Category: Human Nature
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Direct-Marketing Strategies: 3 Crippling sales mistakes
Over the last few days I had the opportunity to deal with a few different vendors, while I was in the middle of purchasing a couple of different services — both business and personal. I was amazed how many simple things these vendors screwed up and got wrong. Wrong for the customer — and wrong…
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Lead Generation Marketing: "I am NOT a wimp" (1977)
“I am NOT a wimp.” – Iron Mike Sharpe Iron Mike Sharpe was one of my favorite wrestlers to watch, back when I growing up in the late 1970’s. I don’t really know why I liked Iron Mike, but maybe one reason is I remember watching him with my brother, who passed away a couple…
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Hello, Sunshine (Great opportunity to go public with your goals)
Later on this week or early next, I’m going to have some cool announcements, so stay tuned. I hope you had a great holiday and I hope you and your family have a really smooth 2012. Like most people, I spent a lot of time at home with my own family during the last couple…
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A Special holiday message and short story: The Farmer's Donkey
I’m laying low this week and next. Trying to tie up some loose ends… catch up on some reading… and spending time with my family, relaxing. And I hope you are doing something similar. I just want to take this opportunity to wish you and your family, warmth and good cheer during this holiday season…
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Growing your business, growing your life – Let me know if this is for you, or not:
Here’s the deal: I’m not sure whether I’m going to do this or not, because it’s a huge commitment and a big responsibility, but… I may have something you’re interested in. Here’s what I am thinking about doing. And… I’m ONLY thinking about it, at this point. I’m thinking about setting up a very exclusive,…
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Steve Jobs: "Three stories from my life. That's it. Just three stories…
Digital sales of my book are now almost as high as actual hard copies on amazon. (41, 5-star book ratings doesn’t hurt, either!) *** In memory of Steve Jobs, who passed away yesterday, I wanted to share with you, a very meaningful speech he gave, several years ago. This was a graduation speech to Stanford…
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How to write a sales letter: 3 Costly mistakes when asking for the order
Update: it’s interesting that digital sales of my book are now almost as high as actual hard copies on amazon. I am astounded how many people read digitally. (And hey, 41, 5-star ratings doesn’t hurt, either!) *** There’s a ton of reasons why people won’t buy. But there are a few specific mistakes I’m constantly…
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Writing Sales Letters: How to not avoid making an ass out of u and me
In this month’s Seductive Selling Newsletter, I went through 13 or 14 ads in a VERY popular (perhaps the most popular) niche marketplace. There were a number of situations in these ads, when the same thing happened, over and over. Quite often, the writer assumed the reader knew a lot more about what was going…
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Writing Sales Letters: 3 ways people screw up sales, in print
I’ve been somewhat out of pocket the last two weeks or so, working on a new business I’m getting up and running, over in Europe. Besides working on a very detailed free report to generate leads, I’ve also spent a NUMBER of hours in strategy meetings. Sometimes it seems like you’re splitting hairs working on…
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Emotional direct-response marketing: Human nature on display
Before I get into today’s tip… after you read this, please don’t send me a rush of e-mails about how I’m obnoxious or high on my horse. Because if that’s all you get out of this, then you’re missing the point. This post has nothing to do with my attitude, it has to do with…
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Writing Sales Letters: The MOST common mistake people make when writing sales letters
For some reason people get confused when they’re writing sales letter. It seems like a lot of people think they’re standing up on a stage, addressing a huge audience when they’re writing, instead of the one lone person who’s actually reading the darn thing, alone at home or in their office. And so, instead of…
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Writing Sales Letters: Getting w-a-a-y too personal
OK, look… it’s like 90 degrees here and sunny, with VERY low humidity, so this is going to be quick. It’s Friday and I’m big into unwinding today, so let’s get busy: The other day, we talked about opening your sales correspondence with names, and about personalization, in general. But what you also need to…
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Emotional Direct-Response Marketing: The Thirsty Salesman Story
An optimistic young salesman was found walking around the office one day, with his shoulders slumped and his normal smile missing. Apparently, he’d just lost an important sale and was feeling disappointed. Sometime shortly after the young salesman’s disappointment, an older (and much wiser) veteran salesman comes strolling through the office. The old salesman often…
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Writing Sales Letters: 3 mistakes that make your readers IMMEDIATELY stop reading
Delay is the death of a sale. Even if you’re selling something face to face… if your prospect’s attention wanes… your sale is gone. You simply must keep the ball rolling, to get anywhere. And let’s face it, in print, this isn’t so easy to do. But here are three common mistakes I typically see…
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These 3 things he taught me, saved my life
Today is my older son’s 21st Birthday. And with the exception of my wife, Nick’s probably taught me more about life, than anyone else I’ve known. In fact, it all started the day he was born. If you’re read my book, then you know I had a rusty start in life. So I was pretty…
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Writing Sales Letters: 7 simple ways to write more powerful sales letters
Selling isn’t easy, that’s for sure. And selling in print is probably the most difficult form of media to sell in. I remember when I first started writing, back in 2000… any kind of information I could get my hands on that would make writing easier… was something I really appreciated. So with that in…
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Writing sales letters: Why honest people sometimes feel compelled to lie when writing sales copy
Ever buy something and then discover even your most minimal expectations have been let down? Or, ever see something being sold and just know, deep inside your heart, the person’s lying? And how about the general reputation some people have, of simply never delivering? Ever wonder why this happens — and, why it seems to…
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Small Business Marketing: re: Happiness (it's an inside job)
It’s Friday and it’s like over 90 degrees outside, and the humidity is so think you can slice through it with a cake knife. So today let’s not deal with anything too business-oriented, ok? Let’s talk about what makes you happy. That’s a pretty easy topic, no? That’s something everyone wants to know about, right?…
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Small Business Marketing: Quick, how old are you?
Quick story: Last weekend we went out to pick some blackberries at a local grower’s farm nearby. Not sure if you’ve ever done this, but it’s very relaxing. And if you have children, it’s a really great family activity. And of course, eating fresh blackberry pies all week long isn’t exactly a bad thing, either…
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Small Business Marketing: Top 5 mistakes entrepreneurs make article (now featured on American Express!)
American Express’ Open Forum recently asked me to write an article for them. It’s called: “Top 5 Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make Trying To Generate New Leads” and you can find it here: http://www.openforum.com/articles/top-5-mistakes-entrepreneurs-make-trying-to-generate-new-leads If you have any comments, leave them underneath the article and I’ll answer them. Now go sell something, Craig Garber This month only:…