How Can I Be Sure This Isn't a Scam?
I don't blame you for being concerned about who you trust online.
I'm exactly the same!
Luckily, through my work with the 000Relationships Network, I've had the privilege of meeting (and, in many cases, interviewing) many of the men and women giving dating advice online. So I can tell you exactly what the real deal on these dating products is.
Are These Products a Rip-Off?
In all that time, I haven't met a single person who is out to rip off their customers. Sure, some of them aren't the best with technology, and the quality of their customer service can vary widely based on whether they have to do it all themselves or whether they hire people to help them out, but most are real people with a real desire to help. They believe in what they teach, and they sell products that they believe have great value.
Do These Products Do What They Claim?
Nobody can guarantee you'll like everything they sell, and that's okay. That's why all legitimate authors provide a no-questions-asked moneyback guarantee. They know that you can't pick up their book and browse through it like you could in a bookstore, so they want to make sure that you don't feel like you've been sold a lemon. They know that word travels fast online, and they'd rather get recommendations from their customers than bad reviews!
In a sense, purchasing online gives you more security than buying a book in a store. Do bookstores provide moneyback guarantees? Of course not! People would just buy a book, read it, then return it and say they didn't like it. The bookstore would lose too much money if it offered no-questions-asked refunds. But online your satisfaction is guaranteed.
Can I Trust My Credit Card Details to These People?
Most legitimate authors use what's called a "digital products retailer" (formerly known as a third party payment processor) to make the sale. In other words, all they do is create their course. Then they pass on the sale to another company that specializes in selling digital products. That company does nothing but handle zillions of online sales every day. The company stakes its reputation on keeping those payment details safe. If you don't get the product you paid for, you could go directly to them and get a refund ... although most authors prefer that you take your issue to them first, as they can help you access the product and solve any issues with downloading.
Are These People Who They Say They Are?
Don't judge online authors for using a pseudonym. Most of them do, in order to protect their real identity. Selling dating advice online rarely pays the bills, and many online authors still need to work at regular jobs. If they used their real name online, potential employers might refuse to hire them, claiming that their online image is not congruent with what their company stands for.
Personally, I do use my real name, but I feel a bit like a duck out of water! I look around at all the other cool pseudonyms and think, "I could have had a really awesome name if I'd thought to do that." I also wonder how having my name online will affect my future career as a writer. But at the end of the day I don't worry too much. I'm having too much fun!