I had to make this quick post because my mate Mike from Retire Young and Wealthy just published a potentially controversial article on InfoBarrel titled: Don’t Waste Your Money on the World Internet Summit. Now Mike didn’t know this before he wrote this piece but I spent a day listening to Brett McFall and when he did the free version of his “How To Make Money While You Sleep” in Perth some months back.
I had never heard of Brett McFall online but the full-page in the local tabloid that passes as the West Australian newspaper caught my eye in its sheer awfulness – you know the type – 6point type, releaved by the odd large bold – I WAS BROKE TOO, NO SKILLS NOW I MAKE $100,000 WHILE I SLEEP. I signed up out of curioristy – with about a 50% desire to actually go to the event. As the day nearer I was impresed with their follow up emails and even on the day an automated call to my cellphone (taking into account the local timezone) reminding me of this once in a life time opportunity.
Now as I said on my comments on Mike’s article – I had the same experience as he did – I learned nothing about “How To Make Money In Your Sleep”, the name of Brett McFall’s book, as well as the one-day pitch. But I was fascinated by seeing how the power of bulding up a dream, relating to your audience by explaining that you were just like them, pretending that something is available only for a limited time – really will make people pay thousands of dollars.
It also showed me – who has learned all my marketing on the Internet – just how much the “real world” is still prepared to pay for information which is either free or available for a fraction of the costs involved in The World Internet summit, not to mention McFall’s mentoring program.
Is Brett McFall’s How to Make Money While You Sleep a scam – no its not – if you are an experienced internet marketer who wants to get into developing your own product for sale and/or you want to learn copyrighting from a master – then its worth buying – or at least borrowing from your local library.
If however you are brand new to the Internet – know nothing about building a website – then do yourself a favour – keep your credit card locked up and read, read, read – there’s all you need to know available online for free. And yes you can make money while you sleep – because normally the US shops while we sleep in Australia – and most online customers are from North America! That’s not to say you don’t have to do an awful lot of work – if you thnk this is as easy as making money with property or shares – think again – it is not (and I know I have done all three).
For the rest of you head on over and check out Mike’s review and Brett McFall’s response to Mike’s experience at The World Internet Summit
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{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Lissie,
After reading Mikes experience and then seeing what Brett McFfall responded with, I think Brett was just a little hot around the collar on his comment.
I have not been to any Guru get together’s to scam us newbies but I actually thought about it not too long ago.
I went to an Amway presentation about 22 years ago, it had the same type of Hype.
I have to agree with you on all points, including …….I do not want to run this type of business model, simply because it really would bother me to much.
Also: News Flash……Copy Blogger has a new post about Trolls….. I couldn’t help but go there from my statcounter traffic stats page (I stupidly gave a link to CoppyBlogger, live and learn, has been fixed)and then I read it.
On another note:
I would have deleted his comment. Brian Clark is just another Brett Mcfall. Does not deserve any links to his cult-like (brainwashing) scam site! (just my opinion)
About the Plan B income to replace Passive Income?
wouldn’t I need to do plan A first? ………Passive income
Hope you have an awesome week!
Dirk
.-= Dirk@thespiderwebmarketingsystem2.0´s last blog ..Spiderweb Marketing System And The New Spiderweb 2.0 Review =-.
I suspect that the same techniques used by today’s marketers was in use when Jesus was inventing Christianity, and Mohammed Islam – its all about humans need for security and being part of the tribe – and we haven’t evolved much in the last 10,000 years! If you have the opportunity to go to a free marketing seminar – its worth going to a good one just to observe this in action! As no one can hard sell me anything – its worth knowing how it works on others.
I am thinking about taking Todd’s approach which he talked about a no comment plugin for friends
LOL love the copyblogger post (not him of course) – I doubt any of the commentators have have dealt with real trolls .
True re the Passive Income – but I have more of it than I used to LOL
Spot on Lissie – some of these marketing techniques are about pandering to the base needs and fundamental (unconscious?) fears of the sheeple. They feed off people’s desire, greed and need for security. Religion is the ultimate example of this: someone sells you the secret to eternal life, no less! Even better, it doesn’t cost you a penny (apart from the tithes)… “all” you have to give up is your freethought… But I digress
The moment any product or technique tells me I have to “hurry” I’m immediately turned off by it. I like to sit back and objectively evaluate products and services in my own time. Anything forcing me to forego that process makes me suspect an ulterior motive.
.-= Roland@Online Income´s last blog ..Climbing the Mountain =-.
LOL Roland I definintly agreed with you re religon- the atmosphere in this marketing meeting could easily have been a evangalistic church service – different words exactly the same emotions! Yeah walking away is always a powerful strategy
Lissie,
I failed to mention that the trolls post was unique in that it was directed to you, but I should have never brought it up due to the fact that you were not mentioned.
These A-listers are going at great lengths to keep the real truth’s out of there system.
So what can a person do……….
I know……….Out Rank Them
Later
P.S. I don’t know what to do with this keyword luv stuff, not trying to get a link here everytime.
Well Well…may be Brett was hype but he did made money and you are not denying the fact that he had substance in his seminar although it was of no use o you. Working online has so many aspects and its upto you to choose what kinda way you want to walk in. If your way does not matches with Brett ways he is in no way to be held responsible.
If however you are brand new to the Internet – know nothing about building a website – then do yourself a favour – keep your credit card locked up and read, read, read – there’s all you need to know available online for free. And yes you can make money while you sleep ………That’s not to say you don’t have to do an awful lot of work – if you thnk this is as easy as making money with property or shares – think again – it is not (and I know I have done all three).
That is my main problem with the pitching of these products. There is a difference in the law between ‘puffery’ and making representations of fact which induce people to part with their money, based on implied or explicit promises of instant wealth.
Everything takes work. It took a lot of effort to become an Australian champion in my sport, just a minority sport. I was never coached formally, but there were always people who you observe, learn from, and who offer their advice. It is what you do with what is available to you that really matters. It reminds me of that quote to the following effect ‘the harder I practise the luckier I get’.
It applies to everything in life. I know I am a newbie. I know where I am at. I know there is a wealth of information out there, but putting it all together is the challenge.
I have been to one of these free marketing seminars and was conversant enough with the terminology and techniques to form my own opinions. I wouldn’t denigrate the presenters, but ALL without exception, have had years of experience in different allied fields in the offline world. Some held themselves out, to different degrees as having ‘the solution’ for a price.
One particular presenter, whose blog I do follow, had worked for an major luxury automotive company in marketing and business operations. Very smart guy, with a business background. He confessed to having studied for up to six years at every opportunity whilst working full time in his full time job to learn what he learnt. That kind of commentary struck me as ethical, as his focus was on using free tools, and where there was a paid tool he focused on the free tool.
I always thought that I learned more from how certain people did things then from what they told us to do
SY
.-= hospitalera@Niche Marketing´s last blog ..Brand: [insert name here] =-.
Some people learn better visually then via text; so this $500 may actually me worth a lot to them as opposed to reading reading reading.
However saying that as you mentioned most techniques are just old techniques rehashed to work in new situations.
An old comic springs to mind where it talks about the evolution of medicine… in this he first panel shows ‘here take this herb to get better’…it progresses to leeches etc etc and then pill/drugs till eventually under 21st Century it says ‘here take this herb’….
.-= donace´s last blog ..Internet Marketing Tools and Their Marketers =-.
Lis, it is either “evangelical” or “evangelistic”, btw, please remember there are a lot of Christians out there that don’t fall in the category you describe, and I count myself amongst them, SY
.-= hospitalera@Niche Marketing´s last blog ..How to protect your brand with Google Alerts =-.
That’s why I usually qualify the noun Christian – mother was and quite a number of good friends0 are Christian without the qualifier
Sorry, it might be my lack of English ( I am not a native speaker) but i don’t have the slightest what you mean with your latest comment??? SY
.-= hospitalera@Niche Marketing´s last blog ..How to protect your brand with Google Alerts =-.
Sorry not enough coffee yet! I just distinguish between Evengelic Christians – who tend to want to convert others to their way of thinking my using the same techniques as markerts use to make you buy and “mainstream” Christians who believe that setting an example is a better way – my mother was one of those. Neither way works on my lack of belief but I have a lot more respect for the 2nd group
Liz, I am not a Christian, but often readily say the word ‘true Christian’ in respect of my late sister, and others who just live their lives in accordance with values that they wouldn’t even think of let alone talk of being ‘christian’. BTW I am not against Christians, even evangenlical ones.
However there is some commonality in the approach of people flogging ’snake oil’ and the people that have given christianity a particularly bad name.
Agree with the two last comments, believe me, this type of “bible bashing tele-evangelists” provokes a lot of stomach ache, including amongst Christians, SY
.-= hospitalera@Niche Marketing´s last blog ..How to protect your brand with Google Alerts =-.
Kind of nice to see Brett McFall’s name being discussed. I watched him on videotape once (so didn’t spend any money at the back of the room ~LOL!~). His info was useful.
Maybe what y’all have identified is that dividing line between newb and those who have matured beyond that. In newbness, one thinks (believes, hopes) that *the package* is the solution to moving beyond technical challenges, and on to making money online. In newbness, one has not yet realized that one *is* the target market of MMOers.
Hey Lis, I have an idea. Let’s you and I plan a summit in Australia or New Zealand, you choose, (I will need you to pay my expenses too) and call it “How To Make Money While Having A Proctology Exam.” That’s what is effectively happening to most people who attend events of this type. Maybe we could even get the universe to hype a book for us even before we write it. Are you in?
.-= Steve Sherron´s last blog ..The Truth About Social Media Traffic And The Hype Surrounding it =-.
Definitly in Steve!I’m think a nice luxury lodge in New Zealand – excellent food and even the odd golf course if you are that way inclined – just signup 1000 friends to my soon to be opened $1995 membership site and I will throw in an economy airfare for you!
Are there any people who have actually bought one of these packages, newbie or veteran, who can say whether it was of any benefit? I realise it is an unfair question because, presumably, some of these internet marketers do offer fair value.
I have to laugh – I saw a full page ad in our local freebie newspaper for this guy and the first thing I did was visit your blog, Lissie – I knew you’d have something to say. It all sounds pretty much what I figured.
Hey Lis,
Another very good post. I’m not a fan of the hard sell at all. I often wonder if always being an “odd ball” is part of the reason that taking the conventional route has never worked well for me, but success often comes after setting off on my own direction. Still seeing some great increasing results over the past couple months and feeling more optimistic than ever about the future. Thanks for the great comments on my blog – hope I’m doing all right returning the favor! And I’m with you – all about Grizz and the Keyword Academy for learning how to make money online. Those have been huge for me. Glad to hear things are going well, and keep up the great work!
Cheers!
Shane “Master” Dayton
.-= Shane@Master Dayton Writing Blog´s last blog ..Freelance Writing & Blogging =-.
I remember hearing this quote from Robert Owens for the first time as a young child in Scotland – “All the world is queer save thee and me. And even thou art a little queer…” – and he’s not talking sexual orientation there – I always liked that quote…
LOL – love it. That’s going on the quote wall of my life.
.-= Shane@Master Dayton Writing Blog´s last blog ..Freelance Writing & Blogging =-.
Lis, I see your stalking the Gurus again. When I sell my system to the NOObs I’m blocking yuor IP address. lol
bk
.-= bk´s last blog ..Deep or Wide Online Empires? =-.
BK australia has a wonderful deal with IP addresses – I get a new one everytime I login, every few days anyway and if I disconnect the modem for 5 minutes …. Its a pain for excluding my own visits from stats but in every other way its fantastic – I’m watching…. LOL
@Lis
And I would be driven barking mad trying to exclude myself from my stats, how do you do that if your ip changes all the time? SY
Oh dear, please never join the professional spamming business, Lis!!! I block my spammers by IP and the Australian system sounds like a real nightmare to me. Another reason not to move there, apart of the spiders
.-= hospitalera@Blogging´s last blog ..Market Samurai Review =-.
Static in Europe too? I just assume that anyone in the stats from perth, australia -is me – its close enough LOL
Actually not all over Europe, but yes, my two main spammers were actually on a static ip, thanks God, I am now 100-200 spam comments a day down! And I have also a static one, that I know for sure (at least I think so) I am a wee bit hardware-challenged
SY
.-= hospitalera@Blogging´s last blog ..Market Samurai Review =-.
“read, read, read” Warren Buffett once told me that and it is absolutely true. So much can be found online for free and probably better than most of what you could easily pay for. Like SEO (Vic and Griz), Food blogs, Dog Blogs, you name it. Simply subscribing to a few blogs and forums would probably serve you better over the long run as it continuously reinforces the topic at hand vs. reading a book or ebook and setting it down to never pick up again. Learning is for the long haul and the more you can stay in tuned to your favorite subject the better off you’ll be.
.-= The Real Josh´s last blog ..Model Successful People to Grow Your Market and Brand =-.
thanks for this informative post.i like your contents.and got something very different.keep sharing.
nice blog, I learn lot from you ,I hope your blog have a huge earning
Great words of advice Lis. Shockingly honest.
Hey,
I went to the World Internet Summit in Auckland, New Zealand and actually won a copy of Brett’s book which I found to be fantastic. I personally think Brett is the real deal, there’s no doubt he knows his stuff and Im sure we can all learn a lot from him – especially when it comes to copywriting!
I must admit I AFAIK Brett Mcfall is the only internet markter to have done a course in New Zealand – so I give him credit for that – as I live there now! However I don’t think his model will work for most beginners – though I agree his copywriting skills are well worth looking at – and the actual way that he sold his seminar was an eye-opener !
Hey Lis, Ive seem Brett live at a show in Sydney about a year ago and thought he was great. I didnt actually buy his course but he seems like a real down to earth marketer. i may be wrong but I believe he actually has a book which sells in a lot of mainstream shops nationwide as well?
Yes I saw him live too and have his book – but its all a pre-sale for the expensive course …
Hey Lis, youre probably right…but it works! His course is very expensive but I have heard good things about it…whether its worth the hefty price is another question…
I attended the WIS in Singapore and was really disappointing. My personal opinion is that Tom Hua and co are cashing in on under-informed attendees…to give you a good example, his course was selling for about AU$3000 – there are a heap of better courses that can be bought online for way less than 10% of that price…