Survey Says! We’re Sick of the “Internet Information Marketing” Scene!

So, if you read my post from last Monday, it will put the results below in context. Suffice it to say that I got a “knock on the head” about the phoniness of the internet information marketing gurus and asked my list to chime in with their opinions. It is a small sample–with a BIG message!

#1 How “fed up” with the Internet Information Gurus are you? (OPTIONS)

1. I used to admire them, but have stopped because they feel superficial to me. –60%

2. I’ve never followed them because they have always seemed “slick” to me.-–25%

3. I have no problem with them–and very much aspire to their levels of success and how they got there! –0%

(Interesting…NOT one said they had “no problem” with them!)

Comments from This Section

Our marketing internet industry has become a place of greed and flat out lies.

The conclusion you have drawn is the one I’ve been drawing for a while. At first it was so new to me that I really tried to learn as much as I could, then I noticed how the formula played out in all the various ‘guru’s’ out there. I don’t even read their stuff anymore! AND as one of them said…this is tested, it works. And there is a sucker born every minute. I want to offer something important that isn’t a hype or a come on.

Most of them are “slick” to me as well. I try to undig the information and resist the ‘continous education is an investmet, train with me’

I observe more as a way of knowing what “not to do.” Kinda like a bad boss.

I take only LIVE coaching when I FEEL it is exactly what I NEED at this very moment

They are all the same and i too am sick of the unending litany of emails that i get from some of them. They all seem to think that more emails are better – NOT TRUE!

There are gold nuggets in each offering but some folks are just too pushy and their programs are too expensive. Even the person I have known a long time has gone to the darker side of $$$$$.

I haven’t stopped following all of them because I can still learn while ignoring the hype and hypno-sales techniques

I know that the ‘free’ seminars will almost always include a 10-20 minute pitch. I tend to tune them out or leave the call. As for the ‘how you can leverage yourself into a six-figure income’ types, enough already! If all it requires is a formula than we would all be rich. Obviously there is more to building a business than that — our own emotional disposition being one of the biggest factors.

#2: Do you think the lack of trust in Internet Information Gurus is growing?

65% –yes

35%–haven’t asked, so can’t say

5%–no

Comments from This Section:

Seems many are modeling the identical model.. very boring

So much car salesman tactics that are not attractive or part of conscious business practices. Underneath the testimonial is the mantle of $$$ for the guru Manipulation is the name of the game.

#3 : Here is a list of typical marketing strategies used in information marketing. Please RANK them by number, from those that “turn you off” the most to least.

1. interviews with guest gurus

2. email marketing FOR their guru friends

3. email marketing of their own newsletters

4. email marketing of their own *promotion*

5. live events with many speakers selling

6. free teleseminars

7. free live seminars

8. free video trainings

9. social media

Worst Offenders:

  1. Live events with many speakers selling
  2. Email marketing FOR their guru friends
  3. Email marketing of their own *promotion*
  4. Social media

RESULTS:

4, 2, 9, 3, 5, 1, 6, 7, 8

5, 8, 4, 2, 7, 6, 9, 1, 3

9. 4. 3. 5. 6. 2. 7. 1. 8.

2, 1 ,4 ,3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

5, 9

5, 2, 4, 3, 1, 6 5, 7 , 8, 9

5, 7, 8, 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 3

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 8, 7, 6

5  2, 7, 1, 3, 4, 6, 9, 8

2, 5–the rest are necessary

4, 3, 2, 5, 8,7

2, 5, 9, 1, 3, 7, 6, 8, 4,

9, 8, 2, 5, 4, 3, 6, 1, 7

2, 3, 5

5, 4, 2, 3, 1, …

Comment from This Section:

None of these things bother me, per se; it’s HOW they are used. An interview with a guest guru would be fine if it were not a hype fest/ ego booster. Same for email marketing of promotions. If they are relevant and not full of bull, that’s fine. The problem is they are so full of shit. I’m currently a part of a group venture and the hype is embarrassing me. Another lesson learned.

#4 And here is a list of typical *business* strategies used in information marketing. Please RANK them by number, from those that “turn you off” the most to least.

1. Big-ticket year-long “mastermind” programs, from $20-$100K
2. Monthly memberships ($19-$250) with online membership site + 1 CD + newsletter +  one group call with Guru
3. Seminars with multiple speakers, all selling packages.
4. VIP days–go to the home of the guru for a day
5. Big-ticket home-study programs (lots of videos/dvds/cds + manuals) for $1500+

Worst offenders:

  1. Seminars with multiple speakers, all selling packages.
  2. Big-ticket year-long “mastermind” programs, from $20-$100K
  3. Monthly memberships
  4. Big-ticket home-study programs

RESULTS:
3, 5, 2, 4, 1

1, 2, 5, 4, 3

4. 5. 1. 3. 2

1, 2, 4, 3, 5

1, 2, 5

3, 4, 1, 5, 2

5, 4, 2, 3, 1

1, 3, 4, 2, 5

5, 4, 3, 1, 2

2, 1, 3, 4, 5

1 ,2 ,5, 3 ,4

3, 4, 1, 5, 2

5, 4, 1, 3, 2

3, 5, 1

3, 4, 5, 1, 2

1, 5, 4, 3, 2

3, 2

2

Comments from This Section:

No one is inherently bad, it’s more the method of self-promotion and the lack of valuable content that bothers me.

Lots of folks think they walk on water when they sure do not! The use of “incredible” “amazing” and other superlatives surrounding price of a special offer. “Do it now or it will cost more later.”

3 is by far the worst because you end up in one without realizing it.
2 because you can end up in these without realizing it.

3 & 4 could be okay. If there is really value to the seminar or access to the guru (bad term; good for big egos), and the upsell portion is really minimal, I don’t mind so much. Usually, though, I a not-too-thinly veiled upsell is the major thrust of the presentations.

Group calls with ‘Guru’ are only good if you have reasonable access, so the membership has to be limited, somehow. Again, the major thrust behind membership sites seems to be, “How can I make more money and work less?” This sickens me.

#6: How would a TRUSTWORTHY “Information Leader” do business? How would s/he market?

  • Be themselves … be real, but still PLAY BIG.

  • honestly, authentically, and with integrity

  • I want more practicality, and honesty “it won’t”, “you need to improve here and there”. Less exclamation of admiration as if the truth was just discovered. If something is good, yes, acknowledge it but I want less high-pitch “awesome’. Down to earth.

  • Some discreet disclosure; Substantial information for reasonable cost in time, energy and money; CD and group settings seem fruitful.

  • Teach first, then make services available.

  • The ONLY way I have seen transformation taking place in me has been through LIVE communication where ONE on ONE coaching is offered. So the information leader MUST offer me this in order for me to even consider giving him any money.

  • Email people when you truly have something to say or something new to offer, not every week or every day because you think you have to

  • If you can still learn from them without spending a cent…that’s good thing!

  • UP front honesty on what is offered at what price. NO HYPE on supposed value of products offered.. It is only valuable if I agree to pay the $$. Honesty about affiliate income from my purchases.
  • NO buy it now or loose out on the special price. Immediate decisions are pressure. A good product will sell itself w/o this car salesman tactic.
  • Membership community at very low cost with many free offerings.
  • NO GAMES! I am so tired of the manipulation

  • A sales/opt in page that is not a 30 min read through testimonial land.

  • Lead with actual leadership qualities. Yes, we all have information and products we would like to disseminate to the public, but it seems that over-inflating the price which puts a perceived value on the item engenders people to want to buy to see what the hidden gold is only to find out there isn’t any hidden gold, it’s just the same old stuff rehashed into a different format. I think we need to get back to an actual value based system. Why not let the buyers put their perceived value first – a few dollars to one person when it’s all they have is a far greater fortune than the $1500 to the person who has it to spend. When an individual values something they will use it.

  • Tell the fricking truth and stop the bullshit hype. It’s not the tools or the channels, it’s the message you deliver

  • I don’t think all of the above strategies are bogus or inflated depending on who the person is that you are going to spend time with. Consultants in lots of industries charge high fees for their expertise. We might pay to save us time and money by taking the long way. Bait and switch is my most hated ploy.

  • Content-rich mailings and seminars/workshops, with a mention of what is available next, and being available after an event to speak one to one about people’s concerns. Building trust and rapport work with me. It may take longer to enroll a new client (or not), but it sure feels better.

Well, there you have it! Know any Internet Information Marketing Guru? Send ’em over
here so they can get some sense knocked into them!

I’m still happy to take your thoughts over at Survey Monkey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NJ7XSR6

How I Came to My Senses After a Fainting Spell and 2 Shady Mechanics

So, I fainted in Target on Sunday. Out of the blue.
And no, it wasn’t because of the great sales. In fact,
they say it was dehydration, but whatever it was, it
was scary. I had the oddest symptoms for about an
hour before I crumpled in a heap somewhere between
kitchenware and bedding. I found out it was due to
loss of oxygen to my brain; apparently we traverse
weird territory without our requisite O2—and for
sure, I thought I was going crazy. Then, without
warning, boom, a man’s kneeling over me,
asking if I know why I fell.
“I didn’t even know
I DID fall,” I answer, groggily looking from left to
right. Soon, I was surrounded by paramedics, police
officers and Target managers bracing themselves for
a lawsuit. Because I hit my head very hard on (something;
no one knows because there were no witnesses—but,
man, does that bump still hurt!) I was escorted onto
a hard, orange plastic gurney and fit cozily with a

neck brace. Off we went, sirens wailing, to the hospital
for tests.

It turned out that every blasted test came back normal
—which is what one typically strives for, I know—but
when you’ve interrupted your family members’ lives,
not to  mention your own all-important shopping
spree, you want something to explain the hours in
the ER. But, alas, I was diagnosed with syncope
otherwise known as fainting—and released to my
own recognizance. Such as it is.

As I was reclining back at home, my ex and signifi-
cant other took my VW to the dealership to have
them resolve an odd sluggishness I’d been experi-
encing. After sleeping eleven hours that night, (and
not one of them on my left-hand side because of
the massive bulb on the side of my head), I headed
over to the dealership to await my car’s release. And
that’s when I got the female treatment. I’ll spare
you the details, but suffice it to say there was some
unmistakable shady activity going on. Ten minutes
after I declined a $400 additional service, I was told
that the issue had, remarkably, “disappeared.” All was
fine. Then, a moment later, they came back to say
that they had a used part in stock from another car

and could slip that in to replace my faulty one. Had
I gone ahead and accepted the $400 job, do you
think I would have been told of the free used
part
? Or that the issue had miraculously disappeared?

I’ve been feeling increasing disgust over the corruption
and secrets
so prevalent in our world today—not

just on Wall Street, and in government; Big Business,
“corporate media,” our religious institutions, etc.—
but also in “small business”: the shallow and greed-
based antics playing out in internet marketing
every da
y. Having my own mechanics try to shaft
me was a tipping point for me and I decided to make
some changes in my own business. I have always
been honest and trustworthy as a business owner,
but I was following many of the Internet Information
Gurus—and this week, I unsubscribed from a vast
majority of them
. I decided they’re too slick and
phony for me; they’re the “Internet Hollywood Scene.”
The few hours in the ER, not knowing what was wrong
with me, plus the massive knock to my head, brought
me to my senses:
I’m “leaving the pack,” “escaping
the wannabees
” once again, no longer aspiring to
rub elbows with them, proverbially “sleep with them”
to get to the next level, attend their parties or adapt
their business-building strategies. (Which are, on
another note, entirely cookie-cutter, have you noticed?)

I don’t want to make money by gouging other people
of their hard-earned money. (And I never have.) Isn’t
that what the banks do? I don’t want to make money
by hosting a seminar that’s really a pitch-fest. I believe
that’s called bait-and-switch. I don’t want to make
money from obscenely inflated home-study products
or memberships. And I don’t want to tell my daughter
I made money following. Inspired Leaders don’t
follow
, they lead through inspiration. I got seduced
by the glitter and glam—but now know that all that
glitters is not gold.

I have created a questionnaire over at Survey
Monkey
, to see if my own experience reflects the
“zeitgeist,” the energy in the culture right now, about
slick, internet information marketing. You know
–the guys and women making millions of dollars on
$20,000 – $100,000 yearly memberships, claiming
they can “teach” (ha!) and “coach” (ha!). Have
you had it, too? Do they feel like shallow, slick, plastic
Hollywood types? Do you want to learn from a different
type of leader? If so, what type?

I promise to share the comments from your
peers in an upcoming blog.

By the way, in case you’re wondering: I’m doing fine…
except for the nasty bump and the bruises on my
leg and knee. I’ll be going to a cardiologist for a
“table test,” just to ensure that I don’t have a
propensity for losing oxygen to the brain. But I expect
everything to come out normal. After all, I’m still
young! In fact, the best part of the whole experience
was my daughter grumbling to me as we sat in my
ER room: “Everyone’s asking me if you’re my
sister.

It was all worth it for that!

Please
click here to take my “Have You Had It With
The Internet
Hollywood Scene?” survey.

� 2011-14 Inspired Leaders Academy. All Rights Reserved.