A Question About Ebooks

**TheIdeaMan** · 07-08-2006 11:45 PM

Hey guys, I have decided that I want to write ebooks and build an opt in list and see if i can make some money that way. But I have a question:

Can you outright lie on your sales page? Could I say something like "I am a 18 year old millionaire, and I want to teach you how i did it!" Are there laws against that? And also can you write the testimonials yourself?

Im not saying that I am going to do any of these things myself, I was just wondering if there were any laws against that kind of thing. And if there were people out there that already do it. Obviously, it is WRONG to lie to your customers, please dont beat me up for asking if it's possible. Thanks

**akula** · 07-09-2006 12:35 AM

sure. lie, cheat, steal, deceive. just don't get caught or no one will ever again do business with you.

i mean what do you want me to say? I'm not gonna be your moral compass and debate whether it's ok to break the law, and how to avoid being prosecuted, and how to defend yourself.

the kinds of things you're talking about are termed deceptive trade practices. they attract both civil and criminal penalties.

you've just never been sued - that's why you're so eager to try new things

Scott Taylor · 07-09-2006 01:15 AM

Not worth it mate... no need to lie, look at your stregths and write about them. If it turns out a good book... you wont need to lie to sell the book.

**BenBale** · 07-09-2006 09:37 AM

Doing what your talking about is what a lot of marketers do. And yes its illegal and not worth it.

Its like a blindman looking to buy a ferrari for his daughter or something. (ovbiously a blindman wouldnt be able to do this). And a car salesman trying to sell him a ford fiesta with a big loud exhaust on it and telling him its a ferrari.

Its kinda the same as what your on about doing, the people on your website canot see your not a millionare (unless they have common sense and think hmmm why would a millionare sell his secrsts to his millions for less than $100).

So yeah i would avoid doing this, cause if some smart ass decides to do some background checks on you and sees theres no way you can be a millionare you will get sued for alot of money.

**archiebolo** · 07-09-2006 09:48 AM

listen to akula he is right

**TheIdeaMan** · 07-09-2006 12:37 PM

thanks for your thoughts guys. I think you are right. It wouldnt be worth it.

Either way, I've figured out a way around lying: "There are 18 year olds out there making millions of dollars, who else wants to know how they do it?"

**akula** · 07-09-2006 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by TheIdeaMan

thanks for your thoughts guys. I think you are right. It wouldnt be worth it.

Either way, I've figured out a way around lying: "There are 18 year olds out there making millions of dollars, who else wants to know how they do it?"

yes. the scientific name for bending the truth is frame referencing and obfuscation

the 2002 Nobel prize for economics was awarded to Daniel Kahneman who explored this subject in great detail which deserved science's highest honour.

to find out more how you can expertly manage aspects of human psychology to influence people's decisions under conditions of uncertainty, you are best to read http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/087...lance&n=283155

To find out more about Dr. Kahneman, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Kahneman

**chem** · 07-09-2006 04:23 PM

Personally, once I read something about making a million dollars and such, i stop right there. If they are making a million dollars doing this, why are they advertising to me some nobody with little money to invest.

But some people will become more interested if they see the million dollar phrase, others won't.

**sillytrader** · 07-09-2006 04:47 PM

I agree with chem...don't sell TOO hard promising untold riches for everyoone that buys your $97.00 ebook.
I see this too many times in the area that I sell my ebook in..."you can trade 1 minute a day against Morgan Stanley and take all their money"...uh ya...

If you are having a hard time coming up with an ebook idea of your own, you can always buy one...If you have skills that can increase sales that the current owner lacks, this can be a good way to go.

Best of luck

**NeeJam** · 07-10-2006 03:04 AM

Never lie of your sales page, whats the point saying your an 18 yeard old millionaire isn't gonig to get you anywhere really, do what the rich jerk did by saying i'm cocky, i'm arrogant but i don't care and stuuf like that, then you're not lieing oyur intreging the customer which is probably why he sold so many copies.

Not only that but you can get sued for lieing on it as well.

**TheIdeaMan** · 07-10-2006 07:06 AM

Yeah the whole gettin sued thing doesn't appeal to me very much...

I was just wondering if all those other guys out there were lyin their a$$es off and gettin rich off of it. Ofcourse the rich jerk is rich now.. but was he rich before he wrote that book? That very question is what prompted this thread in the first place.

Either way, I can see no reason to lie with the products I have lined up anywayz. But I may try the cocky rich jerk style to intregue them...