Monthly Archives: September 2015

Why People Do Not Trust Internet #Marketing

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Unfortunately Keith Gill (AKA DigitalKeith), a leader at EmpirekKred, is a prime example of worst case practices and reason why many people do not trust internet marketing.

From running demonstrably false advertising through EmpireKred “missions” to failing to disclose his position of leadership in EmpireKred as he tweets ads for the “New Kred” (which EmpireKred is part of), using auto responders (which he calls his “tool”) which Twitter defines as “abuse” on their best practices page, DigitalKeith, proclaimed a “social sales” rock star continues to be a disaster of marketing.

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He also likes to give himself Kred…

Keith Gill also has a history of attacking his own customers, having been moderated by @instagram for cyberbullying.

If you wonder why people don’t want to deal with marketers online (or frequently anywhere else), look no further than DigitalKeith.

Time For The Winds of Change! Free @snowden

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In my lifetime we have gone from calling on the Soviet Union to tear down walls to wanting to build them.

In a little longer than my lifetime we have gone from having a President that abhorred secrecy to a government and President that seeks to prosecute its own citizens for revealing that the government that exists to protect us is spying on us in unconstitutional manner.

In seeking to protect ourselves, we have become what we abhorred.

Even as that same government openly flaunts that cybersecurity and national security flaws by maintaining private servers and the current Secretary of State testifies before Congress that he fully expects that foreign governments are reading his correspondence.

The threat from outside the country is very real.  And we know this, but when we turn inward to expel outward threats, we become what we claim to despise.

It’s time for the Winds of Change.

It’s time to be an America without fear, that most of us grew up being taught and believing we are.

There is no reason to fear Edward Snowden.  He has warned us about our out of control government.

There is reason to fear a government that would seek to punish Snowden for that revelation in secret courts with secret proceedings where Snowden cannot raise a proper defense of public interest.

This is abusive govermnent 101.  And we have a government that is a tyranny due to failure to give a fair and open trial.

Tell Congress to change the law, and tell @Potus to pardon Edward Snowden and end this unjust persecution.

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Edward @Snowden joins #Twitter.

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Edward Snowden has joined Twitter as a verified account.

Personally I can’t square running Edward Snowden out of the United States with Hillary Clinton’s complete ignorance of cyber security and national security issues.

Has she never heard of hackers?

What secrets do we have if current Secretary of State assumes that Russia and/or China read his communications in any case.

What are we doing that we fear our own citizens so much that tons of data is overclassified?

Obviously Edward Snowden warned us all about the grievous civil rights violations occuring at NSA.

Snowden should be hailed as a hero and pardoned.

quote-the-very-word-secrecy-is-repugnant-in-a-free-and-open-society-and-we-are-as-a-people-inherently-john-f-kennedy-100752

 

 

#SocialSales “Rock Star” Promotes Self With False Content On EmpireAve “Missions” System

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Why would administrators of Empire Avenue (now EmpireKred) allow social sales “rock star” Keith Gill, AKA Digital Keith to run demonstrably false content through Empire Avenue (now EmpireKred) social media promotional “missions” system?

Even after Klout demonstrably proved his Tip No. 1 was incorrect, Mr. Gill continued to run his self promotional content, hosted on Sales 4 Life, through Empire Avenue’s mission system.

Most of the words from this blog are from Keith Gill, the social selling rock star from our client, Copper State Communications.

His “missions” ran, despite reporting the false content directly to Empire Avenue Admin Robby Ball.

This is extremely strange conduct from a business engaged in social media as their business.

Far from accepting Klout’s own response to a direct inquiry, Chris Sandys, a leader at Empire Avenue (now EmpireKred) contested Klout’s explanation of their own scoring system and algorithm.

https://twitter.com/USAFA_93/status/538129243545554944

 

One can only wonder if new owner, Kred, has cleaned up EmpireKred and no longer allows false content to be promoted through their “missions” system?

 

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Fielding A Question From Long Time Fan, First Time Caller

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Keith GIll, AKA #DigitalKeith, of the EmpireKred Leadership”Goon Squad” asks the following question:

(Does his laughter seem a bit hysterical?)

 

The answer is shinging the light on cyberbullies makes them unable to operate effectively as cyberbullies.

Keith Gill, AKA DigitalKeith was moderated for cyberbullying me, his customer (and EmpireKred’s).

It’s not about him, personally.  I guess anyone could have run false advertising through Empire Avenue missions, refused to believe his advice was incorrect, then commenced attacking the person who was concerned about that false advertising…

Chris Sandys and Gareth Davies, also in leadership at EmpireKred have been moderated by Twitter for violent threats, tweeting a customers private information, warned again for violent threats (Davies) and warned for non violent threats (Sandys).

This is an astonishing record of abuse against one of their own customers.

That, and I hope that DigitalKeith will see the light, and decide to be an agent for positive change at EmpireKred and work to end the cycle and culture of abuse that allowed abuse and attacks on their own customers over the last 4 years.

I realize that hope might be forlorn, but people can change for the better.

Chris Voss of The Chris Voss Show, noted social media expert noted

Over 5 posts on my blogs I documented issues with Empire Avenue, from their rogue volunteers, running a “wall of shame” on Brands, attacking Brands reputations online, not answering complaints, having a “goon squad” of endorsed volunteers attacking customers who complained, refusing to discipline internally thereby encouraging more attacks on Brands, etc. What I witnessed was the worst travesty in the annals of customer service I have ever seen. After a month of private discussions with EA to change things, I went public. Only then did they begin to change, but the attacks on me and others grew by their “goon squad.” In the end, I went to EA’s Angel Investor and EA had to shut down its Chat Room and Chat Mod “goons squad.” EA shamelessly has never apologized or produced it damning chat logs as promised by their CEO. This is one of those posts, you can read the rest by Search in the upper right for ‘Empire.’ Don’t play EA or if you do save your REAL money.

 

It’s ironic that Mr. Gill’s contacts on Twitter have been unable to bully me out of blogging about Empire Avenue (now EmpireKred), and Mr. Gill apparently feels the pressure.  Note his hysterical laughter.

https://twitter.com/SmokeNdust/status/528743393782808577

https://twitter.com/SmokeNdust/status/535480836582150144

 

Why does Keith Gill hang around with a wife beater online?  Yep, Opinionated Man self medicates and beats his wife in his sleep.

Keith Gill has strange, and apparently violent contacts online.

https://twitter.com/SpikeMahogany/statuses/638579119039643648

 

And a porn actor coming forth to defend Keith Gill’s damaged virtue… LoL.  Please.

Mr. Gill is in leadership at a corporation with an extensive record of attacks on their own customers.

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It’s sad that Empire Avenue (now EmpireKred) has a “Goon Squad”, and there can be no doubt why they have fewer than 1,000 active customers.

After all, a corporation with a history of threatening and doxing its own customers tends to drive them away.

And that’s exactly what has happened to Empire Avenue.

Chris Sandys, of EmpireKred leadership wanted that history “off the record.”

And I continue to tweet to and about Keith Gill and other abusive leadership of EmpireKred’s to keep it “on the record.”

That way potential customers know what EmpireKred’s history is, and what their leadership is capable of.

They attack their own customers, and according to reports still do.

And more customers of EmpireKred’s are acknowledging the cyberbullying on their system daily.

After all, Gareth Davies, in leadership at EmpireKred, can break a key safety feature of Twitter’s by being unblockable.  And EmpireKred Brand Manager/Admin Steven L. Johnson is mentioned in that tweet.

How can Twitter feel their customers are safe if Gareth Davies, who has been suspended by twitter for tweeting a customers private information, violent threats, and warned yet again for violent threats cannot be blocked?

PS:  I can’t help it Keith Gill looks like Mr. Potato Head.

And I can’t help it he ran false advertising through Empire Avenue’s mission system.

 

According to Empire Avenue admin, there are “inpowered” individuals at Empire Avenue (now EmpireKred) that abuse their authority.

Clearly Keith Gill is one of those abusers of his authority.

I still have no idea why Empire Avenue admins let him promote his false content through their missions system as advertising.  It astounds me.

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I can’t help it that more customers are taking note of the cyberbullying that has taken place, and are speaking out about it.

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Related Content:

Customer Confirms Seeing #Cyberbullying on “Creepy” @empirekred game site.


http://thechrisvossshow.com/blog/empire-avenue-social-media-fail-lesson-example-for-the-books-and-manuals/

Customer Confirms Seeing #Cyberbullying on “Creepy” @empirekred game site.

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For a game with perhaps 300 active players (certainly less than 1,000) it’s very odd that a customer would confirm instances of cyberbullying on their platform.

However this is @empirekred we are talking about.  Another customer describes @kred’s takeover of @empireave and rename to @empirekred as “creepy.”

It sems Empire Avenue’s hard earned reputation as a game that has a “goon squad” and attacks it’s own customers is going to stick with @empirekred.

Perhaps if they’d be more forthcoming with information to current players and clean out the known cyberbullies like Nance Larson, Keith Gill, Chris Sandys and Gareth Davies, Lynn O’Connell and others they’d have a chance to reboot and salvage the reputation of their game?

Seems not, as Lynn O’Connell, rather than be removed from her Brand Manager/Admin position after attacking players in the general community forum was promoted to “Player Champion.”

If you want to play a “creepy” game, where you never know when someone like “inpowered” Gareth Davies will show up to stalk, dox and threaten you, give @empirekred a try.

If you are a normal person not given to being threatened by a company you are a customer of, it’s probably better to give it a pass.

According to Chris Voss of The Chris Voss Show, noted social media expert:

Empire Avenue – Social Media Fail Lesson Example for the Books and Manuals

Over 5 posts on my blogs I documented issues with Empire Avenue, from their rogue volunteers, running a “wall of shame” on Brands, attacking Brands reputations online, not answering complaints, having a “goon squad” of endorsed volunteers attacking customers who complained, refusing to discipline internally thereby encouraging more attacks on Brands, etc. What I witnessed was the worst travesty in the annals of customer service I have ever seen. After a month of private discussions with EA to change things, I went public. Only then did they begin to change, but the attacks on me and others grew by their “goon squad.” In the end, I went to EA’s Angel Investor and EA had to shut down its Chat Room and Chat Mod “goons squad.” EA shamelessly has never apologized or produced it damning chat logs as promised by their CEO. This is one of those posts, you can read the rest by Search in the upper right for ‘Empire.’ Don’t play EA or if you do save your REAL money.

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Identitied of the customer redacted as the “Goon Squad” might attack them…

Leader at @EmpireKred & Internet Predator Gareth Davies (@me_gareth) Cannot Be Blocked on @Twitter

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Gareth Davies, a leader of Empire Avenue (now EmpireKred) has tweeted to Empire Avenue Brand Manager/Admin Steven L. Johnson that he cannot be blocked on Twitter.

This renders a key safety feature designed to protect people from predators like Gareth Davies null and void.

 

Twitter has been made aware of this safety flaw, however EmpireKred’s non response to Gareth Davies ability and willingness to threaten and dox EmpireKred’s own customers is telling.

Gareth Davies has an extensive history of doxing EmpireKred customers, and has been suspended for tweeting a customers private information, violent threats, and non violent threats.

Chris Sandys (@usafa_93) also a leader of EmpireKred’s has been warned for violent threats.

Keith Gill (@digitalkeith) has been moderated by @instagram for cyberbullying.

Keith Gill HarassmentBullying Instagram Gareth Davies Violent Threats Warning Gareth Davies Violent Threats Suspension Gareth Davies Private Information Suspension Chris Sandys Non Violent Threats Warning

 

According to Chris Voss of The Chris Voss Show, a nationally recognized social media expert,

“Over 5 posts on my blogs I documented issues with Empire Avenue, from their rogue volunteers, running a “wall of shame” on Brands, attacking Brands reputations online, not answering complaints, having a “goon squad” of endorsed volunteers attacking customers who complained, refusing to discipline internally thereby encouraging more attacks on Brands, etc. What I witnessed was the worst travesty in the annals of customer service I have ever seen. After a month of private discussions with EA to change things, I went public. Only then did they begin to change, but the attacks on me and others grew by their “goon squad.” In the end, I went to EA’s Angel Investor and EA had to shut down its Chat Room and Chat Mod “goons squad.” EA shamelessly has never apologized or produced it damning chat logs as promised by their CEO. This is one of those posts, you can read the rest by Search in the upper right for ‘Empire.’ Don’t play EA or if you do save your REAL money.”

 

In fact, Team Leader Nance Larson tweeted that Gareth Davies is not in a position of leadership at Empire Avenue, an abject lie.

She also denied her own position as a leader.

Nance Larson Not In Marketing Department

 

Nance Larson Gareth Davies Not A Principal

Gareth Davies Leadership At Empire Avenue

 

Does Gareth Davies do no work in marketing or other departments because he is the “Goon Squad”?

Keith Gill, also a leader at Empire Avenue displays no critical thinking ability and denies his own culpability as a member of Empire Avenue’s leadership.

Keith Gill Lies About Authority

 

Keith Gill Leadership Badge

 

When seemingly responsible authority will not act, it’s clear that this is a business that is out of control.

Empire Avenue advertised their leaders package on twitter and other social media platforms as follows,

“Did you wonder WHY the community was called Empire Avenue Leaders? It’s simple. Starting now, the Leaders are RUNNING Empire Avenue’s marketing, recruitment, and retention programs. The technical staff will continue to support the platform, manage the database, and provide normal tech support. Beyond that – it’s up to US to chart the marketing course to get to 2000 leaders. Longer term, Leaders may have an even greater influence on the platform’s future functionality.

This is a truly amazing opportunity. The Empire Avenue Leaders will develop and test new marketing messages, new ways to recruit – and retain – new members, and new ways to interact with each other. Plus, we can explore new ways to make the game fun and rewarding for all.”

 

It’s amazing that the leadership of EmpireKred will not deal responsibly with the abuse and predatory acts agains their own customers.

The EmpireKred “Goon Squad” took their abuse on Twitter against customers, which triggered a CA DOJ investigation into Twitter’s handling of the matter, and the San Francisco District Attorney’s office intervened twice.

With Kred purchasing Empire Avenue and changing the name to EmpireKred, one would have hoped that a change of leadership would take place, however customers still report witnessing cyber bullying and being suspended for asking Kred to fix bugs.

 

The Culture of Abuse At #EmpireKred.

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Chris Voss, nationally recognized social media expert, had this to say about EmpireKred (then Empire Avenue.)

Over 5 posts on my blogs I documented issues with Empire Avenue, from their rogue volunteers, running a “wall of shame” on Brands, attacking Brands reputations online, not answering complaints, having a “goon squad” of endorsed volunteers attacking customers who complained, refusing to discipline internally thereby encouraging more attacks on Brands, etc.

 

In reporting cyberbullying to Empire Avenue support, I found the same pattern of abuse that Mr. Voss documented.

A “goon squad” consisting of Team Leader Nance Larson (@nancelarson), and leadership Chris Sandys (@usafa_93), Gareth Davies (@me_gareth), Keith Gill (@digitalkeith) sought to silence legitimate blogging about Empire Avenue after I went public.

I did so after Empire Avenue support openly lied to me, and Gareth Davies and Chris Sandys engaged in a pattern of abuse that lead to the CA DoJ and SF DA’s office intervening on my behalf with Twitter.

 

Gareth Davies was of course suspended by Twitter for tweeting my public information and violently threatening me.  He was warned again for violent threats.

Chris Sandys was warned for non violent threats.

Keith Gill has been moderated by Instagram for cyberbullying.

Chris Sandys Non Violent Threats Warning Gareth Davies Private Information Suspension Gareth Davies Violent Threats Suspension Gareth Davies Violent Threats Warning Keith Gill HarassmentBullying Instagram

 

Twitter of course is where Empire Avenue “exports” much of their abuse.

False reporting by Keith Gill to Twitter necessitated the San Francisco DA’s office AGAIN opening their file to intervene on my behalf.

Since them, Kred has purchased Empire Avenue, and changed the name to EmpireKred, folding it into the “new” Kred.

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However, with the same abusive people in leadership and continuing abuse of customers it’s clear there’s nothing “new” about EmpireKred.

The same pattern of abuse exists at EmpireKred.

And I can only hope that with @Kred, which is owned by PeopleBrowsr and headquartered in San Francisco, that the DA’s office takes a more active interest in EmpireKred’s abuse of it’s customers and consumers.

After all, when a corporations Leadership actively doxes it’s own customers, engages in violent and non violent threats, with Team Leader Nance Larson both participating in and ignoring that anti social activity, and Brand Manager/Admin Steven L. Johnson well aware that Gareth Davies can negate a key @twitter safety (blocking) to harass Empire Avenue customers, it’s clear EmpireKred needs adult supervision.

Cannot Be Blocked

 

Gareth and the “goon squad” did their worst to try to silence my blogging, and have failed.

I remain able and willing to warn consumers about Empire Avenue’s (now EmpireKred) record of abuse of their own customers.

Many customers of Empire Avenue have told me they were attacked by Gareth Davies with many leaving or afraid to log in to Empire Avenue.

And DigitalKetih?  He’s an abusive liar and a false advertiser.

I stilll have no idea why Empire Avenue would have allowed him to run false advertising missions through Empire Avenue’s mission system.

I am neither anonymous, with my identity available on my appearoo nor a “professional victim” having never filed a lawsuit in my life.

Keith Gill is perfectly emblematic of the abuse heaped on their own customers by EmpireKred, and reason not to give your business to EmpireKred.

 

 

A Welcome To Christopher Zisi.

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A big welcome to Christopher Zisi, retired FBI agent, and horror movie enthusiast to the cast.

Additionally, Valerie Clark will be cohosting her internet radio show with Christopher.

Christopher is also releasing his first book, a collection of horror poetry.

Christopher is a great guy with varied and eclectic interests, and he confirms that FBI agent suits are actually dark grey, not black.

“The good guys dress in black, remember that.” (Dark grey doesn’t work!)

Culture of Customer Abuse Still Exists at @EmpireKred

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According to Empire Avenue Admin Robby Ball certain people at Empire Avenue are empowered and abuse their authority.

Empire Avenue has a record of attacking their own customers that has been documented going back over 3 years.

Much of the abuse has been conducted by Gareth Davies, in a position of leadership at Empire Avenue.

Gareth has a history of violent threats, non violent threats, and publishing private information of customers.

Chris Sandys, also in leadership at Empire Avenue makes paranoid and hysterical false accusations about customers in an attempt to cover up that record of abuse.

When Empire Avenues support was informed of this abuse they did nothing, and instead set about to abuse even more customers in order to attempt to cover up the astonishing record of abuse, a record that Chris Sandys of Empire Avenue leadership wanted “off the record.”

Source:  https://www.facebook.com/messages/archived/robbyba

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Chris Voss, of The Chris Voss Show,  noted a “goon squad” over 3 years ago when he was blogging about Empire Avenue‘s customer service failures.

Empire Avenue Fail 5 post overview: Over 5 posts on my blogs I documented issues with Empire Avenue, from their rogue volunteers, running a “wall of shame” on Brands, attacking Brands reputations online, not answering complaints, having a “goon squad” of endorsed volunteers attacking customers who complained, refusing to discipline internally thereby encouraging more attacks on Brands,

Meet the apparent “goon squad.”

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Gareth Davies (@me_gareth), Nance Larson (Team Leader, @nancelarson), Chris Sandys (@usafa_93) and Keith Gill (@digitalkeith.)

Astonishingly Empire Avenue allowed Keith Gill to run missions through Empire Avenue that promoted demonstrably false information after Klout confirmed that Mr. Gill’s premise was entirely incorrect.

Mr. Gill’s article on Sales 4 Life was to promote Sales 4 Life, Mr. Gill and Mr. Gill’s employer.  Keith Gill co-wrote the article, and is promoted as a “social media rock star” therein.

Mr. Gill’s advice (Keith’s Tips) included a false assertion about the klout algorithm, and advice to spam celebrities with mentions to increase one’s Klout.

Spamming celebrities is an easy way to be suspended and lose one’s twitter account.

Don’t follow his advice if you like your twitter account.

With new owners in place at Empire Avenue customers had hoped that the culture of abuse of customers and consumers would stop.

However, according to an unnamed customer of Empire Avenue’s, it has not as this customer was suspended for asking for bug fixes.

Don’t spend money at Empire Avenue if you like to not be abused by businesses you give your business to.

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Related Content:

http://thechrisvossshow.com/blog/the-dark-side-of-playing-empire-avenue-and-why-we-dont-recommend-it-to-anyone-anymore/