The Truth Behind Internet Ads and How to Spot the Real Deals

Everyone sees those big advertisements on the internet that take at least 15 minutes to read. Some of you might remember the good old infomercials on TV and late-night ads: “Get the product and get these items for free, all for $49.95. You’d better act now! Limited supply, and the deal ends before midnight tonight.”

It was an interesting time. I remember seeing an ad once, really liking the product, and asking my mother to pay for it, but she refused. I was too young to pay for it myself.

My main concern was the countdown on the screen saying “limited time” and “limited supply.” I kept thinking to myself, “Oh my God, this is such a good deal, and everyone is going to buy it, and they’ll run out of stock!” I guess I was wrong.

I remember another ad for a digital watch. The guy on TV said it was $100, but if you called before midnight, you could get it for just $29.95. The next day, around the same time, I saw the same guy saying it was $29.95, but you still had to call before midnight!

I realized it was a recorded video, and the ad was being played almost every day. I had a feeling that the price was fixed, and they were just creating a sense of urgency. These days, you don’t see infomercials on TV anymore, they’re mostly on social media. You’ll see a recorded video playing over and over, and some websites use copywriting to promote products.

You’ll see things like:

• “The price is $15,000, but for a limited time, it’s just $4,995.”

• “Seats are limited! We’re only looking for 25 more people to take this course. Once it’s filled, we won’t open it again until next year.”

• “Join our free webinar where we explain how to do XYZ.”

  • In these webinars, they’ll highlight common problems people face, such as losing weight, cybersecurity (warning about apps that record your data), how to make millions overnight, using AI for work tasks, and many other things.

  • Then, they’ll offer a course or product that supposedly can’t be found anywhere else but through them.

Honestly, in most of my purchases, 95% of them were a waste of money. But I’d like to share with you how to spot the good 5%. There are a few steps you can take, and the last one will show you how to tell the difference between a real and a fake ad.

When you sign up for a free webinar, pay attention to the presenter’s name or business name. Search for that person online to see what others are saying about them. Check out their social media, such as Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn, and more.

Make sure they are legitimate by checking their comments and the number of followers or subscribers. Ensure that their followers are real. If someone has 400,000 followers, but their views or likes are only around 500, those are not real followers. Check their comments and ensure that people are actively engaging.

The best references are celebrities and influencers. Visit their pages or channels and examine the comments and the number of likes they receive.

Search for the product name on YouTube, TikTok, Rumble, and other platforms to see what people are saying about their experiences. Don’t let that one video with a flashy “Scam” thumbnail fool you. Even the best-selling products and services have critics for different reasons.

After reading the ad or watching the video, you’ll usually see a countdown clock for the deal. Step away from your computer, go to another room or step out on your balcony, take a few deep breaths, and ask yourself, “Do I really need this?” or “Am I being hypnotized by this content?”

When people sell products or services online, they often hire a copywriter to write the advertisement. It’s like a salesperson at a car dealership, they use specific language patterns to get you to say “Yes” in your mind, even if they’re not talking to you directly.

If you’ve ever been to a car dealership, you’ve probably noticed these tactics. The goal is to get you to say “Yes” as often as possible. I’ll share some examples from my time working as a salesman at a Nissan dealership:

• “Welcome to the dealership! It’s a beautiful day out, isn’t it?”

• “You drive that red car over there, don’t you?” They won’t ask if it’s your car, because it could be a rental.

• “Your son/daughter is really smart, aren’t they?”

• “You mentioned that you go to your cottage every month, right?”

Yes, yes, yes. You get used to agreeing with them, and when they finally ask you to sign a deal, you’re more likely to accept it. Salespeople probably won’t like me for sharing this, but it’s true!

Copywriters use the same approach. The difference is that they don’t see you in person. First, they find a target audience. Let’s say the target is people who want to lose weight. Then, they ask questions that resonate with most people, such as:

• “Do you have coffee every morning?”

• “Do you grab a meal from your favorite fast food place for lunch?”

• “Do you snack during the day?”

Most people will say, ‘Yes, that’s me! I’m tired of this, I just want to lose weight.’ They haven’t sold you anything yet, but you’ve already sold it to yourself. You’re now subconsciously ready to buy, and the product will be presented in a way that takes no effort from you, promising significant weight loss in a short time without exercise.

When you’re excited and looking for that purchase button, you’ll see the magic formula: ”This is a $15,000 product, but for a limited time or until supplies run out, it’s only $4,995.” It’s the magic formula of a ridiculously low price for something that’s supposedly a great deal, available for a ‘limited time,’ which in many cases lasts at least a couple of months or even years.

The next step? Typing your credit card information into the purchase form.

This is how ads and marketing hypnotize their audiences. But keep in mind, there are many great products out there, just as there are plenty that aren’t worth it.

So, how do you spot the good ones? Now that you understand the marketing tactics and how to research the product and people behind it, I’m going to share a powerful technique I learned from a wise man.

Whenever you’re about to do something or make a purchase, you’ll feel a “gut feeling” that’s always right. Some people call it intuition, the Holy Spirit, higher self, or any other name that resonates with you.

Everyone experiences it differently: some hear a voice, some feel something physical, others see, taste, or smell it. That’s your inner guidance, helping you stay on the right track. We’ve all had times when we trusted that feeling, and things worked out perfectly. On the other hand, when we ignored that feeling, it didn’t turn out well.

So, when you step away from the computer, check in with that inner feeling. It will tell you whether the product or service is truly going to help you on your journey.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is based on the author’s personal experiences and is for general informational purposes only. It may not apply to everyone, and for legal, financial, or health-related matters, it is advised to consult a qualified professional. Before purchasing health products, please consult a certified healthcare practitioner. The author does not guarantee the accuracy or validity of any external products or services mentioned.