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Not Everyone Can Do This!

by Diane S
11 replies
Hey all,

I am seeing a slew of "Anyone Can Do This" phrases in WSO titles, Post Titles and Forum Signatures. And it is getting annoying. Because it is just plain wrong.

Anyone can NOT just do what you are doing. Sorry, I will not buy into this.

What are your reasons for using this phrase? Are you trying to get more sales? Are you trying to be helpful by sharing your success story? Does it just sound good?

Here are only some of the reasons nobody can do what you are doing:

1. You think you are giving a complete explanation, but you are not. This most often happens when you are far removed from being a newbie. The further away from being a newbie you travel, the harder it becomes to teach your methods to newbies.

2. Your unique selling position is so unique that you don't even realize how unique it is. And you have underestimated the ability of others to create a unique selling position that will be as effective as yours.

3. The crowd factor - once a method is explained at a forum such as this one, many people will jump on that method and it will lose its effectiveness. If you got in early and had good results, but are sharing your successes months later, it is too late for a newbie to get the same results.

4. Your mindset cannot be taught. If you have a mindset that results in business success, that is fortunate for you. But if I don't have a similar mindset, I won't be as successful.

5. Time - I will need tons more time than you to get close to replication. I have to acquire your entire knowledge base to begin to get results similar to yours. I might not have that time.

Please add to this list, criticize this list, throw eggs, whatever! I felt a need to address this deceptive habit of casually using the phrase 'Anyone can do this!' Newbies Beware!
#newbie advice
  • Profile picture of the author WebRank1
    You know what, you are 100% right. Especially if you are far away from being a newbie at what you teach you will have an extremely hard time teaching EVERYTHING you know and often times after you get questions you will realize that you are NOT teaching ALL you know.

    That being said, I think some 'marketeers' are using this on purpose to 'persude' newbies to buy. I also think that the more you use these tactics, the higher your refund rate will be.

    2cts
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    • Profile picture of the author mikeroosa
      It's just a sales pitch. Most people feel like if they can do something, anyone else can do it too. Just got to put in the work.
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  • Profile picture of the author IMFan
    But anyone CAN do it! IF they do the right things and put in the time/effort. Will everyone that tries to "do it" succeed? No.
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  • Profile picture of the author ganesh
    You are absolutely correct. These are attention grabbing phrases commonly used. Anyway if we look from the point of view who is using it, this works!!! These kinds of phrases are annoying to some but attract MANY. That is why it is being used again and again. Many of those marketing “trigger phrases” are irritating but then they WORK.
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  • Profile picture of the author AlexR
    Not really much to criticise. It's marketing!

    Eventually it will wear thin and nobody will believe it and a new catch phrase will be used to suck people in.

    While there are suckers out there that believe everything that they read, it will continue to be used as a marketing tactic.

    If 100 people bought the same product, used it as directed, 95 would still fail to get the promised results.

    It all comes down to the variables between the purchasers,
    education,
    background knowledge,
    understanding,
    perseverance,
    ability to concentrate,
    the ability to grasp a concept,
    the ability to build on an idea,
    etc., etc.

    I think it takes some people some time to realise that
    there is no free lunch,
    there is no magic bullet,
    not everything you read applies to you,
    not every product you buy is a good product
    there is such a thing as marketing hype
    you won't get rich overnight by following someone else's $47 system and
    You're not going to have a six figure business by sitting on your arse waiting for the money to come in....but it happens.

    Alex
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    • Profile picture of the author Self Defense
      With sufficient time and practice, my students can do all the techniques I demonstrate to them. It may be not true in the IM industry though.

      I agree with BenoitT: good mindset CAN be taught.
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      • Profile picture of the author BenoitT
        I think the bigger problem is when people are buying a IM product that promise they will do money with it, they tell to themself the PRODUCT has to to it for themself. YOU are responsible for your own success.

        The product is only a facilitator. If you don't truly believe you will do it, you will not. Don't even think about failure. Think about the experience you will gain.
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        Benoit Tremblay

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  • Profile picture of the author BenoitT
    Originally Posted by Diane S View Post

    Hey all,

    4. Your mindset cannot be taught. If you have a mindset that results in business success, that is fortunate for you. But if I don't have a similar mindset, I won't be as successful.
    I totally disagree. Having a good mindset is something you can teach. It will not work on everybody and it's not going to be easy.
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    Benoit Tremblay

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  • Profile picture of the author AlexR
    My pet hate is when you get an email that starts with "Who else wants..."

    If you've sent ME an email, then you know who I am and that I'm the only one who is going to read it. I am not part of a crowd that you need to call out to in your email because no-one else can hear you here.

    I am NOT "who else".

    I feel better now.

    Alex
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    • Profile picture of the author DanielleLynnCopy
      Originally Posted by AlexR View Post

      My pet hate is when you get an email that starts with "Who else wants..."

      If you've sent ME an email, then you know who I am and that I'm the only one who is going to read it. I am not part of a crowd that you need to call out to in your email because no-one else can hear you here.

      I am NOT "who else".

      I feel better now.

      Alex

      Hehe, that one made me smile a little

      One reason you probably get a lot of subject lines with the "Who else wants-" prefix on them, is that it's one of the proven/tested/true headline starters. People use it because it converts very well.

      But honestly, I have to agree It DOES seem silly - as though you have 10 other people over your shoulder reading while you open your emails!
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      • Profile picture of the author AlexR
        Originally Posted by DanielleLynnCopy View Post

        Hehe, that one made me smile a little

        One reason you probably get a lot of subject lines with the "Who else wants-" prefix on them, is that it's one of the proven/tested/true headline starters. People use it because it converts very well.

        But honestly, I have to agree It DOES seem silly - as though you have 10 other people over your shoulder reading while you open your emails!
        Exactly.

        There are a number of "tried & true" phrases that are used over and over again. The pity is that every time someone comes up with a new one, everybody else jumps on it as if it's the ultimate phrase.

        When you get 100+ emails a day with 80% of them starting the same way, they look ridiculous. It's a way that I regularly clean out my subs. When I see marketers copying someone else, it shows that they are just "me too's". If they can't think for themselves then they've run out of things to tell me.

        Alex
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