Hyped-Up Cures or Cash Thievery?

By now, we have all seen a celebrity endorsement of some kind on television or in print. Some make sense (Sally Field for osteoporosis medications – I believe her) and others that just don’t compute (all endorsements by Gary Coleman). Celebrity endorsements, no matter how far-fetched they may seem are around and will continue to be around because they work. On some level, there is something inside most humans that do believe if the rich and famous are doing it, we have to get on board too.

However, marketing power people know just what they are doing and how to sell product. Even the most ridiculous products can find an audience of believers. With that audience often comes deep pockets. Those willing to hand over cash for any number of miraculous pills or instant cures are plentiful but falling for a fad realistically is just a big waste of money.

So how can you tell what products are trustworthy and which are better left on the shelf? Here are a few things to consider when contemplating your next purchase of a miracle anything:

Backed By Tangible Evidence?
Marketing teams often use “real stories” from “real people” because it is human nature to feel compassion. But often times those “real stories” are dramatized heavily. Claims that just don’t make a lot of logical sense probably are not worth your time or money. Are you getting the real story? Is the miracle vitamin they want to sell you really going to work?

Research Product Reliability
Do some legwork to look at any research provided. Any new medication or treatment should be tested on a large number of people and include both the actual treatment as well as a placebo in an environment where testers and participants do not know who took which product. Those studies that involve animal testing or with a controlled group provide no real answers of effectiveness.

Spokesperson Benefit
Those touting the product, especially the famous people, make have a stake in the profits. Be wary of why people are vouching for a specific product. There may be some cases where the person really is backing the product wholeheartedly and not for financial gain but be aware of those who have something else to sell, like accessory products, or a book.

Remain Skeptical in Words
The marketing team know how to use the buzz words like ‘miracle’, ‘wonder drug’, and ‘cure-all’. Many also work hard to explain away why their particular product is not endorsed by the medical community or why the popularity of the product is low. It can be easy to get caught up in buzz words and buy something you don’t want, don’t need, and can’t afford.

Marketing is a big industry and people are getting craftier every day, finding ways to really hit their target market. Sticking with a budget is a sure-fire way to understand what you can and can’t afford. Forget the famous faces and the big propaganda. If there is a product you are really interested in, take the time to see what it really is all about instead of just following the lead of someone else.