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Study: Most IM Gurus still live at home

by PapaPizza
26 replies
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Check out this story from IMJ: Study Finds Majority of Internet Marketing Gurus Live with Parents

Is your favorite guru one of these? Are you?
#gurus #home #live #study
  • Profile picture of the author Michael Levanduski
    LOL. Why am I not surprised.

    I'm no guru, but at least I don't live with my mom.

    Maybe I'll make a new info product about how to grow up and take care of yourself!

    Michael
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    • Profile picture of the author Steve B
      If you believe the article to be factual (I'm not convinced - no credible names given, references, sources, etc) then this is a real sad commentary on the state of Internet marketing.

      The sad part isn't that "Sam" (whoever he is) lives with his mother . . . it's these statements:

      "In reality, he fabricates commission statements, page Likes and even user behavior. 'It's the only way to get people to buy from me . . .'"

      "A recent IMJ study shows . . . that almost 97% of those gurus lie about their income in order to sell more product."

      ". . . there is more hype than substance in most cases and many digital product sellers resort to fake testimonials, over-the-top performance claims and fabricated commission statements."

      I know this stuff goes on, but I wonder if it is as widespread and rampant as the author states. That's a pretty ugly indictment of this industry.

      Steve
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      • Profile picture of the author stoltingmediagroup
        Originally Posted by Steve B View Post

        If you believe the article to be factual (I'm not convinced - no credible names given, references, sources, etc)
        At first I looked for the author's name and resources etc, and when I didn't see any,
        I checked the "About" section. Then it all made sense.
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      • Profile picture of the author Victor Edson
        Originally Posted by Steve B View Post

        If you believe the article to be factual (I'm not convinced - no credible names given, references, sources, etc) then this is a real sad commentary on the state of Internet marketing.

        The sad part isn't that "Sam" (whoever he is) lives with his mother . . . it's these statements:

        "In reality, he fabricates commission statements, page Likes and even user behavior. 'It's the only way to get people to buy from me . . .'"

        "A recent IMJ study shows . . . that almost 97% of those gurus lie about their income in order to sell more product."

        ". . . there is more hype than substance in most cases and many digital product sellers resort to fake testimonials, over-the-top performance claims and fabricated commission statements."

        I know this stuff goes on, but I wonder if it is as widespread and rampant as the author states. That's a pretty ugly indictment of this industry.

        Steve

        You gotta check out the About link Bjarne shared, it actually reveals the resources. You'll be shocked when you see the sources too.

        If you haven't read that page, this article might not make sense yet.
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      • Profile picture of the author Walter Cyclid
        Originally Posted by Steve B View Post

        ". . . there is more hype than substance in most cases and many digital product sellers resort to fake testimonials, over-the-top performance claims and fabricated commission statements."
        I know that much is true. That is why I don't even read testimonials. I just assume they are all fake. I guess a lot of people are still fooled by fake testimonials.

        I even used to email people who gave testimonials only to find out that they didn't give the testimonial. One said she gave a testimonial, but she didn't say exactly what they said she said on the marketer's sales page. In other words, they edited her statement to make it sound like she was reeling in the bucks after using the IMer's program or ecourse.

        Most testimonials that you see now don't even have any contact information when the IMer or guru uses them. Just some text saying 'I tried mr. or ms. so and so's program, and I made $20,000.00 in my first week.', and then a picture of someone that could be anybody.
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  • Profile picture of the author loaf1011
    I think the term "guru" may be loosely used here. I'm absolutely certain the John Chows and Eben Pagans of the world aren't living at home.

    Maybe it's just the self-professed gurus that are living at home...
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  • Profile picture of the author Victor Edson
    Every guru I know lives at home.

    Heck, even my mom lives at homes and she's not a millionaire.

    Homes: No Longer Exclusive To The Super Rich!
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  • Profile picture of the author TopTier Profits
    "If the gurus are successfully selling online products, why are so many of them still living at home?"

    If he chooses to still live at home at 35, whats the problem?

    In a lot of cultures, this is perfectly 'normal'.

    Lets also not forget that people have their own versions of "being successful". Not everyone defines their "success" as living in a mega-mansion somewhere.

    I think the article is really bringing up the "fake it 'till you make it" mindset that a lot of people in this industry have.

    EDIT: Just read the About page, lol.
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    • Profile picture of the author Black Prince
      Regardless of the credibility of the article, it is something we can and should believe for a couple of reasons.

      Check this article from yesterday.

      Half of young adults in Europe are now living with their folks. We're living in a different world today. People are squeezed, job security has become as flimsy as a handkerchief, and it's damn hard to get on the property ladder.

      But quite aside from that, I imagine it provides a good shelter for the budding entrepreneur. I listened to an interview with Sonia Gil, the creator of the highly successful Fluenz language courses and the award-winning Sonia Travels blog, and she said she lived with her folks until her late 20s as she got Fluenz off the ground. Now she's likely a millionaire and, judging by her videos, living the good life.

      So I guess I'd say - yes, it's sleazy to talk up $20,000-a-month strategies if you're living at home. But if you are a bona fide entrepreneur trying to create a business, there is no shame to it. Sacrifice is part of the deal.
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  • Profile picture of the author jasondinner
    I live at home too - in my own home
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  • Profile picture of the author troymarkz
    IM Gurus? Living with Parents? Maybe fake gurus but not The Big Dogs lol
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    • Profile picture of the author DubDubDubDot
      Originally Posted by troymarkz View Post

      Maybe fake gurus but not The Big Dogs lol
      A "big dog" as you put it is just a fake guru that works his smoke and mirrors better than the broke fake gurus.
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  • Profile picture of the author 1rlewis
    From the footer of the article ..... "Satire - it's beautiful thing."
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  • Profile picture of the author barbling
    I live at home along with my husband, spouse, kids, mooses and flock of Twitter Budgies.

    From the About page:

    "The stories we report here are not entirely truthful. In fact, we try very hard to make a lot of stuff up, but the closer we can blur the lines of fact and satire, the better we like it so even though you want to believe a story is real, chances are there is a lot of content that's just a bunch of BS. That's how we like it."

    Sigh.
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    • Profile picture of the author Daniel Evans
      Originally Posted by barbling View Post

      "The stories we report here are not entirely truthful. In fact, we try very hard to make a lot of stuff up, but the closer we can blur the lines of fact and satire, the better we like it so even though you want to believe a story is real, chances are there is a lot of content that's just a bunch of BS. That's how we like it."

      Sigh.
      It must be boring for him down there in the basement.
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  • Profile picture of the author loaf1011
    Based on everyone's findings, it looks like this user (PapaPizza) uses this forum to attract clicks to his blog, which spouts BS like this "article". Here's him in action again using the forum to get clicks: http://www.warriorforum.com/offline-...ew-filter.html
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  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
    Confirmation bias, perhaps, PapaPizza?
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    Just when you think you've got it all figured out, someone changes the rules.

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  • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
    Most people fail at any kind of business whether it is IM or stockbroking or running a clothing retail shop. I have a friend who doesn't fail. He always has business. He's in the out-of-business business, buying and reselling things from failed businesses.
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    Project HERE.

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  • Profile picture of the author hardraysnight
    i used to be a guru.........then i left home
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    These guys helped me with the feedback for my site
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  • Profile picture of the author PapaPizza
    Yup, of course it’s satire. It's intended to poke fun at ourselves. I did not write the story (I got suckered by it at first until I saw the footer) but shared the article and a couple others because I thought they were funny. I especially like the story on Yelp because of the Spinal Tap reference. Those who aren’t fans won’t get it.

    What I find interesting is that some of this actually makes alot of sense and I wouldn't doubt that much of it is actually true, maybe not that most gurus live at home (with their parents), but that many exaggerate their earnings.
    Anyway, glad for the laugh and discussion.
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  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    Do retirement homes count?
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Hmm - I think the guys that wrote the satire live with their moms.

    I think maybe I should move back in with my dad. He's 90, and you know how guys just keep getting crankier as they age. It would probably be the single most motivational move I ever made. I can imagine how much work I'd produce to get somewhere else on my own.

    WSO -- the 95% surefire guru maker technique.
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