Duped: The Dark Side of Online Business

Passive income! Life-changing results! Freedom! And all for a limited time only.  These are just a few typical tropes online businesses use to reel you in.  Big promises that sound great on paper, and even though you’re maybe a little hesitant, you decide to give it a go.  Unfortunately, in many cases, the dream we’re being sold quickly turns into a nightmare.   So, how is an online business really legit and worth your investment? In this episode of Duped, we’ll uncover the signs that an online business is going down faster than the Titanic.  We discuss:  Five red flags to look for with online businesses. Specific warning signs for each one. What to look for when doing your due diligence vetting an online business. Five ways to identify a trustworthy program. For detailed show notes and links to everything mentioned in this episode, please visit duped.online. For more Duped, including monthly bonus episodes, join the Patreon.

Robert Cialdini’s book Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion has become ubiquitous in the online business community. But are the principles Cialdini set forth being used in good faith Spoiler alert: in many cases, nope, not at all. In this episode, we get into part two of exploring Robert Cialidini and his code of ethics for anyone who uses his work. We examine the final four weapons of influence along with tips to protect yourself. We discuss:  Cialdini’s ethics  Authority, Social Proof, Consistency and Unity What are they? How are they used in online business? How do you protect yourself against each one? Four specific tips to protect yourself as a consumer.  For detailed show notes and links to everything mentioned in this episode, please visit duped.online. For more Duped, including monthly bonus episodes, join the Patreon. 

Do you know what book is one of the most used—and abused—in online business? Many celebrity entrepreneurs and top marketers cite it as influential…which makes sense given its title.   It’s Robert Cialdini’s Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion. While we have referenced this book many times on the pod, we have never actually done a deep dive to get into the nitty-gritty of it all.   In this episode, we explore Robert Cialidini and his code of ethics for anyone who uses his work. We then examine three of his seven weapons of influence and cover the next four in the next episode.  We discuss:  Who is Robert Cialdini? Dr. Cialdini’s code of ethics. Background on the book Influence. What Cialdini means by “principles”. The first three principles and how they show up in online business. Reciprocity Liking/Familiarity Scarcity How to protect yourself as a consumer.  For detailed show notes and links to everything mentioned in this episode, please visit duped.online. For more Duped, including monthly bonus episodes, join the Patreon. 

Masterminds are often sold as life-changing experiences that will help boost your business, increase revenue, and connect with like-minded people. But how often have you seen masterminds that turn out to be expensive group coaching sessions run by unqualified "experts"?  Or even worse—joined one yourself and found out too late that it’s nothing like what you were promised? In this episode, we’re peeling back the layers on something that’s become almost a rite of passage in the online business world: masterminds. We’re talking about red flags to watch for and what makes for a good mastermind experience.  For detailed show notes and links to everything mentioned in this episode, please visit duped.online. For more Duped, including monthly bonus episodes, join the Patreon.