So there he was, on his knees, BEGGING . . .

There has been a LOT of buzz lately about a major launch for Internet Marketing. In relation to this, something has been on my mind, and another blog kind of fanned the fires. So, here goes . . .

Beware that which sounds ridiculous!

What I mean is the hyperbole that is in many sales letter/capture pages. I cannot count the number of times I have read that “My accountant begged me not to sell this product for less than $3000. I thought maybe $1499 would be fair, but then chose to release this to the public for just $699!”

OK, first thing’s first. I know many accountants. They do taxes and keep books for other businesses. They do NOT implore their clients to raise their prices. They really do not care what the clients charge for their products, as long as they keep good records. They do not get on their hands and knees and beg for someone to reconsider the ridiculously low price they are selling something for.

Second, if something is legitimately worth $3000, and you end up selling it for $699, then you obviously don’t know how to run a business and I don’t want to learn from you. If I have a $200,000 Ferrari and decide to sell it for $10,000, people do not sing praises about my amazing business prowess. They smile and then comment behind my back about how I am either on crack or mentally retarded.

Third, just because some morons are willing to pay exorbitant sums for something does not mean it is actually worth it! Just because the U.S. Government will pay $300 for a screwdriver does not mean I rush into Home Depot and think to myself, “These screwdrivers are worth $300, and I found them for a mere $3.39. I’m a GENIUS!”

An item is worth what a sane, non-bureaucratic entity is willing to pay for it. So, if you sell something for $50, it is worth $50. It does not matter if you make a claim that it is actually worth $489. It is worth what is paid for it.

Now, I am not saying that this recent launch is guilty of all of the things I have mentioned. I merely mean that, because of this recent re-launch, it has reminded me of things that I hate about a lot of internet marketers in general.

So, what is the takeaway for today’s rant? Don’t give in to the temptation to sacrifice realism and integrity for hype. Give your customers credit for some intelligence. Yes, hype sells, and it can be a very effective sales tool. Just don’t get ridiculous about it.