Exposing the Truth about Deceptive Online Marketing

Buckle up, buttercup. Let’s talk online marketing.

This is what I call a “New York Michelle” episode, and yes, it’s going to get spicy.

I’ve held off on talking about this one because I knew it was going to call out some serious BS. But I’ve had this conversation inside the Focused Visionary Accelerator more than once, and my clients kept saying: “People need to hear this.”

So here we are.

And listen, I’m not naming names. I’m not here for drama.
But I am here to say this loud and clear:

A lot of what you’re seeing online about $15K, $30K, and $50K days?
It’s not the full truth. It’s not ethical.
And it’s messing with your head, and your business.

What They Call “Marketing” Is Just Manipulation

Let’s talk about the influencer online saying she had a $15K day.

Sounds impressive, right?

Here’s what’s really happening: she’s got a $5,000 offer, and some days she sells three spots. That’s $15,000. Okay. But the offer is a 3-month program. That $15K is being delivered over 90 days. It’s not a $15K day. It’s $5K a month, tops. Probably less when you break it all down.

If she sells six clients into that offer? That’s a $10K/month business.
Still amazing. But that’s not how it’s being marketed.

They’re shouting, “$15,000 day!”
But they’re not telling you the payment plan, the delivery timeline, the burnout risk of serving that many one-on-one clients.

So no, it’s not a lie. But it’s not the whole truth either.
And that’s where the problem is.

Your Book Didn’t Have a $30K Launch. Amazon Did.

Another example? The “$30,000 book launch.”

The person promoting it sold 1,500 copies of a book priced at $19.95.

That sounds like $30K… if you don’t factor in anything else.

But here’s the math:
Amazon pays you maybe $5 per copy after printing and fees.
That’s $7,500 in royalties.
Still awesome. Still a win. But it’s not a $30K payday.

You don’t get to call it a $30K launch when Amazon made $30K and you made $7.5K.

That’s like saying your employer’s revenue counts as your salary. It doesn’t work that way.

A $30K Offer Spread Over 12 Months Is Not a $30K Day

Another one?

A $30,000 day made up of three sales into a $10K/year program.

Cool. Great. Love that.

But here’s what’s inside that program:

  • Done-for-you services
  • Two other paid team members
  • An all-inclusive international retreat

That $30K? That’s revenue for the whole year: before expenses, taxes, delivery.
It’s not $30K of take-home profit. It’s not even close.

If anything, from what I saw, it’s probably underpriced.
It’s a cashflow issue waiting to happen.

So How Do You Know What’s Real and What’s Just Hype?

Ask yourself:

  • Who collected the money? Was it them or a platform like Amazon?
  • Is that number spread out over 3, 6, or 12 months?
  • What’s the actual cost to deliver what they’re selling?
  • Are they including payment plans or only quoting pay-in-fulls?

If they’re calling it a “$15K day” but it takes 3 months to deliver and it’s 1:1?
That’s not scalable. That’s not sustainable.

Stop Comparing Yourself to Fake Metrics

This is the part that makes me mad.

It’s not that the $7,500 book launch isn’t impressive. It is.
It’s that the marketing inflates it to something it’s not.
And that creates constant comparison. It makes you feel like you’re behind.
It makes you question your offers, your strategy, your pricing, your entire business.

And for what?

So someone can manipulate the numbers to look bigger?

I’m all for motivation and possibility. But not at the expense of your self-trust.

You’re doing fine.

Let’s Just Tell the Real Truth

You don’t see your local coffee shop saying,
“OMG, we had a $10,000 day yesterday!!”

Because that’s not how real business works.
They’re not shouting inflated numbers. They’re showing up and doing the work.

This online behavior?
It’s not normal. It’s not ethical. And it needs to stop.

So let’s agree:
– You can be happy for someone without absorbing their BS.
– You can scroll past without feeling bad about your numbers.
– You can build your business with integrity and still make money.

And if you want to price your stuff so it’s profitable and sustainable, check out The Focused Visionary Accelerator and let’s talk.
Let’s break down real numbers. Let’s talk real profit.
Let’s talk about what it really takes to run a business that pays you.

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MIchelle DeNio

About the Author

Michelle DeNio is a business strategist and growth advisor for service-based entrepreneurs, especially neurodivergent and ADHD business owners.

Creator of the Focused Visionary Accelerator and host of The Real Truth About Business podcast, she helps clients simplify, focus, and grow sustainably.

With 15+ years in business operations, she’s known for turning big ideas into simple, profitable action plans.

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