Having been taken in by less-than-ethical marketers (more than once I am embarrassed to say) I make sure that I promote only those things that I have used myself or are recommended by the few people online that I trust because I have bought their recommendations and they have delivered as promised.
Any products I may create will contain true value and not require you to buy Z and Y to make it work.
I have seen too many products where vital information was left out or where the sales page was intentionally (I assume) misleading. They’re after only one thing – money.
I have bought some of these over the years and when I realized I had been ripped off, I felt angry, disappointed, frustrated and royally pissed off with the marketers and have NEVER bought anything from them again. NEVER.
I know that is not what you want to happen to your customers, so when you create products, don’t do what some online experts do and leave crucial details out of the product – in an attempt to squeeze more money out of your target audience at a later date.
Here’s a good example:
As an Internet Marketing leader, you might put out a product that teaches someone how to blog. But your blog product only covers the topics like finding what to blog about, how often to blog, engaging your customers.
All of this is good information, of course – but you left out a very important part of the puzzle – how to set up the blog in the first place! This kind of behavior isn’t always intentional.
You might have truly forgotten that the reader doesn’t even know how to buy a domain name, get hosting, and install a blog because you’re well past that stage. Still, it’s your responsibility as a good leader to provide that for them.
Don’t leave it out so you can sell it as separate information in another course, or as an upsell or one time offer. That’s not the attitude of a true leader – that’s the attitude of a leech.
Now don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with upsells per se. If the upsell adds value to the front end offer but is not essential for the front end to work as advertised, then that is an ethical upsell.
You will no doubt use upsells as you progress in your online business, either directly after the initial sale or in followup emails. Do it ethically and you will expand your business and build trust. Try to cheat your customers by forcing them to buy the missing pieces and you will fail.
If you are promoting affiliate products, buy it first if possible. Use it, then tell your customers about it. Let them know what worked and what did not.
Provide good value for money. It really is as simple as that.
Until next time (when I won’t be quite as “preachy”)
Barb
