Slightly Disillusioned With WSO's

Yeah, not so much. I'm on that list and I like Mike Lantz, but he's a businessman. He's in it to make a buck or two. He's not recommending the "best" WSO's in terms of their quality per se. He's recommending what converts the best, by and large. I'm sure Mike has some quality yardstick, but these things are always "buyer beware." It brings up a larger point I make to my own list sometimes...

Just because someone you trust recommends something does not mean you should buy it. It still has to fit into your own plans in some way. I don't necessarily mean something you will always take action on. For example, I often buy WSO's to evaluate them for possible recommendation to my list. I never intend to use them in my own business (in most cases). And I know others that will do what I call a "reward" purchase for a funny or exceptionally good sales page. I have done this probably 10 times myself. I'll throw a few clams at a Warrior you can tell put a lot of thought into the offer or just because the idea behind it is unique and impressive.

But most people buy to use. And the list owner recommending something has motives beyond your own interests. Unless you can afford it, it's unwise to ever buy simply because someone you trust suggests something. And in Mike Lantz's case with the WSO of the day list, don't think he picked that product solely based on the quality of the actual product. It's not nearly that simple or altruistic. He's a marketer, after all, just like the rest of us.

John

Is this best WSO or most selling?

What is used to decide if the WSO is 'best'?

If you would like to recheck, I distinctly say that I cannot offer 20 articles in 48 hours, and that if you need 20 articles in 48 hours then go elsewhere.

You're right, I've freely admitted I haven't bought one. Which is why I asked for feedback from people who do and people who sell them. My apologies if I insulted you, but instead of trying to be a smartass how about you get your facts straight before jumping in all guns blazing?

My issue is not with all WSO's, but the thought that the sheer volume, and many people's mindset towards them, dilutes what should be a subforum rich with knowledge, information and helpful products.

I've learned a lot from WSO's, so whether or not I buy them is irrelevant to me. And if I don't like it, or it's not what was promised, I simply get a refund.

In some cases, I've waited a long time to ask for a refund because the guy who sold it was such a great guy, such a great teacher, I felt bad about the refund. But had to do it because what was promised in the title and sales copy was totally unrelated to what was delivered. A simple name change would have cured that and I said so in the feedback.

I say this because it's obvious to me that various marketers have various goals for using WSOs as a selling platform. Some use it as a testing gwound, for feedback, to improve their product before a big price jump and internet-wide grand launch. I can't tell you the number of times I've slapped myself for not buying an WSO when it was so cheap and then having to pay 10 times that amount later when I found I couldn't do without it.

I've noticed the Kindle book lower prices for some ex-WSOs, too, as well as ALL the freebie giveaways post-WSO. You can search for them and find free goldmines out there. Now I NEVER buy an WSO until I read the whole thread, do a search on the WF for related WSOs, and see if any similar ones were either better, had more value at a lower price, or there was now a free WSO better than the one being presently offered.

So to me, WSOs serve a lot of purposes and have great value.

But why would someone just give away their WSO after selling it here? Many times for IMers, the purpose of their WSO was to build their list, not to make their money on the inital sell. Some give ALL the money to their JV partners/affiliates with 100% commissions. A good product at an extremely low value makes everyone happy in those cases. They walk away with a huge addition to their list, lots of raving fans and pats on their back, and can then market upsells and affiliate offers to their list in a more laid back, quiet, and helpful way. It's truly the best way I've noticed true professionals approach the WSO marketplace game.

As far as selling infoproducts on how to conduct a WSO? OMG, when I started researching this, I was shocked at how easy it is to really screw up an WSO and shoot yourself in the foot. Obviously, we've all noticed how nasty things can get when someone starts bashing a host or guest or product producer. All kinds of things can go wrong. Technical problems. Paypal link problems. Didn't get my download link. Your customer service stinks. You sold me something 3 years ago and I want my money back. Why did you screw your father out of his money? (Just saw that one recently). You stole this from someone else. Can I have a free copy. The WF server crashed. My server crashed. Where's video proof? Your graphics are crappy. And on and on, without ever even mentioning the value of the actual product sometimes.

Would I dare to try to sell anything in a WSO without buying someone's guide who has successfully done so before? No way. In fact, I'm searching for that guide right now, lol. After buying and reading a lot of WSO's, I'm entirely confident that I have some unique skills and techniques to share that would really be of great value to others. But after watching a few blood baths in the WSO Coliseum, I would fully expect to be ripped apart if I DID NOT do my platform research first.

BTW, just because someone has low numbers in their profile does not necessarily mean they're new to the WF. Years ago, I was pretty active here, went away, and when I came back I couldn't log in. Started a new profile, watched for a while, and only recently started making comments again. So sometimes things are not as they seem.

Just some of my thoughts on the matter...

Robin Carlisle

I don't think that's true at all.

The truth of the matter is, if you have a relatively easy and simple way to make a decent amount of money, you could give it to 1,000 people that claim they would do 'anything' to be successful. Less than 5 out of that 1,000 would actually do it and see it through to the end.

People that struggle to be successful don't need more information, they need more control over themselves. Unfortunately, that's tough to do. I know it was extremely difficult for me.

That's part of the reason I haven't done a WSO in quite awhile; I'm just too afraid people won't use it, and it will be a waste of their time and money. I don't want to be part of the problem.

Keith

I commend the OP for doing the THINKING before he starts to accumulate a library of WSOs - which people seem to do these days.

The popularity of this forum - WSOs that can run month after month - the affiliate program not even part of this forum -and the number of people online today.....have combined to create a different WSO section than we used to have. Hey - things change.

If you believe the "IM dream" of fast/easy money with little work and doing nothing you don't enjoy doing....you can buy WSOs till the cows come home and still be in the same place you are today.

kay

There have been more than one of those lately. And you really want to be careful of what advice you follow from them. Some of it can get you banned here. No single offer, or even generalized description, is 'representative' of the WSO section. Which is one of the problems with this sort of rant.

People form opinions or impressions based on nothing more than a self-filtered data-set, and then announce them publicly. Others assume there to be some basis for the comments, and repeat them as gospel. Next thing you know, you hear stupid things like "Everyone knows..." If you want to generalize a single ad or small sample of them into an opinion of an entire market, go for it. That's your business. You are allowed to be as formulaic as you like.

I went to Best Buy the other day and saw a pretty broad range of products. Some of them were state of the art, and some were dismal garbage, designed to make money on over-priced consumables. (Think printers...) Some were works of art and some were hyped up silliness, sold to people who were more interested in the artist on the label than the content in the package.

Those were my impressions. Someone else might value very different things than I would, and for reasons that are, to them, 100% valid.

Some people hate Best Buy. I like it, based on the service you get at the one I go to. Which of us is right?

Maybe both?

What useful purpose is served by threads that start with "I have no real experience of this thing, but I have formed an opinion, which is...?"

The WSO section, like the rest of the forum, has evolved over the years. That should not surprise anyone. We are no longer the smallish group of early adopters that existed when the concept of a Warrior Special Offer was first proposed by Teresa King, way back in the Uni-Sol days.

Change happens.


Paul

Les, Including yours?

Bruce, Phffftthhhtht!

I can see your point and thats a fine statement for people who have been doing this a while! personally I have the experience to evaluate if the wso is workable or not, or if its realistic, and I'm sure you are in that position too! but what about the noobs who hang on every word they say! do as you said and take action just find that they have wasted a month taking action on something that was never going to work! this is a large contributionary factor to why people give up and say that all IM'ers are scammers!

My point to this argument reflects the OP's original statement of the fact that too many people beleive they can re-hash something or write something based on principle and sell it as a product on the wso forum! fair play they make money and thats what we are all about BUT its very damaging to newbies and gives a bad name to the wso forum for those that are genuinely selling great products!

Im sure this debate will go on and on but I for one buy a fair few wso's a month to promote to my list!! I've purchased 6 in april! how many have I promoted to my list? NONE and thats my point, its becomming a full time task trying to find that gold, I know its there but its getting harder and harder to find!

There's the problem!

Sorry Bill, couldn't resist... (no Texan could possibly resist :p)

So, how many WSOs did you buy before coming to this conclusion?

People will buy their dreams and fantasies in a box and when they wake the next morn? well the fairy dust didn't work as well as it should have so of to market and to buy another dream.

there was a song once ? daydream believer

Wow, can you please PM me the link to the WSO that shows you how to make $50 million by midnight?

I'm serious.

Plus, I have released several WSOs that were quite successful. It was thanks to products that teach how to create WSOs that I was able to contribute value to the forum with my products.

I didn't want to say a whole lot more on this but it would be rude not to reply to a couple of things.

With all due respect, it's nothing like that. In the same way that buying 10 WSOs that all turned out to be crap doesn't give me the right to say they're all crap. My comments referred to becoming disillusioned with the concept - or more accurately how some people seem to view it.

Many people have confirmed that they bought WSOs to help them launch their own, and that they were more than satisfied with their purchase. That's great, and I'm delighted to hear it. However, when you see an approach that tells people they can be shown how to come up with a WSO, it doesn't inspire confidence.

I would like to think that more people look for assistance in how to launch their product as a WSO, and not for assistance in how to come up with one. The former is someone looking to launch a product they have come up with. The latter is someone looking to capitalise on an opportunity presented by this community that, from what I can gather, was never intended as a means of standalone business.

Many respected members, even big Paul himself, have reassured me and others that the WSO section is still a fantastic resource for all kinds of warriors, big and small. This is great news, and I appreciate all the feedback. However, would you not agree that if less people saw it as a reason to create a product and more as a medium to market their products that they would be creating anyway, the section would have a higher proportion of quality bargains?

Obviously there is a huge amount of value to be found in the WSO section; you don't have to look any further than this thread to see that. Even so, I don't think it's unreasonable to suggest that some sellers see it as a cash cow, and that is disappointing.

I think that's the problem with so many people out there..."The Information lying on their hard drive is Doing Nothing at all"

Remember, its not the information that does the work..its the individual.

I never blame my tools for the house not being built