Did you know that there are numerous so-called online marketing training scams that try to trick you into thinking that they can help you become an online marketer or make you buy their useless training programs?
You might have seen claims like “gain the confidence to become a social media influencer”, “get hired by some of the biggest brands”, “get access to professional grade software”, or “get endorsed by celebrities”. All of these scammers aim to trick you into thinking that their training programs will help you become successful as an online marketer.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of scammers out there who are trying to take advantage of people in need of help with their careers. So, to save you the pain of getting scammed, we’re going to tell you exactly what to look out for and how to spot a scam when they try to sell you their training programs. This way, you will be able to choose a legitimate training provider from the start.
The Biggest Red Flags
When it comes to online marketing training scams, there are a few significant red flags that you need to keep an eye out for. To begin with, the people who are running these scams aren’t particularly good at pretending to be someone they’re not. So, if they try to sell you their training program and the pitch sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Another tip-off that something is “off” about an online marketing training program is when the vendor hides important information about what to expect in the sales process. Legitimate training programs will be upfront about all the information that you need to know about becoming successful as an online marketer. You’ll know exactly what to expect and won’t be fooled by any misleading promises.
Also, it’s very important to research the quality of the training programs that you are considering purchasing. There are lots of so-called “gurus” who claim that they can help you become an online marketer. However, the truth is there are no “silver bullet” solutions for successfully pursuing a career in digital marketing. Just like with anything in life, you have to put in the work and learn as much as you can.
Learn From Experts
The best way to avoid getting scammed by an online marketing training program is to learn from experts who are already doing it. If you look at the people who are successfully running their own blogs, making money online, and otherwise just thriving in the digital marketing world, you can learn a lot from what they have to say.
Even better, you can use their blogs and websites to easily find out everything that you need to know about the latest trends, software, tools, and trends in the industry. Don’t just take our word for it, either. Check out the experts’ websites and blogs for yourself to see what we mean!
Follow The Money
When someone is trying to scam you, the last thing that they want is for you to actually do any research on the company that they’re representing. In the world of online marketing scams, the best way to spot a con artist is by looking at their profit margins. When you get a pitch that seems too good to be true and the company is trying to up-sale you a product that they claim will help you become successful, you should probably walk away.
On the other hand, a legitimate company that is providing quality training for a decent price will almost certainly have higher margins than the average company. This means that they can and often do afford to pay more than their fair share of advertising costs. So, if you see a pitch that seems too good to be true, followed by an abundance of ads for expensive products, run away!
Also keep in mind that profit margins increase the more that you sell. So, the more that you buy, the more you’ll make. It’s always good to make money, but you should avoid salespeople who are only in it for the money. They’ll try to trick you into buying their expensive products just to line their pockets, rather than provide any real value.
Avoid Free Trials
The last thing that you want to do is to get involved with something that you’re unsure of or don’t understand. For instance, if someone is offering you a free trial of their product so that you can try it out and see how it works, that’s a really great offer.
On the other hand, if you’re reading about a company that is offering some type of special deal where you can get their product for free or at a discounted rate, run away! You’ll be sorry later if you didn’t exercise the proper diligence before making a purchase. Always read the fine print and make sure that what you’re being told is indeed true. Once you get caught up in the moment and make the purchase, you won’t be able to complain if you’re suddenly charged for something that you didn’t agree to. That’s not good.
Learn From Experience
Finally, don’t be afraid to learn from others’ mistakes. If you look at the various failed scams and schemes that have been tried over the years, you’ll see that there’s always someone who tried to trick others into believing that they could help them become successful. So, if you see something that seems suspicious, don’t be afraid to ask for more information or to probe a bit. This way, you will avoid making a lot of mistakes and being scammed.
Also remember, it’s never good to trust your instincts. Even when you’re feeling confident or secure, you should never assume that you know everything. As much as we’d like to think that we’re always right, we’re not. There will always be situations where we’re wrong and don’t have all the information. When that happens, you simply have to own up to it and try to be as humble as possible. Even the most successful entrepreneurs and online marketers started out as novices, so don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. You’ll be in good company with Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg. If you want to learn more, just look at their success stories.