There are a lot of well-known names in the online business world who specialise in teaching people how to make passive income or recurring revenue either as an addition to their business or as a side hustle, so it can be difficult to know how to choose online courses wisely.
Online courses can be a completely legitimate way of learning new digital skills, however in recent times there has been a trend in creators who are selling their courses with Master Resell Rights to unsuspecting buyers hoping to take a shortcut to creating an extra income stream by selling on the exact same course made by someone else to another unsuspecting buyer.
No wonder people are calling this the latest pyramid scheme.
I only ever want to buy original content from creators who have lived experience in the subject, otherwise, who is going to help me when I have questions or run into a stumbling block?
When you are looking to buy training courses online, especially in the digital marketing and business domains, it’s crucial to do thorough due diligence to avoid scams and low-quality Master Resell Rights (MRR) courses. Here are some steps you can follow to ensure you make a wise investment:
1. Research the Instructor’s Background
Check Credentials: Look for the instructor’s qualifications, experience, and professional background. Verify their expertise in the subject matter.
Online Presence: Review their social media profiles, LinkedIn, and personal website. Authentic experts usually have a consistent and credible online presence. Look to see how long they have had their accounts. Do they have a legitimate website or is it a one-page Stan Store site just with links to their courses? The MRR trend is to sell without ever having to show your face, so you can never see who is truly behind the account.
2. Read Reviews and Testimonials
Third-Party Reviews: Look for reviews on independent platforms like Trustpilot, Reddit, or specialised forums related to the course topic. You can usually tell if reviews are useful or just plain gushy; Gushy makes me suspicious, maybe the seller got their friend to write a review, or maybe they’ve been promised something in return.
Testimonials on Their Site: Be cautious of testimonials on the course’s sales page. Obviously, these can be carefully selected by the seller. Verify the authenticity by checking if the reviewers have real online profiles.
3. Course Content Verification
Preview Content: Many legitimate courses offer a free trial, preview videos, or a detailed syllabus. Evaluate these to gauge the quality and relevance of the content.
Learning Outcomes: Ensure the course clearly outlines what you will learn and how it will benefit you. Look for specific, measurable outcomes rather than vague promises.
4. Check for Red Flags
Overhyped Promises: Be wary of courses that promise unrealistic results, like making a fortune quickly with minimal effort.
Wild Income Claims: Avoid sellers who claim to have made large sums of money in a short space of time, this is a common tactic used to convince people they can have this too. Often if you scratch beneath the surface you can spot signs of dishonesty.
5. Instructor Interaction
Availability for Questions: Check if the instructor or course provider is available for questions or support. Good courses often offer some level of interaction with the instructor or a support team. If you are unsure if the seller has created the course themselves, ask them outright.
Community and Support: Many quality courses provide access to a community (e.g., a Facebook group, Slack channel) where you can interact with other students and sometimes the instructor.
6. Refund Policy
Money-Back Guarantee: Look for a clear and fair refund policy. Reputable courses usually offer a money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied within a certain period, although if you get instant access to your content it may be that there is no refund option, either way it’s good to know.
Terms and Conditions: Read the fine print to understand the conditions under which you can request a refund. If there are no visible Terms and Conditions this is a red flag and you at least want to be asking for them.
7. Accreditation and Endorsements
Accredited Courses: Check if the course is accredited by a recognised institution or endorsed by reputable industry professionals. Accreditation is not the be-all-and-end-all, but you need to be seeing lots of social proof at least.
Partnerships: Courses partnered with or recommended by well-known organisations or industry leaders often have a higher level of credibility. Be aware that anyone standing to gain from a sale (e.g., an affiliate for a course getting a commission for each sign up), needs to be disclosing this information.
8. Comparison with Other Courses
Similar Offerings: Compare the course with other similar courses. Look at the content, price, reviews, and instructor credibility to make an informed decision.
Price vs. Value: Evaluate if the course offers value for the price. Extremely cheap courses may sometimes indicate low quality, while very expensive ones should justify the cost with exceptional content and support.
9. Trial Periods and Samples
Free Modules: Some legitimate courses offer free introductory modules or a trial period. Take advantage of these to assess the course quality.
Content Depth: Assess the depth of the sample content. Quality courses should offer detailed, practical insights even in their free content.
10. Contact Past Students
Alumni Feedback: If possible, contact past students of the course for honest feedback. They can provide insights into the course quality and its real-world applicability. Remember that sometimes alumni might also inflate their experience for exposure to a large audience so get a range of feedback from those not standing to gain from it.
My golden rule is if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Do your research and don’t rush into buying anything.
There are no short cuts to making money online and you need to have your own credibility radar tuned in too. If the person you’re buying from is in a line of people making money from the same thing, you probably want to steer clear.
By following these steps, you can minimise the risk of falling victim to scams and ensure that the online training course you choose is of high quality and worth your investment.