Pondering all the assistance out there…
Is anyone else experiencing the same frustration? I see a trend and it makes me uncomfortable. I am sitting here with my in-box brimming with all sorts of assistance out there. Of course it is buried in a course or program that the sender is offering for a fee. There are SEO optimization specialists, lose weight plans, potential publishing deals, resume writing, job search courses, and a long list of spiritual courses being presented. One even suggests that you can get your Spiritual Business started. I am suddenly reminded of all the companies that used to want to get into my wallet when I was a REALTOR.
Sure everyone wants a get rich quick or make something easier. The truth is we are all trying to get what we want without putting the work in. Write a check, use a credit card and we are done. Buy into a system and our troubles are taken care of. Have someone else write our resume and we suddenly have a dream job without having to do the work. When I was a REALTOR purchase a website and have thousands of leads to work with. Think about it, those are the ones I am aware of. Pretty sure it is every industry out there, especially trade schools.
Free Assistance, Think Again
Face it, there has been an uptick in such programs. During the lockdown, I have taken several “free” courses about writing a book, how to write a novel, getting a publishing deal, finding an agent from what I once thought a prestigious publishing house. The truth is where they make their money is selling upscale versions of the “free” course. And they are not cheap. On one call the presenter bragged that there were over 500 people signed up for a particular week long course that was selling for $1,700. Do the math that is $850,000! But let’s say they are exaggerating, and they only have 10 people that is $8,500 for a weeks work.
Who is really getting the assistance here? The presenters wallet. Because you know that they will be upselling from that course. There is perhaps one nugget of information that is worthwhile in the free course; the rest is a giant advertisement for their course that will teach you how you MAY achieve the objective of the course. In the end, it is a giant advertisement for their self-publishing tool which is not cheap.
What does this Assistance Mean for you?
Does this sound familiar? After attending the free session, you will get email after email telling you why you need the course. Suddenly you are seeing more targeted ads from other companies. You may see ads on social media all of a sudden for it. You may be thinking perhaps I should. Then there comes a discount code to save you $100 off a $1,111 course.
Two weeks later you see another email for the course at $597 just for you. Another week goes by or two and now they are giving just you the opportunity to take this course for $222 because they believe in you. But wait, they will also give you an additional companion e-book on how to market yourself on social media if you sign up in the next 3 hours. Reality is that they sent that same email out to over 5,000 people in their database. It is a pre-recorded course that is self study. If ten people purchase it, that is a quick $2,220 in their wallet.
Caveat Emptor
This assistance is a system of emails to get you to buy what they are selling. It sounds like the answer to your prayers, but it is not. Beware of such programs, think about it. Remember if it sounds too good to be true, it is. If it is a slick presentation, the course MAY help you, but it may not either. If you are putting all your eggs into that basket, let this be a sign that you shouldn’t.
