If you own a business and are on Facebook, or Instagram, or just online in general, you've probably seen them. The ads that claim you can: "Make $10K in 30 days from Facebook ads", "Get 10x more traffic in a Week from Pinterest", or "Use My Secret Technique to Get 10K Instagram Follows Now"! And they all boast that you can get these things simply by joining their FREE, 1 Hour, Webinar, Masterclass, Training, etc.

These ads sound almost too good to be true, and can be really tempting to business owners and entrepreneurs looking to grow their business online. So, the question becomes, are these "free" trainings really worth it?

Short answer: Yes! They can be! Let me explain...

Depending on the source, there can be some AMAZING little tidbits of information that can help you feel inspired to take the next step in your business, help you tweak something that wasn't quite right, or help you get that much closer to mastering a marketing technique you've been trying to learn. However, as with anything, there are good and bad, and in order to truly get the most out of your time (and in some cases $$) spent, there are a few rules you should follow.

1. Know your source. I can't stress this enough. While the training may be free, it doesn't guarantee that it's worth your time (or energy or effort to implement their strategies). Do a little research around the person offering the training and see if they put their money where their mouth is. If they're telling you they can help you be successful on Instagram, make sure they are themselves! There is nothing worse than spending time on strategies that don't work (or even worse, will be detrimental to your business). 

2. Curb your expectations. Those claims they make in those ads (Make $30K in 30 Days!) is more often than not, the exception, NOT the rule. Know that while a lot of the information they give away IS useful to your business, you most likely will NOT get that kind of result. But that's OK! As long as you go into the presentation with realistic expectations about how their strategy can help your business, you won't find yourself disappointed in the end.

3. Know you WILL be sold something at the end. In exchange for giving away tips, EVERY single one of those giving the training will pitch you something at the end of it. Don't get annoyed or frustrated, they have to make money too! In fact, I always suggest hanging around through their sales pitch. More often than not if you do, you'll get extra bonus content for sticking through it (even more free stuff!) and who knows - the class, course, or program their pitching may actually be what you were looking for. Many times you can get great pricing on self study courses or group programs that will help you finally master an area you were struggling with. (But again, make sure you do your research before purchasing anything!)

4. Make sure you follow through. Even though the training may be free, your time is not. If you're going to invest an hour of your time in a course, make sure you follow through! More likely than not, the tips they give you are TOTALLY doable, it just requires your commitment. And if you do decide to invest in the program their selling, you ABSOLUTELY must make sure you complete it. Self-study courses are filled with people who purchased and never completed them. Only buy if you are truly committed to taking the entire course so you don't leave feeling like you wasted your time and money.

Speaking of investing, do you have $9 to invest that you actually want a return on? Check out The Digital Marketing Hub where you can get access to full Masterclasses, Guest Expert Trainings and answers to your digital marketing questions for only $9 per month!