OPINION

Subscriptions, Courses, Newsletters, and Lies

Please don’t advertise a sales pitch as a free learning opportunity! Instead, teach something…then sell.

It’s a tale as old as time. A cave bear figures out the best place to fish and quickly realizes that he can sell this information to other cave bears. The best way to do that? It’s called the “cave bear bait and switch”. It has always been considered a fishy practice.

“Listen up, cave bear friends! I found a way to succeed with fish that is so good the fish simply fly into your mouth! IT WORKS EVERY TIME! You will never be hungry again! Sign up for my course and I will teach you my method!”

The cave bear was very convincing so naturally, everyone bought the course. At first, it was only cave bears. But then the wolves, the otters, and the humans all got in on it. Only a few had noteworthy success. After a while, most of the animals realized they had been duped. “We fell for it” they would murmur to each other over the fire at night.

Thousands of years later, humans are still falling for it like I just did.

Well, I didn’t spend any money but what I did do was rearrange my afternoon so that I could attend an online course, a “free online course”.

Yes, I am that dumb.

Ten minutes in I realized that this writer, after telling me how he made thousands of dollars right here on Medium, was only interested in getting me to buy his product.

Doesn’t it seem like everyone is selling courses? Everyone has something to sell. I know, I know. Money is required to live and making money online is lucrative.

But here is the thing. I resent being led along the primrose path like a cow with a ring in her nose.

Do I want to learn how to become a better writer? Yes.

Do I want to learn how to make money creating content online? Yes.

Do I want to learn how to lure people into expensive courses under false pretenses? Nope.

This fish stinks. I liked this writer before today. I was already halfway down the path. It makes sense that he wanted to convert me into a paying customer. Instead, I lost respect for that writer today because I felt manipulated.

I understand that we all need to make a living and that newsletters, subscriptions, and courses are all the rage. I know that they work.

But please, fellow creators, respect your readers.

You don’t need to lie to us. We already like you! Try being truly helpful first and then, I might be willing to buy. Or be upfront and if I have the money to buy, I might do it. Be honest. Be straightforward. Just don’t lie to me. I really dislike that immensely.

And with that, I’m out. Rant over. Back to my afternoon. As for that successful Medium writer? He’s welcome to his “success”.

But I’m not buying. It turns out I am allergic to that kind of fish(ing).

Hunting for something new to read on Medium? Penny Grubb, Hayden Moore, and Ellie Jacobson will inspire and entertain.

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