​Red Flags for Holistic Practitioners: How to Spot a Snake Oil Salesman

Gary and I knew we had to write this article. Some of our long-time practitioner friends have seen it all and we're combining their advice and hard-learned lessons in this article.
 
This article is about the “snake oil salesmen.” The sheisters. The con artists. “Alternative Opportunists”  and Rip-off Artists.
 
These are people who promise a lot but deliver very little. And they charge a lot of money for that “service.”
 
For many of us in the holistic community, our objective is to help people - to be of service for those in need.
 
But not everyone who comes into this community is, well… to put it bluntly, to be trusted. It can be difficult for many of us who are healers, spiritual practitioners, holistic practitioners, or alternative healers to spot a rip-off artist.
 
Perhaps the people in our community are susceptible to be taken advantage of because we don’t think like con artists.
 
Many of us are altruistic. We’re givers. We believe in karma.
 
Sometimes these opportunists come into our community and use the buzzwords that we respond to, but they are more interested in “manifesting” quick money at our expense. 
 
I’ll make you a star, baby
Many of us are good at what we do. For some of us we could imagine ourselves on Oprah or as the next John Edward of our field. For others of us, we just know that our potential is to be working with more clients and to be making more money. Regardless, some “sheisters” are preying on this desire for fame or success.
 
Let’s take an emotional assessment here: for many of us, we can see our potential, and when someone promises to take us “to the next level” it’s not just tempting, but a trigger that causes us to act emotionally rather than rationally.
 
I’ll make you rich, baby
This can be code for, “I want you to make me rich.”
If you’re being offered an “opportunity of a lifetime” to get in on a windfall that could make you a millionaire in just a few months… we have news for you. If it sounds too good to be true, there is a good chance it probably is. 
 
Red Flags:

• A long commitment
• A large financial commitment
• A “once of a life time opportunity” that is “going fast”

 
Multi-Level Marketing
Some of us who are contributing to the writing of this piece have differing opinions on multi-level marketing. If you use a product, believe in its value, and want to take part in its growth, our general consensus is, that’s fine!
 
We’re not saying that MLMs are bad. In fact some of the best products are MLMs and some of our friends, like Audrey Newmont represent companies like Purium and Jusuru.
 
Another one of our contributors notes the product worthiness of ASEA and DuTerra.  
 
But for the new kids in the group, you should have a clear understanding of how this works so you know what you’re getting yourself into.
 
Tips for MLMs

1. Research the product. Is it a trusted and valuable product?
2. Research the company. How long has the company been around? How many years has the company been in business? (This can be a bit of a trick question with MLMs because an older company may have a lot of participants, making it harder to make money).
3. Who are the brand’s competitors? If the market is saturated with similar products, be aware that it may be harder to move this kind of product.
4. What is your commitment? How much package and product do you have to purchase to get started? How much do you have to continue to spend to be in the program?
5. Do you want to be a salesperson and recruiter? If not, this is not the game for you. MLMs involve enlisting others under you. You have to recruit people to sell the product. Then they have to recruit people to sell the product.  Then they have to recruit people to sell the product. If you are not motivated, skilled, and connected, it's not going to be profitable. 

 
The “professional” marketer/web expert/network guru
 
As the expert in your field, you are probably not also a duel expert in marketing or web design. This means that if you want a website, brochures, advertising, or marketing, you’ll have to hire a professional’s services.
 
The problem that some of us have encountered is that some of these people charge a lot of money and delivery very little – sometimes nothing at all. One of our members paid tens of thousands of dollars for… brace yourselves - nothing.

• Research that market and know how much others are paying for this type of service.
• Get referrals through people you trust.
• Ask to see samples of their past work. Also ask for references.
• Pay for one product at a time. This allows you to sample their work and if it’s not a good fit, you can move on!
• Don’t commit to a jumbo pre-paid package.

 
Other Rip-off Red Flags
If you feel any of the following emotions when dealing with someone, it’s probably not a healthy relationship.

• Guilt – are they making you feel guilty for accepting their time/favors?
• Shame – are they making you feel that you are not good enough, smart enough, etc without them? 
• Fear – do they make you feel like you’re missing out on “the deal of a lifetime”?

On the flip side, if their business proposal is making you feel “high” and like all your dreams are suddenly coming true, then take a step back and make sure that you are not getting drunk off of the kool-aid. 
 
This article was co-authored by Lori Nelson, newbie to entrepreneurship, and long-term practitioner, Gary Stuart. Other mentors and friends not specifically named here have contributed by sharing their experiences.
 
May we all learn from each other's mistakes and create a supportive network for our own and each other's prosperity. 

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