Chapter 1: Understanding Manifestation

Manifestation is a hot topic these days, generating a staggering 2.3 billion search results in just 0.34 seconds. This overwhelming abundance signals its growing popularity, yet this isn’t a typical guide filled with tips or how-tos. Rather, it’s a critical examination of what I term "Manifestation Marketing." Recently, this concept has surged in visibility, particularly among Coaches, Course Creators, and spiritual entrepreneurs. Perhaps my algorithm is simply tuned to deliver this content, but the marketing strategies surrounding it often carry a "bro" vibe that feels out of place in the spiritual realm.

To grasp why Manifestation Marketing is gaining traction and enticing consumers, we first need to define it. If you’re already familiar, feel free to skip down to the section titled "There are two forms of MM."

What is Manifestation?

A quick Google search reveals its immense popularity; even Oprah has published an article titled "How to Manifest Anything You Desire." There’s an abundance of resources discussing dos and don'ts, and the efficacy of manifestation techniques. Most of these sources conflate the concept with the "Law of Attraction," yet "manifesting" stands as its own distinct phenomenon.

Dictionary Definition:

"An event, action, or object that clearly shows or embodies something, especially a theory or an abstract idea."

According to Vocabulary.com, manifestation is characterized as a public display of feelings or theoretical concepts made tangible. Historically rooted in religion and spirituality, it has expanded to encompass all facets of life.

What is Manifestation Marketing?

I initially thought "Manifestation Marketing" was a term I had coined, only to discover I wasn’t the first to use it. The term has been embraced positively in various contexts. In fact, there’s even a 30-page guide on how to implement manifestation marketing available for $15.00, with a Kindle edition priced at a mere $0.99 on Amazon. However, I wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re after a gentler, trendier iteration of conventional marketing.

From this point onward, we will abbreviate "Manifestation Marketing" as "MM." There are two distinct categories of MM:

#### 1. MM for Spiritual Business Owners

This approach posits that by altering your mindset (automatic thoughts), you can shift your emotions, enabling you to accurately process your feelings. When you embody the appropriate emotions, your actions will align with this new mindset, ultimately leading to improved outcomes. This philosophy is a refreshing contrast to the "fake it till you make it" mantra, which I, as a former leader of a $58M business, find unhelpful, particularly for women.

#### 2. MM for Prospective Customers of Spiritual Business Owners

This is the core message I want to communicate! Here, the "manifestation message" infiltrates sales tactics, permeating advertising, podcasts, coaching program landing pages, and social media marketing. This is where the marketing experts in Manifestation are capitalizing, especially in B2B (business-to-business) sectors.

Yes, I acknowledge that not every Manifestation Coach fits this description. However, many market to potential clients by suggesting their lack of business success stems from inadequate belief systems or energy levels. This often leads to upsells or product upgrades. Typically, these clients are already engaged with their spiritual side or are just beginning to explore it, making the claims feel credible. When the promised results fail to materialize, the blame shifts to the customer for their energy or effort—or lack thereof.

It's crucial to note that while I recognize the importance of mindset and belief in shaping outcomes, they are not the sole determinants. Mindset influences action, action shapes results, and those outcomes are ultimately evaluated as good or bad based on mindset.

Why is MM Potentially Harmful in Marketing?

This model places the entire burden on the customer—on you—reducing accountability for content creation, established methods, and tangible results.

A side observation: If you pay close attention, you’ll notice a recurring theme in testimonials on these platforms. Many are collected early in a program while clients are still riding a "high" from their purchase and experiencing initial successes—something I was also taught to do in one of these programs.

My Motivation for Sharing

I’m sharing this with you because I believe manifestation marketing is fundamentally flawed. I hold certifications from three coaching agencies, though none are ICF accredited, but I do have credentials. I’ve never positioned myself as a coach, as my aim is to help others without adopting the tactics prevalent in today’s industry.

I write because it’s what I know, and regrettably, I know this all too well. I’ve studied, purchased, and engaged with these systems and have often found myself disillusioned. It pains me to see intelligent, compassionate individuals invest in a promise only to discover that there are numerous paths to success, and the chosen program or coach was not the right match.

They may have compelling language, but often lack guarantees or refund options.

Let me share a striking "disclaimer" from a program for spiritual businesses that claims clients will "lock in $10k+ months and scale to $50k months and beyond" for a $5,000 fee. The disclaimer states:

"DISCLAIMER: The sales figures stated above are my personal sales figures. Please understand my results are not typical, and I’m not implying you’ll replicate them. The average person who purchases any 'how-to' information sees little to no results. Your results will vary based on various factors, including your background, experience, and work ethic. All business involves risk as well as significant and consistent effort and action. If you’re not willing to accept that, please DO NOT PURCHASE OUR INFORMATION."

Resources for Learning Manifestation

I truly believe in the Law of Attraction, having practiced it with tangible results. I’ve invested considerably in coaches and creators who promised to deepen my understanding of manifestation and the Law of Attraction. However, I now wish I had saved that money.

The bottom line? You can learn everything necessary about manifestation and the Law of Attraction for FREE!

When you search online, remember you’re also inviting ads to track your interests. Good luck—or perhaps I should say, "feel lucky to be lucky!"

Conclusion

The most prudent advice I can offer is this: when you feel compelled to purchase anything that touts manifestation or the Law of Attraction, proceed with caution. Remember the disclaimer and make your purchase at your own risk:

"DISCLAIMER: The sales figures stated above are my personal sales figures. Please understand my results are not typical, I’m not implying you’ll duplicate them (or do anything for that matter). I have the benefit of practicing direct response marketing and advertising since 2012, and have an established following as a result. The average person who buys any 'how to' information gets little to no results. I'm using these references for example purposes only. Your results will vary and depend on many factors …including but not limited to your background, experience, and work ethic. All business entails risk as well as massive and consistent effort and action. If you're not willing to accept that, please DO NOT GET OUR INFORMATION."

Video Insights on Manifestation Marketing

The first video, "How to Attract Clients to Your Business | Powerful Manifestation Exercise," explores effective manifestation exercises tailored for attracting clients.

The second video, "How to Tap into the Power of Detachment When Marketing and Selling," discusses leveraging detachment to enhance marketing and selling strategies.