MaxBlogPress Plugin Download Process- Very Effective Selling Technique or An Annoying Runaround

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The other day I wrote a quick post offering some of the useful plugins I had found. I told you about three plugins that I had found, two of which came from MaxBlogPress.com. At the time of writing that post I had not yet downloaded the two plugins from this site, Strip Ads and BlogRush Click Maximizer.

Today I decided to download the two plugins and let me tell you, what a ride that was. I have never had to go through a lengthy process to download a free plugin. Normally, all I have to do is got to the website that created the plugin and click on the “Download Now” button. It’s almost too easy of a process really.
MaxBlogPress is taking a completely different approach to giving away free plugins. MaxBlogPress makes it look like you about to download a free plugin like any other website. Instead being directed to the download link you are actually being taken to registration page. At this point I thought, “Hmm, I have never had to do this before but, why not?” So I register and had to wait for the confirmation email. The purpose of this step I am sure was to get me on a mailing list but I never read any information about a mailing list.

So at this point I am thinking “Ok, now I get my plugin, right?” No, that wasn’t the case. After clicking on the link in the confirmation email I am then directed to a minisite/microsite/one page site (I don’t know the name of this type of website). You are familiar with them I am sure. You know the one’s that are a hundred feet long and are like thousands similar sites in look and layout, trying to sell you the “next biggest product or idea”.

My first reaction to this was both a feeling of being annoyed by this runaround and intrigued by this marketing technique that was very new to me. From a consumer standpoint I was annoyed but also understand many good things don’t come free or a least without some work involved. From a web publishers standpoint I am impressed and I completely understand the need for it.

I have downloaded probably around a hundred free plugins. Some plugin designers request a donation and others don’t request anything but I think I have had a few ask for my email address. Never have I had to go through a sales pitch before downloading a free plugin. The product MaxBlogPress was offering is a “one time” offer and you are asked to make a decision right before you leave the page. You can also earn money by signing up as a Clickbank affiliate and making ebook sales through plugin download process.

The plugins offered by MaxBlogPress seem to be extremely useful for bloggers who are trying to earn money and that I believe is the only reason I decided to go through this process. My thought is that this type of marketing technique will catch on it will become a normal free plugin downloading process.

So what do you think about this type of marketing technique? Your input please?

• Draw in potential customers by offering a very useful free plugin.
• Gain potential customers email address through the registration process.
• Offer a “one time, never to be offered again” ebook.
• Attracting affiliate partners by offering payment for selling ebooks through this marketing technique ( I am not an affiliate, in case you are wondering).