Would you lie about where you live to sell more?

by Ashley Gable

Posted: 15 years ago 22 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

Hello fellow warriors, having a bit of an ethical problem here.

I am getting into a new niche and this niche I would seem more credible if I were to live in a certain place. For example, if someone was selling an ebook on how to make surfboards and this person lived in Alaska, and he told his customers this, it would probably have a negative effect on his credibility.

But if this guy was to say he lived in Australia or California then of course that would lend itself to the whole credibility issue.

So, what do you all think? Is lying about where you live a deceitful unimaginable thing or is it akin to a pen name?

Any thoughts or opinions to help me decide would be appreciated.

Ashley

#lie #live

Michael Oksa 15 years ago

I wouldn't lie.

There are other ways around your problem. For example, don't say where you live at all. Highlight why you are an expert. Or, get an established expert to endorse it.

All the best,
Michael
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Dan C. Rinnert

15 years ago

Originally Posted by AshleyAA

I am getting into a new niche and this niche I would seem more credible if I were to live in a certain place. For example, if someone was selling an ebook on how to make surfboards and this person lived in Alaska, and he told his customers this, it would probably have a negative effect on his credibility.

What if he lives in Alaska, but spends his summers in Hawai'i?

What if he used to live in Hawai'i but moved to Alaska for work, but still knows how to make surfboards and is now selling his secrets because there's no local market for surfboards?

Conversely, I could move to Hawai'i, but that wouldn't automatically make me an expert on making surfboards.

So, current geographic location doesn't necessarily mean credibility.

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Rezbi 15 years ago

The problem is if someone decides to pay you a visit and can't find you.

It's worse if you're using a fake name, as well.

In fact, the worst is if you're faking EVERYTHING.

Boy, just wait till they find you then.

You're certainly a gonner.
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Daniel Adams 15 years ago

If you are using a pseudonym, then what's the difference--you might as well go all the way.

What really matters, though, is whether the location would actually convert more sales for you. Unless you're planning a seminar where everybody has to fly up to Anchorage, I doubt it.
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- Ashley Gable 15 years ago
  
  Okay I can see the general idea i am getting from you guys is that it probably wont help and there really is no need to tell them where I live!
  
  It all actually makes sense, I went back looked at my video, there really is no need to tell them my location. So all done thanks for the help!
  
  Ashley
  
  Thanks
  
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LB 15 years ago

No need to bring it up.

At the same time, you could play it from a contrarian angle. Position yourself as the "surfing Alaskan". It would be memorable. Who says you don't travel to do your surfing?
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Troy_Phillips 15 years ago

Being a hillbilly from the north Ga mountains was a barrier in Im for me when I first started .

Then I decided to hand them my head on a platter .

A lot of my members started calling me the Hillbilly Gooberu (yeah you know what I mean) .

I mean if an old back asswards hillbilly like me can use a certain system and make a go of it .... anybody can. Kind of challenges some people a little .
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dorim 15 years ago

Its better not to lie even if it means losing potential sales.
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TrueDepth 15 years ago

I would not go into a niche that I don't know anything about anyways. If I lived in Alaska and never surfed, why go into the Surfing niche, when I can do something that I am passionate and know a lot about.
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Daniel Adams 15 years ago

Also don't forget the power of story telling in branding--stories sell stuff. In your surfing Alaskan example you could, for example, weave in how you only can surf X weeks out of the year, which forced you to concentrate your practicing to make you really good.

One of the biggest benefits of IM is how irrelevant your location already is anyway.
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Marian Berghes 15 years ago

Using a pen-name doesn't have anything to do with credibility...loads of authors, musicians, marketers and other public figures use some kind of a pen name.
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Chris_Willow 15 years ago

I probably would be more credible if I were a US resident, but luckily I am not Just don't advertise the fact, that's all.

Chris
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patJ 15 years ago

As long as you deliver what you promise, why not? I consider it to be the same thing as a pen name.
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- Jeremy Kelsall 15 years ago
  
  If you want to do it with a clear head...Just set up a business POBox in what ever place you want to say you live in and rock on
  
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- robertleslie09 15 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by patJ
  
  As long as you deliver what you promise, why not? I consider it to be the same thing as a pen name.
  
  That`s right.
  
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AidanKay 15 years ago

I live in Australia so I'm fine (I know it was hypothetical but I feel all patriotic when my country is mentioned).

Anyhow, I'm, for the most part, against lying.

But there are situations when lies are acceptable, and you just have to figure that out for yourself on a case-by-case basis.

Sorry if I was no help .

-Aidan.
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SurviveUnemployment 15 years ago

It's wrong to lie unless you're harboring a family of Jews and the Nazis come knocking on your door asking if you know of any Jews in the area... or in similar situations.

Just don't mention where you are. If you're selling surboards, you can put plenty of pictures of tasty waves without having to tell them that you live in Arizona.
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ezeey 15 years ago

Ya, Don't lie, you could just cause bigger problems for yourself. Even thought marketing's moto is "lie, cheat and steal to make a profit"
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Loren Woirhaye 15 years ago

I've read a lot of books with author bios on the back that
say "The author lives in Canada" and other such broad
information.

That being said, if you are a publisher having a mailing address
is probably good for business. You can get a P.O. Box in a
big city and just have it forward to where you live. Lots of
publishers do it.
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se7en 15 years ago

Living in Alaska and premoting Surf products is good,after all is Alaska a ski/snowboarding area?
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Will Edwards 15 years ago

You could tackle the Alaska thing in a couple of different ways ...

1. You could get lots of testimonials from Hawaiian people.

2. You could make Alaska your USP

Personally, I like the latter. Something like ...

WHAT DOES A CRAZY ALASKAN SURFER KNOW ABOUT SURFBOARDING THAT HAWAIIAN SURFERS DON'T BUT WILL REDUCE YOUR WIPEOUTS BY 40%

I know were a bit off-topic with surfboarding, but you get the idea.

Oh yes - and personally, I wouldn't lie.

Good luck,

Will
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