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How To Guru-Proof Yourself
Against Big Product Launches!
By Titus Hoskins
Even for those of us who have been dabbling in the Internet marketing
arena for a decade or more, all these latest frenzied "Info-Product
Launches" are downright scary. In recent months it is not only the
product launches themselves that have become a little frightening, but
also the rate at which these product launches keep bombarding all of us
in the marketing world. It has become so relentless you feel like you're
an extra, ducking for cover in some war movie; Saving Private Ryan comes
quickly to mind.
Once upon a time, not too long ago, you might get hit with one or two
really major launches in a year. Now it seems like we are getting two
or three a week. Those actively looking for good, solid marketing information
will be totally drenched in the latest "How To" ebooks, videos
and courses. Plus, throw in all those debuting membership sites, seminars,
and private coaching sessions and even seasoned marketers are in serious
danger of getting "Info Product Launch Burn-out."
For the beginning wannabe online marketer it is a virtual mine field.
One misstep and you can wake up, scratching your head: did I actually
pay that much for a marketing product I can barely understand, let alone
put into practice. Don't get fooled by all the promises of instant wealth
or quick riches. If getting rich was as easy as 123... we would all be
sporting Donald Trump hairdos.
To make matters worst, all the latest marketing trends seem to be promoting
the laziest ways possible to make a quick killing on the Internet. With
this simple marketing tactic or that SEO trick, even the dimmest light
bulb on the planet can have roaring online success without even breaking
into a sweat or using up any of those precious brain cells. Heaven forbid.
The marketing hype has become so palpable and obnoxious it's like a rich
relative who won't shut up about how much he's earning while sitting in
his pj's and playing with his PDA.
"How I made 1 million in 52 minutes." "How I made 100
grand with only a list of 45 subscribers..."
Who is to blame for all this "Info Product Feeding Frenzy"?
Well we won't mention names but these marketers are not shy about what
they're doing. Just the opposite, they brag and boast about how they can
manipulate, control and whip prospective customers into such a buying
frenzy just to see who can sell the largest amount of product in the shortest
amount of time.
Some savvy and ruthless online marketers have turned this whole launch
process into an art form, offering flashy videos with real valuable content
in order to hook potential customers and capture their email contact information.
The info-product launch flows out like a well-rehearsed opera:
Giving the specific date and countdown clock showing when the product
goes live.
Incorporating a blog to keep everyone, including the search engines, informed.
Strictly limiting the product or buying time to increase demand.
Even manipulating you to buy the product before someone else beats you
to it.
Having top-name JV partners whipping their devoted followers/subscribers
with extra bonus offers.
Even enticing said affiliate partners with top prizes from ipods to sports
cars.
Everything is in marketing sync for the big day.
Some of the top marketing pros and experts are now even offering courses
on how to do exactly that: courses showing HOW you can warm up and psychologically
cultivate a whole list of prospective buyers by giving away very valuable
information in videos, reports and online calls... all to make that final
sale.
There is nothing wrong with making a sale. There is nothing wrong with
making a hundred sales, but there is something intrinsically wrong when
you know in your heart of hearts what you're selling will never be used
by half the people who are buying it.
How many of those sales are from naive or desperate buyers looking for
a 'quick fix' or 'easy ride' to the good life? How many even if they have
the money to buy your product will never have the will power and fortitude
to carry out the marketing game plan in your product?
How many people are being fooled by all this marketing hype and rhetoric...
how many will actually benefit from buying your product? Makes one wonder
if that old saying is really true that in any gold rush, it is the people
selling to the miners who make the most money.
All of these marketing products should not only come with an income disclaimer,
which all the marketers prudently include, if only by some magical power
we could see displayed on each product in big bold letters the tell-tell
statistic: "How many buyers will actually read/ view/ use and ultimately
benefit from the marketing info-product they have just purchased?"
That would be one statistic worth discovering. Of course, there's no
way of knowing, but one could argue this number is quite large. Otherwise,
if you believe all the claims on these products, half the world would
be Internet marketers and rolling in dough.
Online marketing is not easy. It can't be done overnight. There is a
learning curve and you must pay your dues. Be extra wary of any short
cuts and anyone offering them. Magic formulas do exist and while buying
the latest marketing product and information can definitely make the journey
easier; always remember, no product can make that journey for you. No
product or system can automatically make you rích. Don't be fooled
by flashy headlines, smart videos and the latest next big thing.
Nor can anyone say these info-products don't have real value or merit.
They do! They are of tremendous value to those who can benefit from them.
If you're marketing on the web and your sites/marketing are earning you
$200-$300 a day or an hour - even just a small tidbit of information or
advice can dramatically increase your íncome. Over time the amount
paid for any info-product will be returned to you a hundred-fold. Sometimes
it has nothing to do with the info-product itself; a marketer might mention
a piece of software or program he/she uses in their work that when applied
to your own can make a big difference in how much you earn. Been there,
done that.
For everything is relative; even the large amounts charged for some of
these seminars, coaching sessions or info-products can be justified if
the buyer gets his money's worth and then some. It all depends on the
position/angle you're coming from and how much the information impacts
your online business, which will really determine if one benefits from
a particular info-product or not.
So the next time you're bombarded by the latest info-product by some
of the world's best online marketers... STOP, take a deep breath and step
back from all the marketing hype and manipulation. Then honestly ask yourself:
How can I use this information? Will I use this information? Perhaps,
most importantly, can I really afford this product at this time or can
it wait?
If you decide to buy, protect yourself by thoroughly checking out the
marketer's reputation beforehand. A money-back guarantee is only as good
as the marketer's word. If there is a payment option - take this route
because you will lose less money if refunds are not honored.
Above all, if you're buying the product because you believe it will solve
all your problems and will virtually give you the path to the easy life,
just remember this... you have to do some work. You have to put in some
sweat equity. You have to do your own homework; no one else can do it
for you. It doesn't work that way. Sure some smart, successful marketer
can sell you the answers, but you still have to write the test yourself.
Like most things in life, there are shortcuts; but you have to take them
yourself in order to get to where you want to go. Online marketing is
no different.
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