The BIGGEST SECRET About Taxes You Will EVER Read!
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I bet you thought you were going to be blown away by some super-secret, S.H.I.E.L.D. level 10-access info, huh?
You probably saw the title and thought “Oh, wow, now I’m going to get the real scoop!”
Or, perhaps you just clicked on the link because it looked really important with the uppercase font showcasing the “biggest secret” that would be revealed.
Well here it is….
You are gullible, and everyone knows it!
Why, you ask?
There are no secrets to tax deductions.
For that matter, there are no secrets to losing weight or making money either.
There are no secrets to anything at all!
It’s just a ploy marketers use to grab people’s attention.
[Actually, I told you all once before that you’re all suckers for marketing tactics but maybe this will drive that point home.]
Whether it’s an ad for makeup, a new magical boner pill, a car, or a simple article on taxes, marketers always target your emotional sense rather than your analytic sense.
They want you to make snap decisions.
And that is where tactics like manipulative headlines come in.
There are no secret tax deductions that only a select few know about.
Just like there isn’t a truly healthy way to lose weight and inches that only the most wealthy people have access to.
Don’t believe me?
Check out this article by Pat Flynn of Smart Passive Income, this other article by Jerod Morris at Copyblogger.
[And, I am NOT saying anything about abut those guys, not like I can since they’re both awesome, but just highlighting the point that headlines are used to grab attention and nothing more]
Hey, if you’re not gonna listen to me, at least you’ll believe those two when they tell you it’s just a ploy and not indicative of what will be contained in the article itself.
Look, everything about the tax code is public knowledge; it’s available for anyone to look up.
There are Master Tax Guides and Quick Finders. The IRS uploads its Publications and Letters for free public access.
No one is telling you anything new and earth-rattling about tax deductions these days.
Now, someone like me may tell you the whole story about tax deduction articles, but I’ll never make it seem like anything is breaking news.
Someone like me will tell you things in different ways and from different viewpoints, but I’ll never sit there and try to mislead you with a headline (well, just this one time maybe).
Just think about it for a sec. Go on, I’ll go grab a drink.
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Finished? Good.
How many times did you fall for anything like the “headline game” only to be disappointed by what the article failed to deliver?
How often do you even stop and think about the headline, or do you just naturally react by clicking based on the wording?
How many times do you share shit on Facebook just because the headline eluded to something–or worse yet, twisted the truth to cause a stir?
The reality is that there is a psychological connection to the whole “headline crafting” crap.
There are reasons why writers and site operators spend so much time on their headlines.
It’s to make you act against your best interest.
There’s never anything “outrageous” or “shocking” or “revolutionary”.
These are just trigger words that have been researched and found to elicit responses.
It’s up to you to figure out what to do from there.
Oh, and FYI, even when the tax law is changed, it won’t be a secret, as millions of reporters and bloggers will be covering it. The only thing you need to worry about it how accurate and complete the information they give you is.
Everybody is looking for that “magic pill” that will help them lose weight, get rich, or save on their taxes. The good news is there IS a magic pill…it’s called hard work and research. 🙂
I’m trying so badly not to make a joke using the magic pill and hard work……..
Actually, what you’re saying can’t be argued Travis. Too much of what is out there is really just a scam trying to attract the tons of people looking for shortcuts. Actually, I may be able to argue your point just a little…perhaps working smarter rather than harder is the real secret.
I’m trying so badly not to make a joke using the magic pill and hard work….
Actually, what you’re saying can’t be argued Travis. Too much of what is out there is really just a scam trying to attract the tons of people looking for shortcuts. Actually, I may be able to argue your point just a little…perhaps working smarter rather than harder is the real secret.
Brilliant piece of advice, and it makes most of us financial bloggers look like idiots (I thought we were supposed to keep it a secret that we don’t really know what we are doing). I think that the saying “there is nothing new under the sun” applies here.
You’re right, there really isn’t much new; most of the stuff being touted as “new” or “the secret” is just a ploy to attract eyes and clicks.
I’ve always said that the things I write are what people need to read/hear, and may not always be what people necessarily want to read/hear. To me, being real with people is more important than being popular and having everyone agree with me.
Catchy headlines get you to click on something, but ultimately there needs to be substance behind it for people to stick around. I don’t mind clicking on something as it really only costs me a few seconds of my time. Sometimes it leads to something worthwhile and sometimes it doesn’t.
It may just be me, but I’m not a big proponent of sensationalism. Personally, I just want information to be relevant, timely, and straight forward, without the crap. Plus, I think that headlines are like people–the ones that are the loudest and most outlandish are the ones who don’t really have much to say.
You definitely drew me in with your headline – ha! You’re right – any headline that promises to reveal “the secret to…” is probably just a marketing ploy. Thanks for a fun, thought-provoking post.