Don’t Be a Video Spammer – Here’s Why

26 | Posted In Marketing, Traffic by David

We all know spam is bad. However, it is possible that you might get lumped in with spammers and not even mean to do it. You might ask – how would that happen and why does it matter?

salesman In my recent research into Traffic Geyser and TubeMogul, I’ve learned a little bit about the inside of how these video sites work. I even had a phone conversation with TubeMogul which more or less backed up the thought I was already having.

Now, Traffic Geyser works with crappy video sites. Why? I am pretty sure it is because of the kinds of videos which are pushed through Traffic Geyser. When you look at how they are positioned, it is pretty obvious that the user base of Traffic Geyser is going to be primarily internet marketers. These guys usually do videos for one reason – to sell something. How is that video going to be interpreted by the site who is hosting it? It is going to be looked at as SPAM.

Since Traffic Geyser is probably mostly pushing marketing videos, then, most of the quality video sites probably do not want to work with Geyser. They know that if they accept incoming videos from the Traffic Geyser system, odds are it is a marketing video.

TubeMogul’s free accounts work with some of the primary video sites right away. However, there are several other video sites which you will need to actually APPLY to TubeMogul for in order to be able to access. Why? Because TubeMogul wants to be sure you’re not pushing spammy videos to these other sites.

All of these video sites have terms of service (TOS). In the TOS, many of these sites forbid the use of marketing-related videos. For example, the TOS for Vimeo says the following:

You may access the VIMEO Site and use the Services for personal, non-commercial purposes.

Looking at that, is it any wonder sites like Vimeo don’t work with Traffic Geyser? This is the reason why.

There is a Black List

People who engage in email marketing already know that there are black lists. Email addresses and domains who are known to engage in spamming will eventually find themselves on a black list. The black lists are looked at by many ISPs and that is why many spam sources will get outright cut off at the ISP level.

Well, there is a black list of video spammers, too. The big boys in the world of online video talk to each other and they share email addresses commonly used to log in and upload spammy videos.

There is an effort underway to curb this practice of video spam. Marketers are heavily catching on to the power of online video. When they do a video, they want it to blanket the Internet and get in as many different places as they can. There is a counter-effort, though, from the sites who spend the money to host these videos to keep the spammers out. After all, video demands a lot of bandwidth and they want only the quality videos to show up (unless you’re Youtube, I guess).

Don’t Be in Bad Company

It is true in social media. It is true in blogging. The prominent marketers know it, too. If you provide VALUE, it works. If you do spam in any of these mediums, you’re shunned. Well, it isn’t any different with video.

You don’t want to put yourself into this company, either. Talking about internet marketing, affiliate marketing and other similar topics does put you into the same niche as a spammer potentially. On this very blog, I talk about how to make money on the Internet. This is a spam-heavy niche on the Internet and the last thing I want to do is be bundled up with spammers. But, I create a LOT of value and I do it freely.

When it comes to my videos, my Flip Tips are meant to be helpful to bloggers. Very rarely will you see me use a video to promote a product. Why? Because if I did that too much, I’d put myself into the same company as the other video spammers.

So, stay on the up and up. Provide real value in your videos. Videos can be used to market products, but it has to be good, solid, useful content. These video sites aren’t in the business of hosting commercials for free.

Something to think about.

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  • http://www.mrfaulkner.com/ Matt Faulkner

    Nice read to start off the morning. Thanks

  • http://www.mrfaulkner.com Matt Faulkner

    Nice read to start off the morning. Thanks

  • http://www.drunker.com/ Mike

    Great article. Alot of people do not realize but the same rules apply when you are submitting videos, only submit quality content and don’t spam. In the long run its not worth it!

  • http://www.drunker.com Mike

    Great article. Alot of people do not realize but the same rules apply when you are submitting videos, only submit quality content and don’t spam. In the long run its not worth it!

  • http://imwithjoe.com/ Normal Joe

    Good stuff dude, definitely something to think about! I try to stay away from the spam and still provide good information. Sometimes that will involve reviewing a product or service…but I do see what you are saying.

    Especially with the sites that the services allow you to upload to, and I’m glad TM makes you apply.

    Keep it up man.

  • http://imwithjoe.com Normal Joe

    Good stuff dude, definitely something to think about! I try to stay away from the spam and still provide good information. Sometimes that will involve reviewing a product or service…but I do see what you are saying.

    Especially with the sites that the services allow you to upload to, and I’m glad TM makes you apply.

    Keep it up man.

  • http://franklinbishop.net/blogging-school/ Blog Expert

    Love the post my man. The only problem is that spamming is not such a bad thing. I mean Ron Paul even said that it is okay. And he is about the Constitution. LOL.

  • http://franklinbishop.net/blogging-school/ Blog Expert

    Love the post my man. The only problem is that spamming is not such a bad thing. I mean Ron Paul even said that it is okay. And he is about the Constitution. LOL.

  • http://SourcesOfInsight.com/ J.D. Meier

    You become who you hang with.

    Very good articulation of how to stay clear of the video spam pitfall.

  • http://SourcesOfInsight.com J.D. Meier

    You become who you hang with.

    Very good articulation of how to stay clear of the video spam pitfall.

  • http://www.freedivorceforms.net/ Barry Smith

    David: As a member & enthusiastic proponent of Traffic Geyser, I can tell you a number of things with assurance: 1) Traffic Geyser cares very much about terms of service @ the video hosting sights & builds into their software compliance w/ those; 2) Mike Koenig’s training videos within the site enthusiastically endorse your suggestion of providing value in the videos submitted; 3) The founders of Traffic Geyser hate spam as much as you do; 4) I know that Traffic Geyser is increasing the video hosting sites (37-50)that they submit too & has put on a full time person to look for more; 5) My recently submitted videos went to YouTube & Google as always. As I see it, using Traffic Geyser is the same thing as using article submission software. Also, as far as I know, members of Traffic Geyser are mostly using video to teach on a wide variety of topics other than internet marketing. I want you to know that I have the highest regard for Traffic Geyser’s integrity.

  • http://www.freedivorceforms.net Barry Smith

    David: As a member & enthusiastic proponent of Traffic Geyser, I can tell you a number of things with assurance: 1) Traffic Geyser cares very much about terms of service @ the video hosting sights & builds into their software compliance w/ those; 2) Mike Koenig’s training videos within the site enthusiastically endorse your suggestion of providing value in the videos submitted; 3) The founders of Traffic Geyser hate spam as much as you do; 4) I know that Traffic Geyser is increasing the video hosting sites (37-50)that they submit too & has put on a full time person to look for more; 5) My recently submitted videos went to YouTube & Google as always. As I see it, using Traffic Geyser is the same thing as using article submission software. Also, as far as I know, members of Traffic Geyser are mostly using video to teach on a wide variety of topics other than internet marketing. I want you to know that I have the highest regard for Traffic Geyser’s integrity.

  • http://www.pcmech.com/ David

    Barry,

    That’s great, man. However…
    (1) Them saying they don’t like spammers doesn’t mean spammers aren’t using them.
    (2) They can add up to 50 sites if they want, but if the sites are no-name, fairly insignificant sites, then it really doesn’t matter. In my trial period of Traffic Geyser, the video sites they did work with were of little benefit.
    (3) Yes, Geyser works with Youtube and Google, but it doesn’t work with quality sites like Vimeo, Viddler, and a host of others.

    And comparing it to article submission software is ironic. Who do you think is quickest to use such software? :-)

    Listen, I just call it like I see it. If anybody is using Geyser and having results, that’s awesome. More power to you.

  • http://www.pcmech.com David

    Barry,

    That’s great, man. However…
    (1) Them saying they don’t like spammers doesn’t mean spammers aren’t using them.
    (2) They can add up to 50 sites if they want, but if the sites are no-name, fairly insignificant sites, then it really doesn’t matter. In my trial period of Traffic Geyser, the video sites they did work with were of little benefit.
    (3) Yes, Geyser works with Youtube and Google, but it doesn’t work with quality sites like Vimeo, Viddler, and a host of others.

    And comparing it to article submission software is ironic. Who do you think is quickest to use such software? :-)

    Listen, I just call it like I see it. If anybody is using Geyser and having results, that’s awesome. More power to you.

  • http://www.nicolasprudhon.com/ Nicolas Prudhon

    David, I’m an experience SEO and IM, but honestly, I’m still fairly new to the world of Video Marketing though I tried it a bit so far and got very good results from it.

    My question to you is if I make a video that teaches “how to use long tail keywords to outsmart your competition” for example and mention my name and website in it,is it considered as a spam video (promoting indirectly myself and my site) or not (that is, considered as another how to video)?

  • http://www.nicolasprudhon.com Nicolas Prudhon

    David, I’m an experience SEO and IM, but honestly, I’m still fairly new to the world of Video Marketing though I tried it a bit so far and got very good results from it.

    My question to you is if I make a video that teaches “how to use long tail keywords to outsmart your competition” for example and mention my name and website in it,is it considered as a spam video (promoting indirectly myself and my site) or not (that is, considered as another how to video)?

  • http://businesspowersessions.com/blog Bryan Bliss

    Nicolas,
    I think it all goes to mindset while you are making the video and the quality of the information.
    If you present your knowledge from a position of generosity and offer truly empowering educational content while just mentioning or watermarking your name and url, that isnt really spam.
    If you put yourself in the place of the viewer and searcher and judge whether your video really offered a true solution and directed them back to your site where they could learn more, thats fair, honest and transparent.

    Just thinking of your viewer/customer in this way with that kind of respect puts you ahead of a majority of your “competition” and you will earn trust and credibility based on your integrity.
    best of luck to you.
    thanks and take care
    Bryan Bliss

  • http://businesspowersessions.com/blog Bryan Bliss

    Nicolas,
    I think it all goes to mindset while you are making the video and the quality of the information.
    If you present your knowledge from a position of generosity and offer truly empowering educational content while just mentioning or watermarking your name and url, that isnt really spam.
    If you put yourself in the place of the viewer and searcher and judge whether your video really offered a true solution and directed them back to your site where they could learn more, thats fair, honest and transparent.

    Just thinking of your viewer/customer in this way with that kind of respect puts you ahead of a majority of your “competition” and you will earn trust and credibility based on your integrity.
    best of luck to you.
    thanks and take care
    Bryan Bliss

  • http://www.nicolasprudhon.com/ Nicolas Prudhon

    Hi Bryan,

    Thank you for your reply, that’s what I think too, but I just wanted outside confirmation. I really hate spammers and don’t want to be labeled as one accidentally! :)

  • http://www.nicolasprudhon.com Nicolas Prudhon

    Hi Bryan,

    Thank you for your reply, that’s what I think too, but I just wanted outside confirmation. I really hate spammers and don’t want to be labeled as one accidentally! :)

  • http://www.getvidloader.com/ jason lee

    The first video I made for my first client (pushed through TG and TM) looked and sounded like a cheap TV commercial. I guess you could call it spam. He got some calls and business from it but we are in the process of creating more valuable content for him. FAQ, How to, and Testimonial vids.

    There’s only so much you can do with “commercial” content on the web anyway. Much easier to genearte content when you open it up to actually providing valued information to the viewers vs. “buy here, buy here, buy here”

  • http://www.getvidloader.com jason lee

    The first video I made for my first client (pushed through TG and TM) looked and sounded like a cheap TV commercial. I guess you could call it spam. He got some calls and business from it but we are in the process of creating more valuable content for him. FAQ, How to, and Testimonial vids.

    There’s only so much you can do with “commercial” content on the web anyway. Much easier to genearte content when you open it up to actually providing valued information to the viewers vs. “buy here, buy here, buy here”

  • Cassie

    I think you are spot on saying Traffic Geyser's videos are primarily from internet marketers, hence the reason they submit to over 20 sites I have never heard of. After submitting my very first video on TG, I got an email from zoopy.com saying I had violated their TOS by posting a video promoting a product or service. I emailed TG asking what to do, assuming this probably happens a lot since the majority of their users are posting videos advertising products/services.
    They told me to create new user name and resubmit. Is it just me or does that seem wrong?

  • Cassie

    I think you are spot on saying Traffic Geyser's videos are primarily from internet marketers, hence the reason they submit to over 20 sites I have never heard of. After submitting my very first video on TG, I got an email from zoopy.com saying I had violated their TOS by posting a video promoting a product or service. I emailed TG asking what to do, assuming this probably happens a lot since the majority of their users are posting videos advertising products/services.
    They told me to create new user name and resubmit. Is it just me or does that seem wrong?

  • Sharon77

    Great post. I feel like the biggest reason people use tools like Traffic Geyser is for SEO purposes. But something these people don't realize is that if they rank crappy videos that don't provide value they probably won't get the desired effect anyway. So always make quality high value videos.

    I am a fan of Traffic Geyser though:)

  • Wayne NUnn

    Very nice, your article cuts through the hype and give a true picture of Traffic Geyser and Tubemogul.