How many of these are rip-offs?

Don't drink the Kool-Aid bro.

Go find a solid book on Amazon.

Good for you for being on the alert!

Re: I've Tried That - I remember seeing it years ago. I think it's a guy who tries to uncover scams. Something like that. He was heavily promoting The Wealthy Affiliate at the time, maybe still is.

With thousands of programs to choose from, most of the time the information can be found for free, so search out the topics of interest and you will surely find something of value to learn from, and that is what it is all about, live and learn.

Success to all,

Don't fall for scams but some things are real and amazing.

Another annoyance is when I get pm's from people with 0 to 10 posts behind their username, trying to "help" me out by directing me to their site. ughhh.

Just do a better analysis before you get started. I would like to say- think as much as possible before doing anything.

A LOT of rip-offs, unfortunately. Or at the very least; big promises which aren't backed up.

Like others have said: find a good book, use these forums, or search the web for free information.

If you're a bit "lost" I suggest you find a specific topic you're really interested in (for example blogging, programming, marketing, website monetization etc), and learn about that single topic first. I've found it easier to focus that way, and avoid being sidetracked by "shiny" products and "the next big thing".

If its too good to be true. It probably is. Just don't get blinded by all the gold they offer.

I am different than many here that call everything a ripoff or scam. I believe that most programs work. I also believe there are lying, unethical marketers that screw up the sales process and there are people that don't explain principles enough or they give examples of good principles but pervert it and make it bad.

For example, many of them are built on the principle of building a list, presenting offers to that list, and cashing in. This model works almost 100% of the time in most every market. Real, legitimate companies such as Facebook, Microsoft, and Amazon do this.

People that say this model doesn't work or that they got scammed with an email product or all they got was rehashed junk are in several situations:

1. It really was rehashed content such as reused, unedited, no value added PLR. But then the question comes, if the student knew this before then why were they buying another email product? Didn't the first one do it for them? Did they do the steps the first time according to the instructions or did they just skim over it?

2. The customer is a liar that just wants free products.They claim everything doesn't work or they didn't receive it or it's broken.

3. The product perverts or throws in seemingly dangerous elements to the model. For example, they suggest taking people's names that unsubscribe and adding them to another list and keep hammering. They suggest sending 2 emails a day every day without fail. They suggest using extreme headlines such as "did you get your check I sent you?" They suggest sharing emails with your friends so your friends can email your customers too.

Many of these type suggestions are immoral, unethical, illegal, or just "feel" wrong. But some others may be gold and may be the "key' to making it big with email. But no matter what, the model works. The key is to look at the total package and look at its worth.

There are other emotions that come into play too. For example, one of my favorite marketers doesn't email regularly yet they preach in the things they sell the importance of emailing regularly. Does this mean they are a liar or hypocrite and I should get a refund and cry scam? Or is it true that I should email regularly no matter what the seller does?

4. And the biggest category of all is that I believe most people do NOT follow instructions and do NOT set up their site or actually send an email or anything else. Many do not even open the download - this is true.

Or they open it and try it half heartedly all the while looking for the real secret sauce. They don't apply themselves and figure things out. Maybe they aren't fit to run their own business because they don't have the ability to think through real life business problems and how to solve them. Maybe they can't comprehend due to physical inability or due to laziness - they want everything handed to them on a silver platter. Or they start it, do it half way, and then quit when they aren't rich in a week.

In the end, I've bought some junk but most of the things that I've bought that didn't make me any money was because of #4 - not a flaw of the program per se. Until I learned to take a business approach to my business and figured out some things personally, I was going round and round in circles always looking for the real secret sauce.

However, having said all that I have some rules. If it sounds too good to be true then it is - almost always. I try to find out more about the authors. I normally refuse to buy products with specific income claims. For example, if they say I can make $107.33 an hour what is it in the program that keeps me from making $107.38? Is there a built-in limit or is that just a made up number and I can know from the get go they aren't very honest in their sales copy.

Mark

I may be wrong, but this message sounds like it's coming from a position of wanting something to be easy, or fast. Nothing wrong with that. But when your intent on finding the easiest way to do something (make money online) you're likely to come into contact with people (good and bad) who cater to your mindset.

The best thing you can do, in my opinion, is choose a direction, shut out the noise, and begin working. In this case, decide niche you prefer - do some "basic" keyword research - and put up a website and add content.

Then decide how you will promote that site. THEN (this is a big one) hang in there and make it work.

Researching the author and the course name will usually tell you what the course is covering. Pay attention to who is posting reviews to make sure they aren't the author themselves, especially if they aren't upfront about it.
Things you usually see on craigslist like the get paid $2000 per week to send letters and the become a mailman today and make $3000/week are scams.

That site is pushing Wealthy Affiliate, which is a good affiliate program, but just know that when you see all these sites that say "#1 Recommendation." They're carbon copies b/c that's what they teach in Wealthy Affiliate for people who want to build a business promoting their program.