#18 - Grift or Marketing? Getting Customer's Attention in The Internet Age
Jan 8, 2024
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The podcast delves into the blurred lines between grifting and marketing in the internet age, discussing the importance of portraying company values. Topics include podcast sponsorships, transitioning small farms into media businesses, and the balance of financial gain and authenticity.
In the modern age, effective marketing requires signaling company values and target audience consistently.
It is essential to exercise critical thinking and research before labeling others as 'grifters' in online interactions.
Science serves to provide evidence-based recommendations but is not meant to offer immediate solutions or individualized programs.
Exercise science has shaped the fitness industry by establishing concepts like progressive overload and periodization for better training and nutrition strategies.
Deep dives
Year-End Wrap-Up and Tax Strategies
The podcast delves into the decision not to do a traditional year-end wrap-up due to many others covering it. However, suggestions are made to optimize year-end finances, including focusing on 10 key tasks like QBI optimization, salary payments, and 401k contributions before the year-end deadline to save money and enhance financial standings.
Scams and Grifts Discussion
The discussion shifts towards scams and grifts, sparked by an incident where a client disputed pricing despite clear information on the website. The hosts explore the prevalence of such behaviors in online interactions, highlighting instances where individuals label others as grifters without concrete evidence, emphasizing the need for discernment and research before passing judgment.
Selling Information and Educational Products
The episode addresses selling informational products, drawing parallels to historical radio show advertisements. It argues for the value provided by individuals like Mike McGroarty and Connor Crickmore who offer in-depth courses on propagating plants and market farming, respectively, emphasizing the importance of genuine value and personal responsibility in assessing such purchases.
Marketing and Advertising Dynamics
The hosts delve into marketing dynamics, critiquing modern advertising tactics that rely more on rhetoric than factual claims. They discuss the shifting landscape of marketing towards sensationalism and the impact of influencer endorsements on consumer behavior, highlighting the importance of critical thinking and discernment in evaluating advertising messages.
The importance of understanding science and its limitations
It is crucial to recognize that science is not a magic pill or a solution to all problems. It provides tools and evidence-based strategies that can be helpful, but it does not offer paradigm shifts or definitive answers in every context. It is important for individuals to discern scientific consensus and rely on trusted sources for information rather than falling for sensationalistic claims or alternative paradigms. Science should be used pragmatically and adapted to individual needs and contexts.
The role of science communicators and their impact
Science communicators play a vital role in disseminating scientific information to the public, but it can be a challenging task. Misunderstandings and misinformation can arise when science is presented in a sensationalistic or misleading manner. It is crucial to recognize the efforts made by scientists to improve research methods and transparency, as well as the ongoing debates and discussions within the scientific community about how to effectively communicate research. Consumers should be cautious of communicators who use science to market products or push specific agendas.
The importance of distinguishing consensus from paradigm shifts
People should be cautious when confronted with claims of paradigm shifts or revolutionary concepts in fitness and health. Such claims are rare in science, and most often, they are not supported by reliable evidence. Seeking consensus among experts and recognizing that paradigm shifts take time and multiple lines of evidence are crucial. Applying evidence-based strategies pragmatically and understanding the limitations of research in individual contexts can lead to more informed decision-making.
Emphasizing individual experimentation and context
Applying scientific evidence to personal goals and contexts should prioritize pragmatism over dogmatism. Science provides useful tools and strategies, but it is essential to recognize that not every research finding will directly apply to individual circumstances. Experimentation and trial-and-error within the context of scientific evidence can lead to better outcomes. Consumers should seek trusted sources and prioritize understanding the relative importance of different evidence-based approaches rather than seeking a one-size-fits-all solution.
It's popular nowadays to throw around the term "grifter" when it comes to getting people to check out your product or service. After all, it seems like it takes either tons of frequent exposure or outlandish behavior to get attention on the internet, especially social media and YouTube. Grifting implies some level of fraudulence, however, or at least a failure to deliver the value you promised customers. What some people call "grifting" is just marketing in the modern age. It's not enough to simply describe your product any more. You need to signal what your company is about, the kind of person that buys your product or service, and do it often!
