Pages
Categories
- Commentary
- Interviews
- Motivation
- Nutrition
- Prehab / Rehab
- Product Review
- Research
- Research Review
- Training
- Uncategorized
Archives
- February 2012
- January 2012
- November 2011
- October 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
My Newsletter
Sign up for my newsletter to be kept in the loop with the latest happenings at Mark Young Training Systems
Meta
Autor: markyoung
~ 05/05/10
Recently a reader of this blog asked me to comment about those in the industry that are known primarily as internet marketers. While most in the strength training and fitness industries talk about these people with disdain, I’m not sure I totally feel the same in all cases.
I suppose the biggest issue that some people have with the internet guru who doesn’t work with someone in person is that they can’t possibly know anything about how things work in the real world. To this I say bullshit. My good friend Erik Ledin works primarily with bodybuilders and fitness competitors online and many of them are very successful. Maybe you don’t want to be doing rehab online, but I’m not about to discredit anyone who is doing something or selling something that works regardless of whether or not they’re currently in contact with people.
Guys like John Berardi, Alan Aragon, and Lyle McDonald all come to mind when talking about making money online and I have no doubts that they’re all putting out good content. As long as the content is good and it works for those who purchase it, I could care less who you’re working with. There are a LOT of shitty trainers who actually work with people so I’m not sure how this suddenly became the criteria we use to determine whose products are worth buying and whose aren’t.
It seems to me that with many trainers and coaches if you’re making a lot of money online you’ve sold out and you’re not given the respect you might otherwise deserve. To some trainers it appears that there is some sort of nobility to working endless hours until you’re burnt out and making minimal dollars until you reach the top. To me, if you’ve created a fat loss product and it works (and it isn’t full of typos and plagiarism – you know who you people are) you deserve every cent you make whether you’re working with a single person or not.
On the other hand, the people that piss me off are those with huge lists who become affiliates of everyone on the planet who has a product launch and endorse them without any concern about whether or not the new product is a giant pile of dog turd. These people, even if they have good products themselves, go on my blacklist because I have no respect for anyone who sells junk strictly for the sake of money.
Good products for money = Respect. Bad products for money = Blacklist.
And for the record, none of this is meant to discredit any of the guys killing it in the trenches and still putting out great products. You know who you are and these are always the top products on my list.
What are your thoughts on internet marketing and fitness products?
Coach Mark – AWESOME blog post. I never thought about this issue from a dichotomy standpoint. There really is two sides. I think you present a strong arguemtn when you mention that there are crappy trainers in commercial gyms and somehow if they were to write outdated articles and produce crappy products it would somehow be considered legit because they working in the “real world”. Whereas someone who’s not working in the “real world” (which really just means getting paid to do something) but actually as up to date quality information to share, is somehow discreditted even though what their saying is perfect RIGHT information and good content? Hmmmmmmmmmm.
You’re blog posts have been getting better and better Coach Mark. Seriously, you’ve really been on a top notch content role. Its so pertinant and i love it!
Comment by Sam Leahey — May 5, 2010 @ 8:24 PM
Mark,
I suppose my thoughts on this topic are somewhat muddled…………..
When you highlighted John Berardi, Alan Aragon, and Lyle McDonald, those are a handful of guys who I’d characterize as anything but “in your face” with they way they promote their material. They certainly have a strong online presence, but I’ve never once had reason to view them as internet marketer types. They all tend to let the material and results do the talking for them.
Likewise, Eric Cressey has had a run of successful products, but he is one of the isolated few who has also not once sounded like nothing more than a glorified snake oil salesman. He is just a passionate pro who puts out resources when he collects enough valuable material and crafts a product that meets his high standard. Any financial windfall is merely a by-product of that process.
But the waters get murky, because even widely well-respected individuals sometimes come under scrutiny. While I don’t know of the specifics, I recall quite a while back seeing Alwyn Cosgrive and Mike Roussell accused of directly “borrowing” some of Lyle McDonald’s work, Now I don’t know of many people who would have a negative thing to say about Alwyn or Mike, so the mere fact they could be even associated with the whisper of such a claim is unsettling.
At the end of the day all you can do is hope people put forward their best and most honest efforts and say “caveat emptor!”
Comment by Wayne Simmons — May 5, 2010 @ 9:53 PM
@ Sam – Thanks for the comment! I’m glad you like the content lately. And congrats again on the engagement!
@ Wayne – I totally agree that Alan, John, and Lyle are certainly not “in your face” as much as many others, but I wanted to make a point that you can make money on the internet without being a total product pimp. As for the accusations regarding Mike and Alwyn, I had heard a similar story and I’d like to think this isn’t true, but I try to keep out of messy situations like that.
And thanks for the closing comment. For anyone else that was about to search Google to find out what it means: Let the buyer beware!
Comment by markyoung — May 6, 2010 @ 5:30 AM
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mark Young, Patrick Ward. Patrick Ward said: Great stuff, Mark RT: @MarkYoungTrain Internet Gurus and Fitness Marketing. Is fitness marketing driving you crazy? http://shar.es/m60Wn [...]
Pingback by Tweets that mention Mark Young Training Systems » » Internet Gurus and Fitness Marketing -- Topsy.com — May 6, 2010 @ 7:54 AM
I like this part:
“To me, if you’ve created a fat loss product and it works (and it isn’t full of typos and plagiarism – you know who you people are)”
Half the time when I get to look at some of this stuff, I am baffled at the spelling. Does no one proof read anymore? Or are they in a mad rush to get it to their list?
Comment by Erik Ledin — May 6, 2010 @ 8:14 PM
@ Erik – Totally agree. At least run a spell check on the damn thing.
Comment by markyoung — May 7, 2010 @ 5:26 AM
Good stuff Mark!
I agree! You need to get R E S U L T S That is what people pay for.
Even if your internet marketing is great, if you completely fail to deliver you will not be around long (or you sell another product and bank on the fact that few will ever DO the programs they buy, thus never knowing if they work or not).
If you are making good products that deliver results in an ethical way, I have no problem with people making money online. If it was sooooo easy, then everyone should go out and do it vs complain about those who make money online.
If you really believe in your product (and you better since you made it), I don’t have a problem with people promoting it. If you really believe it is good, you want to help people, not just take their money (again which is unethical).
This is not to say their are not some shady people around.
Money is not evil, it is what you do with it.
This culture that we need to work ourselves to the bone and be piss poor to help more people is utter BS and needs to stop. The reality is that if you have more money you can help more people. RESULTS not effort.
The goal should be to help as many people as possible get better. Do this in a way that leverages your skills and talents. Money will follow.
Off my soapbox
rock on
Mike T Nelson PhD(c)
Comment by Mike T Nelson — May 7, 2010 @ 10:17 AM
Damn straight Mike!
Comment by markyoung — May 7, 2010 @ 1:18 PM
Results do not speak much about the program. Look at the science behind the program instead.
Comment by Anoop — May 8, 2010 @ 8:50 AM
In humble opinion Mark you are so right in every way, I have been silently following all your posts and they are just amazing, so honest and truthful I can sense it thru your words, keep up the great work by giving us such great content.
Does anyone ever compliment Mark on his hard work ??!!
Have a nice evening
Comment by Joel g — May 8, 2010 @ 11:43 PM
@ Anoop – As much as I agree that the science should be solid, people don’t pay for theory, they pay for results. If someone follows a fat loss product only to remain fat, I’m pretty sure they aren’t going to be coming back for more. Ideally the product would be a mix of science and practice. Do you agree?
@ Joel – Thank you so much for coming out of the woodwork. Now that you’ve spoken, I hope you’ll continue to interject your thoughts into the discussions here. My goal, ultimately, is to write for you guys, but your comments are what fuel the fire.
Comment by markyoung — May 9, 2010 @ 9:55 AM
Hi Mark,
You don’t have to try every diet out there to see if it works or not. Do you?
Or do you go by the number of testimonials? The more number of testimonials he gets, the better his program than others?
For example, HIT people swear by their program. The high volume people think that’s the best and HIT sucks. Whose results are you goona believe?
I hope you get my point, Mark.
Comment by Anoop — May 9, 2010 @ 12:14 PM
Gotcha! Point taken.
Comment by markyoung — May 10, 2010 @ 4:32 AM
“On the other hand, the people that piss me off are those with huge lists who become affiliates of everyone on the planet who has a product launch and endorse them without any concern about whether or not the new product is a giant pile of dog turd. These people, even if they have good products themselves, go on my blacklist because I have no respect for anyone who sells junk strictly for the sake of money.”
this line sums up it up perfectly. most of the “internet gurus” seem to have at least a reasonable amount of fitness or nutrition knowledge (some more than others), but 95% of the products they promote are total crap, which makes them tools in my book.
Comment by Zach — August 26, 2010 @ 9:59 AM