IH ethics question. Am I being a tool?
Today I saw a post from my competitor here on IH. They are offering a free service for the first 3 replies. Since they denied many requests, I started poaching users right on their post... then asked myself - is it ethical?
Am I a being that guy?
For the context:
My product animationkit.io provides a quick way to create explainer videos.
The competitor's post.
Trending on Indie Hackers
👋 Hi! I was one of the people you replied to. I wouldn't say tool or unethical. When I read it, I thought "ha! Respect the hustle." I wouldn't go and comment on all of the threads though.
FWIW - I didn't go ahead and clickthrough though because I'm not looking to create an explainer video but just wanted to participate in a cool promotion.
I would perhaps suggest to get "inspired" to create a similar promotion or campaign vs. poaching on that original post.
Thank you Allison. Your take and feedback is much appreciated! I'll keep on hustling :)
If you had someone on the inside send you a file of their subscribers, and you use that list to market your product -- THAT is unethical and probably illegal lol.
Leveraging public outreach isn't. That's what businesses do.
Do you think McDonald's will not put a franchise on the same street block or food court as Burger King? Burger King does not "own" the block/food court.
You are cleaner than most people that go to church. Good luck and get that $$$
Nah, you are good. It's called competition.
Hi @javadiagrams I looked at your replies to everyone on that other thread, and I'm not sure the way you're "poaching" adds value. I had a post on that thread for our AI video editor Nuro and I liked the idea of seeing someone's tool used on our content so we could evaluate such a tool.
But the way you're offering to help is simply "spamming" your link for people to go check out your tool.
Instead, I think you should make your own similar post, and not have the limit at all.
Here is an example of a post that I think did this very well.
Because this person took the time to work with pretty much everyone who took them up on their offer, I'm sure they will have many more sales opportunities than the company who said, "we'll only take 3 and disappoint everyone else" (I'm sure they did it without malice but that's what ended up happening).
So there is a "gap in the market", which you can fill by adding value ; not by poaching.
Sébastien
Hey Sebastien, thank you for being direct 🙏🙏🙏
I agree that my wording could have been better, but I thought I offered value to people who clearly needed it.
Moreover, as founders don't we HAVE TO use competition weakness to our advantage? Maybe even if it doesn't feel right?
It's hustling. When you hustle in a world of cut-throat competition, it's ethical. You're not hurting anyone when you hustle.
Meh I think you're talking to a group of people that is especially understanding of this sort of thing.
I can't remember who said this, but they referred to startups as being "naughty." You're not hurting anyone, but you're doing something that's kind of.. well... naughty.
Yeah! We are the hasslers ✌
It's competition.
Yeah, that was my hunch. Thanks man!
Not unethical or a tool. But if I was in the competitors perspective, I think it would've been a more polite move to simply DM them an offer and kept the promotion off their post. But PERSONALLY I respect the hustle 😅
Yeah, good thinking. How would DM work on IH? If a person did not provide contact info, do you know if there a way to DM? Thanks!
Good point! I think a quick comment then delete it once you get a reply would be the other way
I don't even think your are competitors lol
I hope to become direct competitors when my product does automatically what the other guys do manually... soon!
Nice thinking.. but I agree with @orliesaurus that you're not a competition if you're automating what they are doing manually. People have their preferences on whether to hire a software or human.
I agree with that!!
My concern was around this - competitors were smart enough to create a popular post. I went in to use it against them. Sounds evil >:]
Hm... using competitor's post to promote your product... I'd say questionable.
My thinking is - competitors explicitly refused service to many Indie Hackers. My product would help those. For free. Still wrong???
No, it's not unethical.
Nor would using your competitor's post to promote your product be unethical.
Just like bidding on your competitor's PPC keywords isn't unethical.
Just like speaking to your competitor's customers & trying to convince them to convert isn't unethical (as long as you didn't obtain their details illegally).
This is business. It's competition.
Thanks Chris, that makes sense. I know the guys wouldn't be happy but such is life.
Such is life indeed :-) we want our competitors to be unhappy...it means we're doing something right :-)
Its called cut throat competition.
JC, so you think it is acceptable?
I don't see any issues here. This is what it seems like to me: People need your service. Other provider declined and now you are stepping in to provide that service.
Right... and I used their Ad to promote my service.
...maybe it's like accepting competitors' coupons!
It's like Walmart reaching out to customers of Amazon or vice versa. Do you think it does not happen anywhere else?
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