Something I need to get off my chest!

Ryan,

You make a good point. I've only been active on the WF for a few months but I was a lurker for about 6 months myself.

I've only bought a couple WSO's but the number of posts is generally irrelevant. There are some people doing IM that probably don't participate in Forums. It doesn't seem ideal to you or I because we get so much out of it but chances are, those people are WAY better at what they do. Their niche, anyway.

I'm glad you brought this to light. Hopefully some Warriors think twice after reading it

Kyle

What's more, I can guarantee there are some VERY knowledgeable IM'rs with YEARS of experience that aren't even members of this forum so if they joined today, would you discount their advice?

I replied to a thread like that just yesterday. He asked what it takes to create a quality how to product. I responded that the best ingredients is experience... but also stated that everybody has some experience they can share in this niche or another. I told him to dig deep and find something that he has to offer.

I think that's what a lot of people mean when they say experience is needed to teach. Sure, you can research something and create your own product based on your research, but experience is always better. Everybody has something they can share and others are willing to pay for. It's just a matter of looking at your life and coming up with it.

As for IMers new to this forum, that doesn't mean squat. I was actively selling online for years before I found the Warrior Forum. Most of the marketers in the world have no idea that this place exists.

A low post count doesn't mean an individual is clueless. Though more often than not it does indicate a lack of experience. But that's not the point, not even close.

A low post count does indicate the person is new here. And this forum is a community. Many of the posts you're talking about are directed at people who show up here ONLY to sell to others. And if an individual isn't known within the community people won't buy from him. It's that simple.

Many of the warnings directed at these folks are designed to save the person time, money and frustration in launching a product most won't touch because the Warrior/vendor has no credibility or reputation. Most often these warnings are an act of kindness rather than one chastising the person.

Well said ryan milligan i agree i am new to this forum and i will listen to everybody so can i ask would you care to share who you learnt from?

Ryan,

The point in the post count isn't usually about expertise - it's about trust. There's a LOT of crap on the Net - even in here. If someone has been around awhile people get to know them better so there is more trust built, even though someone with a low post count may know 5 times more about what they are doing.

It's just easier to do the due diligence when you have thousands of posts to peruse to see what you can find out about the vendor. Of course, if the product is low cost enough, the risk may be worth the money, and in that case the person with the low post count will get the benefit of the doubt. The resulting word of mouth testimonial can do wonders for them even before they really post enough to make their own reputation - but that's the main point here.

Marketing is often a matter of building a rep, and posts help to do that. I don't think anyone here is shallow enough to think that low post count is equivalent to ignorance or automatically makes someone with a product a scammer. It does, though, mean that they aren't really generally known - and obscurity makes trust harder to engender. Might not be fair or just, but it is human nature. Gurus did not get to be gurus because of post count - they got to be gurus by building trust and relationships. If the person with the low post count you bought from continues to put out good products, they will become known even if they don't post until their fingers bleed.

All that being said - I'm glad you got a great WSO no matter WHO had it posted. The more great WSO's in here, the better off we all are as a group - no matter how many post counts the vendor has.

The post count is used a little like the feedback score on eBay. As an eBay newbie your account activity is restricted until you've traded beyond a certain threshold and had the opportunity to build some reputation for yourself. Multi-million dollar corporations open shop on eBay and start off as newbies.
It's the same here. A low post count doesn't mean a person is naive, or inexperienced, it just means they don't come with a good interaction profile or history.
People wanting to spring WSO's on the community should think about the eBay example first, and perhaps work at building some reputation for themselves ahead of trying to cash in.

The Warrior Forum is not the only forum and definitely not the only resource to learn a lot or sell your product. The number of members here on this forum is only a small fraction of the IM business and in my opinion too many people on this forum think they somehow depend on it.

There's more out there and what I've learned and the experience I have doesn't come from the WF at all. You don't need the WF, so if you don't feel comfortable (and I think more and more here don't feel that comfortable anymore) then just find other communitites.

WSO's can be useful, but there are other ways to find what you need. Launching a WSO is always a risk....3 posts or 3,000 posts. You never know if it sells well. Don't listen to the big mouths thinking they know it all. There's a lot of advise to be found from trustful warriors and I think PMs are also there to ask questions to a particular person who you think you can trust.

Just my 2 cents...

Andre

OP, you do bring up an interesting point, but you also kinda answer your own question with your post as well.

You mention one of the best wso's you bought was from a guy with low post count. But you went on to say that this person had very few sales (like 30 ish).

Had this seller spent more time getting involved in the forum not only would his post count have been higher, but his wallet would also likely be a little thicker (more sales).

BTW, one of the best business deals I have ever gotten involved with was presented to me by a young minority kid who had dropped out of high school and been convicted of 2 felony drug possession cases. (his idea was 100% legal and brilliant in all honesty ...it involved the web hosting industry of all things.)

At the time, I had been in business for myself for several years, and honestly I thought I was 10x or more smarter than him.

His suggestions are one of the big reasons I was able to retire at the age of 30. He also did pretty well for himself on the deal.

However, on average people do learn a lot more from people with experience rather than relative newbies. That goes for any industry, not just the IM niche.

It isn't about post count. It's about reputation. But go ahead and run a WSO without bothering to build a reputation or providing some value to the forum first. It's your $40 for a couple hours run. I personally don't even look at WSOs launched by people I don't recognize from the discussion forum.

I bought WSO from people with low post counts, there are a lot of people with knowledge who don't have the time to post on boards everyday, we all know how fast time goes away on you when your on a forum reading and posting... sure i always look a bit into the seller but if the product seems right then i buy it anyway... if it is not up to standards you can always refund...

What i never do is buy a WSO from someone with a low post count and no refund policy, that is a huge red flag for me, 99% you can b e sure that something is up.

Dave

Ask yourself. Do I need it? Do I want it? Finally say, Heck i'm only out $40 Heck reputations mean nothing to me. There are some on dp who have 20k post and you would like to "hold thier head under water for just a bit." Same with ebay I have been taken with some that had a perfect feedback. Just a chance you take.

Gurus ain't the same thing as Experienced.

Problem here and almost everywhere else (including in real world) is that people can't differentiate a experienced guy from a guru - In fact "gurus" tend to have all the bells and whistles and rookies follow along.

It's just part of human nature.

I do agree. Actually some people starting out have a fresh view. They see things us old pros miss. Basically, all can add to our sum of experience. Hope you write a WSO very soon. God bless you. Have a happy and prosperous new year.

Also, newbies should understand that some of the people with 1000's of posts to their credit can still talk complete horsesh$t.

Don't allow yourself to be bullied by someone who has more posts than you do. It might be an internal ranking system but it ain't infallible by any means, nor is it any indication of integrity or even knowledge in some cases.

I think that's it's down to the individual. If the person is offering whats of interest to you personally and they have a low post account, it might just mean they are new here. If you like what they've got to say, can afford it and don't risk your house on it, be open minded.

I don't care about post count. I only care about dollar count.

If someone makes good money in this business, I listen. If someone makes more posts than dollars, then I ignore.

Here's the problem with your assertion. Most of the OP in those threads do not articulate a stance as well as you just did. Most of the time if you look back through their few posts they have been asking very basic questions, but have come to the belief that launching a WSO is a fast way to make money.

When someone with a low post count is capable of clearly stating their knowledge, has shared just a little on the forum in a knowledgeable and helpful manner, they immediately begin developing the proper reputation.

The advice given to interact with people, to be on the forum longer, etc...are all helpful criticism to help them increase their sales. Of course, like in the case you mention, they can build up a reputation of quality and performance by launching WSO's with the understanding that their first listings are going to produce lower quantities of sales. Once they build a reputation of providing quality and standing behind their products, which will be evident in reviews and comments, their sales will increase.

In my opinion your friend who made 30 sales in his first two weeks with that WSO did a stellar job. He now has the ability to get testimonials from 30 people which will help the launch, or re-launch, of any future products.

It is intriguing to notice in this thread that most people strongly supporting your stance all have less than 100 posts. That does not indicate lack of knowledge, just desire to take advantage of a selling platform without first making the investment required to maximize the potential.

Barry

And there are some of us who have been on this forum for over ten years, but just don't bother to post about every single topic that is brought up.

This is my take on the problem. Suppose I want to buy a ripe pineapple. I go the market and there are three stalls selling pineapples.

One has been there for years and I know if I buy a pineapple from him/her it will be ripe, juicy and will do the job.

One stall is there for the first time. Their notice tells me they have ten years' experience selling pineapples, their pineapples are hand-picked, sun ripened and can't be beaten

Another stall is also there for the first time. Their notice tells me they also have 10 year's experience selling pineapples, their pineapples are freshly picked and the best I can buy.

I know that one of the new comers is a scammer, selling ghastly pineapples and one is a true gourmet selling the very best.

Which of the three sellers will I buy from?

Food for thought (pun intended) and, I would suggest, the same conundrum as deciding whether or not to buy from a member who hasn't yet established their reputation within this community.

Post count is one way to see how knowledgeable a person is....

You can always research them in Google, visit their site, read their blog as well!

If you take the time to research, knowledge can almost always be determined (especially in niche areas).

Since I'm new to this forum, I typically look to higher posting individuals with good reviews for any WSO. And it's not that I'm picky, but it's just that I'm new to IM and feel more comfortable right now with people who are more well established on this forum.

A large post count is an easy way to decide how to spend money. More people look for ways out of a deal than in, so most people automatically assume something so they don't "waste" their money even if the WSO is the best ever produced.

This is an EXCELLENT Post! You make a very valid point. I have less than 30 comments on this site as I only found it in November. Truth be told I am too busy making money running my Marketing firm to spend a tremendous amount of time on here.

Despite my low Comment count, I founded the largest Online Mortgage Banking Firm on the Web in the 90's.We were the largest aggregator of marketing & lead generation for the Mortgage Industry at the time. Heck, I rode around in my own personal limo driven by my live in chauffeur, had a motor yacht sitting at the end of my 218 ft dock, and a 5000 sq ft home on the Intercoastal in Florida....and all that was done without EVER hearing of the Warrior Forum! lol

Bottom line, at 45 yrs old with over 20 yrs experience and multiple college degrees I could teach a lot to many, and conversely learn a lot from just as many...if not more. All with less than 30 posts on the WF! lol

The Forum is just that....a Forum for people to exchange ideas, give and take advice, to teach and be taught. To even begin to rate a persons capabilities on the basis of the number of posts they have on here is ludicrous.

I don't base my opinions on post counts. But I do base them on the information given within posts. It's usually easy to tell from a person's first few posts if they have experience worth sharing in their area of expertise. If I've gained a lot of information from a person's posts I have no problem buying their WSO if it's on a topic I'm interested in learning about.
Rose

This is a really great, and important, post.

I'm a product creator, among other things. I've noticed that a lot of folks think they have to have reached some sort of level of mastery before they create a wso. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

No matter where you are in IM, there are always people behind you who would be very willing to pay to learn what you know. Just think for $7 if you could save someone all the time and effort to learn what you know. Would it be worth $7 to them? Or even more? You bet it would!

Alex Jeffreys has very few posts but I consider him my mentor. I look up to that guy something fierce. Also, they might have less posts because they're WORKING Not saying that people that have a lot of posts don't work. Just saying BTW I LOVE PINEAPPLES


^^^ holy smiley

i dont think it makes a difference how many posts you have on here

Enough comfort has to be achieved, that can mean posts, copy, review, etc. It differs.