Back On My Soap Box... Ethical Marketing

Have You Been Duped?
Marketing on the internet is a challenge these days.  The biggest challenge is dealing with the skepticism created by so much hype and complete out and out lies that are told. 
This style of marketing is borne out of a mindset of lack.  The "dog eat dog" mindset that there is only so much to go around, and you must do whatever necessary to "get your fair share". 
What I find particularly troubling is that many people are unwittingly joining in spreading the lies.  Let me explain.
There are certain programs that seem to be gaining in popularity.  Their target is the internet marketing newbie, or the marketer who has suffered repeated failures.  Pretty big target market huh?  I have been asked by numerous people what my opinion of one such operation is. 
I attempted to learn more about it so that I could offer an intelligent opinion, and here is what I learned about the FREE system.  First let me preface these findings by saying that I naturally did not speak to every person in the program, but I have spoke to 3 separate persons. 
They offer free coaching and completely generic mentoring for free.  I have expressed my thoughts on the value of free before, and the bottom line is this:  NOTHING IS FREE.  I'm not going to tell you that the coaching or the training is garbage.  Probably not.  It might be great, I don't know, because when I started asking questions, I got uninvited to the coaching calls.  
DO NOT be fooled into thinking that these folks are completely altruistic!  There is a cost, and it may well be your reputation if you aren't careful.
There is a method to their madness.  They do not mention business names or allow recruiting on the coaching calls, true enough.  That doesn't mean that they don't attempt to recruit you.  They use their free program to hook you... then they reel you in.  They use their free program to develop a relationship with you - nothing wrong with that... if they told the truth about it.  Once hooked, they sell you the same system that you joined for free.  So that you can go out and hook others.
You see, what is particularly troubling is that some good and honest people are being trained to be deceptive.  They are so grateful for this free information they received (that was not free because in most instances, they end up joining a network marketing business AND buying the "free" system to hook others), and they somehow don't recognize that they were hoodwinked.  So they go on to deceive others.
They absolutely DO use the program to recruit.  They may use different words... one very creative member of this particular program says, "I don't recruit, I sponsor".  Nice.  I like it.  Seriously I do.  A recruiter's job is done once the recruit signs up, where the sponsor's job has just begun.  We should all be sponsors.  But that is semantics.  The point is, nothing is free.  So what's wrong with that you ask?
Nothing.  There is nothing wrong with offering a free and valuable product or service in efforts to build a relationship.  Where the problem lies is denying the purpose.  I don't expect anyone to advertise, "free program to enable me to build a relationship with you so I can promote to you", but when asked outright, I do expect an honest answer.  From each of the 3 people I spoke to, I was told that the purpose of the free mentoring is nothing more than to offer valuable information.   A larger problem still, is some of the tactics that these systems teach.  You see, a portion of their training and coaching is about teaching you to evaluate your company. 
Sounds noble again doesn't it?  And it would be if they gave you generic information about how to evaluate an opportunity - and if they actually KNOW HOW to do that.  Their credentials for conducting this evaluation is not clear.  But some of these people take it a step further and examine your specific company.  Guess what?  They find that it doesn't meet their criteria of a good business.
I mentioned that I got uninvited to the coaching calls when I asked questions.  The questions that I asked were fairly pointed.  I asked why they claim to offer their services with no strings attached; what their qualifications are to "evaluate" businesses and compensation plans, and whether or not they are concerned about the ethics involved.  I was told that I was uninvited because the program is only open to those who are coachable.  Apparently, asking these questions render me unable to learn. 
Every sponsor should offer training and mentoring for free.  Agreed, not many do.  Many others fall into traps like this one.  Consider this.  If the information was 100% free with no strings attached, there would be no need for you to have to give up your name, email address and telephone number.  You would have full access to the "coaching" without putting yourself on the "list".  Another factor to consider is if they are truly offering a high level, high quality coaching service for free, how do they make money? 
The attainment of financial success REQUIRES the flow of money!
The old saying, it takes money to make money, is true.  It doesn't have to take a lot of money to make a lot of money, but think about this.  If you get into a program for free, and you offer that program to others for free, who offer it to others for free... how do you make money?  Someone has to BUY something.  The attainment of financial wealth comes from the flow of money!  I never stay free in a free offer program.  I will join for free to check it out, but if it is worth promoting to others, it is worth paying for.  I simply don't expect to make any money if I haven't spent any.
Another troubling tactic is that some of these people will bash specific training programs.  They will imply that their free mentoring is superior.  The same person that doesn't "recruit" made negative comments to me about other programs.  That's always a red flag for me.   The implication was that good training should be free.  What a ridiculous concept!  Here's a simple fact.  You get what you pay for.  If you want to be trained by an expert, you should expect to pay for it.  Consider this.  Would you expect to get a university education for free?  Tony Robbins to offer his program for free?  I repeat... you get what you pay for.
Advertising is certainly a challenge, and I  acknowledge that in order to capture attention, exaggeration is often used.  As a student of the Law of Attraction, I look forward to a new internet where we attract people to us by virtue of the information we provide.  Building relationships is great, and that is truly the foundation of our business.  I prefer my relationships are based on a foundation of truth and integrity.
Does that mean that every person I offer help to is a potential "recruit"?  No.  But I realize that  every person I come into contact with has a purpose in my life.  Be it that I have something to teach them or they me, there is a purpose.  Personally, I am ever mindful of that.  I don't know if an individual I speak with today will become a partner or customer tomorrow, or perhaps they will introduce me to a new income stream, a new product or service that will benefit me or my family.  You see, there is no "pre-planned" agenda - and if there were, the relationship is not real.
If you have joined such a group, you are free to follow the teachings or to follow your own heart and your own path.  You can choose  the high road; learn and apply the Law of Attraction in your life to produce the results that you desire.  The book The Science of Getting Rich, warns us that conducting our business on the basis of lies and deception may result in some temporary financial gain, but it will be temporary and it will not come effortlessly.  On the other hand, riches that you earn by doing things in the certain way will come to you with ease.
To Your Abundant Life!