This is not a post that I want to write but one that I HAVE to write.
Because I am pissed right now. (that’s the American pissed (=angry not drunk) for all my Aussies)
Seriously pissed.
Let me tell you something…
In case you ever had any doubt about the nature of people who sell “how to” information particularly in the online marketing niche…
While there are plenty of good eggs, plenty of decent guys, plenty of quality people…
There are people out there who will knowingly, blatantly, without care, f$%^ing LIE to sell their products.
And it’s not the people who seem dodgy on some crappy looking sales letter, making the biggest most outlandish promises.
Sometimes its the people who seem the nicest, most honest, most innocent people up front, but for some reason don’t have a problem with pushing claims that are total BS behind the scenes.
And what sucks the most is that when it’s required, they defend it.
They make up more BS to defend the original BS. They get their “celebrity” friends to back them up too (after all, they owe them one from that last JV they did) and to the average onlooker, everything seems fine.
But it’s not.
And they wreck it for everyone else. I’d love to sell a product that showed people how to make $500 a week and replace their incomes with the internet. But how can I sell that next to another product that promises “make $5k a day” and is totally BS.
I wish I could post the particular example that enraged me so but that wouldn’t be cool. Instead I’ll just say:
Try with all your might not to become seduced by the claims that seem “too good to be true”. Set a goal that’s realistic for yourself and do your research before you buy.
Good day!
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There is so much good stuff and opportunity out there, I never quite get that. It’s not like it’s hard to find really exciting methods and products to promote (like Firepow, for example).
I’m with you.
Let’s call ‘em out. You should at least send them a complementary copy of Crap Marketing.
With you all the way Andrew. I’m gradually getting to know the ‘real deals’ out there, but it’s a slow process.After having been looking around on the Net for several years I’m left with the unhappy thought that of the scores of people I know who could be classed a at least reasonably successful entrepreneurs who are offering goods and services to the earn-money-from-home market, there are only 2 in whom I have been able to develop a complete trust. That’s not a good record.
On the one hand you say:
“do your research before you buy”
On the other hand:
“They get their “celebrity” friends to back them up too……….and to the average onlooker, everything seems fine”
Why not save us all the trouble and just call these people out? I don’t see the point in writing this post unless you are prepared to name names.
Saying “beware of sharks” and “I know who they are but I’m not going to tell you” isn’t much use to those “not in the know”.
Hi Andrew…it is a damn shame that marketers lie to sell their products…or promote even if it’s crap just because it’s their buddy’s product.
This post reminded me of Seth Godin’s book “All marketers are liars” …which I haven’t read but the title is very intriguing.
Stuart Stirling
Yeah, all s true, Andrew! It’s like these people have no conscience. Every thing they promote supposedly gives up the big secret they’ve all been holding back up until now. How many times do they say, “You’ve been lied to”, or “it’s not your fault”, giving the impression that finally the whole truth is coming out. Then why do they need to come out with a new marketing product for the same sort of thing in a few months time?
So that’s a ‘guru’ bashing, but what about the thousands of affiliate marketers who pretend that they are giving an honest review about a product. Some make up a new persona to help sell the product they know nothing about. Like one I saw recently where the guy wrote as if he were a young woman, and included a photo of his neice, to sell hair straightners. He admitted he didn’t know the first thing about the product in his ‘training videos’, he just wanted to sell the product. Nice guy – but a liar!
The comment about “all marketers are liars” seems more and more apt.
Whether ‘gurus’ or at-home-mom affiliates, sadly there’s altogether too many people out there ripping people off.
We add to the problem by both buying their crap and selling it as affiliates – or by making up stuff about products we know squat about.
Paul C
(First) Paul,
You’re right mate, I wish I could name names, but it’s just not worth it, and I know that they’ll reap what they sow in the end without my intervention.
It’s up to us to be as much “in the know” as we can be, and view all take all such ‘big promises’ with a grain of salt, and keep realistic about what we should expect from online business (post about this coming in a few days)
Everyone else, thanks for your thoughts, and thanks for letting me get this out there.
Andrew
Here’s an approach I’m planning to test.
I’ll watch for a new wave of hype to start building. Then I’ll go do some serious research where the hard core early adopters are hanging out. I’ll dig deep, do some testing, contribute to the community, etc.
If there’s truly an opportunity I’ll be in a great position to promote a quality product or create my own and let others sell it.
The “tipping point” for me with all the lies happened to be the Twitter craze. As an IT Manager and web geek I was immersed in the world of tweets long before there was any buzz by Internet marketers.
When it first came online I had to determine if Twitter posed any threats to our network and also explore its potential as a business tool. I find it funny how serious some people are taking it.
I must say my favorite hype is still the emails on launch day stating “Oh my God, the f’ing server has collapsed due to the massive demand!!! Hopefully you can still get in.”
Give me a break.
Filsaime brags of having a 10 million a year business yet when he launches BFM 2, which will make him another fortune, nobody on his team is smart enough to source the hosting to a competant provider? A company such as RackSpace that stakes their reputation on providing managed solutions that will scale to meet any demand.
I know there’s more involved than just the hosting but it’s not like this was his first launch. If I ever roll out with something that big and the infrastructure fails, you can bet I’ll be firing somebody’s ass.
Chris,
You’re right dude – couldn’t agree more.
The Twitter niche is actually where my original anger and reason for posting this came from
And great tips on beating hype – thanks for sharing!
Though for me the Jury’s still out on the “server crash” thing.
I’ve personally sat down with Mike to chat a couple of times and I know he wouldn’t pull such a trick, mainly because there’s no need to – he’s got enough JV partners to sell out anyway without the added build up of a fake crash.
Same with guys like Frank K – it just happens with big amounts of traffic from 50 guru’s doing a mailing all at once – and they may well suck at organizing server resources.
It also may well be that they don’t organize it but they have no real motivation to stop it since if it does happen, there’s added hype etc but I still doubt that for most big marketers.
Thanks again,
Andrew
That is why I am hesitant to buy any online marketing product because I am thinking that those are just hype…and yes, they are too good to be true.
Well said Andrew…
I was just discussing this with a marketer friend of mine the other day. It seems there is a ‘click’ of about 20 people or so (you know who I’m talking about) that constantly flaunt how much they make.
The problem is – they don’t make $$ by using the ‘systems’ they are selling! They make huge money by building a list of hopeful online marketers, then flogging the hell out of them with every product they can possibly JV with – without a care whatsoever that the products (in many cases) are complete JUNK (or close to it).
Infuriates me to no end….
are you kidding me I laugh every time I open my inbox, the newest latest push button ridiculous product launches everyday. . .