Facebook fan page
Twitter streamPerry Belcher, Social Media, and the Infamy of the Internet
**UPDATE: Also Read breaking story Perry Belcher Quit**
I have chosen my words carefully as I write this so I please ask that you read this in it’s entirety before commenting.
First I would like to acknowledge a few things before I continue.
1. This is not a article attacking nor praising Perry Belcher. I wanted to establish this comment first. I want to share the truth which involves as many facts that I could provide. The truth to me involves the good, the bad, and the ugly. And the reality is that each and every one of you reading this including myself each have all three in our history.
2. I waited until Perry was almost sold out of his recent program before publishing this as to be fair and not look as though I was writing this to in some way (if only in a minuscule way) to derail his promotional efforts.
I believe this is a very important point because as many of you know I have a Twitter program that I have created as well. So as to not look biased but fair. Or as fair as I could given that I too am a Internet professional.
Who is Perry Belcher? Allow me to give you the short version. Perry started out in internet marketing and as a entrepreneur some years back. He has been promoting a variety of products throughout the years. Perry Belcher more than any other marketer (including Filsaime and Kern) invokes a lot of emotion both negative and positive.
Perry Belcher the Good News and the Bad News
You know the old saying “I got good news and I have bad news?” There was a study many years ago that pointed out that over 90% ask for the bad news first. So I am going to discuss the bad news first.
The Bad News
In 2008 Perry got into trouble when he was promoting his then company (Selmedica) products.
According to the Shelby County Sheriffs office posted March 24th, 2008
“Belcher’s arrest is the result of an intensive investigation conducted by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and the D.A.’s White Collar Crime Unit in coordination with the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), the United States Postal Inspector, and the Tennessee Department of Revenue.”
It goes on further to say that
“The local investigation started after several individuals notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Internet Crime Complaint Center that they had possibly been defrauded by an internet company called Selmedica.”
“According to the affidavit of complaint filed in this case, Belcher owns and operates Selmedica, a company that claims on its website that it manufactures products to treat a wide array of ailments. The company claims to have made every product it sells in a “state of the art facility under the strict guidelines of the FDA’s Good Manufacturing Process.”
The affidavit goes on to say that Selmedica sells or has sold products it claims can treat attention deficit disorder, irritable bowl syndrome, head lice, female and male infertility, chronic body odor, yeast infections, scabies, ringworm infections, poison ivy, depression and anxiety, shingles, high blood pressure, hives, eczema, vertigo, pink eye, warts and migraines, among others. The company also sells or has sold products that it claims aids in weight loss, sleep deprivation, and hangovers.”
“Additionally, the affidavit states that Perry Belcher or his companies have sold e-books claiming to be written by medical experts. The affidavit says that the investigation revealed these books are not, in fact, written by medical professionals.”
Lastly the affidavit read “the Better Business Bureau of the Mid South has received more than 100 complaints over the past seven years on Selmedica, Perry Belcher and his business partners. Belcher has also done business, the affidavit says, as Selmedica Affiliates, Selmedica Healthcare, Increase Media, HealthyRightNow.com, Spring Time Herbs, Perry M. Belcher Companies, Gotcha Marketing, and AMI, Inc.”
In September of 2008 Perry Belcher according to documents from the Shelby Country Sheriffs department pleaded guilty to the offense of computer crimes over $60,000.
Since this incident as many of you know Perry and his family has moved to Austin Texas.
The Good News
Perry Belcher has some interesting idea’s about Social media. His greatest opponents couldn’t argue that the man is indeed onto something. Some claim he did that with the help of assistants etc. Maybe he did maybe he didn’t but the point is it’s there. If his following is fake as some may claim then it would have shown up during the infamous Twitter drop in followers. But he only lost around 3,000 followers out of over 100,000 of his Twitter followers. I lost 2,000 on that infamous day.
The party philosophy is a great video (and funny)
Again even if you don’t like the guy you have to admit (at least to yourself) that this was entertaining.
—————————————————————-
Do I Endorse Perry Belcher?
This is the basis of why I wrote this article. Many clients and business partners sent me emails as soon as Perry’s recent program began to launch. I found myself at odds. Like any online entrepreneur I would like to earn money. And his most recent project costs a minimum of almost a thousands dollars.
So an affiliate split totals up to a lot of money for a person like me that heads a company with a social network following in the early 6 figures across 50+ niche sites. In fact I have been in several online / phone meetings about Perry’s launch. Both partners and clients alike wondering if they should consider doing business with him.
I didn’t endorse Perry’s program and here is why: I think it would be hypocritical of me to talk about Internet ethics in the many ways I have on this site. And then promote a person who pleaded guilty of a computer crime involving the Internet. Even if I thought he was a interestingly entertaining guy with some clever idea’s. There was also concerns within my client list. I wont go into details because it is unfair to both the clients (who didn’t want to divulge their info in detail to confirm) and Perry (who has enough rumors and hearsay floating around about him).
I stand behind my name and believe as I say in one of my quotes that you should “enforce what you endorse.” I also stand behind the affiliate programs I endorse. In the last six months I have endorsed Six Minutes to Success even though there are heavy critics of Bob Proctor because of his international hit Book/DVD The Secret. I have endorsed Niche Profit Classroom because I know this is and excellent program. And in both cases I have actual proof through my business and personal life that they work.
Also of course I enforce the endorsement of my products and services. But to endorse Perry means (by my own words) that I have to defend and or enforce my endorsement. Given the current evidence I have presented in this article I do not believe nor am I comfortable with doing so.
“Darren We Should Forgive Perry!”
I have seen this argument across the web in defense of Perry. But you should think carefully about commenting across the web that defense. Let me first define “we.” We is me and anyone else that hasn’t done any business with Perry. We is also anyone that has done business with Perry and didn’t have negative results. My point here is why should “we” forgive Perry for something he hasn’t done to us? Perry hasn’t done anything wrong to me so he doesn’t owe me or anyone else (who hasn’t had a negative business experience with him) an apology. As far as I am concerned there is nothing to forgive.
“Darren Perry Belcher is Internet Satan!”
People like me who have not done any business with Perry: How is hating Perry going to help your business? The answer is that it doesn’t. If you want to avoid him and his products and services OK. But the forum and web attacks are a waste of your most valuable resource. Your time! I am more than sure you could be more productive with your life.
Here is a little Internet secret. Any and everyone with any Internet experience has been robbed by someone online. So don’t think it was just you. In fact it’s a requirement that we get taken for a scam. Why? Call it trial and error due to an unfortunate reality. It is like a batter striking out in baseball to a questionable curve ball. I am not defending Perry. I am saying that if your argument for the public attacks on Perry is based on the fact that you can’t stand people who scam others. Then you will be wasting a LOT of time. Because there are a LOT of Internet scams. Put your energy to work on things that matter and STOP wasting time with people, places, and things that don’t.
“Darren Perry Belcher Took My Money!”
If you have had a negative experience with Perry or even worst were one of the people who complained to the FBI and or the Better Business Bureau. I am truly sorry to learn that you believe you were wronged. Especially if you were (or still are) sick. The idea that anyone would sell a sick person medicine that doesn’t work sounds horrific. I cannot say for sure that Perry did or didn’t do that. Nor do I think it is my place to do so. However if you believe you have suffered because of Perry. Please know the following.
- The Laws of the Universe dictate that what you project shall be returned to you. Whatever wrong Perry or anyone else has done will be equated by God not by man. Any debts will be paid in that manner.
- Your priority is on your sickness. I guarantee that there is enough people watching Perry Belcher. FOCUS on your ailment. And know that many prayers are with you for a healthy recovery
- Forgive Perry for YOU not for him. The quicker you forgive that man I guarantee you a burden will be released from your soul. Forgiveness has nothing to do with whom you forgive. Forgiveness for others involves embracing your inner peace. I will take it even one step further and say pray for Perry and anyone involved with that company.
“Darren Should I buy Perry’s Products?”
I have explained earlier in this article why I cannot endorse nor enforce that endorsement of Perry Belcher at this time. I however think you should do your own homework. Each of your knowledge levels are different. Some may not believe Perrys information is helpful and others may find it enlightening.
As I said earlier I think his idea’s are interesting. But I have personally taken Perry’s information with a Ying Yang approach.
Ying (good info): His idea of webinars is a good one. My mentors have been trying to get me to do them since 2006 LOL! And Perry has a good approach to this method.
Yang (bad or at the very least incorrect info):I have a challenge with one of his special reports “How to Monetize Social Media” Perry wrote:
Some autoresponder services such as Aweber.com do not allow importing, so I have a separate autoresponder setup with services like iContact.com and ConstantContact.com. They’re more expensive, but they do allow you to import contacts in bulk.
I have two distinct issues with Perrys statement.
1. This is incorrect. Aweber who I endorse does in fact allow you to import subscribers. But you must do the following things before they allow you to add them.
- You’ll need to tell them where they came from which I think is a fair request.
- You’ll be able to import up to 2000 at a time (if you have a lot of subscribers, say more than 10,000, they ask that you contact them to discuss what can be done). Now I could fairly understand if this was an issue for Perry but keep in mind A Weber is endorsed by legendary Internet marketer Yanik Silver as well who surely has more than 10,000 people on his list.
- The people on your list before being imported need to confirm their interest in receiving emails from you. Like any permission marketing email list what Aweber is saying is that you need to confirm opt in. If your people actually signed up to that list this shouldn’t be a problem for you.
2. Perry Belcher says he uses Constant Contact. This is a MAJOR issue for me. I believe in permission marketing. And Constant Contact makes opting in optional not a requirement (unless they changed since I left some years ago).
What this means is that you could add anyone to your list without having the recipients confirm through their email that you have their permission. Though they do in all fairness suggest double opting in and do have it where it can be setup. At Aweber this is a requirement.
“Darren Why Should I care about That?!”
From a consumer perspective: that is why you get so many emails where you never gave permission. Spammers harvest emails and send out bulk spam this way. I am NOT saying that Perry Belcher is doing this because I have no factual evidence to believe otherwise.
From a professional marketers perspective: This is the quickest way to get your emails to your recipients spam boxes. Double opt in (getting permission via confirmation email) is a must for marketers.
In Conclusion
The livelihood, judgment, conviction, and in some cases online execution of Perry Belcher teaches us a very important lesson. Now many might say the lesson is in ethics. But I would rather focus on an equally important lesson, credibility. Credibility is built from trust. Trust is build from faith and time. Yanik Silver says “Your reputation always counts” and he is right.
Is Perry Belcher a guy that crosses the line and deals in grey area’s? I think Perry might agree with me that he does. But what entrepreneur (especially online ) doesn’t? In the USA especially we are raised to NOT be entrepreneurial from the minute we started attending school. We (entrepreneurs) are by nature renegades all of us. But there are some lines you cross and some you do not. Perry is an excellent example of those limits.
Is Perry Belcher the a social media scam artists? That remains to be seen. And that will depend on the feedback from his customers because time tells all truths. We are in one of the most interesting era’s for online entrepreneurship so it will be interesting to see if Perry Belchers reputation either flourishes or withers. The ball is in your court Perry. In time how will you be known? As an all star fundamental player or the king of technical fouls? I will take a quote from the film Carlito’s Way and mega rapper Jay Z “The Streets are Watching.”
BEFORE you comment
I have taken a lot of time to choose my words as carefully as I could so BEFORE you comment please read this article carefully. Also be prepared to defend your position and strongly suggest you select the follow this comment section as to address anything that is addressed to you. Otherwise I understand your respectful silence.
Thank you for reading.
