Always be honest with people if you want their trust. This is as true in life as it should be on the Internet.
Today, while visiting the site of one of the leading Mac OCR vendors, I saw a link labeled ‘Demo,’ which I clicked, assuming it would take me to the page where I could download a demo version of their software. I landed on a page that requested my name and email address, and I assumed that after handing over that information I’d get an emailed link where I could grab the software. It seemed like a fair trade.
But that didn’t happen. After I provided my personal contact information, I was taken to a page where I could view a Flash-only demo of the product – no download in sight, and certainly not what I was expecting or what I believe most people would reasonably have expected. I was so incensed by this blatant bait-and-switch that I no longer care about their product. (I’m also so irritated that I’m not even going to mention the company’s name)
This example demonstrates the type of tactic that will backfire all the time. Don’t do it.
