I got an email from someone the other day asking me which "gurus" they should listen to.
There are SO many people teaching how to make money online.
How DO you know who to trust?
Here's a checklist for you to help you determine the answer to this question:
1) Google the person in question.
Seek and ye shall find. The web provides information at your fingertips, so why not research a person or a product before choosing to purchase something or follow someone? It is best to type their name in quotes, like "Joel Comm". Of course, if they have a common name like "Jeff Walker" it might be a bit more difficult to find what you are looking for. He's got "Jerry Jeff Walker" to compete with!
2) How long have they been online?
If the so-called "expert" registered their domain just a few months ago, that might raise a red flag. Of course, I register new domains on a regular basis, but I would check to see what other domains they may have registered. A search at whois.sc will provide you with registration dates and such.
3) Where are the testimonials?
It's easy to make up testimonials. I would not do that because we have plenty of real testimonials from real success stories. But people do it all the time. There's a reason people don't trust the smiling third party that says "I'd buy anything so-and-so would sell me!" Audio and video testimonials are more convincing because you get to hear and see real people. Of course, those can be fabricated as well. Be wary.
4) Are they really an expert?
True experts have proof that what they do works. They don't learn it from someone else and then pass it off as their own teaching or method. I wrote my first book on AdSense because I learned how to make money with AdSense. Mike Filsaime can sell Butterfly Marketing because he has proven that the method works in his own marketing. There are plenty of people who create "knock-off" products and label themselves as an expert. Make sure they are practicing what they preach before trusting them.
5) Have you met them in person?
The Internet can be very impersonal, and people raised to the level of "guru" status can come off as distant or unreachable. That's one reason I speak at so many conferences. I want to make sure that anyone can meet me and have a discussion to see what kind of person I am. I have met a handful of "gurus" that truly were standoff-ish in my life. The truly big egos don't want to spend time with "regular" people. I truly enjoy just being myself in a group of others and sharing what I know. I also like to listen because I've still so much to learn. Want to follow someone? Go to a conference or seminar where they are speaking and discover if they are worthy of being followed.
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it should help you cut through the clutter and noise of finding a reliable teacher who can really help you go where you want to go.
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
November 25, 2008 08:27 AM
This is a great post. A real good way to get to learn about who it is that you are buying from and listening to. It's a checklist, if you will of ways to find out if the so-called gurus are who they claim who they really are.
I started this site mostly because I met my mentor, Ken McArthur, just this past spring. Before meeting him, I was rudderless. Steering and veering in all directions until I met with him and he offered me some sound advice. I committed myself to helping him, so I volunteered at his last two events in Philly because I believe in his causes.
And your ideals as well, Joel. You are a true, genuine, positive person. I owe it to myself to learn from you. And owe it to you to pay the kindness forward.
Your younger, grayer, fatter twin;
-K
http://www.for-the-troops.com/?page_id=33
November 25, 2008 08:33 AM
That's mean we can trust you joel :)
Thank you for this helpful post
Your friend from EGYPT
Hessein
November 25, 2008 08:38 AM
Hi Joel,
Great Article.
Getting video testimonials is now on my list.
November 25, 2008 08:44 AM
Hey Joel,
I agree with all of your 5 points above. If someone was going to do
business with an off line company or individual they would naturally want to check them out and make sure they have the right credentials (in most cases)
to give them their money or business.
Like in every other circumstances, we need to do our due deligence before jumping in with both feet. I must admit, that at time I make small purchases without doing my due deligence on orders that are less than $50.00
If the company or individual is recommended by someone I trust, then I feel somewhat safe in giving them my business. I am also reluctant to give my credit card to new marketers. If they don't have Pay Pal or another similar service, then I bypass their product and or services no matter how good it is.
Jim Davis
November 25, 2008 09:26 AM
I always like to go to either Warrior Forums or Digital Point Forums and read the reviews about the so called "Gurus" and their products. The posters in these forums have been around a long time, and they can quicky spot a amateur from a pro. (You can easliy find thes forums by using your old pal Google....I did not want to post the links, and have my post look "spammy"
For full disclosure, I am not affiliated with either of these sites, just a member who has found a lot of useful information at both of these forums. They are both free, and have a very active member database.
My 2 cents anyway
November 25, 2008 09:54 AM
Joel,
Sounds like good solid advice that I will definitly follow.
Just My Opinion
November 25, 2008 10:24 AM
Good Morning Joel
I have been your subscriber for sometime, GURU is a word that is used like toilet paper lately, one telemarketer ?? to another ?? self proclaim themselves, so there colum or what ever they sell be noted.
That big question?
What is the standard or rules to become a so called GURU?
I strongely believe that the word of mouth from the persons that have achieved some success from there teaching should be the spokes person of the character and business etiquette.
The term is MENTOR that is what is earned!
When someone that you do not know stands in front of you and asks you directly to be there MENTOR,it is a great feeling and satisfation, that your spreading your knowledge and most of all they are achieving better life style, in result strong family ties!
THE FINAL REWARD AS A MENTOR IS COLLECTING AS MANY :
"THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY"
You know that collecting as many of this strong positive words, goes together with success which equal MONEY!
People are talking!!!!!! That should make you feel good!!!!!!
Thank you lord for another day!
Alberto Carbonell
November 25, 2008 10:27 AM
"Whom" can you trust. Not "who."
November 25, 2008 10:37 AM
By far the best"guru" I've found online is Chris Farrell. He even answers all his email and encourages people to email him with questions. He gave me a video answer to my question which was "over the top" for customer service for any guru online today. He's at http://www.chrisfarrell-online.com/ and no I don't get paid to do this. I'm just very impressed.
November 25, 2008 11:02 AM
Joel,
This is a great piece Joel, and one that stirs up thought.
Regarding testimonials I've always wondered if people really did flat-out lie and make them up, (I assumed they did sometimes, but always thought it was a small %).
But even more of a head scratcher is, how many "big names" give testimonials to help out their buddies, promote themselves, increase affiliate commissions, even for cash compensation?
I mean, are there "professional" testimonial givers out there? Sometimes it seems that way.
Just a thought, as to the ethics of our business. I know 99% of us are honest people who truly give real value to the markets we serve but I'm not naive either! :)
Would be interested in your feedback on this topic.
BTW, I have your AdSense course, and it is excellent (hey, that's a real testimonial!)
All my best,
Jim Rodante
http://twitter.com/Referral_Pro
November 25, 2008 11:59 AM
I get so many "offers" that want to sell me "the secret" to something that I really needed your excellent advice. I will follow it.
Thank you.
Glenn Wilkes
www.wealthinfoplus.com
November 25, 2008 02:40 PM
Hey, everyone. Just subscribed! It's great to be here.
Joel, great advice about meeting "Gurus" in person. I've met a few in my day.
I met Joel in Los Angeles several months ago.... then later attended Elevate 2008 in Denver. Not only was Joel always open, helpful, good-natured, good-humored, and genuine, but his entire staff at infomedia was as well. They were like a big warm supportive family, always encouraging you to succeed and follow your passions. You can tell a lot about a person by who he surrounds himself with. (something my mom used to always tell me as a kid, something I didn't always truly believe as I would reply "Oh, mom.... Don't be such a.... Mom." Yep, Mom was right... again.
(sorry for the oozy-praise factor, Joel... Just tellin' it like it is)
Aside from EXTENSIVELY Goggling these guys (I DID Google Joel before meeting him, btw), and all the other stuff Joel mentioned above, another good way to tell if a "guru" or "mentor" is the real deal, I have found, is to ask some personal questions (not intrusive or inappropriate), like: "Why did you get into online marketing? Or what is the hardest thing about this business? or What is the biggest mistake you've made? Or what would you be doing now if you didn't have to work? or what does your family think of your work?" Or anything more personal you really want to know. Stuff like that. Best to do it in real time (phone or live) - you can better gauge the genuineness of the response.
By the way, Joel, as Thanksgiving approaches, I want to express my gratitude to you and Infomedia for Elevate 2008, an incredible, information-on-steriods, inspiration-on-rocket-fuel, seminar. An unforgettable, life-changing event.
November 25, 2008 03:17 PM
Hi Joel,
I used to trust you but now I'm getting some bad vibes. I sent you something like $1.00 for one of your many products and was told I'd get a free month of your club. I cancelled before the first month was up but was still charged $19.95, automatically wthdawn from my bank account!!! I called your place in Colorado but the answering machine was full!! I finally got a human days later whosaid my money would be refunded but it never has been.
This all just feels kind of sneaky to me and I feel like you do this a lot. Now I'll have to call again and see why I haven't gotten my refund yet. It's just a big hassle you put us through.
Now I've got a new one: I just tried to type you captcha verification but the first word was gibberish. When I tried to do the audio version, it was someone's conversation!!! Come on Joel! Hire some more people or something!!
November 25, 2008 04:16 PM
Thanks for all the comments!
Alice, please send an email to jared (at) infomediainc.com and we'll make sure your product issues are taken care of. We don't want to keep money for product you aren't supposed to be billed for. Rest assured I don't "do this a lot". We have a lot of customers, and there are always chances that someone will fall through the cracks. When we discover problems, we always fix them. I believe we have the absolute best customer service policy in Internet marketing and I stand by everything we do.
As for the captcha, it's a script. I can't help it if it doesn't work perfectly all the time. Welcome to the age of technology.
And as for hiring more people... or something... um... Ok, go send us more customers so we afford to hire someone. Happy to oblige :-)
November 26, 2008 04:46 AM
Always know we can trust and count on you Joel. You always provide us with needed info. Keep it up and thanks.
November 27, 2008 12:45 AM
Great advice, thanks. Joel, I trust you :)! Thanks for this great informative post.
November 27, 2008 06:48 PM
Great Post Joel. I've been a subscriber for about 5 years now.
I use your first method of finding out about people online all the time. For the more common names, it is more difficult as you mentioned. A technique that I use to wittle down the results is to add on the industry that the person is in, or any keywords that relate to them. An example might be to search for:
"Joel Comm" +marketing
You can just add different industry specific keywords, or a school they went to, or someother identifying information. I hope this helps.
November 30, 2008 08:05 PM
One great thing about the Youtube is that you can actually get a pretty good idea of what type of person that your dealing with.
If they are a good teacher and prove to know what they are talking about then I become a fan.
I must say that when i started applying the Adsense techniques that Joel posted on the Youtube my earnings increase right away.
It wasn't long afterwards that I purchased one of Joels books about Adsense.