I wrote this in response to the question “Is attraction marketing about being a better liar?” on BetterNetworker.com forum today.
Marketing is simply magnifying the most positive aspects of whatever system, or product, or even “you inc” you are trying to ‘sell’. Good marketing paints a picture of a life you can only dream of, freedom, happiness, fulfillment. It doesn’t expect to see everyone who buys a mobile phone to run down the road, ripping their clothes off so they can launch off their local pier and into the ocean. It simply presents a powerful association with ‘freedom’ and buying a mobile phone. (the ‘whole’ truth is what the fine print is for)
I joined my first MLM because of the promises it made.
With pages of testimonials, and comments like “we live the life of our dreams” complete with sales pitches like ‘we produce, ship, and handle your inventory for you’.
I read “Have an unbelievable life of financial freedom without doing much!”
I was caught hook line and sinker, even after I read the income disclaimer, I didn’t believe that would be me. I joined the opportunity before I even new what it was. I wasn’t lied to, but I wasn’t told, nor did I seek the whole truth. Stuff like, you may have to spend a lot of money on products for yourself, you will have to spend money on marketing and you will have to work your @#$% off, were left until later.
I do remember asking “what do you actually do? and being told we’d get to that later.
(The most difficult for me to swallow; “now you’ve joined our team for which you pay regularly, here’s some more stuff (information, services, products) for you to buy, to really get you cracking”).
What am I already paying for?
Most landing pages I’ve seen do this; Massive income promises, with a small income disclaimer, leading to a vast sales letter promising the world… Well we all know this. They work
As a potential customer, especially if it’s your first time, you only see and hear what you want, and ignore the rest. So is being told small amounts of the whole truth akin to lying?
I certainly felt tricked.
I did not receive what the sales pitch promised. I am actually not blaming the system or products for the fact the the business didn’t work for me, and potentially even if I had been given the ‘whole truth’ on the day, I still may not have heard, as I was so “blinded” by the dollar signs. In this sense the massive income claims are probably counter intuitive, as they attract people like… me!
Or the me I was back then.
I think the ‘lying’ part of attraction marking comes into play when people try and position themselves as experts, which is the most frustrating advice you can get as a new marketer. (An expert in what?)
I felt like a complete phony, which in hindsight should have quickly indicated that I was not in the right business for me.
I felt like I was lying all the time.
Unfortunately I also fell for the industry wide lies that “the only way you can fail is to quit” and “giving up on this business is giving up on yourself” (effective ways to keep you paying your monthly fees) and stayed until my money ran out. When I did make the decision to cancel it was actually liberating, like I had gained ownership of my brand once more. Rather than giving up on myself, I took responsibility and found myself in the right place. I have obviously grown a lot and realized that education and creating my own brand are steps one and two in creating a successful and ‘attractive’ presence. The nature of the beast at the moment means everyone is vying to seem the most successful, well educated, and best leader there is… BEFORE they have actually become successful, educated leaders in the industry.
I would say don’t talk the talk unless you are prepared to walk the walk (feel free however to think, feel and visualize).
The best way to ensure you are not lying to others is to make sure you are not lying to yourself. Ensure you believe in your system, your product and yourself completely, if you don’t, change.
Be the best YOU can possibly be, and people will come.
This is true Attraction Marketing.
