the other side.

 

[dmr727]

Well, double dunking is just rude when sharing.

What if you turn the fry around and dunk the non-chewed side?

 

[Ttownbeast]

Hmmm, that just seems a little desperate of them, I prefer to use an affiliate program like CJ, Linkshare or RevinueAds rather than let random people approach me to advertise on my site. I actually have more control that way.

 

[ComputersaysNo]

Play along for a little while. As soon as they start asking for some 'starting-fee' or 'activationfee'... you know what time it is.

Also, don't give them your bankaccount details and such. Let them send a check or let them send the money to a paypalaccount.

 

[waloshin]

Update!

Thanks for getting back to me!

DriveNetwork are resellers for Qwest Phone and Internet. I’d like to purchase a text link ad on your homepage (not site wide) that points to one of our Qwest landing pages with text similar to “For High-Speed Internet and Phone Click Here”

Based on your page rank, I can offer you $50.00 for a 6-month placement, paid up front via PayPal. If you are interested, please let me know and I’ll get a link agreement worked up and sent over...

Thanks again! I look forward to hearing back from you soon!

 

[SuperCachetes]

No offense intended, but does your site actually generate traffic? I mean, it's a blog. I'm sure it's a good one based on what I saw, but some of it is unfinished, and there is a whole section on watching a redwood grow... So I just don't buy the "solid relevant content" angle this guy is throwing out.

Sure, $50 ain't much anyway, but I've never heard of blogs being singled out for ad placement like that. Maybe I don't get out much.

I think I would just skip it and cut the communication cord unless I had a relative that needed an expensive life-saving operation or something...

 

[waloshin]

No offense intended, but does your site actually generate traffic? I mean, it's a blog. I'm sure it's a good one based on what I saw, but some of it is unfinished, and there is a whole section on watching a redwood grow... So I just don't buy the "solid relevant content" angle this guy is throwing out.

Sure, $50 ain't much anyway, but I've never heard of blogs being singled out for ad placement like that. Maybe I don't get out much.

I think I would just skip it and cut the communication cord unless I had a relative that needed an expensive life-saving operation or something...

I do receive traffic from google, and from various forums i frequent, plus returning visitors everyday, but nothing like a site like macrumors would get.

 

[iStudentUK]

Damn! I fell for it. But then I also slow down to look at car accidents by the side of the road.

Oh you are like the worst person ever.

 

[waloshin]

Just received the $50 from the through paypal, the way I see it is it's better then no money.

 

[rdowns]

.

 

[Makosuke]

Hm. I just got an offer from these people and a quick Google search turned up this thread, amusingly at the only forum I frequent.

I'd actually just assumed they were yet another place farming out Google search term spam--I get offers all the time to buy a simple text link at the bottom of pages, which are obviously an attempt to spam Google's spider by having otherwise trusted pages linking to whatever sketchy site via inconspicuous links that no human will notice. I wouldn't even consider selling space to those scam artists anyway, because I despise the practice, but I've also read anecdotes that Google actually punishes sites that do that in search rankings. Probably urban legend, but who knows.

Regardless, I'm a little surprised by the links you've got up, waloshin--I assume the one they bought was that text at the top right of your blog? Not only is Qwest a real company (albeit a miserable ISP in my experience), but having the links on "click here" rather than "cable internet" or something more spider-friendly makes me wonder if these guys aren't actually legit. Is that exactly the link they asked for? Were there any particular restrictions as to the placement or style of the ad?

Just curious.

 

[waloshin]

Hm. I just got an offer from these people and a quick Google search turned up this thread, amusingly at the only forum I frequent.

I'd actually just assumed they were yet another place farming out Google search term spam--I get offers all the time to buy a simple text link at the bottom of pages, which are obviously an attempt to spam Google's spider by having otherwise trusted pages linking to whatever sketchy site via inconspicuous links that no human will notice. I wouldn't even consider selling space to those scam artists anyway, because I despise the practice, but I've also read anecdotes that Google actually punishes sites that do that in search rankings. Probably urban legend, but who knows.

Regardless, I'm a little surprised by the links you've got up, waloshin--I assume the one they bought was that text at the top right of your blog? Not only is Qwest a real company (albeit a miserable ISP in my experience), but having the links on "click here" rather than "cable internet" or something more spider-friendly makes me wonder if these guys aren't actually legit. Is that exactly the link they asked for? Were there any particular restrictions as to the placement or style of the ad?

Just curious.

They asked for the text link to be at the top, and they send me the link of the ad which was just what you see on my site, no different, any other questions.

EDIT:

The Terms for anyone interested.

$50.00 every 6 month(s) GJ - CL
Payment Method: PAYPAL
Date Signed: 2011-02-01

Term: Either party may terminate this Insertion Order for any reason upon twenty four (24) hours prior written notice, upon which Link Provider shall immediately cease the use of any link(s) on its website(s).

Other Terms: I n the event that Link Provider fails to maintain the link on its website(s) at any time hereto, or in the event that Link Provider changes or alters the aforementioned URLs without the express written consent of Drive Network, then Drive Network reserves the right to be reimbursed on a pro rated basis for those days in which the link was absent from Link Provider's website(s).
In the event that Drive Network provides any content and/or design to Link Provider to be placed on Link Provider's website(s), then Drive Network shall maintain any and all (i) ownership rights and (ii) control rights to such content and/or design at all times hereto, including throughout the term and upon termination hereof.
In the event that Drive Network provides any content and/or design to Link Provider to be placed on Link Provider's website(s), then such content and/or design shall be used exclusively to link to the previously specified Drive Network-related website(s). Under no circumstances shall the content and/or design provided to Link Provider by Drive Network be used in any manner which directly or indirectly links a viewer to a website which is not Drive Network-related and/or specified by Drive Network.
Upon termination of this Insertion Order by either party, or upon fulfillment of the project contemplated by the parties, Link Provider shall immediately remove from its website(s) all content and/or design which has been provided to Link Provider by Drive Network.