The trend of sliding sales pitches into what was advertised as just “useful information” or “tips and tricks” has become frustrating. It is something I have been seeing more frequently in newsletters that I have signed up for, which now have more ads for their products/services than for the valued information I signed up for and agreed to receive.
The Unexpected Sales Pitch in Books
And now, I’m seeing it in books that I paid for.
Books are my haven away from the incessant ads that are all over the internet now. And for this trend to creep up there is so disheartening.
Bait-and-Switch That Breaks Trust
I get it; we all have something to sell, but when you lure people in with the promise of good, useful information and then bait and switch them into unwanted sales pitches with little to no useful information, you leave a bad taste in the mouth and turn potential clients into non-clients.
Why Some Books Still Deserve Credit
With this Book Brew series, I typically (and happily) call out the book(s) that inspired my post because the hard work they put into their work deserves to be credited.
However, in this case, I am choosing not to mention the book that inspired this post. Partially because the book still has useful information and partially because I have gained so much useful knowledge from this author that I don’t feel the need to call them out.
A Word of Caution to Content Creators
I just put this out there as a word of caution to business owners (and content creators) - be wary of this new trend, as it is a great way to scare off potential and current clients.
- Don’t take advantage of people’s goodwill.
- Deliver what you say you are going to deliver.
- If you have a new product or service to announce, ensure it is just a small piece of your normal content.
- Be true to your word - integrity stands above all else.
Ponder This
- How does encountering a hidden sales pitch in trusted spaces impact your willingness to engage with that creator or brand in the future?
- How do you balance promoting products or services while maintaining transparency and value in your content?
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