Entrepreneurs
Francis Volpe, Y Not You Media & Fake Paid Articles
Francis Volpe is a Digital Content Creator, Digital Marketer, Co-Host of SNACK TIME! – Fran and Nicky and co-founders of a Digital Media Agency ‘Y Not You Media”. – Bio from Paid Articles
Francis Volpe’s paid interviews and featured articles in different media outlets focus on his expertise in Digital Marketing. He also shares the story of his journey from obscurity to becoming the Co-founder of ‘Y Not You Media,’ a New York-based digital marketing agency. With his deep understanding of the importance of a strong digital presence, his decision to invest in paid placements for self-promotion is entirely reasonable.
The advantage of investing in paid placements is that it boosts credibility and provides a tangible example for your clients regarding feature articles, digital presence, and social media verification. Regardless of the intended use of these paid articles, it’s important to note that this is not a low-cost endeavor. Especially for companies claiming to be in the 6-7 figure range, allocating significant funds for genuine paid articles is a prudent decision.
Also, you can use the publications in your marketing collateral to claim that you have been Featured. The real statement has to be “Paid For”. These Publications are easily available on Fiverr.com for $10 – $20. Someone here is using logos of NBC, and Fox News as if He was really featured on those sites. Publishing an article on affiliate sites of Press Release aggregator for $25 which publishes on 20 – 50 affiliate sites of NBC, Fox News, and CBS does not rule that you actually have been featured there. Below is the banner placed on Francis Volpe’s Website.
SOCIAL PRESENCE:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/francis-volpe-48b67675
https://www.instagram.com/francisvolpe/
https://wikitia.com/wiki/Francis_Volpe [ $50 profile can be purchased from Fiver ]
https://www.ynotyoumedia.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Volpe [ Verified due to below Paid Articles ]
https://francis-volpe.com/
LET’S ANALYZE THE PAID ARTICLES PUBLICATIONS:
While Francis Volpe is committed to creating exceptional content for his clients through his agency, he also actively engages in content marketing for his own benefit, including the use of paid feature articles and interviews. Some of these paid articles claim that he is among the most sought-after content strategists in Westchester, NY, alongside his business partner, which may or may not be accurate. When you pay for articles, you have the freedom to make various claims or portray yourself in a positive light.
Furthermore, Y Not You Media founder leverages his previously published paid articles in one publication to promote himself and his agency in other publications. For instance, an article published in the Village Voice, it states that “Francis Volpe was also featured in many media outlets, including the California Herald, Kivo Daily, The American Reporter, and others.” The question arises: were these features genuine or the result of paid placements?
Publications such as NYWeekly, JPost, OceanDrive, VillageVoice, etc allow you to post any article about yourself for $999. You can directly contact this publication or opt for PR Services to publish this sponsored content. In his case, it looks like DN News Network is the Paid Article Publishing Service Provider.
https://nyweekly.com/entrepreneur/francis-volpe-asking-the-important-question-why-not-you/ [ $500 publication on Fiverr.com ]
https://www.jpost.com/special-content/francis-volpes-top-five-tips-on-building-your-businesss-digital-presence-664048 [ Directly contact the publication for paid article]
https://oceandrive.com/francis-volpe-digital-marketing [ Directly contact the publication for paid article]
https://www.villagevoice.com/2021/09/07/francis-volpe-on-using-technology-to-help-companies-thrive/ [ Directly contact the publication for a paid article]
Beyond the clear disclaimer or sponsorship label, many of his articles give the appearance of being authentic and organic feature or interview pieces, but they are not. In fact, some publications, like Kivo Daily, Influencive, The American Reporter, and others, are recognized for their ‘Pay to Publish’ model. In these cases, you can essentially provide them with pre-written content, and they will publish it as long as you pay their fee. Such services are readily available for purchase on platforms like PeoplePerHour or Fiverr.com, typically ranging from $50 to $100.
https://www.influencive.com/francis-volpe-on-how-digital-marketing-is-shaping-the-future-of-business/
https://www.kivodaily.com/marketing/meet-francis-volpe-co-founder-of-y-not-you-media/
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-network/francis-volpe-and-brad-ahn-on-why-making-mistakes-and-learning-lessons-is-a-part-of-the-journey-call
https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2021/03/30/how-francis-volpe-went-from-a-loan-officer-to-becoming-a-self-made-success/
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/pr/2093887/francis-volpe-on-covid-19s-impact-on-the-digital-marketing-industry
https://vegasmagazine.com/entrepreneur-francis-volpes-content-marketing-strategies
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/04/how-francis-volpe-can-make-social-media-work-for-you-and-improve-your-sales/
https://thebftonline.com/2021/05/25/how-to-maximize-your-potential-in-the-digital-space-as-per-francis-volpe/
https://leadership.ng/leverage-the-power-of-social-media-to-grow-your-brand-with-these-top-tips-by-francis-volpe/
http://businessdayghana.com/why-digitization-is-crucial-for-success-today-as-per-francis-volpe/
https://nagpuroranges.com/francis-volpes-latest-track-trust-is-already-getting-rave-reviews-from-fans-and-critics/
https://thetimesofsindh.com.pk/2021/11/10/with-trust-on-his-mind-francis-volpe-leaves-audiences-asking-for-more/
https://www.apstersmedia.com/francis-volpes-latest-single-wins-hearts-with-its-great-content-contagious-tune/
https://themarketersdaily.com/2021/04/05/why-entrepreneur-francis-volpes-content-marketing-strategies-are-highly-sought-after/
https://www.theamericanreporter.com/new-york-entrepreneur-francis-volpe-creates-social-media-attention-agency-to-help-businesses-grow/
https://www.californiaherald.com/francis-volpe-talks-attention/
https://influencersnetnews.com/francis-volpes-rise-from-scratch-to-success/
https://news.yahoo.com/y-not-media-fastest-growing-111946304.html
ENTREPRENEUR 30 UNDER 30. REAL OR ANOTHER PAID PLACEMENT?
Being featured on reputable lists like ’30 Under 30′ in media outlets or publications is indeed a prestigious accomplishment, and it garners recognition and admiration. However, if you find it challenging to secure a spot on such esteemed lists, there’s an alternative option: paying for inclusion on paid lists.
Some PR service providers curate their own lists, featuring numerous entrepreneurs and publishing them in outlets that operate on the ‘Pay to Publish’ model, like NYWEEKLY. The sole criterion for inclusion in these lists often boils down to a fee ranging from $100 to $300. Entrepreneurs who appear on these lists are frequently those who engage in a significant number of paid articles. Francis Volpe’s inclusion in this list, as seen here: https://nyweekly.com/entrepreneur/30-under-30/, is also based on a paid arrangement. It’s important to note that such lists from NYWEEKLY lack credibility and primarily exist for monetization, making them accessible to entrepreneurs seeking recognition.
Another such article is of Entrepreneur [ https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/353733 ] – ” 15 entrepreneurs under 30 to consider ”
While securing a feature in Entrepreneur USA typically involves a rigorous assessment of an individual’s credibility, they uphold stringent standards to ensure that only legitimate entrepreneurs are covered by their contributors. However, for those with a budget of $3000, there exists an opportunity to be featured on Entrepreneur.com through their Brand Content Program.
In this particular instance, the author of the article, where Francis Volpe is mentioned, has grouped together several entrepreneurs for whom she charged a significant sum of money and included them in an alleged ‘Entrepreneurs under 30 List.’ It’s worth noting that this article is also a paid placement and lacks its own intrinsic credibility.
SHARING PAID SPOTS WITH OTHERS
Some publications can impose hefty fees that can strain one’s budget. To mitigate these costs, it’s a longstanding practice in the PR industry to combine two entrepreneurs into a single paid article. This strategy is particularly evident in publications that are either expensive or flexible in their content acceptance policies.
Francis Volpe, for instance, shares paid article slots with other entrepreneurs in publications like IB Times, Times of Israel, and Maximum, many of which are paid and lack authenticity. A simple Google search of these fellow entrepreneurs often reveals a plethora of self-authored paid articles. It appears that many entrepreneurs are following a similar path – publishing paid articles to various platforms in an effort to enhance their credibility and reputation.
IB Times UK’s article of Francis Volpe Sharing Paid Article spot with Dr. Kami Parsa – https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/francis-volpe-dr-kami-parsa-list-3-ways-overcome-self-doubt-create-your-success-story-1694301
Times of Israel’s article of Francis Volpe Sharing Paid Article spot with Ryan Buttigieg – https://www.timesofisrael.com/spotlight/francis-volpe-ryan-buttigieg-share-why-resilience-is-the-most-powerful-skill-in-2021/
Maxim’s article of Francis Volpe Sharing Paid Article spot with Marcus Blandin – https://www.maxim.com/news/title-marcus-blandin-and-francis-volpe-share-3-critical-insights-to-reinvent-your-marketing-strategy/
We look forward to more of his Fake Paid Articles
