It seems, dear reader, that the previous rate of newly released wonder systems has upped in its tempo considerably in the last month or so. Maybe it's the start of a new year; maybe the growing number of 'silver bullet seekers'; maybe just an inflation of the scumbag peddlers. For whatever reason, there's never been more of a threat to us system buyers than now.
So, what should we do? Stop buying systems for fear of being ripped off? Just roll over and admit we have to run the gauntlet every time we click 'buy now'? Refund on nine out of ten systems we buy?
No. None of the above. We simply have to be diligent and sensible, and follow the advice below...
1. Before you buy a system, look for a review of it. Type 'xxxxx system review' into Google. And look for the sites where some / most systems get average or bad reviews. If a site gives everything a favourable comment, you know they're not for real.
2. Look for systems or services that offer a free trial. If there's a free trial, you have no risk. Note, it's acceptable for a system seller to ask for your details up front AS LONG AS no money is taken until the specified date. Use (relatively) trusted suppliers like PayPal and Moneybookers for this.
3. If your system or service offers a money-back guarantee, try to establish whether that will be honoured. If you bought any product through Clickbank, you can get a refund by sending your payment id to refunds@clickbank.com (A word of caution: if you habitually buy and then refund, you will get closed down by Clickbank, so do due diligence in advance and use this as a last resort).
4. Avoid systems that make ridiculous claims. Come on, be sensible! 😉 You and I both know that it IS possible to make a few quid and enjoy your punting more than losing a few quid. And... you and I both know that no fifty quid ebook (and, frankly, no two grand mega-service) is going to book you a one way ticket to Barbados. If it looks too good to be true...
5. Review the lists you've signed up to. You're most likely reading this because you've signed up to my list. Great! If you receive emails from people who you don't trust or in whose information you're not interested, click the 'unsubscribe' link at the bottom of the email. Seriously! Don't be lazy. They send you a note probably twice a week - just open it, click the link, and you'll get no more 5h1t from them! Simples.
6. When you find people whose information you trust, whitelist them. That is, make sure their emails go to your inbox and not your 'spammy junk blahblah' folder.
7. Er, that's it...
The above is of course absolute basic common sense. The trouble I have, and maybe you do too, is that because I receive so much carp on a daily basis, I find it difficult to make the time (like, thirty seconds!) to delete the extraneous hyperbole. Like the guy who's too busy working to make any money, I'm too busy deleting emails to unsubscribe.
Am I making any sense?!
So, here's my #1 tip for you. Go through all the emails you receive and unsubscribe yourself from any you don't trust (including me for that matter!)
You'll still get occasional unsolicited emails, and you'll still 'accidentally' sign up for new guff, but maintain a monthly regimen of spending five minutes (might be ten or even fifteen minutes the first time you do it, if you're on as many lists as me) unsubscribing from the rubbish.
It IS terrible that there are so many sharks looking to make a monkey out of us. But... we have to take some responsibility for ourselves. If they're emailing us, in the main, it's because WE signed up to them. So we need to un-sign up.
In the coming weeks, I'll compile a list of 'suspect characters'. This will be based on my personal opinion, and will not be a 'proven guilty' sentence for that person.
Have a great weekend, and I'll be back early next week with some important news on building your own systems. Now there's a way to guarantee you never get ripped off again!
Matt