Make Money Online by NOT Spreading PANIC! (sheesh)

Buying a clue

Sometimes I’m really in despair of my fellow marketers.

You might have noticed the few BILLION posts regarding the FTC and their views on bloggers/affiliate marketing and the like. 

Remember?  I posted about it yesterday (or maybe the day before?) – it dealt with:

My gosh, and the Internet marketing posts all about the Internet too!  It defies belief…it really really really REALLY does.  The forums all over the place were rocking with them:

Sigh.

Then what should appear but:

FTC Confirms Bloggers Need Not Fear the $11,000 Fines

I mean, nothing personal folks, but let’s take a long hard look at this, shall we?

The fact is, there are TONS of sites out there that make extremely outlandish, stupid and downright idiotic marketing claims on what people can expect from using their products. 

PT Barnum would be very proud of those folks.

Now, I have nothing against hitting on the emotional buttons that will get people to buy….IF and only IF what you’re selling really works.

ie, you know how to dominate Google? Great!  Give me proof.  Show me the steps you used.  And if I know I can apply them with my own skills…I’ll happily send you the money!

BUT!

Telling me that my cell phone will literally force rabid customers to fling their hard-earned cash into my deserving bank account so I have no choice but to ACCEPT their payments…..

No thank YOU.

Such trickery isn’t limited to making money online, of course.

Look at scams like

Dazzle White and Easy White Scam – Mom’s trick to whiter teeth, like Easy Google Cash

To this DAY WOW!  Their site is actually DOWN!

No, wait.  I’m wrong.  There’s another scam site just for it.

Anywhos, you visit the site and you see a wonderful place to see if you QUALIFY for the product.  Gotta love that!  Offer your zip code and you’ll see:

SCAM SCAM SCAM!

Notice that cute little animated gif?  It will continue to animate until a few seconds have passed, to give you the impression that something is ACTUALLY BEING DONE.

Something certainly is, mind you – you’re getting conned.

Anywhos! 

If you’re naive enough to hang around on the site, you’ll be able to first submit your contact info WITHOUT your credit card.  That email address will then be used for future spamming.

But!  The next glorious screen shows how the discount price is only one low price of $2.95 for S/H!

And you see

Hurry!  Trials are going fast!

And if you’re caught up in the hype, you probably DON’T notice:

Offer Details: When you place your order today with DazzleSmile, you will automatically become a part of our elite customer club. Your active credit card will only be billed $2.95 for the shipping of your 14-day trial. If you choose to keep your trial, your active credit card will be billed the low member price of only $87.62 for your trial, and then again every 30 days should you continue to use DazzleSmile. And remember, there’s no obligation – you can cancel your membership at any time by calling 888-948-5508. No obligation, cancel anytime! You will also receive a trial subscription to World Club Fitness. After 40 days of enjoying your trial, if you do not cancel you will be billed a non-refundable fee of $24.82 every 30 days to keep your subscription. To remove this additional offer, click here now. Or, simply call 866-407-3685 anytime to cancel.

Folks, methinks THOSE are the types of offers the FTC is trying to smash down.  And for good reason!!

The Dazzlewhite pro folk try to sneak in a continuity program, in which they can bill your credit card every single month.  Sigh.

Here’s a simply spiffy idea instead!

Be HONEST in your marketing.  Be truthful.  Showcase what your product does and how it will benefit your reader…WITHOUT resorting to brazen lies.

Full disclosure rocks!  It’s great for the consumer and it’s great for you too….because you’ll have far fewer returns.  And that, of course, can only be described as a Very Good Thing Indeed!

Enjoy,

Barbara Ling

 

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