The internet marketing environment looks like a huge scam factory. It seems as if nearly everyone is determined to rob you directly or more subtly. And all you are searching for is something to promote while still being able to look yourself in the eye.
The dirty little secret of the internet is that around 98% of the hopeful newbie internet marketers make no money online. Their expenses are more than their online income. Of the 2% who does earn money, the majority are also struggling and still far from replacing their inadequate 9 to 5 income. It is only a very small percentage who enjoy the internet lifestyle.
We've all encountered the worthless products sold on the internet. There is ALWAYS something missing from these products. They withhold information, the software is incomplete, the product is only for experienced marketers, the course is like a skeleton, etc. Always ask yourself, "If this method or info is so great, why would anyone sell it instead of just using it to rake in all the money for themselves?"
In their promotional material they sometimes disclose more than they intended to. Mostly it happens during a synopsis of their IM struggle. How difficult it was, how they wasted money buying worthless courses and products, how it all changed when they discovered this secret or missing piece of the puzzle. The same secret they are now willing to sell to you.
However, the 'secret' they discovered is this: They are going to do to you what have been done to them - entice you to buy nicely packaged but worthless products. The truth is that when you discover a unique piece of the IM puzzle, you use it to make money. Period. You may share it with a few buddies after a while. A very loooong while.
Even if it is a great product or course, it will probably not be complete. Something will still be missing - the secret sauce. You will not be able to duplicate their results with the incomplete recipe you bought. If it is truly a great product, it will probably sell for hundreds and even thousands of dollars. If someone has all or most of the answers, and they feel the need to help others, coaching is the route they take. For thousands of dollars.
The incomplete product peddlers however, sell their worthless stuff for $7 to $97. Mostly starting around $7 with lots of OTO's ( one time offers ) and upsells. Mostly it is not a monthly membership. They want their money immediately. These guys are out of our league. They use psychological selling tricks you are not aware of.
What I settled for eventually is promoting products and services that are truly needed for online marketing or useful in some other way:
1. Quality training by people with a spotless reputation in the form of a monthly membership site, which has been around for more than five years, where you can start for free. Check it out here, it is the best place to start.
2. Products that include the tools - like an autoresponder - that are necessary for internet marketing. Try this, it is one of the easiest ways to start online.
3. Ebooks that teaches you stuff worth learning.
4. Traffic - no one gets enough of it. You will always have buyers for this one.