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Ask the Beauty Brains: An e-mail supposedly from Sarah Bellum

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    I have received an e-mail that is supposedly from Sarah Bellum that looks like spam. It is promoting an acne treatment program described at a website called the Clearest Skin Ever, sold by a Fran Kerr. I think that this program also has an ad on the BB. The e-mail aroused my suspicion that it is not actually from Sarah. It is definitely not written in the vein of the BBs. I would hope that the BBs are not involved in sending spam to promote products sold by their advertisers.

    I'm going to post the text of the e-mail in a second post, because it is too long to fit into this post.

  2.  
    This is the text of the suspicious e-mail:
     
    A topic that is most frequently asked about here on the Beauty
    Brains is acne.  It seems almost everyone suffers from some type of
    acne.  If you have problems with acne you will be interested in the
    following information.

    ----------------

    I saw this new Clear Skin Coaching Program by Fran Kerr and thought
    it was an interesting, alternative approach to treating acne.
     
    http://www.the-clearest-skin-ever.com/go.php?offer=bbrains&pid=3&u=http://www.the-clearest-skin-ever.com/signup/

    It also made me think that the Beauty Brains community might want
    to hear about what ingredients have been scientifically proven to
    fight acne.

    As a teenager, I only had mild acne, but it led to some of the most
    embarrassing moments of my high school career.  When I had a
    breakout, I would become obsessed with hiding blemishes!  I even
    wore headbands to cover forehead acne.  Those days made me feel
    terrible.  It certainly didn't help me concentrate on school.

    I tried products like Clearasil or Oxy, but was never sure they
    helped.  I also tried things like washing my face with alcohol or
    hydrogen peroxide.  Tried sun exposure and changing my diet.  But
    it was always the same.  If I did nothing my acne would go away in
    a week.  If I used a product or some other method, it would clear
    up in about 7 days.  

    As I got older, luckily, acne became less of a problem for me.  It
    happened much less frequently, and I didn't obsess about it any
    more.  Sure, I still get blemishes on occasion, but a dab of
    concealer and a little positive self-talk, and I don't give it a
    second thought.  Sometimes I even look at a blemish, smile and
    think, "It just proves that I'm still young."

    But based on feedback from the Beauty Brains community, many of you
    still struggle with acne even into your adult years.  That's why I
    asked the Left and Right Beauty Brains to share with us what
    science has to say about curing acne.

    PROVEN TO WORK

    Here is what they said in their most no-nonsense voices.  There are
    only 4 topical ingredients scientifically proven to reduce acne.

    1.  Benzoyl peroxide
    2.  Salicylic acid
    3.  Sulfur
    4.  Resorcinol

    That's it.  Only 4 things.  

    They also said that there is NO TREATMENT that will work for
    everyone.  We've all got different skin which means different
    things work for different people.

    IF YOU STILL HAVE PROBLEMS

    But most of you have tried all of those treatments and are still
    experiencing problems.  You may have even gone to a dermatologist
    and still haven't figured it out.

    If this is you, you should go see what Fran Kerr has to say about
    acne.  She has spent her life battling acne and has come up with a
    unique approach that has worked for her and thousands of others who
    have followed her program.

    Just click on this affiliate link and watch Fran's 8 minute video
    on how she has beaten acne.  
    http://www.the-clearest-skin-ever.com/go.php?offer=bbrains&pid=3&u=http://www.the-clearest-skin-ever.com/signup/

    I know that acne can be one of the most devastating, frustrating
    conditions for your skin.  If you've been disappointed with the
    standard, over-the-counter stuff that is available maybe it's time
    to try a different approach.  

    We aren't guaranteeing that it will work, but science hasn't yet
    figured out everything about how acne should be treated.  Fran's
    empirical approach might be just the thing that works for you.

    Sincerely,
    Sarah Bellum

    PS.  This information won't be available for much longer so be sure
    to see it soon.  
    http://www.the-clearest-skin-ever.com/go.php?offer=bbrains&pid=3&u=http://www.the-clearest-skin-ever.com/signup/



     


    Brains Publishing
    1658 Milwaukee Ave,
    Chicago, IL 60647, USA
     

  3.  
    Whhhaaaat.
  4.  

    I love the PS... "This information won't be available for much longer so be sure to see it soon. "

    • CommentAuthorvananners
    • CommentTimeOct 30th 2009
     
    I also got that email and highly irritated by it. This goes against everything the BB's stand for....I'm pretty appalled. I understand that they need to make money but this is ridiculous. I hope they got paid a pretty penny to send that spam out to everyone because now they have lost their integrity.
  6.  
    I have my doubts that this is actually from BB.
    •  
      CommentAuthorLeft Brain
    • CommentTimeOct 30th 2009
     

    I can confirm that it was from the Beauty Brains.

    Sarah was experimenting with a new way to generate revenue for the website. 

    Not all of the Brains were completely comfortable with this campaign however, Sarah's responsible for the site's marketing and assured us she would include information about what is scientifically proven to work on acne.  (namely Benzoyl peroxide, Salicylic acid, Sulfur, & Resorcinol)

    Quite frankly, I'm still skeptical of this marketing approach but I don't have a better idea on how to generate revenue to keep the site running.  I'm still trying to come up with better ideas. 

    We appreciate you (the hard core Beauty Brains community members) and will certainly discuss this feedback with the entire Beauty Brains staff.

    I can certainly see how people would object to this type of marketing.  I'll do what I can to discourage it in the future.

     

    For full disclosure this is what the Beauty Brains get from participation in this program (not sure Sarah wants us to mention this but tough!)

    Affiliate Program:

    You click on one of those links, then sign up for the clear skin program (a whopping $47 per month for 6 months), the affiliate gets 50% of the membership fee.  So, if someone on the Beauty Brains email list clicks on a link, signs up for the program, and stays the whole time, the Beauty Brains would get $141 per person.

     

  8.  
    Left Brain,

    Perhaps you could create a section on the website that has products listed that BB's approve of and have affiliate programs. This way, the products are there, but people aren't being emailed. Hopefully this would result in a happy medium.
    • CommentAuthorvananners
    • CommentTimeNov 2nd 2009
     
    I agree with disablingmercury. The thing that bothered me about the email was that when you clicked on the link, the website is fits ALL criteria for what the BB have previously listed as a scam. I would be fine and even excited about marketing emails that the BB actually do believe work. Or maybe even coupons and a link to the website of a product that they personally love, not just one that is willing to pay them. And especially not a website that is miles long and makes numerous outlandish claims.
    • CommentAuthorJamiSings
    • CommentTimeNov 2nd 2009
     

    To tell you the truth, I'd rather you just had a PayPal "donate to help us keep hosting" button then put up with this. Be allowed to choose to donate as little as a dollar or whatever. I don't like to get solicited for products in my e-mail. And as someone whom suffers from acne this one really bugged me as I already know it won't work for me. Nothing does. Not even prescription stuff.

    •  
      CommentAuthorLeft Brain
    • CommentTimeNov 2nd 2009
     

    Your comments are heard and are being vigorously debated among the Beauty Brains.

    @Jami - There is one thing that absolutely works for acne...time.  Unfortunately, this option is less than satisfying to most people.

    • CommentAuthorJanis
    • CommentTimeNov 3rd 2009
     
    1) I also got the spam e-mail, and found it highly irksome.

    2) I can no longer trust you guys to review in a detached and scientific way any product relating to zit treatment.

    3) You guys yourselves can no longer reply to people who say, "You're jsut reviewing XYZ well/poorly because you're in the pay of Some Big Corporation!" with you're standard, "No we're not."

    There is only one acceptable way to create revenue -- product. Advertising on the site is something you've found thus far, but ultimately you must create and sell your products, which are books. There's also the idea I had a while back about making little "Be a Brain" kits with litmus strips and some harmless testing chemicals that will let people test for lead in their lipstick (or whatever) themselves. T-shirts, coffee mugs, purses, makeup bags. STUFF. Do not fall into the trap of trying to make money by moving electrons. It doesn't work and pisses people off.
    •  
      CommentAuthorLeft Brain
    • CommentTimeNov 3rd 2009
     

    @Janis - thanks for your comments.  I'll try to do what I can to discourage these types of things in the future.

    I do have a problem of numbers however.  The email went out to ~4000 people.  A total of 6 complained (you 6 here).  2 people unsubscribed from the list.  >400 people clicked through the links presumably finding the information compelling.  No sales that I've seen.

    For me to make a case that this type of thing is ineffective and irritates most people, I have very little data to back that up.

    Of course, that doesn't matter much to me because I think your 3rd point is the most compelling reason to curtail campaigns like this.  It's the thing that sets the Beauty Brains apart from sites like Paula Beugon.

    Ultimately, I think you are right.  Producing our own information products is the best route to take & the one (at least this Brain) will encourage.

    • CommentAuthorJanis
    • CommentTimeNov 3rd 2009 edited
     
    Actually you do have proof that it's ineffective and you said it already: no sales. So that's six people annoyed, two lost, and not a dime to show for it. Net loss. :-) Seriously -- if it doesn't make money, don't do it. That's the only bottom line. It's not worth annoying even six people if you aren't making a dime off it.

    (And there's no proof that more than six weren't irked, and that the only reason more than two weren't lost is because everyone else just trashed it or else it got caught in their spam filter.)
    • CommentAuthormsgotrox
    • CommentTimeNov 3rd 2009
     
    LB, Who checks the email there? I sent a complaint to three different email addresses so the count is at least seven (and I suspect more). I *did* click the link but only to find out what the punchline was. Yeah, there wasn't one.

    When I worked in retail I saw many versions of a letter called "The Customer Who Never Comes Back". I'm sure Google will turn up several versions but the gist is that customers often say nothing when they are irritated or disappointed with a service, product, etc. They don't want to make a fuss, don't know exactly what to say, don't think they'll be heard, whatever so they just don't come back. I'm sure you've done this yourself.

    Carpet bombing advertising produces notoriously low responses, low single digits depending on the method, audience, and campaign. Janis pointed out that this experiment has produced several ticked off customers and zero sales. It might also be worth noting that you have an active discussion on the board about how offended and disappointed people were to receive the email and not a peep about the fabulous website and breakthrough acne treatment they were referred to.

    I want you guys to get the revenue you need. I really dig your website and the work you do. And I know how hard it is to find the money, find the customers, and find the balance. An email campaign in and of itself is not a bad strategy but did anybody actually visit this website before pasting the Beauty Brains endorsement all over it? Like a farmer selling his land, you ended up selling the one thing that made you what you are: objective knowledge.

    Anyway, if you've read this far, LB, I'd like to thank you for hearing us out and being on our side as you Beauty Brains try to figure this out.
    • CommentAuthorJamiSings
    • CommentTimeNov 3rd 2009
     

    I wouldn't mind a BB t-shirt, provided it was in a solid color like dark purple, with a slogan on it like "Natural isn't always better" and the BB website. Or the bit about how oily skin does not mean you need moisturizer. Little bits of wisdom that will tick off people at the cosmentics counter and advertise the Beauty Brains website and any books you put out.

    Just remember I wear a 3X so make them avalible in plus sizes. And try to get a good quality one. Not those paper thin ones that develop holes right away.

    With these you could even have little contests to give away free shirts or coffee mugs. Like best researched answer from someone who's not an official BB gets a free mug.

  17.  

    I didn't get the ad because I use the garbage email for all sites like this - never even check it until I get a notice that it's too full or something.

    I must ad that if I had receive it, however, I would have to begin taking your site with the large dose of salt I apply to cosmetics cop now.

    I, like may others, would like to be able to trust SOMEONE on the internet.  Perhaps that's a silly dream.

    •  
      CommentAuthorLeft Brain
    • CommentTimeNov 4th 2009
     

    @rungrace - While I believe you should trust the Beauty Brains (being one myself), I don't think it's a good idea to automatically trust anything from anyone on the Internet.  There is no single source you should look to as your final word on ANY topic.

    True, the Beauty Brains is a site about beauty products, beauty science, etc., but the overall purpose of the site is to promote critical thinking and an interest in science.  To help you learn how to cut through the marketing BS. 

    We never meant for this site to do your thinking of make decisions for you. 

    The Beauty Brains is a great place to start to get a scientific perspective on beauty products.  It's the kind of information you won't get anywhere else. We can answer questions like "Is there proof that a product works as claimed?" or “Is there evidence that some chemical causes cancer?”  These things can be answered with research & experimentation.

    But this perspective can not answer a fundamental question like "Should I buy this product?"  That's the kind of thing you have to decide.  Collect data about what is proven to work, figure out how much you want to spend, and what you like, then trust that you will make the right decision for you. 

    And as far as trusting the Beauty Brains (or any other expert site on the Internet) we encourage you to follow the old adage...

    Trust, but verify.

     

    • CommentAuthoreyemandy
    • CommentTimeNov 5th 2009
     
    Frankly, I think whatever the BB's might need/want to do regarding revenue is fine by me. This is an invaluable resource for people who care about the products they use and the available information pertaining them - and it's FREE! As long as such advertisements are clearly labeled as such, there is no harm done.

    It seems the only thing rivaling the cultish following of bogus beauty claims, is the self-righteousness of those with the entitlement to expect to receive professional and FREE information with little to no compensation to the people providing it. Who is anyone here to say how the BB's need to make their money? And to claim that their information is somehow skewed now because of one ad? Ridiculous.

    Left, you are more professional than I would've been. But then again, I'm more right-brainy myself. :)

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