If you have an online business, or you're thinking about starting one, then you run across a lot of Internet Marketing products and services.
The problem most people have is: how to know what to buy, and when to buy it - or not.
There are some issues with low-quality products, or misrepresentation, but fortunately almost every Internet Marketing product comes with a quality guarantee and the option to get a refund if you're not pleased with the product.
Plus, I'll assume that you're a smart cookie and a fairly good judge of character...
A healthy dose of skepticism is a good thing. It will make you do your research, Google the product name and the merchant, read the fine print, make note of those quality guarantees, and ask your peers for feedback. All of this should go into a smart buying decision.
The bigger issue is that most people buy products they don't necessarily need, which is a different monkey altogether. In addition to being skeptical of the product or the merchant, we should also be 'skeptical' of our reason for buying.
So how do you know what to buy, and when to buy it?
The Buying Filter
Once you've done all of the necessary research, and you feel this is a legitimate product at a fair price, you still have one more element of the buying decision to consider:
Is this product right for me?
My advice has always been to only buy a product that you need right now, to accomplish your current objective. The buying filter is simple:
Will this product take me closer to my goal, or distract me from it?
It's easy to buy up products that we think we will use in the future, especially when we are taunted by a "limited time offer" or a "buy now or you'll miss out and regret it forever". But keep in mind that this is your business, and you are the only one that knows for sure if a product is a match for your goals.
There is a difference between investing in your business... and buying a product. And if you're not investing in your business, all you're doing is investing in the sellers business.
Always use the filter, and invest in your business growth wisely. Know what you need, why you need it, and WHEN you need it. Otherwise you'll end up with a hard drive full of info-products that you never read or use, and a bad taste in your mouth that keeps you from buying the products you do need.
Best,
p.s. If you're not sure what you need, or you need help making a buying decision, you are welcome to ask at my discussion forum. I check in there several times a day and would be happy to give you an objective opinion. You can also view a list of guides I personally use to run my own online business on this page.
About Lynn Terry
You are spot on with the buying filter. So many products hold great prommise but if you are only going to end up being distracted from doing what is already working for you, the end result is a negative one on your business.
You can always go to a review site and see what other people have to say about the product or visit internet marketing forums and ask the other people on the forum if the product will work :)it is a learning curve, you get used to what is right and wrong... if it looks too good to be true, it probably is
Hi Lynn,
For fairly experienced marketers, most likely they can differentiate what's a good or a dud product, or immune to the sales letter hype.
The most vulnerable are newbies. They are often too confused or waiting for that "magic pill", hence they tend to buy a lot of unnecessary products, thinking that it would be "THE product" that can finally give them the solution of making big bucks online. Isn't it?
I agree completely about deciding whether any particular product takes you closer to your goal or distracts you.
Several times I've been caught up in the hype of a launch and bought something I found I didn't have time to implement as I it didn't fit in with what I was working on at the time.
Instead I decided not to buy any IM related product unless it will help me improve something specific and actionable.
Right on the button, Lynn.
I use to be get caught up in the "buy it now" with IM products, but have taught myself self control.
When I see new products come out now I say to myself, Do I NEED this now?, Will this bring me in a forward direction or just sidetrack me onto another path? Just by running that through my mind every time has saved me my time and money.
I like to use a prepaid credit card online if I am not familiar with the company and fear that I might have additional charges on the card at a later date.
Lynn, love the filter question! So many guru solutions come our way daily, each one promising to be the missing piece to our success-puzzle. I asked Carrie Wilkerson how she choses between offers. She replied, 'If I can't pay the investment back in 30 days, I don't to it!' Love your filter too. Simple, powerful, straight to the point!
Very good advice.
I have been guilty of chasing the magic button thinking this product or service will be just the ticket to success.
My highest paid coach (who charges $5k an hour min for individual business coaching) told us the exact same thing. If you do not need it right now in your business, do not buy it. period.
Personally he told me to hire an employee with the money I was going to spend on my next product and my business would be better for it.
On a second note, I have paid thousands of dollars for products that are now available for $99 or free with a trial of another product. I still find myself wanting to buy new products. It is tempting and I am training myself to just say no. I even have an expensive product waiting on the shelf for me to complete. It is a great product and I need the copywriting training, yet I could have waited and bought it when I could use it right away.
I am finding your own Elite membership and having an accountability partner the best thing going for me right now.
Thank you so much for your time and dedication to your forums and members.
Excellent advice on the buying filter. I am always tempted by great sounding products but I always take a step back to see if I really need them at that time. I have enough on my hard drive to keep me busy but I found 3 e-books the other day that I knew were going to help me right now so I purchased them. I learned this filter method from you a few years ago and I'm glad I did.
Great post Lynn, I have learned the hard way to say no. only to be wiser for it.
Lynn, that post came at the right time. In the past few month, I've bought product after product, but not taken any action. Now it's time to stop buying and take some action and only buy the products I'll need to improve my current projects.
Hello Lynn,
Great and wise article. While I have purchased a lot of products over the past 6 months, I have taken advantage of the return guaranty since I wouldn't be using the program. I did stick with a couple of programs and am taking action. Thanks.
Richard
Once again sage advice from one of the best! Indeed, skepticism in large doses is mandatory in this internet game. I've said it before, but it bears repeating: If I had just a nickle for every marketing program offer that comes across my desktop, I'd soon be on my way to retirement! Or at least a nice long vacation stay in Hawaii!
I too almost spent a hefty chunk of moola on one of the many products offering near instant success with affiliate marketing. Fortunately for me I came upon ClickNewz before I took the plunge. Now, admittedly, I'm not wealthy from my efforts, and being somewhat of an marketing rebel, I'd never suggest that anyone follow my lead if they're looking for a best-practice model or to get rich quick. But it took Lynn Terry's honest approach, no sleight-of-hand style to lead me in a better direction, and point out that I didn't need those other products. What I needed was to really do the work, following Lynn's advice, and lo and behold I'm happy to say, I started making sales!
So yes the buying filter you suggest is a good one. But these days I also use the Lynn Terry filter as well. If I have a question about marketing or a new product, I search ClickNewz and ask myself, what would Lynn do? 🙂
Very sound and helpful advice, and many thanks for providing the "liste of guides" you use in your own online business. Your generosity is much appreciated.
I love to read people's reviews before purchasing anything online. Even though some internet marketers writer fake reviews, I still put value to them.
You won't have to worry about "fake reviews" much longer with the FTC involved 😉 See: http://www.clicknewz.com/2061/ftc-update/
True. The new FTC ruling should get rid of many "black hat" marketers. The better for those that use legitimate and ethical content based SEO methods.
I have just found and joined your blog/forums, but I recently came across this site: http://www.imreportcard.com which gives a lot of information on different internet marketing products, people and allows people to review their products, and then rates them. Lynn you come up with an A-, with very positive comments from people. This can be a great way to find out if people are legit or not. Other people may find this site useful to research any products that they may be looking at before they choose to buy.
IM products are getting more and more expensive, and many of them rehash stuff already out there. If your'e a newbie, then do your research in google if you're interested in a particular product. See if you find anything bad being said about it in forums. When you buy it, TAKE ACTION. Don't sit on it. That is the biggest issue with people is buying one IM product after another and never taking action and making any money.
Just my "2 cents" worth 🙂
Mike
I love your no nonsense approach to the distractions we are all facing in a today's I. M. business. I have gotten to the stage of unsubscribing to email lists which i know offer great tools and advice from time to time but, i found wading through all the information and reviews was taking away valuable time which needed to be applied in more important areas. Thank You for the guide i have no doubt it will save me time needed in my business areas that are suffering.