Promo Glossary

A long-form video used to sell a newsletter subscription. Usually 30–90 minutes, heavy on narrative and urgency, light on numbers. The format most of the promos we vet arrive in.

The registration a company files with the SEC before going public. Promos sometimes tease a company "about to file its S-1" — which, if true, is public information and not a secret.

A promo framing where the presenter claims you can profit from a trend "without buying the obvious stock." Usually points at a supplier, equipment maker, or service company adjacent to the headline narrative.

A stock symbol dangled in a promo as a "free" giveaway — the thing you supposedly get just for watching. Almost always deducible from the clues in the VSL without paying for the subscription.

An over-allotment option granted to underwriters in an IPO. Promos sometimes mention a company "exercising its green shoe" as a signal — it is a sign of over-allotment demand, not of future stock performance.

The window after an IPO during which insiders cannot sell shares. Promos occasionally tease buying "just before the lockup expires," framing it as a catalyst. It is a catalyst — for insider selling pressure.

The marketing run ahead of a paid newsletter recommendation. The whole point of a teaser is to make you curious enough to subscribe. The "secret stock" is the bait; the subscription is the product.

What we do: identify the "secret" stock a promo is teasing. Most reveals are deducible from publicly stated clues — industry, market cap, recent partnerships, and the company the presenter has mentioned in prior campaigns.

The fine print at the bottom of a promo disclosing conflicts, compensation, and the fact that the publisher may hold positions in mentioned securities. Most people scroll past it. We read it.

A countdown clock, a "this presentation comes down at midnight" banner, or a "limited seats" claim. Marketing pressure, not market information. Almost never reflects a real deadline.

A pile of "free bonus reports" layered onto a newsletter subscription to inflate perceived value. Usually PDFs of prior research. The stack exists to make the subscription price look like a deal.

A refund window offered on a subscription. The trial is rarely risk-free in the colloquial sense — there are often restocking fees, time limits, and the friction of requesting a refund.

The list of current recommendations a newsletter maintains. Promos often quote the portfolio's best-performing pick while omitting its worst. Always ask for the full track record, not the highlight reel.

A legally required note that historical returns do not predict future results. Present in every legit promo. Its presence is a minimum bar, not a quality signal.

A link that pays the referrer a commission. We do not use affiliate links. Any newsletter publisher whose promo we vet — we are not being paid by them, and we are not being paid to promote a competitor.

The minimum disclosure a promo must include to be legal. We check whether each promo clears it — and whether the disclosures actually match what is being pitched.