A member of our business-leaders-only facebook group (Check it out here!) asked me recently in response to one of my posts: .
“Stephanie, perhaps you can do a video sometime about avoiding the fake online gurus promising silver bullet online business systems where they claim to be making millions- I constantly see these phonies on YouTube ads.”
He’s not alone! I see these people on youtube, facebook, instagram, and pretty much every other online platform you can think of. They promise the perfect answer to whatever you’ve been looking for, but the course or product you purchase is so full of BS or so poorly put together that it’s useless!
I should know! I’ve bought my fair share of scammer-style courses that are nothing more than content you could look up online!
Over the past few years, I’ve started to pick up on the following red flags from the online gurus!
The “Super Secret Method” That You ONLY Learn When You Buy
Here’s the real secret...
Most of the people that I know and respect as truly successful, give away insane value! They she the “super secret” method up front. One guy I follow has even commented multiple times that if you want to take the time to go through his 1000s of YouTube videos, you can probably get all his content for free. But if you want it compiled in one super easy-to-follow-and-find spot, buy the course.
He builds trust, and outlines the “secret” before you make the purchase so you know exactly what you’re getting.
When we’re buying things online, we’re buying one of two things: Accountability or a Streamlined Process. For example, you can attend my class and hear me tell you that Google and Facebook are your best friends when it comes to building a Target Market. You can buy the masterclass if you want me to show you exactly how to use Google & Facebook in an easy-to-follow step-by-step procedure. Or you can hire my company to build you a target market because you don’t want to spend 4+ hours on it!
When it comes to information, people buy convenience and application.
“Super secrets” are a big red flag to me! There isn’t much new out there. Tell us how you do it, that it’s worked for you repeatedly, and that you can streamline and cut my learning curve to do the same thing. Otherwise, I have to wonder if you know what you’re doing well enough to be teaching me or if you just got lucky once or twice!
They try to make me feel incompetent...
If a guru makes me feel incomeptent or like I’ve just been the punching bag in a sparring match, if I feel emotionally destroyed or afraid after listening to them, it’s just another red flag.
I’m noticing that many presenters are getting more clever about this too. Throughout the majority of the presentation, or sales copy, they build you up and get you excited. During the close, you’re suddenly torn into a hundred pieces unless you hire them first!
Sales people who sell through fear are almost always masking lackluster products or services.
Talking About Money In Awe
Have you ever heard someone talk about money and you can just tell that they are overcome and a little in awe of the idea of making 7-figures a year or a 6-figure month? I’ve heard endless entrepreneurs run endless calculations to show me how much money they are going to make. Hell, I’ve run a few myself. But I’ve found that the people who have to resort to talking about how much money they are going to make, or you are going to make, are usually the wrong person actually make it happen.
In the past few years as I’ve found myself hanging out in those elite circles more and more often I’ve found that the who who are actually making money aren’t talking about it. They are doing it.
Money is a byproduct of the value you bring. When someone focuses too much on the money and there’s a note of awe in their voice, or they try to be overly casual about it, it’s usually a good signal that it’s something they aren’t super comfortable with.
The individuals running major businesses may accidentally drop something money-related into the conversation, but the whole conversation isn’t about the money!
Unrealistic Promises