I’ve never looked at AC as an “article directory” although many do. I look at it as a way for someone who has very little knowledge of IM to make some easy, quick cash. Their articles do rank pretty well though. My only “beef” with them is that they could care less about their affiliates.

I didn’t personally write 400+ articles for them. The combined total of all of those under me have published over 400 pieces of content to AC.

I’m submitted just over 200 articles to EzineArticles etc. but only a few to AC that someone else wrote. They were just used to test their payouts before promoting them.

I’ve not published any content with Associated content yet due to my current submission activities with Ezine articles (like Chuck and other directories.

Just sad to see what they did to you and no one deserves to be treated that way.. especially for the top #1 referrer.

In anycase, writing 400+ article for them takes a heck lot of effort.. I congratulate you on this magnitude of effort ! I’m only on article 190+

Great article chuck – it really speaks from your own heart and conscience about whats going on today about Internet marketing.

Cheers,
Vern

@ Chuck – uh oh, I had to dig you out of Akismet. I’m not sure if it’s because of the links (shouldn’t be) or not, but you may want to contact them. As you know, I was in their filter for a while. It took one email and they fixed it very fast.

Yep, had to finish off the year with a good rant haha I’ll be sure to post a “Happy New Year” before midnight, so my last words of the year aren’t negative

Pretty sad, but not surprising. In my experience, fewer and fewer businesses today “get it” when it comes to valuing their customer base or their content suppliers. It’s all about the quick cash-grab…and then it’s time to move on. Run out of money? No problem, write another ebook (same as the first), rev up the JV partner engine and make a bunch more…

This is what concerns me about the whole “making money online” schtick…or myth, as I sometimes refer to it. I am ALL FOR people offering some real value to others and getting paid for it….but this idea of “buy my book, work this system and profit!” is so dangerous. It simply doesn’t address any of the underlying issues, overcrowded markets, authenticity of information or diminishing returns.

I won’t take up any more space here, but I did write an article about it a few months back (fortunately, not on Associated Content):

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Make-Money-Online-Myth&id=701610

Having said all that, I wish everyone a happy and healthy new year…filled with lots of opportunities to add unique online value for others!