#61. How Get-Rich-Quick Schemes Target Moms on Social Media
🚩What might make us ideal customers for these schemes, how they're marketed to us and red flags to look out for if you're thinking of buying.
Targeting moms with get-rich-quick opportunities is nothing new.
But as the economy tanks and inflation hits us at the grocery store and everywhere else, I’ve definitely noticed an increase in how often they’re popping up on my parenting social media scroll.
Whether it’s the latest and greatest multi-level marketing (MLM) program they’re trying to recruit you for, a new Amazon affiliate course that will make you mILliONs or some mysterious business coaching program where you can 10X your investment in 30 days, there is always someone out there willing to sell you a method that’s supposedly going to make you a lot of 💵💰💸 , with just a little effort.
Which sounds pretty awesome on the surface!
But do they work?
Maybe? Sometimes? Kind of?
But surely not as well or as often as the person selling it would like us to believe.
Moms as targets for financial “opportunities”.
As a therapist working with Moms, it’s no surprise to me that people target us for these types of things. Mothers, especially those in the early trenches of baby and toddler-hood, often spend a lot of time in parenting-centric social media settings, meaning they’re easy to find for people looking to sell to them. Couple that with a common desire for more work and family balance or to utilize pre-parenthood skills as a means to increase family income and I can see why we’re sought after customers for these programs.
All the more reason for us to approach our scroll time with eyes wide open to the marketing tactics before us, so that we can be more intentional with what we do and don’t get influenced by.
Strategies people use to sell us get-rich-quick programs.
In the next few days as you scroll, keep an eye out for content that uses any of the below marketing techniques and take notice of what it’s trying to sell you…
Exploiting wishes for more work-life balance.
Get-rich-quick opportunities often exploit the desire of parents (especially Moms) to achieve a balance between making money and being present for their family. They promise flexible schedules and high returns, tapping into wishes for financial independence without losing time with loved ones.
Manipulating emotions + FOMO.
People trying to sell these get-rich-quick types of programs often use emotional manipulation to get the attention of moms and persuade them to buy without thinking too much about it. Preying upon possible financial vulnerabilities and aspirations to provide a better or more stable life for their children. And let’s not forget triggering fears of missing out, “Do you want everyone else making money without you?”
Promises of community + support.
Being a parent can be lonely and isolating. Get-rich-quick and other money making ventures may exploit these feelings by presenting the opportunities they’re selling as a way to connect with other like-minded people and build a supportive community that parents might not currently have otherwise.
Selling the illusion of easy success.
Who wants to hear they have to work hard for their money? I mean we all KNOW that deep down, but someone promising an alternative is hard to ignore and gets our brains feeling curious. Painting a picture of easy, fool-proof methods for making money without much effort, exploiting the hope for rapid financial elevation and relief from the possible financial stressors people might be experiencing. Who wouldn’t want to buy in?
Using relatability.
“I’m jut like you” or “If I Did It, So Can You” and also “I’m just a mom who once struggled to pay my bills, just like you…” stories are a big selling point with these programs. Making potential buyers feel less alone and perhaps even more trusting if they think this person “gets” them and is looking out for their best interests (which they probably aren’t).
Click bait headlines/statements.
Too good to be true headlines 👇👇👇🙄
“5X your investment this month!”
“Be your own boss and make all the money you want from home!”
“Earn six figures working just 4 hours a week!”
And what if you’re tempted to buy in? Red flags to look for…
Being curious about ways to make money with these so called “easy” money making opportunities is naturally going to pique our curiosity.
Who wouldn’t want to make a bunch of money with minimal effort?
And hey, it might work, which is a tricky thing to think ourselves through, especially if we’re feeling financially vulnerable (and who isn’t these days!?)
So if you are considering buying a program promising you big financial returns, don’t feel bad about it, but DO keep an eye out for some of these red flags that it might not be the best program or situation to put yourself into 👇
🚩Unsolicited Offers or Messages: People showing up in your DMs univited and trying to sell you on something always feels a little shady to me. If someone seems like they’re working really hard to sell to you and offer their services without you having shown direct interest first, consider that a red flag.
🚩”Buy Now!” Pressure: Notice the use of urgency and scarcity tactics, pressuring potential buyers (like yourself) to act NOW. If an opportunity emphasizes that it's a limited-time offer or pushes for quick decisions, pause and proceed (or backaway) with caution.
🚩Lack of Transparency: Legitimate opportunities are transparent about the details of what you’re purchasing. If there's a lack of clear information (like not even telling you the price), vague explanations of what you’ll get, or refusal to disclose crucial details like results or their credentials, it might be something to avoid.
🚩Overemphasis on Lifestyle Changes: Get rich quick opportunities often sell a fantasy lifestyle more-so than an actual business opportunity. If an opportunity focuses primarily on the salesperson’s high-end lifestyle, or the promise of overnight success, dig deeper into what this opportunity really entails.
🚩Guaranteed High Returns: Any investment or opportunity guaranteeing high returns on the investment with little or no risk is likely a red flag. Every purchase we make involves a degree of risk, and financial returns are never guaranteed.