“Do you want the secret to selling more ….. PRODUCT….. for bigger profits. Tired of working hard. …..SECRET….. makes everything super simple. Get rich Yesterday.”
source: Guru Party.

That is what everyone wants, right. More money, more sales, easier, richer, with less effort. Well, that’s what they (The Gurus) are selling and more than likely a pile of shit wrapped in a fancy bow that has been taught and sold before. Nothing original and definitely not a secret. Nothing of real value to anyone who wants to be original and the best at what they do.

Just a little background on me and what the hell I am talking about. I am a Realtor, and I also run a marketing company. I did not, totally, choose either profession. I got my real estate license because I had dealt with a bunch of worthless agents while investing in real estate. The marketing company was started because I had friends and businesses asking my advice on what I was doing and if I could help them. I saw an opportunity, and I knew I could do it for someone else because of my experience.

I am a Marine and while on active duty decided to start a business to make a little extra money. I got pulled into the MLM game, because I could work when I had the time. I had an extra $1000 — $1500 worth of income per month when I got out of the service and moved back to Indiana. I then started a local computer repair store and sold parts online. This got me into the marketing and tech/web design/SEO side of things. I had a pretty good income, a couple years of self-employment income to report (this was required to get a mortgage at the time), so I went and applied for a mortgage. Long story made really short, bought a house…got divorced… rented house out. I ended up making this a habit, (except the divorce thing) and before I knew it I was a landlord with 20 plus properties. I started selling off my properties and using the money to flip properties until the market crash. I waited for the housing market to begin recovering and then decided I would get my Real Estate License.

Never, during this 12 year period did I get the big picture. I got little glimpses here and there. I blame it on being young and dumb and not having enough information.

The next big thing, The shiny object, the “SECRET.” I bought them and a lot of them. After awhile I started to see a pattern.

They were all selling the same info just repackaged and given a new flashier title and hyped up. When I received my real estate license, I was trained just like all the other new agents. Make a bunch of phone calls, knock on a bunch of doors, always be selling yourself, mail to expired listing and FSBO. This was what all the other agents were doing, but I wanted to stand out. The only problem was I did not know how. I bought a $1500 training package from a damn Guru, and it was the same chunk of worthless garble. Call, Knock, Annoy “everyone”.

This happens in many industries, not just in real estate. It happens more frequently because of the popularity of the “get rich in real estate” mentality. I also see it often in the SEO / Internet Marketing arena.

“Buy this new software, hit a button and get rich.”
source: another Guru.

The Guru Party is out to sell you something and line their pockets with your cash.

I stumbled upon Ryan Fletcher while doing some research on how to stand out in the Realtor profession. He is the brain behind Agent Marketing Syndicate. He has a plan to make agents stand out and gain trust while marketing themselves, not lose it by cold calling and bugging the hell out of everyone they know.

I am not affiliated with Ryan and have only included reference in this article because I think he deserves it. I also believe all the people reading this deserve to know about him. His information can be transferred over to many other industries. I have purchased his book Defeat Mega Agents (Free on Paperback pay S&H) and I also subscribe to his monthly Broken Industry publication (under $5 a month). I might not agree with everything he says, but I enjoy his perspective and have great respect for him. The knowledge I have gained from this small investment has been more beneficial than anything in the $1500 Guru course. The only thing I learned from the Gurus is what not to do.

Ryans book and monthly mag have given me 500 times the value of the $1500 course at a fraction of the price.

He talks about the low information agent and how they are quickly sold on all the “new” tactics and secrets. Ryan tries to open agent’s eyes to a new mindset. I have noticed a definite relationship between what he mentions about agents in relation to SEO / Internet Marketing.

The SEO Gurus are always pushing this new software or tactic that is supposed to make everything easy and make you rich. Some of this software can do way more damage to your SEO efforts than good. These products are being pushed on low information designer and SEO’s. Don’t buy into the hype. You will find yourself spending money that will produce little to no gains. 9.9 out of 10 products that have been reviewed by other people are just a sales pitch to click their affiliate link, so they make money. It is very rare to find a good honest review about a product. I rarely review a product because most things out there are worthless.

If you are starting out in the internet marketing or SEO business, you need to surround yourself with people who can prove they are making money and will give you good advice. Not someone who tells you buy this and get rich.

I am a member of a group that is top notch, and they have proof. They prove it over and over again. Last week we had an individual in our Facebook Group sending messages and email to our members making false claims about a product. Our moderator could not verify any claims made about the income and upon researching a little deeper found out that the member had trouble even paying the fees involved with our SEO group. Below is a quote from one of the founders about this individual. I chose to not reveal his name because I am not here to shame anyone. I am merely making a point.

This is the text from the image just in case you can not read it.

“Over 99% of — — — — — Facebook community that participates consists of positive, helpful, and truthful members.
A guy slipped in recently who was not, and I only mention it because he seems to be trying to sell info to — — — — — and I don’t want you caught by a fraudster. His name was — — — — — and his claims about his profit numbers doing lead gen are very likely false; he wasn’t even able to make — — — — payment plan payments, which is very rare and not exactly a quality you want in somebody you are buying info from.”

He was making tens of thousands of dollars but failed to pay the membership dues. He has been removed from our group.

I have a group of people behind me, in both the internet side of things and real estate, that I can refer to when I need the correct most accurate information. I have learned a lot from trial and error and am just trying to open someone’s eyes to the bigger picture.

It has taken me a long time to find the right people, with the right skills, that will enhance my business and personal life. You need to be specific with your goals and stay aligned with them. Stay true to yourself and your clients.

If you want to reach out to me with questions, I will be glad to help any way I can. Choose your platform Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, Google +, LinkedIn