That $300 Influencer DM Is a Trap
Last week, I was on a call with a founder who was trying to get his new SaaS tool off the ground.
He showed me his DMs. It was a graveyard of broken promises. "50,000 views, guaranteed." "Viral post on Reddit for $300." "Massive reach on my platform, just pay upfront."
His bank account was screaming "no," but his desperation was whispering "maybe."
I get it. You're bootstrapped. You're hungry. You see these follower counts and imagine a flood of new users. The temptation to just wire the $300 and pray is real.
I’m here to tell you: Don’t. You’re not just wasting money. You’re playing a rigged game.
But what if I told you there's one simple counteroffer that instantly reveals who's a partner and who's a parasite?
The Dirty Secret About "Guaranteed Reach"
Here’s the part they don’t want you to think about: you’re not buying marketing. You’re buying a lottery ticket with odds so bad, even the person selling it won't take their own bet.
Those impressive numbers they flash? 50,000 views, 100,000 followers? Complete theater. They know that "reach" is a vanity metric that makes you feel good but doesn't pay your server costs. It’s a corporate drug, and they’re your dealer.
The real kicker? They’ve perfected the art of preying on the hope of founders. They sell you the dream of a hockey-stick growth curve, but all they deliver is a lighter wallet.
That’s not a growth strategy. That’s paying to be scammed.
The Counteroffer That Calls Their Bluff (And Saves Your Wallet)
I told the founder to stop saying "no" and start making a counteroffer they couldn't refuse. Or rather, wouldn't accept.
Here’s how it works:
1. Do the Brutally Honest Math
The next time someone offers you 50,000 views for $300, run the numbers yourself. Be pessimistic.
Promised Views: 50,000
Click-Through Rate (CTR): Let's say a pathetic 1% actually click. That’s 500 visits.
Conversion Rate: Let's say a dismal 1% of those people sign up. That’s 5 users.
You just paid $300 for 5 users. A $60 Cost Per Acquisition (CPA). And that's the best-case scenario with their likely bot-driven traffic. Is a cold lead worth $60 to you? Probably not.
2. Make the Performance-Based Counteroffer
This is the move that changes everything. Tell them:
"I won't pay you $300 upfront. Instead, I'll pay you $5 for every single user who signs up. Uncapped."
Let that sink in. You just turned their fuzzy promise into a concrete, results-based deal. You've flipped the risk from you to them.
If they believe their own hype, they should be drooling.
50,000 views at a decent 5% CTR = 2,500 visits
2,500 visits at a solid 10% conversion rate = 250 signups
250 signups x $5 = $1,250 payout
You’re literally offering them the chance to make four times their asking price.
The response from every single one of these "gurus"? Silence. Refusal. Ghosting.
Why? Because they know their traffic is garbage. Their refusal is a confession. They want your guaranteed cash, not their performance-based payday.
The "It's Your Landing Page's Fault" Reality Check
Can we talk about the number one excuse you'll hear?
"I can't be responsible for your conversion rate. I just drive the traffic."
On the surface, it sounds fair. But it’s a smokescreen to avoid accountability. Here’s how you shut it down.
Offer Radical Transparency. This is the checkmate move. Tell them: "You're worried about my funnel? Let's look at it together."
Give them a custom tracking link. They can see every click in real-time.
Offer a shared dashboard. Show them the traffic and signups from their link. No black boxes.
Turn it into a collaboration. "If we see a ton of clicks and no signups, we can figure out why. Maybe my headline sucks for your audience. Let's fix it."
If they still say no after you've offered to open the kimono, you know the problem isn't your funnel. It's their product.
True partners are confident in the value they bring. They're willing to share the risk because they believe in the reward. Parasites want you to take all the risk while they cash the check.
Your Playbook for Not Getting Ripped Off
Here's your homework. The next time you get a pitch, follow these steps:
Do the Pessimistic Math. Instantly ground yourself in reality. What's the worst-case CPA?
Make The Counteroffer. "No upfront fees. I pay for results." This is your new religion.
Offer Total Transparency. Have your tracking links ready. Call their bluff before they even make it.
Define a "Win" Together. If they're legit but hesitant, negotiate. Pay per trial signup, not just a final sale. Align the incentive with what they can control.
The Truth About Finding Partners Who Actually Drive Growth
The best marketing partners aren't the ones with the biggest follower counts who slide into your DMs. They're the ones confident enough to bet on themselves.
Your marketing budget should feel like an investment in results, not a blindfolded gamble on someone else's promises.
The real question isn't "How many views can you get me?"
It's "Are you willing to get paid based on the quality of your work?"
Start there. Your bank account will thank you.