The Risk Of Using Monetary Numbers To Sell Your Offers (And How To Do It Legally)

If you’ve read any of my content ever, you would know that I talk about the FTC a lotttt. 

And if you’re not familiar with what the heck that is, it stands for the Federal Trade Commission and they’re the big guys that monitor how businesses are selling products or services and earning money.

Essentially, they’re in charge of making sure that you’re conducting business in a legally sound way and yes, they take their job seriously.

In fact, just a few weeks ago the FTC obtained a $16.3 million settlement against a VERY well known marketing agency and its officers all because of the way they displayed their sales coaching earnings claims in their marketing.

In more simple terms? The company was being sued for using monetary numbers to sell their offers that they allegedly couldn’t back up or provide the promised results to their customers.

The reason this matters SO much is because using monetary numbers to sell offers is becoming a HUGE trend in the online business world and tbh, it’s getting pretty icky. 🤢

Everywhere you look you’re seeing statements like, “make $10k in a day with THIS formula” or “double your revenue when you implement this strategy.”

And the people who are using this marketing tactic are people who likely are bringing in a lot of money, so it’s not a straight up lie, but where they go wrong is that they aren’t providing the full picture behind their claim.

Are they really making $10k in a day from *just* their signature formula? Is that really all it takes? You and I both know the answer to that!

While it might seem like using monetary numbers to sell your offers is the only enticing way to sell, I promise you it’s not.

More and more people are catching on to the ick factor of the tactic and it can actually cause people to turn the other way.

Now, that’s not to say you CAN’T use numbers in your sales copy – of course you can, but it’s important that you first know the risk of it all and know how to do it legally so that you aren’t faced with a multi-million dollar lawsuit.

The Risk Of Using Monetary Numbers In Your Sales Copy

As if the story I mentioned above doesn’t scream “risk,” let’s break it down a little further so you can fully understand why this can be such a problem.

Perceived Value

If the monetary figures that you’re using seem too high, it might actually deter potential customers and do the exact opposite of what you really want – which is to make sales right?

When something seems fishy, like proclaiming you can earn $30k in one day by using a certain strategy, people will likelyyy have questions.

And on the other hand, if the numbers seem too low, it might make them doubt the quality or effectiveness of your product or service.

Credibility

Exaggerated or unrealistic monetary claims can damage your credibility and trustworthiness, because again – if the numbers are insanely high, people might start to question if you’re being 100% honest and sharing the full story.

This is why it’s important to ensure that any numbers you use are accurate and backed up by evidence or testimonials.

Legal Issues

This one is a gimme. Like we know from the story mentioned earlier, making false or misleading monetary claims could lead to crazy legal repercussions – like a multi-million dollar (or more) lawsuit.

It’s for this reason that you ensure any figures used in your sales copy are truthful and can be substantiated.

Audience Perception

Different audiences have varying perceptions of monetary figures, meaning what might seem like a significant investment to one group might be reasonable for another.

So, let’s say you’re promoting your offer using a $30k monetary figure. To some people, depending on the industry, that might seem totally doable.

But to others, that might feel like half their salary.

This is why understanding your target audience and knowing WHO you’re selling to is so crucial. 

To mitigate these risks, I encourage you to focus on presenting numbers in a context that adds value rather than simply listing them out as a way to capture your audience’s attention.

Use them to highlight savings, return on investment, or the benefits customers will gain while also providing evidence or testimonials that support the monetary claims so you build your trust factor simultaneously!

How To Use Monetary Numbers To Sell Your Offers Legally

Now that you know the risks, you might be wondering how you can go about using monetary numbers in your sales copy legally – meaning the FTC isn’t going to come after you and completely wreck your day!

Bring the Receipts

What we DON’T want to do is over promise in our offer.

When you’re writing your sales page or your sales copy, make sure that you’re not exaggerating what clients can expect. 

While it’s tempting to say things like, “make $10k in 10 days” or show other appealing stats to make people buy, you have to be able to back that up.

If you can’t truly promise that EVERYONE who buys the offer can see that result, don’t say it.

Stick to the truth in your messaging to avoid any backlash later. Which leads me to…

Sell It Like It Is

Make sure it’s 100% clear what your customers are getting when they buy and how they get it.

For example, if you’re selling a course and they receive 6 modules in a self paced portal along with downloadable resources and Slack access for communication with you, make sure that you include all of these things in your sales copy.

Additionally, make sure you tell potential customers HOW they’ll receive access to everything included as well.

This helps you avoid facing customers who thought they were getting one thing and want a refund after they’ve purchased because your offer wasn’t clear.

Avoid that headache by being very straightforward in your messaging and when in doubt always remember: clear > cute.

Use Legitimate Testimonials and Reviews

If you’re using monetary figures and claiming that other people have experienced those wins as a result of your offer, make sure you back up those claims with LEGIT testimonials and reviews.

All testimonials, reviews, and case studies need to be backed with a testimonial release form (meaning your clients or customers have said “yep! You can use my words.”) AND they need to be 100% authentic.

Here's how to legally gather and use testimonials on your sales page.

Use Clear and Unambiguous Language

Lastly, and maybe most importantly, be explicit and clear about what the monetary figures represent.

This is what I often see missing when people choose to use numbers in their sales copy and it’s SUCH an easy fix.

The moral of the story is to avoid vague or misleading statements that could be interpreted in different ways.

Here's a closer look at what exactly to include on your sales page, specifically from a legal standpoint.

The One Stop Shop To Landing Sales Legally

The online business world is a great world to be in and your options for making money are truly almost endless. 

I love that for both, you AND me. 

But the last thing I want is for all of your efforts to go down the drain just because you mis-used monetary numbers in your marketing.

So, if you’re looking for a way to get all the support you need for Landing Sales Legally, this toolkit is for you!

This course covers everything you need to protect your sales funnel from top to bottom, including: 

✔️how to grow your email list WITHOUT violating privacy and anti-spam laws

✔️how to write sales copy that limits your liability

✔️when and where you need a disclaimer

✔️which legal policies are required by law

✔️how to protect yourself from pricing errors and other mistakes

✔️how to limit legal fees if someone tries to sue you

✔️how to protect yourself from chargebacks, credit card disputes, and unjustified refunds

✔️the 4 legal policy you need and how to display them

And MUCH more!

Here’s to showing up in the online business world authentically and truthfully – the way it’s meant to be. 👏🏼