Can you believe the b.s. that many marketers shovel in their sales letters these days? If you are on a few lists, and have seen a “launch”, you’ll recognize the signs:
False scarcity.. Limited quantities. “next” 100 to order. Price goes up soon. One time only offer. Coupon good only for this visit, etc.. Once you’ve been around for a while, you’ll notice that many of these claims are outright lies. There are a few ways to check this out for yourself:
- Visit the site in a different browser. You’ll probably get the same offer, even if it’s a one-time offer just for you.
- Clear your browser cookies, and visit the site again.
- Wait a few days or weeks, and see if the same b.s. shows up. I know of one site which apparently didn’t do so well, and still has the same discount, coupon, first 100 fast-mover bonus, etc… How long has it been? almost 3 months, and counting.
- Register for the site with a separate email address. You’ll likely get the same special offer, regardless of how many times you sign-up
“Weasel” guarantees… 30 days 100% money back–not enough time to implement, yet alone absorb 15 dvd’s of information… or… following our system, document the steps you take and and if you’re not making $xxxxx in the first 60 days, we’ll send your money back (never mind what we teach you will cost you many times what you spent on the course to “try” out–thus it makes no sense to “try” it).
Testimonials, and “case studies” which include already successful businesspeople and marketers
- I don’t know about you, but if I recognize someone whose put on a pedestal, as an example of what can happen to you, and they’ve been successful since way before the product materialized, I’m skeptical to the extreme. These people probably did things that had nothing to do with the course.
- Phony names, limited info.. First name and last initial… c’mon, use some real information and help promote them in the process.
- “private students” who are privy to much more information, and more importantly–support and promotion from sponsors– that is presented as “newbie makes a fortune without any skills”….
There are many more examples, and yes, I *could* name names.. The point is, there’s a lot of b.s. out there aimed directly are parting you with your money. It’s not always that the information is bad. In fact I’m sure a lot of it is useful, if you are at the business stage that calls for it.
The point of this rant is simple: Pay attention to what the people you are thinking of following are DOING, not the image (“character”) they present. If they can’t tell the truth *before* you purchase from them, how in the heck can you believe them after the sale is made? You can’t!
There are plenty of ethical people on the Internet, why not choose to support, and follow one of them?
You can find just a few of the best, on my blog roll to the right.
-Tim
Popularity: 23% [?]
I live in Reno, NV with my wife Careen, and the ever so talented kitty named Milo. Programmer by trade, web surfer and learner for fun, I have a ton of interests, and you'll hear about each of them in time!
I like getting back on a landing site a week later and still seeing the 100 slashed out and the same number – 47 left – as I saw a week ago.
Either they make no sales or the page never changes.
I also like the date (good only until todays date at midnight). Then I read the source code to make sure that they are using the computer time/date.
I stumbled it and included it in my blog carnival.
(see the carnival at: http://cheapkeywords.info/one-huge-carnival-of-leads-to-making-money-online/)
Great blog Tim, now if we only could find a hole big enough?
My be then we will have a Great Business on the internet.
Till then then, Stay Alert. keep you hands off the Order button,
till you are SURE beyond a doubt…
Great Job Tim.
Pat Carrigan