They’re Ruining Marketing
How to Spot a Snake Oil Salesman (Before They Empty Your Wallet and Your Faith in Marketing)
Nowadays, anyone with a couple of reels, three flashy quotes, and a clip-on mic proclaims themselves a “digital marketing expert.”
They sell more smoke than an incense factory.
And the worst part? They’re good at it.
But don’t worry—I’ve got you.
Here are 10 stylish red flags to help you spot these frauds before you fall into their trap and end up buying a course on “How to Sell a Pencil to Elon Musk.”
1. Miracle Promises (No Work Required)
“Make $10K in a week,” “Double your sales without spending a dime,” “Work 4 hours a week from Bali.”
Sounds amazing—too bad it’s fake.
Real strategists know results don’t fall from the sky. They’re built with brains, testing, and trial and error.
2. The Mystery of the Invisible Process
You see the “before and after,” but never the during.
They throw around words like funnel, growth hacking, or neuromarketing like Harry Potter spells.
Spoiler: if they can’t explain it clearly, it’s because they don’t get it either.
3. Cult-Level Testimonials
“My life changed,” “He’s the best mentor on the planet,” “Even my dog breathes better now.”
It all sounds like a bad script.
If there’s not a single criticism, doubt, or anything remotely human—it’s staged.
Real work brings results, not worship.
4. Fear-Based Marketing
“If you don’t use this technique TODAY, your business will vanish.”
They sell panic. Digital doomsday.
They want to scare you so you stop thinking.
But good marketers empower you—they don’t trigger anxiety.
5. Bought Likes, Bots on Parade
Thousands of likes, zero real engagement.
Comments like “🔥🔥🔥” from profiles named user920183.
Engagement is built—not inflated like a steroid balloon.
6. Made-Up Secret Methods
They all have “the ultimate method no one else knows.”
Funny how they discovered it without reading, practicing, or failing.
They reinvented the wheel… with Canva and ChatGPT.
7. Fake Awards and Toy Diplomas
They claim 17 international awards and 9 Harvard certifications.
But Google them, and all you find is their Instagram.
If the recognition doesn’t exist outside their bio, it’s just professional cosplay.
8. Pressure, Urgency, and Discounted Hot Air
“Price goes up in 2 hours,” “Only 5 spots left,” “Join NOW or miss out forever.”
Nothing screams scam louder than someone trying to close a sale in a sprint.
9. They Want Your Money, Not Your Problem
They don’t listen, don’t ask, don’t understand.
They want the sale—not to solve your business challenge.
They’re salespeople dressed as strategists. And it shows.
10. Shapeshifting Offers
Today it’s a course, tomorrow an e-book, next week a mentorship.
They change pitches depending on which way the wind blows.
If they don’t know what they’re selling, you don’t need to buy it.
Bonus: The 22-Year-Old Gurus
No hate, but if someone is a CEO, TEDx speaker, life coach, and author of two books at 22… something smells off.
Experience isn’t made in Premiere Pro.
Some things only come with time.
So now you know: more brains, less hype.
Real marketing doesn’t scream, manipulate, or promise miracles.
It asks uncomfortable questions, proposes ideas with substance, and works with focus and consistency.
The rest?
Just foam.
