PureDriven markets its digital marketing services to franchisees with the claim that it’s “Bringing Trust… to an Industry Built on Lies.”
Combine Twin Peaks, Ozark and add a dash of Schitt’s Creek and you still won’t rival the ongoing and escalating shitshow PureDriven founder has created as mayor of tiny Two Harbors, MN (pop. 3,529).
Oh, and he’s suing the blogger (John Ramos, Duluth Monitor) who unmasked Mr. O.
Oh, and his attorney representing an unnamed supporter (“John Doe”) is suing the city and nearly everyone in it over the two recall petitions by fed-up residents seeking a return to post-shitshow Two Harbors.
(That would be a good slogan for the next mayoral candidate: Let’s Make Two Harbors Not-A-Shitshow Again!)
At some point, it appears that PureDriven employee & President told his staff “Let’s Tell People Our Owner Isn’t Part of The Company So They’ll Trust Us!
When President Jason Sunday told me that “Chris Swanson is no longer with our company…,” he quickly admitted (when confronted with the corporation’s registration) the embattled mayor of Two Harbors, MN is still owner of PureDriven, just not CEO.
I let it go as a quick, unpremeditated attempt at spin.
Then, two days later, PureDriven social media marketer Angela R. left a comment on the original post with the exact same wording and claim:
Sean, Chris Swanson is not the CEO of PureDriven. He was removed from this position months ago.
Chris Swanson is no longer with PureDriven and we would appreciate you removing this article as it does not pertain to our company.
Thanks!
Angela, 43 days prior is not “months ago.”
It’s less than 2 months.
And I think that no one other than PureDriven employees would claim an owner is “not part of the company.”
Especially when Chris Swanson is plastered all over the Internet with podcasts, videos, interviews as the company spokesperson.
PureDriven claims Chris Swanson is no longer involved with the company, but the still promote the company with 90+ YouTube podcasts called “All Things Marketing” or “ATM.”
Even worse, 86% of the digital marketing company’s ATM podcasts have fewer than 10 views.
30% of the 90+ podcasts have NO VIEWS. None. Zero. Zip.
That means even the guy who uploaded it didn’t watch or listen to them. Or the host. Or Chris Swanson. Or clients.
In two years, PureDriven has generated 8 subscribers and proven results like this:
* At least two of these views were mine.
In June, 2019, on the company’s “All Things Marketing” podcast, PureDriven CEO and Head of Franchise Development Christopher Swanson shared his strategy for how business owners should respond to the “gut-punch” of negative reviews and online criticism.
In the YouTube video titled “How Do You Deal With Negative Comments and Reviews on Social Media?” CEO Swanson shared these wise points with me and at least two other viewers:
Sadly, 2020 Christopher Swanson now appears to be a public official willing to crush the First Amendment rights of those who question, criticize or publicly embarrass him.
This dark & reckless 2022 Chris Swanson is the Plaintiff who has filed the defamation lawsuit Christopher Swanson v. John L. Ramos and Duluth Monitor LLC.
In my non-lawyers but learned opinion (which, as you’ll recall, is not defamatory), Swanson’s suit is a classic SLAPP and would likely be dismissed as such in a state with strong anti-SLAPP laws, such as California.
The Public Participation Project explains the meaning of SLAPP:
The rights to speech and petition are enshrined in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Free speech and healthy debate are vital to the well-being of a democracy. In fact, the United States Supreme Court has said that the right to petition the government is the very foundation of our democracy.
SLAPP = Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation
SLAPPs are Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation. These damaging suits chill free speech and healthy debate by targeting those who communicate with their government or speak out on issues of public interest.
SLAPPs are used to silence and harass critics by forcing them to spend money to defend these baseless suits. SLAPP filers don’t go to court to seek justice. Rather, SLAPPS are intended to intimidate those who disagree with them or their activities by draining the target’s financial resources.
Nothing hurts your credibility like a clumsy attempt to hide a basic truth with an easily exposed half-truth.
The half-truth may be worse than a well-executed lie, as it not only insults the listener’s intelligence, it exposes the marketing company’s inability to mask insincerity.
It would be a great testament to the power of truth professed by proclaimed Christians like Jason, Chris Swanson and many Swanson reporters.
As mayor Christopher Swanson said in his ATM podcast, one should approach negative situations as learning opportunities and a path to a positive outcome.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? SHARE COMMENTS BELOW OR EMAIL THE AUTHOR at UnhappyFranchisee [at] Gmail [Dot] Com
All readers are invited to provide comments, corrections, clarifications and/or rebuttals. Companies or individuals discussed herein are invited to provide their points-of-view either in the comments below or by emailing ADMIN at UnhappyFranchisee[at]Gmail.com.
If you wish your emailed comment to stay off the record or your name kept anonymous, please state that and your privacy will be protected.
PLEASE share the link to this post with interested parties via social media or other means.
TAGS: PureDriven, PureDriven Digital Marketing, Jason Sunday, Franchise Marketing, Christopher Swanson, Chris Swanson, Mayor Chris Swanson, Two Harbors MN, Duluth Monitor, John Ramos, Underwater Howel, Mr. O, Daniel Victor Hancock, Brendan L. Tupa, Droel Law, SLAPP, Frivolous Lawsuits, Liars & Bullies series, Sean Kelly
Mark Schnurman, founder of The Perfect Franchise, generously donated the latest entry to the Richard Quick,…
Mark Schnurman, founder of The Perfect Franchise, never promoted Phoenix Franchise Brands EVER! At least,…
This page contains a running list of those who continue to promote the controversial Phoenix…
It may be the newest chapter in the Franchise Fraudster’s Playbook: Tell people they can own…
Could someone explain the joke at the end of my previous post to Worried Bird…
It appears that two owners of small Utah-based franchise companies – Mitch & Manny Cypers of…
View Comments
I don’t even know what to say about this guy in Two Harbors!! I live in Texas now but grew up and ran several businesses from twin cities to Orr. I think the only thing this nut case mayor is missing is Governor Jesse Ventura!!!!