What you've outlined doesn't make it a "scam".

The word "scam" is thrown around a little too freely without the user really knowing what it means.

It's really quite simple:

If you question it, don't buy it.

Nobody around here is saying you "have" to buy somebody's program in order to make money. There's gold in the streets around here. And it's all free if you take the time to learn what's going to work for you.

The marketplace will dictate the survival or demise of any system or product. Here, included.

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Seriously, if this is how you feel then you should just pack it up right now and get a job.

It makes no difference how many scams are out there, your destiny is in your own hands. Now quit bitchin and get back to work.

Well, if you are buying a plan to tell people how to make money, without making money yourself, does that make it a scam or you a scammer, also?

Read and learn, not just what to do but also what not to do. One of those not to do's is complaining about posts that you have a choice not to read or a product that you have a choice not to buy. Educate yourself with all of the FREE advice on here and then you will be better able to judge the scams from the real stuff. Knowledge is power after all.

Dude there are so many ways to make money online. PROVEN ways. I agree that there are scammers out there of course, and there are plenty more that do not actually do what they teach. But don't call it all scams. Things will automatically become clearer when you realize its about you being observant enough to WATCH and LISTEN to what these people are doing, NOT what they are selling. That's when I finally started to see the gold nuggets that this forum has and learn so much. That is when it becomes easier to weed out the garbage.

Watch and learn as these top marketers make a killing off the ones full of shiny object syndrome, buying product after product and ultimately not doing a thing with it even though they have everything they need if they just stick with it and succeed. There was a post on here I read where it was said if you buy just a couple good WSO's you already have enough there to build a six figure business. I believe it because the basics of IM always stay the same. Most of the time all these folks are selling is an easy way to get around the HARD WORK OF STICKING TO THE BASICS. That is why many end up with a hard drive full of crap because they always end up realizing that hard truth in the end but do not want to deal with it so they go out and buy another push button solution and the cycle continues.

Just because you have upsells, middlesells etc. Doesn't make anything a scam. It's called marketing and that's what makes people money.

End of the day it is you who have to decide what is good or bad for you.
You will find good and bad quality stuff in every walk of life.
Find a business model and stick to that until you get success in it.

"You want fries with that"... "Do you want to donate to cancer research" at the grocery store... "Do you want 2 years extra service protection for your new computer"... "Do you want leather seats in your new car"...

Those are all upsells, do you complain about that too?

Here is an example of a REAL scam and I'm embarrassed to say this happened to me 10 years ago. Long story short, I put in 10k for a "Sure thing"... Next thing you know this company skipped town and took everyone's money.

THAT my friend is a scam. A scam is not anything where you can get a refund and say no harm no fowl. The word scam is used too loosely by people looking for excuses to their own lack of action.

That's fine, more money for good marketers

As Paul Myers said above, people seem to be buying all those IM and MMO products thinking, that it will make them money it self. They Buy it, and think "Where is the button, the button i use to make money"They look, look.....look again but they cant find it. So its a SCAM!

They don't realise that its just information(Well not if its a plugin) which someone shares with you, and if you implement it, it will work. But you have to do it your self, no one else will do it for you. !!!

The only place where scam really comes in is when you make sales and it is covered or if the company refuse to pay your earnings.

Anything aside this is not a scam, promoting whatever kind of products and services are almost the same.

1. Find a niche/product/service
2. Find your target keywords
3. Setup your site, have it optimized
4. Build your list where applicable.
5. Start your off site SEO
6. Explore other means of traffic like social media, video, forums, press release, web 2.0 and many others..

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Best advice I can give to not getting scammed?

Figure out what you want to learn
Find the best coach or coaches in this field
Research those coaches here and on other forums
Learn from them and take action

Upsells, down sells and other marketing methods are exactly that, marketing methods. They are not scams.

It's all about due diligence my friend.

Mark

Stop paying for info and spend more time discovering the info on forums like this one. At times, some people give out some seriously useful tidbits and bit by bit, you'll gather enough to put something together for yourself.

Just realise that it pays to look at it in the long term. Anything worthwhile will not happen overnight. There are plenty that say it can, but ignore them and stick to your own plan, rather than one of theirs.

All the best.

You know, buying one or two crappy products in the early going is part of the rites of passage into MMO/IM. Keep doing it and it's clear you ain't cut out for this type of thing.

Honest truth: I think you should stop buying products and do some work.

What an opportunity... Really...

Stay away from the 98% and be part of the 2% that get's all the attraction... :0

Dr.Spencer Jones

You're improperly equating "marketers" with "offers." It appears you are a failing marketer and blaming the result on not buying the right product.

Time to take some responsibility.

What you may need are less "offers" with specific plans to implement, which are common on the forum, and more basic marketing guidance.

For instance, spend some money buying every Dan Kennedy book. Then, buy an "offer" about using a WordPress plugin to get more traffic.

The general knowledge with a specific product will work hand in hand. The more you learn the easier the marketing will become.

Or, maybe you need to be better at evaluating what "offers" to buy.

I don't know if 98% of all marketers fail, but I once ran an IM hosting and marketing service and it became obvious, very quickly, why so many failed: a lack of basic business and marketing skills, and an unwillingness to spend the time to acquire those skills.

.

I would think it is more of 98% of all marketer's don't put in the effort and patience needed - you don't start making money instantly, you have to actually put in work and learn new skills.

Teepee - can you accurately describe what your ideal product or Internet marketing course would include? What would be its focus, and what could it implement to ensure participation until the end?

Just trying to get a feel for what exactly it is you found lacking from the products you have had experience with.

From one marketer to another...
Ryan

I just want to add, The products that are offered generally do work, but the buyer has to implement it correctly and apply the strategy. People have high expectation that a purchase of a product with miraculously make them rich, No it takes time and PERSEVERANCE. You need to keep at it and it what every you focus your energy will be a success. Alter your mindset to achieve success. Human nature is to give up easily to avoid the sensational of failure and pain!

Its good to fail, Its all about learning!"

Samuel

Not so much scams, but there are a lot of individuals that take advantage of everyone's want for becoming rich quick. There are a million different articles and WSOs and more about how to become rich quick when the reality is that 99% of anyone who makes a lot of money had to work extremely hard to make that money and it does not come easy and it isn't going to come from buying some $10 ebook. That is the reality. Will all of these things help you to some degree to further your knowledge and skills? Sure it will but don't expect it to make you rich.

In this day and age of IM, you really have to do your own due diligence...

There are no guarantees in anything of course but when considering where you will and will not put your money, it really comes down to you and using your head.

After reading a ton of testimonials for programs, ad sites etc, in time you WILL be able to see through the fluff and what is legit and not will stand out.

In time you begin to develop almost a sixth sense when it comes to smelling out scams.

How about this one. 98% of wanna be Internet Marketers are looking for an easy button and are an easy mark for dodgy products.

98% of wanna be Internet Marketers want what is promised ... easy money, no skills required, no work involved (even though common sense should tell you that it doesn't exist).

I'm personally sick of hearing about all the frustrations of dreamers who aren't really interested in the good products ... the ones that tell you that you need to do work to make it work and make no guaranteed income claims.