21 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
21 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Helpful advice before buying that next BIG course...

by Mike Hill
17 replies
I have seen a particular trend with a lot of Internet Marketers as of late. I could be wrong but I don't think I am and I feel that I should throw this out there none-the-less for us all to discuss.

Of all the products these BIG players have released over the last year it has occurred to me that they are all owners of a business to make money, period.

I'm inclined to believe that the kinds of products they are releasing has no bearing on whether it works or not but rather it's a pretty cool idea and cool ideas are easy to market.

Furthermore I also believe, and this is just my opinion, that these marketers has never really tested or done any kind of due diligence to prove anything they sell works beyond that of their marketing tests for their sales campaigns.

Take this with a grain of salt as I do not have proof but rather relying on my marketing intuition and B.S. meter when I say that there are no secret magic bullets to running or creating any of these businesses. It's simply a business that can be figured out by anyone without buying any kind of course, you just have to use common sense and average business knowledge.

I say average business knowledge because I know a lot of business men who run very successful brick and mortar business and they are not the tallest trees in the forest (if you get my drift).

So at the end of the day you really have to ask yourself - "Do you want this to become your business or part thereof, or are you looking for quick cash?"

If quick cash is your answer, save your money - there are no quick cash generators.

You have to look beyond the hype and ask yourself these 7 serious questions:

1) Is this the direction I want my business to go in?
2) What are my risks vs. rewards?
3) Can I afford to lose this money I'll be spending on this course?
4) Will this have an immediate effect on my business?
5) What will happen to my business if I do not get this course?
6) Can I live with my decision?
7) Sleep on it and make a solid business decision away from the hype...

Number 7 is most important
#advice #big #buying #helpful
  • Profile picture of the author Linda_C
    Originally Posted by Mike Hill View Post

    I'm inclined to believe that the kinds of products they are releasing has no bearing on whether it works or not but rather it's a pretty cool idea and cool ideas are easy to market.

    Furthermore I also believe, and this is just my opinion, that these marketers has never really tested or done any kind of due diligence to prove anything they sell works beyond that of their marketing tests for their sales campaigns.

    Take this with a grain of salt as I do not have proof but rather relying on my marketing intuition and B.S. meter
    Very good points -- especially the "sleep on it" one. I have worked online, fulltime, for 14 years. My business is growing other people's businesses. My star client went from 0 sales online to a million+ per year online. That's not average, I might add. I can usually push the average client to increase sales tenfold, but beyond that, their own personal issues start getting in the way. If I couldn't "do" the stuff that increases sales, I would have gone out of business long ago. I also run a handful of my own niche sites.

    I have bought some of these MMO (make money online) products, looking for something to recommend to the DIY crowd that cannot afford my rates. In too many cases, it is very obvious that the person selling the course has never done that "thing" to put bread and butter on the table. Their bread and butter comes from MMO products, not doing the things they're selling.

    IM products are not all like that, but too many are. Probably not a popular thing to say, but there you go. My opinion, anyway.

    Thing is - you're spot on - cool ideas are easy to sell and people who need money are eager to buy.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3565834].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Sam90
    My strategy now is to recoup any costs spent on new programs before starting a new one. Even if it's $50, I want to at least put forth the effort and make back my original investment.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3565860].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author AdmiralGloom
      Hey there!

      Great post, it is a good reminder to let some of the newer members know about whats up. Kudos to you!


      Originally Posted by Sam90 View Post

      My strategy now is to recoup any costs spent on new programs before starting a new one. Even if it's $50, I want to at least put forth the effort and make back my original investment.

      I advise you to take a look at what you think you really want to do and stick with it...Look for reputable Warriors on that subject only.

      I took that lesson and I am reaping the benefits from it, trust me.
      Signature
      Phone: 507-593-9123
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3566764].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author gandfscott
        Hey Mike!

        Totally agree with what you're saying and it's taken me a long time to stop buying everything I can get my hands on. I think your point number 4 is one of the essential keys. Will this have an immediate effect on my business.

        Also - only buy if you are going to immediately put into effect what you've just purchased. And by immediate I mean today, not next week, or next month. But now!

        Implement as you go. Get experience with a product as you learn it, attack it from every angle until you are successful.
        Signature
        [WSO] Make Your First $1000 in 30 Days or Less

         Find out more about us GregAndFionaScott.com
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3566836].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Roaddog
      Originally Posted by Sam90 View Post

      My strategy now is to recoup any costs spent on new programs before starting a new one. Even if it's $50, I want to at least put forth the effort and make back my original investment.

      That's the smartest post in a thread full of smart posts.

      That's a businessman.
      Signature
      KimW a Fellow Warrior Who Really Needs Help
      Ken Strong Cancer Donation | Keep Ken Strong WSO





      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3571153].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Don Schenk
    Yesterday I came across a thread over at the "Mind Warriors" sub forum that gave a link to a site owned by Dan Pena. From there I found this interesting article on his website:

    The BIG Lie | Dan Pena

    I am not an affiliate, but thought this article to be spot-on.

    :-Don
    Signature

    Studies prove happier people have massively more success. It has worked for me. Use this one trick too... Click Here

    Total Competition Stomper - Simply the most powerful tactic your IM or Offline business will ever use... See it here!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3566993].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author mikemcmillan
    Hey Mike,
    You made some good points. I look at #7 as being very important. There have been times when I read a sales page and made the buy. Then, I get up the next morning and say, "What the heck was I thinking?"

    I always try to sleep on the buying decision for at least a day just to make sure I'm buying on logic rather than emotion. (That's not always easy.)

    Another thing I see is that a lot of the big programs incorporate some kind of software to automate one aspect or another of the IM process. One problem that I've encountered is that sometimes these software applications will violate the TOS of either article directories, video sites, or WEB 2.0 platforms. Some of these can lead to getting our accounts closed if you do what the programs tell you to.

    Like you said, Mike, IM is no different than any other kind of business--learn the basics, do the work and then reap the rewards. Most people looking to short circuit that process will be sadly disappointed. --Mike
    Signature

    I'll help you create a reputation-building evergreen product in any niche and launch it successfully!
    Check it out here.

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3567137].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author NicheMayhem
      Great thread. It is truly a peculiar thing this internet marketing industry. If only it was common knowledge that there is no easy button and actual time and effort is required. Not sure how long it takes to become a brain surgeon but if I read a headline which said "Become a brain surgeon in 3 days guaranteed!" I'd laugh my ass off, as would most people.

      Not to say internet marketing is easily compared to brain surgery, but really the biggest difference is we have the luxury of making mistakes. It isn't easy, at times it isn't fun, but with the proper mindset and dedication it is totally worth it to learn. Why though, people so readily believe it can happen overnight makes no sense. Even at Mcdonald's there is a training period.
      Signature
      Whether you think you can, or think you can't, YOU'RE RIGHT!! <~~Henry Ford

      Check out my video gigs on fiverr!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3567218].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author showmegreen
    actually i didn't buy any course since my first 27 dolloars lesson for a crap
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3567292].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Ozwald01
    Quite agree with you on this Mike.
    I do get the feeling that these Marketers have tried the methods that they are selling and had some success.
    Whether this is small or large is only known to themselves.
    They then realize that they could make a killing by packaging their ideas and flogging it.
    But there are some good products out there. You just have to find them.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3567317].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author J R Salem
    For the newbies out there, make sure to avoid all offers with promises to make $xxx in xxx amount of time. That will eliminate about 85% of the programs. Then research the other 15%.

    Usually "how to" and long-term business models are the best bets.

    Training programs are iffy so research the testimonials and google the author.

    Pretty soon you won't even glance at the junk anymore.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3568033].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author AndreTinker
    Originally Posted by Mike Hill View Post

    You have to look beyond the hype and ask yourself these 7 serious questions:

    1) Is this the direction I want my business to go in?
    2) What are my risks vs. rewards?
    3) Can I afford to lose this money I'll be spending on this course?
    4) Will this have an immediate effect on my business?
    5) What will happen to my business if I do not get this course?
    6) Can I live with my decision?
    7) Sleep on it and make a solid business decision away from the hype...

    Number 7 is most important
    Spoken like a true warrior. Being able putting things in perspective is a learned skill and you sound like you've been through enough to pick it up.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3568202].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Mike Hill
    Some most excellent comments from fellow warriors. Some would say this should be required reading to any newbie before they are unleashed into the realm of the marketing world. It will most likely save them a lot of heart ache and disappointment.

    The sooner newbies figure out there are no replacements to good old fashion hard work the better off they will be and then maybe all of these "magic bullet" type of products will be gone.

    There are some good training courses out there, in fact if newbies just payed closer attention to the real training courses and worked their butts off then they would find their own success.

    It's different for everybody, you just have to find your way and with the help of a good training course properly followed by the buyer it could in fact pay off a lot sooner than you would expect.

    Thanks all for your comments, this is turning into a great thread.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3570827].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Christina Osorio
      Mike, excellent post. I have been in business for longer than I care to state here. But I am fairly new to IM. I am a product creator. My business partner Maddi Murtaza and I have made it our mission to create solid, honest products for all levels of IMers. We use all of our products and stand behind them 100%.

      It is such a refreshing way to do business. We never have to worry about any question that we get asked. We always know the answer. And the last product we launched only had 1 refund.

      Our subscriber list is buyer only and when we launch a new product we do very well. No stress. No pre-launch hype or nervousness because we know we are putting out quality and something we have used ourselves to build our own products and/or business.

      It's a lot of hard work and it takes time but in the long run our business will be solid and that is what we want. Our reputation will be good and our customers will trust us. If more IMer's would put the time and hard work in to it instead of chasing the quick buck or the magic bullet we would all be better off.

      Christina
      Signature
      Have you seen it yet? You should check it out! My new WSO has launched to rave Warrior reviews. Click here to see it! It's selling quick!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3571112].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author jbsmith
        Great points, here are a few more considerations I have found helpful when looking for either information, systems or tools to use to improve my business

        1. Does the information or tool apply outside of the make money niche. I operate web businesses in 4 different niches so whatever it is I am thinking of buying, I like to see proof that it a) Works and b) works in other niches

        2. That the technique or tool matches my desire for longer-term use - you are right in saying many of the techniques may work for a very short time, but then may get you banned, penalized or just stop working altogether - these are not worth the time even if they make you some short-term cash

        3. We make sure we always have product and marketing plans for our various businesses to 1-year out (some of them even farther). That way we can assess new tools, systems or information in terms of "will they help us achieve our plan" instead of bouncing around following the latest trend or fad

        All of that said, we are certainly not against investing in training or even seeking out experts and paying them directly to help learn something new and progress our business.

        Nobody can do it all themselves, so you do need to keep improving, learning, testing and improving to stay in growth mode...sticking to the 3 litmus tests above we have been pretty good of steering clear of bad packages.

        Jeff
        Signature
        Turn Your Knowledge Into High-Paying Digital Products To Sell Online
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3573545].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Cliff_OBA
      There are some really god points here. The internet did not invent get rich quick schemes, but it certainly provided a larger marketplace! Probably the saddest thing is that a lot of people who end up buying the $1000+ courses and give up could actually make money using the material as a starting point. But when you expect something to be easy, its very difficult to transition into the right mindset to buckle down and put some real effort in.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3571745].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Anthony Vides
    My humble advice is that you ask yourself: What is what I want to accomplish online? Do I want to build my business or just seek opportunities to make money here and there?
    Personally, I will opt for the first. Why? Because when you build a business, you grow as a business, as an individual, and in income in a sustainable way for a long term. When you choose the second option, you don't build anything.
    Ask yourself this: Am I an opportunity seeker or an entrepreneur?
    Just buy whatever is useful to the business you are trying to build.
    I hope, that my advice be of great help for you.
    ps. English is my second language, just in case!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3571237].message }}

Trending Topics