More Scummy, “Black-Hat” Marketing Ploys Of The Pickup/Seduction Gurus

Dear Speed Seduction Fans And Students,

Years ago, on Fox TV, there was a series called “Secrets of Magic Exposed”. It stared a guy dubbed, “The Masked Magician” who revealed how some of the most popular and historical stage magic illusions worked.

In that vein, I want to continue with my expose of some of the more shady tactics in this business.  As you read this, you may discover yourself getting a bit pissed at how you’ve been exposed and taken by some of this stuff.

Important Backround: The Secret Scammers Behind The Scammers

You really can’t understand what goes on in the PUA/Seduction business without first understanding the underlying influence of the “Internet Information Marketing Community.”

You see, to really succeed selling information on line, many PUA/Seduction businesses(including my own) turn to training from Gurus in the IIMC world.  These IIMC gurus have all sorts of systems figured out and tested, some simple, some more intricate, which they use to sell their services, products and consulting to anyone out there who wants to make money on linke.  And the PUA/Seduction business are customers and clients of these guys, big time.

“White Hat” Vs. “Black Hat”: Which One Is Your Pick Up “Guru” Wearing Behind Your Back?

Now, not all of the tactics taught are deceptive. Some are what the IIMC gurus call “White Hat”. This means that while they may utilize basic aspects of human psychology and need, like scarcity, social proof, the desire to belong, the desire for something for nothing, etc, they are still above board and deliver what they promise.

However, many of the tactics being used by the Pickup/Seduction businesses are what would have to be called either flat-out deceptive or borderline deceptive. The label for these commonly used when they are taught by the IIMC gurus is , “Black Hat”.

Why The  Use Of “Black Hat” Deception And Misleading Is Getting More Far More Common In The PUA/Seduction Business

Now listen: I’m not kidding when I say I know about this stuff and see it happening all the time, in the past two years. And the sick thing is, the “Black Hat” stuff works, at least temporarily.  It works to bring in lots of short term cash, until customers feel ripped off and quit buying and/or demand refunds.)

The Real Secret Determining Factor Behind Most PUA/Seduction Marketing Today

That is the main reason it is getting more popular: you see many, if not most of the PUA/Seduction businesses are in big, big trouble, financially. The down-turn in the economy has really hurt them and many(including the biggest names) are teetering right on the edge of insolvency.

Listen: The seminar business has especially “tanked”. Not only can people not afford high-priced seminars, but the rising cost of airfare and hotels, coupled with massive job and pay cuts has gutted the seminar business.

In any case, what this means is that  rather than work at building long-term customer relationships, by providing massive value and building trust, they go for the short-term “kill shot” and seek to empty your wallet as fast as possible.

As I revealed last post, one of the favorite ways to do this is forced continuity.

Fake Promises, Switches And “False Choice”: The Ugly Faces Of Forced Continuity

Forced continuity has a few differen ugly faces:

1. The falsely promised “Free Course Giveway”.  I  am not sure whom in the IIMC came up with this, but I could guess and name names in private.   But as I outlined last time, it works by building a huge demand for a high-perceived value free course, which of course you actually can’t get free. You have to sign up for the trial of the continuity program.

2. The switch. In this scam, the product or seminar or whatever is heavily promoted in the sales letter.  But when you get to the bottom of the letter you find that you can’t actually buy it. Instead, the “generous” Guru offers to GIVE it to you, WHEN you try the continuity program.

Bear in mind, he does NOT give you a choice.  There is no box to check if you ONLY want to buy the product or seminar.  You HAVE to take the continuity.

This forced “choice” AND “switch” is what makes it a “Black Hat” tactic. It could easily be made “White Hat” by simply giving the buyer the choice to buy the promoted product and, if they CHOOSE to, also try the continuity.  That’s giving choice and not misleading).

To use a metaphor, switch and forced choice,  would be like going to McDonald’s and ordering a Big Mac, only to be told you can’t buy the Big Mac at any price. You can ONLY have it “free” as part of buying an entire $9.95 “value meal” with fries, coke, chocolate shake, etc.

3. The fake, forced “bonus”. In this scam, the continuity program is offered as NON-CHOSEN “bonus” that you HAVE to take in order to get the advertised product(which you still have to pay for).   Under the guise of being “generous” and letting you “get even more great value”, the continuity program is presented as a free-trial/quick-action/early-sign up “bonus”.  But the trap here is that you can NOT refuse to take the “bonus”.

Again, bear in mind this “forcing” the trial on you could easily be avoided. All the company has to do is set up their shopping cart to have a “remove” box that you can check, to remove the trial offer of the continuity.

Giving this choice moves it out of the realm of “Black Hat’ deception into “White Hat” marketing.

Yet most of the major companies keep doing it the dirty way for one reason: in the short term, it works.  And the thing you need to understand if you understand nothing else is, again, this:

...Most Of The PUA/Seduction Business Are Teetering On The Edge Of Failing

How can you tell which ones these are?

That’s simple: the ones who deceive and/or REMOVE choice from you at point of purchase are the ones who probably won’t be around in the next 2-3 years.

The irony is, the “Black Hat” tactics aren’t even necessary.  If you offer great value, and give choice to people, not only will they buy, but they will keep coming back for more.

Ok, that’s it for this installment. Some time next week I want to talk about one of my pet-peeve scams in more detail: the Product Dump(yep, that’s what the IIMC folks call it) Seminar.

Peace, piece and comment below

RJ

P.S. If you want to see what real choice looks like, check out my Coaching Program. YOU get to choose if you want it or not.  I tell you exactly what you get.  There is no “force” or concealing.

P.P.S.  Everything I’ve exposed in this article is true.  These systems for fleecing you are real.  They are sold both as online programs, DVD courses, and in seminars. I’ve attended these IIMA events(where many of the Gurus are fans of mine!) and been disgusted and appalled by their blatant lack of ethics and the pedestal upon which they enshrine greed, money and personal enrichment over and above providing real value to the customer.

PPPPS For those ignorant “haters” who think I’m just being “negative” I challenge you to intelligently disprove my allegations that:

1. These tactics are deceptive

2. They ARE being used

And further, if I see this going on, and refuse to do it myself, what SHOULD I do? Shut up? Not warn people? Just let the fleecing and cheating go on because I want to “fit in” and be a “good guy”. Fuck that cowardly shit. Would you shut up if you saw a car thief stealing your neighbors car? A burglar casing your neighbor’s house?