Internet gurus work by selling success…
— often more than they actually create it.
Here’s the breakdown of how many of them operate (the real playbook):
🧠 1. Position Themselves as Experts
Even if they just learned the thing last month…
- They show flashy lifestyles: rented cars, Airbnbs, designer clothes
- Drop buzzwords like “automated,” “passive income,” “6-figure blueprint”
- Use authority tricks: testimonials, fake press (like Forbes or Yahoo Finance mentions), and “social proof” screenshots
📦 2. Package Info as a Product
They usually don’t sell a physical product — they sell:
- 📚 Courses
- 🧑🏫 Coaching
- 💻 Masterminds
- 🔒 Memberships
- 🔗 Affiliate links to tools they use
Most of the time they’re selling how you can do what they claim they did.
“I made $30K last month dropshipping — learn how in my $997 course!”
🔁 3. Use Scarcity & Urgency
Common tactics:
- “Only 5 spots left!”
- “Closes at midnight!”
- “This secret will be gone tomorrow!”
All designed to get you to buy on impulse without thinking too hard.
📣 4. Traffic & Hype Machine
They use:
- Instagram & TikTok to go viral
- Paid ads showing off “wins” & student testimonials
- Email funnels to warm you up
- Webinars that are “live” but really pre-recorded
Some have huge followings — others are good at appearing huge.
💸 5. Make Most of Their Money from Teaching, Not Doing
This is the kicker…
Many internet gurus make most of their money selling how to make money, not actually doing the thing themselves.
They scale by:
- Affiliate marketing (you sign up for tools under their link)
- Selling increasingly expensive products (a $47 ebook → $997 course → $10K mastermind)
🚨 The Problem?
Some are legit. But many are:
- Just repeating stuff from other courses
- Teaching things that worked once, but don’t anymore
- Making their money from you, not from the business model they’re “teaching”
🧭 Want to protect yourself?
Ask:
- Does this person have real results outside of teaching?
- Can I find free or low-cost info before spending hundreds or thousands?
- Is there a refund policy?
- Am I making a rushed emotional decision?